Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

Tart Cherry Juice Soothed Pain in Big Toe

Q. I am in my early 60s but I’ve been hobbling around like an old man after a couple of bad bouts with gout. I have been on a prescription to treat that along with various other meds for high cholesterol and blood pressure. I’m sure they all contribute to my aches and pains.

Several months ago I felt my gout flaring up in my big toe. Instead of getting a new drug to treat this, I went online and read that drinking concentrated tart cherry juice every day can knock gout pain out almost overnight.

I had a hard time finding concentrated tart cherry juice but finally found a bottle at a health food store. It made me cringe to pay $17 per bottle but I took two tablespoons of the stuff before going to bed. The next morning I woke up with no pain in my big toe. A couple of days later, I realized that the very creaky and painful bones in my feet, ankles, knees and hips were not hurting and I was no longer hobbling when I walked.

Several months later, I am still almost pain-free. It is so good to be able to walk normally again.

A. Thanks for sharing your story. Eating tart cherries, drinking juice or taking cherry extract seem to reduce the likelihood of a gout attack by around 35 percent (Arthritis and Rheumatism, Dec. 2012).

You may know that staying away from alcoholic beverages and purine-rich foods such as anchovies, sardines, mussels or liver can also help lower your risk of a gout attack (Evidence-Based Medicine, online Feb. 16, 2013). We have more details on cherries and other home remedies for joint pain in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis.

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
3.9- 15 ratings
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.