Is ice or heat good for gout?

A good home treatment for minor gout pain is cold, according to WebMD. Apply a cold pack to the afflicted joint several times a day for 20 to 30 minutes.

Gout pain and inflammation occur when urate crystals, created by an excess of uric acid in the blood, collect in the joints, according to WebMD. The body creates uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are present in foods like red meat, organ meat, beer, fructose sweetened drinks, and seafood. To help control gout, Mayo Clinic recommends cutting back on foods and drinks high in purines, drinking lots of water, and exercising to maintain a healthy weight.