How Sauna Therapy Can Help with Gout: Benefits and Treatment Options

Living with gout can make every step feel like a struggle. The pain, swelling, and discomfort seem to have no end, affecting your daily life.

If you’re tired of relying on medication and looking for a natural way to ease the pain, sauna therapy could be the solution. Discover how it can help reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Key Takeaways

Sauna therapy can help reduce uric acid buildup and may lower the risk of gout attacks.
Regular sauna use improves blood circulation and eases joint pain and stiffness.
Infrared saunas can increase circulation and help flush out excess uric acid from the body.
Sauna therapy supports kidney function and promotes detoxification, which can aid in gout management.
Avoid sauna use during a gout attack if inflammation is severe, and opt for short sessions with plenty of hydration if mild.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a painful condition that happens when too much uric acid builds up in the blood, forming sharp crystals in the joints.

It mostly affects the big toe but can also strike other joints like the ankles, knees, and fingers.

Gout is a type of arthritis, causing sudden swelling, redness, and intense pain. It develops when the body either makes too much uric acid or struggles to remove it.

People who eat high-purine foods, drink alcohol, or have kidney issues are more at risk.

Gout can come and go in stages, but without treatment, it may lead to permanent joint damage.

How Does a Sauna Work?

A sauna is a heated room designed to make you sweat, helping your body relax and recover.

Traditional saunas use hot stones or wood-burning stoves to create dry heat, while steam saunas add moisture for a humid experience.

Infrared saunas work differently by using infrared light to heat your body directly instead of the air.

When you sit in a sauna, your heart rate increases, and your body sweats out toxins. The heat relaxes muscles and reduces stiffness, which may help with conditions like gout.

Scientific research shows that sauna bathing has been beneficial for centuries, promoting health by reducing risks of cardiovascular diseases and musculoskeletal disorders.

Regular sauna use aids in recovery, stress reduction, and enhances resistance to environmental factors.

Can a Sauna Help with Gout?

A sauna can help with gout by improving blood flow and reducing joint stiffness. The heat relaxes muscles and may ease the pain caused by inflammation.

Sweating in a sauna may also support detoxification, which can help manage uric acid levels.

While sauna therapy won’t directly cure gout, it may reduce symptoms and improve overall comfort. If you have severe gout, talk to a doctor before using a sauna.

Sauna Benefits for Gout Relief

Reduces Uric Acid Buildup

Sauna therapy can help flush out excess uric acid through sweating. Over time, regular sauna use may contribute to lower uric acid levels, reducing the risk of gout attacks.

Improves Blood Circulation

Saunas increase body temperature, causing blood vessels to widen and improve circulation.

Better blood flow helps transport nutrients and oxygen to joints, reducing inflammation and pain in gout patients.

Eases Joint Pain and Stiffness

Heat from a sauna can relax stiff joints and muscles, making movement easier for those with gout. Increased blood flow delivers warmth to joints, easing discomfort.

Promotes Detoxification

Saunas support the body’s natural detox process by promoting sweat production.

Sweating eliminates toxins, which can contribute to gout flare-ups. Sweat from infrared saunas has 15-20% toxins, far more than the 3-5% in traditional saunas, boosting detoxification of heavy metals and environmental toxins effectively.

Infrared saunas, in particular, are highly effective in detoxifying the body, making them a great option for those managing gout.

Heat therapies, like saunas, improve circulation and promote tissue repair, helping with joint symptoms in conditions like arthritis.

They boost blood flow, reduce inflammation, and can support long-term management of joint pain.

Reduces Inflammation

Gout is an inflammatory condition, and sauna therapy can help calm inflammation. While sauna use during an acute attack should be approached with caution, regular sessions may help manage chronic inflammation and swelling.

Regular sauna use reduces systemic inflammation markers like C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, with frequent sessions (4-7 times/week) linked to lower cardiovascular and chronic disease risks, per 2018 research.

In a study, researchers investigated whether the frequency of sauna bathing is associated with levels of serum C-reactive protein, a leading blood marker of systemic inflammation.

The study consisted of 2,084 men aged 42–60 without acute or chronic inflammation.

Participants reported sauna use as follows: 25.6% once a week, 65.6% 2–3 times a week, and 8.8% 4–7 times a week.

Mean serum C-reactive protein levels were 2.41 (standard deviation 2.91), 2.00 (2.41), and 1.65 (1.63) mmol/L, respectively.

After adjusting for factors like age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking, type 2 diabetes, previous myocardial infarction, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, the study found a significant inverse association between sauna bathing frequency and C-reactive protein levels.

These findings suggest that frequent sauna use may reduce systemic inflammation, though further studies are needed to explore this relationship fully.

In a study, Waon therapy significantly improved circulation and mobilized endothelial progenitor cells, helping reduce inflammation and improve limb ischemia in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Frequent sauna sessions may help manage chronic inflammation and swelling, supporting overall gout relief.

Boosts Kidney Function

Since the kidneys play a crucial role in filtering uric acid from the blood, sauna therapy may support their function. Sweating helps lighten the kidneys’ workload by removing toxins through the skin.

Encourages Stress Reduction

Stress is a common gout trigger, and sauna therapy is an excellent way to relax. Sauna use promotes the release of endorphins, which improve mood and relaxation.

Can Sauna Prevent Gout?

Sauna therapy may help lower the risk of gout by improving circulation and supporting kidney function.

When you sweat in a sauna, your body releases some uric acid, which may help prevent excess buildup.

Sauna vs. Steam Room for Gout

Saunas and steam rooms both use heat but work differently. A sauna gives dry heat, making you sweat more, while a steam room uses moist heat, which can help with joint stiffness.

For gout, a sauna may be better because it helps the body remove uric acid through sweat, lowering the risk of flare-ups. Neither should be used during a gout attack, as heat can increase inflammation.

Infrared Sauna for Gout

Infrared saunas can help with gout by increasing circulation, which helps flush out excess uric acid from the body. Better blood flow can also reduce inflammation and ease joint pain.

Using a Sauna During a Gout Attack

Using a sauna during a gout attack can be tricky. While heat might seem comforting, it can sometimes make inflammation worse.

Cold therapy is usually better during a flare-up because it reduces swelling and numbs pain. If the attack is mild, short sauna sessions with plenty of hydration might help.

Best Sauna Temperature for Gout

The best sauna temperature for gout relief is around 110°F to 140°F (43°C to 60°C).

If you're using an infrared sauna, a lower setting of 100°F to 130°F (38°C to 54°C) works well.

Traditional saunas can go a bit higher but should stay below 160°F (71°C). Gout sufferers should limit sessions to 10–20 minutes to avoid overheating and dehydration.

Sauna vs. Hot Baths for Gout

Saunas and hot baths both help with gout, but they work differently. Saunas make you sweat more, which can help flush out uric acid, while hot baths relax the joints and ease stiffness.

If your goal is deep detox, a sauna might be more effective. However, for quick pain relief, a hot bath can work faster by soothing inflammation.