Gout is a form of rheumatic disease caused by uric acid deposits in the joints and it is marked by sudden attacks of painful, inflamed joints. It is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. It is the commonest inflammatory arthritis of men above 40 years old, and it is 20 times commoner in men than women; however, the number of postmenopausal women who have gout is increasing.

Gout is a complex disorder that can affect anyone. It is one of the oldest and probably most painful diseases known to mankind, which the symptoms develop at a quick pace. Fortunately, gout is treatable, and there are ways to keep gout from recurring.

Gout is caused when a patient continuously has trouble digesting properly and waste matter from digested foods accumulates within the body, the excess uric acid then starts to crystallize and settle in the joints (especially on the feet), setting off inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Usually, the joints in the big toe are affected, but gout can also affect the instep, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.

The connection between drinking alcoholic beverages and attacks of gout is a strong one for many with the disease; experts recognize that the standard goal in the treatment of chronic gout is the reduction and maintenance of sUA levels of less than 6 mg/dL.

People with high uric acid can develop lumps under the skin and they are often found in or near joints previously attacked by gout and also on the elbow, over the fingers and toes, and in the outer edge of the ear, additionally, its increasing degenerative changes may make aging joints vulnerable, with cartilage fragments acting as seeds for crystal formation. Experts say the concentration in the blood is so high that the uric acid settles in the joints of people with gout, a leading cause of gout attacks.

Eating lots of cherries and fresh cherry juice has been highly recommended in the treatment of gout and gouty arthritis, another treatment that can be included simultaneously with herbal remedies for gout is the addition of rosehip tea to the diet, joints affected by gout will recover completely once the gout has been treated.