Herbal uric acid inhibitors are very popular with gout sufferers.

Many want to avoid pharmaceutical methods for uric acid lowering. So, they look to the world of herbal gout medicine for solutions. We recently discussed chanca piedra for gout, in the gout forum. I voiced my concerns about the validity of herbal gout medicine. I guess it’s one of those topics where I have mixed feelings. My heart says “got to be good for gout.” Yet, my head says “this is dangerous gout exploitation.”

Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors Purpose

The purpose of this article is to help you work with a professional herbalist to control your uric acid. Especially during step 3 of a Gout Herbalist Plan. Where you find plants that you can discuss with your professional guide. For other plans see Questions for Gout Sufferers.

Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors Introduction

I love the idea of herbal gout treatments. However, the reality is that gout sufferers often get misled by false claims. At best this gives a false sense of security. At worst, it delays effective treatment. Delays prolong the agony. Delays increase joint destruction from excess uric acid.

Having said all that, I will always be interested in herbal gout medicine. As with all other gout treatment, everything depends on the individual. What suits one gout sufferer might be wrong for another. There is absolutely no reason why you should not try herbal gout medicines. But, you may need some help and guidance.

All gout medicines have one or two functions. They might help relieve gout pain. They might help lower uric acid. A few do both. There are two types of uric acid lowering medicines. Some encourage uric acid excretion. Some discourage uric acid production. Here, I’m looking at this last group, particularly herbal uric acid inhibitors.

What are Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors?

Herbal uric acid inhibitors are plants that block uric acid production in your body. Uric acid is produced when an enzyme, xanthine oxidase (XO), breaks down purines. Purines might come from flesh that you eat or from your own flesh. If xanthine oxidase is blocked, then uric acid production is reduced. That is how allopurinol and Uloric work.

Beyond Chanca Piedra for Uric Acid

During my research into chanca piedra, I learned a new term: phytomedicine aka phytotherapy. This relates to the medical application of phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants. These work in the same way as allopurinol and Uloric. There are several compounds that are herbal uric acid inhibitors. Would you like to see a list?

Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors Chart

One gout study has listed 30 plants that contain herbal uric acid inhibitors[1]. So here is my version of their chart with these plants in order of greatest potency:

Plant name Local name Percent of XO inhibition (50-100µg/mL) IC50 (µg/mL) Part of plant used
Fraxinus rhynchophylla photo Flaxinus, Ash 48-96% 28-53 Bark
Chrysanthemum indicum photo Chrysanthemum flower 34-95% 24-91 Flower
Ligusticum brachylobum photo Ligusticum 17-94% 34 Rhizome
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Polygonum cuspidatum photo Knotweed 12-94% 38 Rhizome
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Piper kadsura photo Piper 11-94% 28 Stem
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Lycopus europaeus photo Gypsywort, Bugleweed 39-93% 26-79 Leaf
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Morus alba photo White mulberry 18-93% 57 Twig
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Angelica sinensis photo Angelica root head 18-93% 40 Root
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Glechoma longituba photo Glechoma 16-91% 48 Whole plant
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Angelica dahurica photo Angelica root 40-90% NR Root
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Artemisia anomola photo Sweet gum fruit 48-89% 33-66 Whole plant
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Smilax china photo Prickly ivy’s, catbriers 18-89% 62 Rhizome
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Scutellaria barbata photo Scutellaria, Barbal skull cap 31-87% 62 Whole plant
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Cledodendrum trichotomum photo Harlequin glory bower 12-86% 65 Leaf
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Strychnos nux-vomica photo Strychnine tree 38.7-82% 6.8-32 Leaf
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Carthamus tinctorius photo Safflower 23-81% 64 Fruit
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Erythrina indica photo Tiger claw 17-79% 70 Bark
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Coccinia grandis photo Tondi 40-77% 21-32 Leaf
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Vitex negundo photo Chaste tree 6.2-66% 76-88 Leaf
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Astragalus membranaceus photo Astragalus root 12-64% 85 Root
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Prunella vulgaris photo Selfheal spike 27-63% 86 Whole plant
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Datura metel photo Angel or Devil’s trumpet 9.4-62% 77 Leaf
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Lycopodium clavatum photo Lycopodium tuber 13-58% 94 Whole plant
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Rheum palmatum photo Rhubarb rhizome 17-57% 101 Rhizome
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Salvia miltiorrhiza photo Salvia root 27-56% 96 Root
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Plantago asiatica photo Plantago 26-56% 98-103 Seed, Aerial
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Cuscuta chinensis photo Cuscuta seed 23-55% 53 Seed
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Citrus sinensis photo Orange 27-51% 98 Fruit shell
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Kochia scoparia photo Kochia fruit 24-51% 116 Seed
Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitor: Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Licorice root) photo Licorice root 24-49% NR Root

Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors: Has Your Gout Blossomed Out?

That report also lists 6 additional plants that might have use as anti-gout agents:

  1. Gloriosa superba Linn – potential source of colchicine
  2. Erythrina indica Lam – another herbal uric acid inhibitor
  3. Citrus aurantium Linn, Citrus limetta W. and A. and Citrus limon (Linn) Burm – more herbal uric acid inhibitors
  4. Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers – anti-inflammatory and herbal uric acid inhibitor
  5. Capparis decidua Edgew – described as having “antigout” properties
  6. Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites – herbal uric acid inhibitor, and potential use in preventing gout complications associated with chronic diabetes

Your Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors

In the gout forum, I’ve voiced my personal concerns about herbal uric acid inhibitors. How can we ascertain correct dosage, and how can we be sure that dosage is safe?

But we all know that gout treatment has to be personal. It may well be that one of the herbal uric acid inhibitors from my chart is perfect for you. The best way to find out is to join the discussion I mentioned earlier. Better still, start your own gout topic about your experiences of, and opinions on, herbal uric acid inhibitors.

Leave Can Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors Work to return to your Herbal Gout Control Plan for Organic Gout Recovery.


Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors References

  1. Kumar, Ajay, and Wamik Azmi. “Phytomedicine: A novel alternative for treatment of gout.” Ann Phys Med 3 (2014): 80-8.

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