Gout attacks can be extremely painful. A joint that felt perfectly normal the day before may suddenly become swollen, red, hot and so tender that even the weight of a bedsheet feels unbearable. The big toe is a common target, although gout can also affect the ankles, knees, wrists and other joints.
Many people searching for fast relief come across Dr. Eric Berg’s video, The #1 Remedy for Gout Attacks (WORKS FAST). In his approach, Dr. Berg discusses sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, as a potential remedy for gout. He also discusses dietary changes, sugar consumption and metabolic health as factors that may influence uric acid levels. Source: Dr. Berg’s original video.
But does baking soda really work, and is it safe to use during a painful gout flare?
The answer requires a closer look at what causes gout, how baking soda affects the body and which treatments have the strongest medical evidence.
Important: Baking soda is not a proven rapid treatment for an acute gout attack, and drinking it can be dangerous for some people. Medical treatments and simple measures such as applying a wrapped ice pack have better-established roles in managing an attack.
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the accumulation of urate crystals in and around joints. These crystals develop when uric acid levels in the blood remain too high, allowing crystals to form in susceptible people.
Uric acid is produced when the body breaks down substances called purines. These occur naturally in the body and are also found in certain foods and drinks.
Normally, the kidneys and digestive system help remove uric acid. However, some people produce too much, while others do not eliminate enough. Genetics, kidney function, certain medicines, body weight and other health conditions can all contribute.
When urate crystals accumulate, the immune system may react strongly, triggering inflammation and intense pain.
A gout flare may cause several noticeable symptoms:
An attack can last for days or longer if it is not adequately treated. Although symptoms may eventually settle, the underlying tendency to accumulate urate crystals can remain.
For this reason, relieving the pain of an individual attack and preventing future attacks are two different treatment goals.
In his gout remedy video, Dr. Berg recommends sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, as a way to alkalinise urine and potentially help with gout.
The idea is based on the relationship between uric acid, acidity and crystal formation. Changes in urine acidity can influence how uric acid behaves in the urinary tract, which is particularly relevant to some types of kidney stones.
However, there is an important distinction between changing urine acidity and treating gout in a joint.
Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can neutralise acids. When taken orally, it can alter the body’s acid-base balance and increase the sodium bicarbonate available for excretion in urine.
This does not mean that drinking baking soda reliably removes urate crystals from joints or rapidly stops the inflammation responsible for a gout attack.
The body’s blood pH is tightly regulated by the lungs and kidneys. Drinking an alkaline substance does not simply make the entire body alkaline, and the relationship between urine pH and joint inflammation is more complicated than some online remedies suggest.
There is also insufficient high-quality clinical evidence to establish baking soda as a safe and effective treatment for acute gout pain.
Baking soda contains sodium. Consuming it can increase sodium intake and, in excessive amounts, cause serious disturbances in the body’s electrolyte and acid-base balance.
It may be particularly unsuitable for people with:
People taking prescription medicines should also check with a pharmacist or doctor before using sodium bicarbonate medicinally.
Do not follow escalating baking soda doses from online videos as a substitute for medical advice. There is no established baking soda dose proven to stop an acute gout attack quickly. A clinician can advise whether sodium bicarbonate has any appropriate role for an individual’s circumstances.
If you are experiencing a gout flare, the most effective approach is generally to treat the inflammation promptly rather than rely on an unproven home remedy.
According to the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), first-line treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine or a short course of oral corticosteroids. The appropriate option depends on a person’s medical history, kidney function, other medicines and individual risks.
Read the NICE guideline on gout diagnosis and management.
If you have previously been diagnosed with gout and have a treatment plan from your doctor, follow that plan as soon as a flare begins.
NSAIDs can help reduce inflammation and pain. Colchicine is another treatment that works by reducing the inflammatory response to urate crystals. Corticosteroids may be prescribed when appropriate.
These medicines are not suitable for everyone. For example, certain NSAIDs may be unsafe for people with kidney disease, stomach ulcers, heart problems or particular medication combinations. Colchicine also has important drug interactions and dosing restrictions.
If this is your first suspected gout attack, or the symptoms are different from previous episodes, seek medical assessment rather than assuming gout is the cause.
Cold therapy is a practical way to help ease pain and swelling during a flare.
Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas in a thin towel and place it gently over the affected joint for up to 20 minutes at a time.
Never apply ice directly to the skin. Allow the area to return to its normal temperature before repeating the treatment.
Ice is not a cure for gout, but NICE recommends considering it alongside prescribed medication to help alleviate symptoms.
Pressure and movement can make a gout attack more uncomfortable. If your foot or ankle is affected, try to rest it and raise it on a cushion when sitting or lying down.
Avoid strenuous activity and do not force yourself to walk through severe pain.
If bedclothes irritate the joint, arrange them so they do not press against the affected area.
Staying hydrated supports normal kidney function and helps prevent dehydration, which can contribute to gout attacks.
Drink water regularly throughout the day unless your doctor has instructed you to restrict fluids because of a medical condition.
However, drinking excessive quantities of water will not immediately dissolve urate crystals in an inflamed joint. Hydration should complement appropriate treatment rather than replace it.
Diet can influence uric acid levels and may help reduce the risk of future flares. Nevertheless, gout is not simply the result of eating the wrong foods.
Genetics and kidney function play important roles, and some people experience gout despite following a balanced diet.
NICE advises people with gout that there is insufficient evidence that any one specific diet prevents attacks. A healthy, balanced eating pattern, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting excessive alcohol consumption are sensible measures.
Sugary soft drinks, energy drinks and other beverages containing substantial amounts of added sugar can contribute to higher uric acid levels.
Fructose metabolism can increase uric acid production, making frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks an important dietary consideration.
