Is Goutweed an Effective Gout Medication? - By: A. Ray

Goutweed gained its name through its use as a medicinal plant to treat gout and other forms of arthritis. In fact, its name is derived from the Latin word for gout, podagra. It's also known by many other names over the world, including ground elder, bishop's weed, snow in the mountain, herb gerard and pigweed.

According to the old and revered Culpepper Complete Herbal, "Neither is it to be supposed gout-wort hath its name for nothing but upon experiment to heal the gout and sciatica; as also joint-aches, and other cold griefs. The very bearing of it about one eases the pain of the gout, and defends him that bears it from the disease."

Goutweed's ability to lower uric acid levels has not been substantially studied, but any benefit as a gout medication may lie in its properties as a diuretic. It's also believed to have sedative and anti-inflammatory properties. A homeopathic remedy for arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica is made from the flowering plant.

Goutweed is a perennial plant in the carrot family. It's native to Europe and Russia (excluding Spain) and is believed to have been brought to England as a food plant by the Romans. Monks cultivated it as a healing herb in the Middle Ages, giving it the name herb Gerard in dedication to St. Gerard, who used it to treat gout. It is still frequently found around many old ecclesiastical ruins.

Both the stalk and the leaves of goutweed have been used as a gout medicine through the ages, internally and externally. It is most commonly used as a tea, or mashed into a paste and applied to painful joints as a poultice. The young leaves are boiled and eaten as a vegetable in Sweden and Switzerland, or eaten raw in a spring salad. It is also eaten by Chinese and Tibetan monks. Later in the season, the leaves have a strong flavor that most people find unpleasant. The white root stalk is described as pungent and aromatic.

Goutweed grows about 12 to 18 inches high, with large leaves, furrowed hollow stems and numerous small white flowers. It spreads so rapidly and determinedly that it is considered to be a major garden weed. Goutweed is so invasive it is almost impossible to eradicate once the roots have taken hold.

About the Author

Alex Ray advocates for access to affordable healthcare and medication. She recommends http://www.colchicine.ca as an online resource for gout information, and the Canadian pharmacy BigMountainDrugs.com as an affordable source of colchicine from Canada.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/A--Ray/163334

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