Gout

What it is
Gout is an inflammatory arthritis due to high levels of uric acid which precipitate out into joints and tissues. This produces symptoms of a hot, red, swollen, exquisitely sensitive joint and usually affects the big toe, although any joints in the body can be involved.

Self help measures:
Standard dietary advice is to reduce your intake of purine-rich foods such as offal, shellfish, oily fish, game, meats, yeast-extracts, asparagus, and spinach. Avoid alcohol as it both increases uric acid production and reduces its excretion - especially beer which is also rich in purines. As most uric acid is produced in the body during the breakdown of purines released when the genetic material (DNA) of worn out cells is recycled, however, dietary changes can only lower uric acid levels by up to 20%.

Applying magnetic patches
Apply a magnetic patch over sites of tenderness, or apply several patches to surround the area.
Magnetic patches can also be applied to acupuncture points over or near the site of pain. Select the points which most closely relate to the site of discomfort.