Dr. Berg discusses sugar and metabolic health in his approach to gout. These are reasonable areas to consider, but dietary changes should not be presented as a guaranteed cure.
Choose water or unsweetened drinks more often and limit products with large amounts of added sugar.
Alcohol can contribute to gout attacks through several mechanisms, including effects on uric acid production and elimination.
Beer is particularly relevant because it contains alcohol and purines. Heavy alcohol consumption can increase the likelihood of a flare.
If you experience recurrent attacks, consider reducing alcohol intake and discuss your individual risk factors with a healthcare professional.
Some foods contain high concentrations of purines, which the body breaks down into uric acid.
Examples include:
You do not necessarily need to eliminate all protein-rich foods. Beans, lentils and other plant-based protein sources can form part of a healthy diet.
The overall eating pattern matters, and dietary restriction alone may not bring uric acid levels down sufficiently to prevent attacks.
A balanced diet can support general health and help manage conditions associated with gout.
Consider including vegetables, whole grains, suitable portions of protein, low-fat dairy products if tolerated, and whole fruits.
If you are overweight, gradual and sustainable weight loss may help reduce gout risk. Avoid crash diets and prolonged fasting without medical guidance, as rapid weight loss and ketosis can sometimes trigger gout flares.
Celery juice and celery extracts are frequently promoted online as natural remedies for inflammation and high uric acid.
Celery contains plant compounds that have been investigated for possible biological effects. However, evidence that celery juice can reliably treat an acute gout attack in humans is limited.
It should not replace prescribed medication or be regarded as a proven method of dissolving urate crystals.
If you enjoy celery, eating it as part of a balanced diet is a reasonable choice. There is no need to rely on expensive juices or supplements to manage gout.
Several other natural remedies are promoted for gout, including apple cider vinegar, cherry products and turmeric.
These remedies are not interchangeable with proven gout treatments.
Cherries: Some research has explored associations between cherry consumption and gout flares, but the evidence is not strong enough to establish cherries or cherry supplements as a dependable acute treatment.
Turmeric: Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound studied for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. However, evidence that turmeric supplements stop gout attacks is insufficient.
Apple cider vinegar: There is no convincing clinical evidence that apple cider vinegar rapidly relieves a gout attack or reliably lowers uric acid enough to prevent flares.
The NICE guideline notes that evidence for specific dietary interventions, including cherry products and vitamin C, is insufficient to recommend a particular diet as a gout treatment.
Natural products can also have side effects or interact with medicines. Discuss supplements with a pharmacist or doctor, particularly if you have kidney disease or take regular medication.
Treating an acute flare can relieve symptoms, but preventing future attacks may require a longer-term plan.
For people with recurrent gout or other indications for treatment, clinicians may recommend urate-lowering medicines such as allopurinol or febuxostat.
These medicines work differently from painkillers. Rather than simply relieving inflammation, they lower uric acid levels over time and help prevent the formation of new crystals.
Treatment is usually adjusted according to blood urate measurements and individual circumstances. Flares can occur when urate-lowering therapy is first started or its dose is increased, so a clinician may also prescribe preventive treatment during this period.
If you have been prescribed allopurinol or another urate-lowering medicine, do not stop taking it simply because your pain has improved. If an attack occurs while you are taking it, seek advice about your treatment plan rather than changing your dose yourself.
A painful, swollen joint is not always caused by gout. A joint infection can produce similar symptoms and may require urgent treatment.
Seek urgent medical assessment if you have a hot, swollen joint accompanied by fever, chills, feeling very unwell or rapidly worsening symptoms. In the UK, contact NHS 111 for urgent advice, or seek emergency care if you are seriously unwell.
Prompt assessment is also important for a first attack, an unusual flare or pain that is not improving with your treatment.
Do not delay medical care while trying baking soda, supplements or other home remedies.
Dr. Berg has promoted sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, as a remedy intended to alkalinise urine. However, there is insufficient clinical evidence that drinking baking soda quickly stops an acute gout attack, and it can be unsafe for some people.
Baking soda can alter urine acidity, but this does not establish that it dissolves urate crystals in inflamed joints. Medically supervised urate-lowering treatment is used to reduce uric acid levels over time and help prevent crystal accumulation.
Prompt treatment with an appropriate prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine, colchicine or a corticosteroid is generally the evidence-based approach. Rest, elevation and a wrapped ice pack can provide additional relief.
Adequate hydration helps prevent dehydration, but water alone is not a proven treatment for an acute gout flare. Follow your treatment plan and observe any fluid restrictions prescribed for other medical conditions.
Not necessarily. Limiting organ meats, excessive red meat and certain high-purine seafood may help, but a balanced diet is preferable to unnecessary dietary restrictions. Your doctor can help you identify relevant dietary and medical risk factors.
Gout can often be controlled very effectively. Sustained urate-lowering treatment can gradually reduce crystal deposits and prevent future attacks. The appropriate treatment and target uric acid level depend on the individual.
Dr. Berg’s video, The #1 Remedy for Gout Attacks (WORKS FAST), highlights baking soda as a natural approach to gout. Although this remedy is based on the idea of changing urine acidity, it has not been established as a reliable or safe way to stop an acute gout attack.
For someone experiencing a painful flare, the more dependable approach is to obtain appropriate medical treatment promptly, rest and elevate the affected joint, apply a wrapped ice pack for up to 20 minutes at a time, and maintain suitable hydration.
For long-term control, dietary improvements, moderation of alcohol, sustainable weight management and, when indicated, urate-lowering medication can help reduce the risk of recurrent attacks.
The key is to distinguish between a remedy that is popular online and one that has been demonstrated to work safely and reliably. If gout attacks keep returning, addressing uric acid levels with a healthcare professional is more important than relying on a quick home remedy.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional before trying medicinal doses of baking soda or changing prescribed gout medication.
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