During cherry season I buy them by the large box. I separate them out into freezer bags and freeze them. I often have a hundred pounds or more at a time. Whenever I want to eat some or need to because of my gout, I simply take out a handful, wash them (since I don’t before freezing) and pop them in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. They taste just like fresh ones.

DEAR READER:
This is a novel approach to have “fresh” cherries year-round. Gout appears to respond to nearly any variety of cherry, even dried, canned, maraschino or juice. In my experience, most people like fresh cherries best so I am passing along your tip. Thanks for sharing.

My husband had seven kidney stones caused by gout crystals. He was given allopurinol to help control them but it only caused him severe pain across the bottom of his chest and top of his stomach. I was afraid his pancreas was being harmed. (We have a friend who lost his gallbladder, most likely because of his use of allopurinol.)

After seeing your article, I put my husband on two cherry extract pills a day. I figured if it helped gout, it would help kidney stones caused by gout crystals. I guess I was right because my husband has not had another kidney stone and it’s been five years!

DEAR READER:
It does appear that you were correct in suggesting your husband use cherry extract pills to treat his kidney stones. It makes sense that if cherries can alleviate the discomfort of gout, they should also reduce symptoms of kidney stones caused by gout crystals. I am therefore printing your letter for other readers input. Cherries can be eaten every day (10-15 fresh, dried, canned) or cherry extract (pills or liquid) can also easily be substituted for those who do not like cherries or find it hard to get them at certain times of the year.

I would also like to address your statements about allopurinol. Some people, such as your husband, are sensitive to the medication. Side effects can include allergy, nausea, diarrhea, rash, abdominal pain, and much more. One of the more rare side effects is hemorrhagic pancreatitis. I doubt that your husband was experiencing pain from his pancreas. As for your friend who lost his gallbladder, I also doubt this was due to allopurinol use. Gallbladder disease can cause symptoms similar to side effects of the drug. Chances are that these conditions simply coincided with their allopurinol use since most side effects from this medication occur in less than one percent of users.

That being said, both your husband and friend should have immediately stopped the medication and contacted their doctors if their symptoms were severe. The doctors could have given their respective patients exams, testing and changes in dosage or medication. There is no need to suffer debilitating side effects from medication taken for relatively trivial conditions. Gout is not deadly; it is simply annoying and painful. Kidney stones do carry some risks but in most cases are also harmless and will eventually (and painfully) pass on their own. If your husband had seven kidney stones at once, perhaps he should have tried other options such as lithotripsy which uses sound waves to break up the stones, making them easier to pass.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.