It’s my birthday! And it’s off to the mineral hot springs for The Gout Killer!
This actually something I’ve sort of written about in the past and something that I’ve promoted in several different ways. When it comes right down to it, anyone that is doing battle with the gout beast should at least take a couple of hot baths with good magnesium salts (Epsom salts) to help with the keep the alkaline mineral balance in check.
We are headed to a little town in western Colorado that I love: Ouray. This is one of the most stunning and gorgeous little towns in Colorado and the mineral hot springs are a great preventative treatment for gout. These waters are rich in magnesium, calcium, sodium, and all sorts of naturally occurring trace minerals.
Mineral Baths: Old Time Gout Treatment
It’s actually a bit strange that in times past, hot therapeutic baths were an integral part of many natural health protocols. In the times of the Roman Empire, the hot springs in the area of Baden-Baden, Germany were well-known for relief from rheumatism, GOUT, paralysis, neuralgia, and skin diseases.
When it comes to gout, a big piece of the puzzle is the rampant mineral deficiencies so many of us live with and at the top of the list is magnesium deficiency.
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Thanks Bert. Down 15lbs since October 1st. No Gout flares since November 18th. Working on the alkaline diet.
~ Jim
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Before and After
I wrote the first part of this post before we left – my birthday was Saturday. Everything from this point forward is about my experience with my wife Sharon, (The Gout Wife) at the hot springs in Ouray.
I’ve been planning this for a few months now as sort of an important “thing” to point out about what all of us as killers of gout could and should take advantage of. As I mentioned earlier, in times past, doing these kinds of therapeutic things was an integral part of taking care of ones health . . . what happened? Now we have all been so programmed and conditioned to believe that “health” comes in a pill – it is so NOT true.
Having a good time, relaxing, and taking advantage of beautiful scenery and natural, mineral infused hot water is the prescription. In fact, I did a video for you as an example of the kind of determination it takes to overcome gout – I hope you enjoy it, think of the “obstacle course” as gout itself:
Obviously that is all fun and games but on the more serious side, the hot water itself was great on my old gout-ravaged joints, muscles and bones and the water at the Ouray Hot Springs was loaded with a bunch of different important alkalizing minerals and one mineral that is especially well-known for helping gout (and bi-polar disorder…I wonder what the connection is?) and that is lithium.
Also something that came to mind is the importance of hydration and while some of the pools were quite hot, others were not and letting all that healing water soak through my skin and into my blood was a really good way to get super hydrated.
Super Oxygenated Blood
The other good gout therapy that came along with the trip was a fantastic hike, high up to the Grizzly Bear Mine.
Something that I talk about often is keeping your blood really well oxygenated. A common fact is that if blood oxygen saturation drops too low too often, the blood becomes acidic…and your case and mine, with uric acid. That is why consistent exercise is a fundamental part of the gout killin’ program. A high mountain hike like this in the crisp, clean Colorado air is an excellent way to oxygenate your blood in a big way.
(can you see me? I’m on the ledge, two-thirds up on the left!)
Sleep
Probably one of the most overlooked things we can all do to manage and control gout is to just plain get more sleep!
I wrote about it in a post a few weeks back. When we are standing, moving, eating, and just plain engaged in critical thinking and planning, our autonomic nervous system is operating in a “sympathetic” state – meaning, while we are engaged in activities, our bodies are carrying out all the things it needs to do to keep us alive.
It is when we lay down to rest, relax, and sleep, that the autonomic nervous system goes into a “parasympathetic” state – meaning, now that we are not balancing, digesting, and on the look out for the next saber tooth tiger, the “repair crew” can clean up, rebuild, and get ready for the next go’round of life sustaining efforts.
And let me tell you this; it is so quiet in Ouray, AND the beds at the China Clipper Inn are magic! We slept with the windows open, it was quiet, and when you’re surrounded by those huge mysterious mountains, life takes on a whole new dimension.
So if you get the chance, let Hans and Ingrid show you all that Colorado hospitality can be, right down to a stupendous breakfast, complete with fresh-baked chocolate & raspberry muffins every morning!
☆ Remember! Taking advantage of mineral hot springs is old school gout killin’ therapy!
“I know your pain. Let me help you kill your gout for good! And teach you to advocate for yourself and take ownership of your gout recovery, by showing you how to live the gout-free lifestyle.” Two decades ago, Bert Middleton found himself diagnosed with gout. Like 8.3 million other people in the United States (approximately 4% of the population), he struggled helplessly with the physical, emotional, social, and financial impact that gout left unchecked can have on your life. Prescription drugs were of limited help… And the terrible pain of regular gout attacks left him unable to enjoy even the simplest daily pleasures. His marriage was suffering. His finances were spiraling due to the impact gout had on his ability to work. And maintaining a social life was often nearly impossible. Tophi surgeries left him in terrible pain. And he found himself depressed … and angry … that gout was stealing years of his life.
Until one day, after hundreds of hours of research and self-experimentation, Bert finally had a breakthrough and created a blueprint for a way of living that would prove to be “the answer” to living gout-free for nearly a decade now. Today, Bert and his “Gout Wife” Sharon devote their evenings and weekends to educating other gout sufferers on how to live the gout-free lifestyle. Showing others his 911 Emergency Response Gout Recovery Plan for getting PAINFUL gout attacks under control in as little as 4 hours. And then, how to make daily choices that keep gout under control for GOOD! So you can finally start LIVING again!