Herbal Uric Acid Inhibitors: Can They Work?

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
	Flaxinus, Ash	48-96%	28-53	Bark
	Chrysanthemum flower	34-95%	24-91	Flower
	Ligusticum	17-94%	34	Rhizome
	Knotweed	12-94%	38	Rhizome
	Piper	11-94%	28	Stem
	Gypsywort, Bugleweed	39-93%	26-79	Leaf
	White mulberry	18-93%	57	Twig
	Angelica root head	18-93%	40	Root
	Glechoma	16-91%	48	Whole plant
	Angelica root	40-90%	NR	Root
	Sweet gum fruit	48-89%	33-66	Whole plant
	Prickly ivy’s, catbriers	18-89%	62	Rhizome
	Scutellaria, Barbal skull cap	31-87%	62	Whole plant
	Harlequin glory bower	12-86%	65	Leaf
	Strychnine tree	38.7-82%	6.8-32	Leaf
	Safflower	23-81%	64	Fruit
	Tiger claw	17-79%	70	Bark
	Tondi	40-77%	21-32	Leaf
	Chaste tree	6.2-66%	76-88	Leaf
	Astragalus root	12-64%	85	Root
	Selfheal spike	27-63%	86	Whole plant
	Angel or Devil’s trumpet	9.4-62%	77	Leaf
	Lycopodium tuber	13-58%	94	Whole plant
	Rhubarb rhizome	17-57%	101	Rhizome
	Salvia root	27-56%	96	Root
	Plantago	26-56%	98-103	Seed, Aerial
	Cuscuta seed	23-55%	53	Seed
	Orange	27-51%	98	Fruit shell
	Kochia fruit	24-51%	116	Seed
	Licorice root	24-49%	NR	Root

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

Gloriosa superba Linn – potential source of colchicine
Erythrina indica Lam – another herbal uric acid inhibitor
Citrus aurantium Linn, Citrus limetta W. and A. and Citrus limon (Linn) Burm – more herbal uric acid inhibitors
Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers – anti-inflammatory and herbal uric acid inhibitor
Capparis decidua Edgew – described as having “antigout” properties
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.