> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://betonica-school-of-herbal-medicine.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Gout Relief - URL: https://betonica-school-of-herbal-medicine.ghost.io/gout-relief-2/ - Published: 2026-11-02T15:44:42.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-02T15:44:42.000Z - Author: 417001 ## *…How celery can help* ***by 417001*** Celery, *Apium graveolens,* is a familiar ingredient in a salad or Bloody Mary, but did you know that the gouty pain felt after bingeing on the latter is eased by eating those stalks of celery - or even better, making a herbal infusion from celery seeds? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/celeryseeds-1.jpg) Celery seeds Image Author's own Found in Tutankhamun's tomb, the ancient Egyptians treated rheumatism with celery in its wild, bitter form. Traditional Arabian medicine used it (*“karafs”*) for digestive issues and as a diuretic and sedative. *Apium graveolens* var *dulce* (*"smallage"*) arrived in Britain in the 17th century (Thomsen, 2022; Waddell, 2023). We continue to use celery today as a diuretic, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory and urinary antiseptic (Hoffman, 2003). Gout has long been seen as a condition related to over-indulgence in rich food and alcohol. The breakdown product of purines, uric acid (UA), is responsible for gout. Our DNA contains purines, whose breakdown contributes about 60% of the purines in blood. A diet high in purine-rich red and organ meat and animal fats, sugary drinks, fructose, seafood, beer and spirits overloads the body with UA - resulting in higher levels of urates in the blood (hyperuricaemia). Gout arises from chronic hyperuricemia and is a risk factor in kidney stones, hypertension and diabetes: causal treatment is advised! (Bone, 2018) The UK Gout Society [ #shoutaboutgout](https://www.ukgoutsociety.org/?ref=betonica-school-of-herbal-medicine.ghost.io) has great resources ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/gout-comparison.png) Gout in big toe of afflicted left foot, compared to healthy right foot (Parkov-enwiki ,2021) The excruciating pain in a flare-up lasts for about a week (most commonly in the basal joint of the big toe, but potentially in thumbs, knees or tendon/bone attachments). Tiny needle-like UA crystals in the affected area trigger localised inflammation causing gout (Heinrich, 2008; Mills 2018). So any herbal remedy would need to be **anti-inflammatory** and flush those UA crystals from the body using a **diuretic**..and lower the blood urate levels as a preventative! Fresh celery juice combines water with its diuretic action, flushing wastes (including UA crystals) from the body via the kidneys into urine, the normal pathway for UA elimination; celery seed tea does the same. | celery | { | diureticanti-inflammatory | } | \= | Antirheumatic action | | ------ | - | ------------------------- | - | -- | -------------------- | Celery’s many constituents work synergistically: it contains apiol, a diuretic aromatic oil, enabling the body to flush out wastes; flavonoids, luteolin and apigenin, which directly reduce UA in the body by inhibiting the production of xanthine oxidase (XO). Remember those dietary purines? XO is a key player in breaking down purine into UA ; no XO, no UA. Apigenin also protects the kidneys which do most of the hard work in excreting UA (Lui, 2022). Celery is also a powerhouse of protective vitamins C and K; its potassium and magnesium enhance the kidney’s filtering function (Kooti,2017). In addition to using celery, the herbal protocol includes reducing dietary intake of purine, keeping well hydrated and upping your intake of antioxidant-rich berries like cherries and blueberries. A herbal mix could include celery with red hawthorn berries, dandelion leaves and nettles. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/goodgout-1.jpg) Hawthorn berries,blueberries, cherries, nettle and dandelion leaves Image: Author's own For a personalised herbal treatment plan, click **here** to book an appointment. Also check out Insta [@betonicaschoolofherbalmedicine ](https://www.instagram.com/betonicaschoolofherbalmedicine?dlrf=bnlod3FlenRkcTUy&ref=betonica-school-of-herbal-medicine.ghost.io) Take heed if using the juice, especially in the summer: celery stalks contain furanocoumarins; high doses can cause photosensitisation, increasing your risk of burning or blistering in the sun. Covering exposed skin or avoiding UV for 24 hours is advised. If you are breastfeeding or have kidney disorders, consult a herbalist before using celery medicinally (Mills, 2010). **REFERENCES** Bone,K., & Mills, S. (2018) *Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy.* (2nd ed) Churchill Livingstone. Heinrich, M., Barnes, J., Gibbons, S. & Williamson, E.M. (2008). *Fundamentals of* *Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy.* Churchill Livingstone. Hoffmann, D. (2003). *Medical Herbalism.* Healing Arts Press. Kooti, W., & Daraei, N. (2017). A Review of the Antioxidant Activity of Celery ( Apium graveolens L). *Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine*, *22*(4), 1029–1034\. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156587217717415 Liu, T., Gao, H., Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Lu, M., Dai, X., Liu, Y., Shi, H., Xu, T., Yin, J., Gao, S., Wang, L., & Zhang, D. (2022). Apigenin Ameliorates Hyperuricemia and Renal Injury through Regulation of Uric Acid Metabolism and JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway. *Pharmaceuticals*, *15*(11), 1442\. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15111442 Mills, S., & Bone, K. (2010). *The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety.* Churchill Livingstone. Thomsen, M. (2022). *The Phytotherapy Desk Reference.* (6th ed). Aeon. Waddell, G. (2023). *Plant Medicine a collection of the teachings of the herbalists* *Christopher Hedley and Non Shaw.* Aeon **Figures** Parkov-enwiki. (2021). *Gout in big toe of afflicted left foot, compared to healthy right* *Foot.* \[Photograph\]. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gout#/media/File:Gout\_Comparison.jp g Vicol, E., R. (2010). *Green leaves of celery.* \[Photograph\]. Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Celery#/media/File:Green-Leaves-of- Celery\_41423-480x360\_(4904477507).jpg - \- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/38/c73825ce-926e-4074-bdb7-340dec180829/content/images/2026/10/celery-3.png) Green leaves of celery *Apium graveolens* (Vicol, 2010) ## ***Shout,shout, let the gout out*** ### ***…if you’ve ever had the misfortune to shriek with this painful arthritic condition, herbal relief lies in the celery plant, from its juicy stalks to its tasty seeds…*** ### ***Want to find out more? Dip your (painful big) toe into this week’s PharmaFarmer blog.. Gout Relief***