Regarding gout, self-medicating with unsweetened cherry juice, cranberry juice or even blueberry actually is effective combined with a diet cutting out the really rich fatty foods as well as any agonists as far as production of the uric acid crystals that accumulate in extremities and joints causing the swelling and pain. That includes alcohol, beer in particular, and even green leafy vegetables. I have a genetic predisposition, my maternal grandmother had it pretty bad. The side effects of colchicine really put me off, so I went looking around. Took about eight weeks but I got rid of my first major bout of gout, lost about thirty pounds over the course of the six months I stayed on it, haven’t had a recurrence either. I know what it feels like coming on now, that tingling, so it’s time to rein in the fatty foods, etc. and that wards off another bout of it.
Same here. I have a bout every year or two now. I just cut out the red meat and scotch, down the cherry juice and presto. All gone. :)