DEAR DR. GOTT: I became aware yesterday I have gout. My left leg just above the ankle and big toe are inflamed and a bit painful. I'm grateful the pain isn't as bad as it is for some other people.

Well, I started eating cherries. I slept well last night and woke up this morning without the pain I had yesterday. This morning I ate another five cherries. The redness in the affected area is gone, and I'm back to walking normally.

Thank you for caring for your fellow human beings, and thank you for this column.

DEAR READER: Gout affects the joints and is caused by too much uric acid in the body. It commonly occurs with the ingestion of excess alcohol, organ meats, anchovies and gravies. Men over 40 are most commonly affected.

Treatment ordinarily consists of dietary changes and/or medication. Some drugs are to be taken during an acute phase of an attack, while others are prescribed as a preventive. In your case, you chose to follow a remedy that has been used successfully for quite some time now — cherries. I must admit I was a little surprised that you experienced such rapid, positive results. Either you had a very mild case or are simply one of the lucky ones for whom the home remedy works.

To provide related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports "Compelling Home Remedies" and "More Compelling Home Remedies." Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed stamped No 10 envelope and a check or money order for $2 for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

DEAR DR. GOTT: Could you provide any information on hair loss? I'm 88 years old, and it comes out in clusters. I had gallbladder surgery with complications in 1979. My medical doctor has referred me to a dermatologist.

I would appreciate any information you can offer.

DEAR READER: Anyone can experience alopecia, the technical term for hair loss. This can result from certain medications, heredity or an underlying medical condition. The loss commonly occurs in patches about the size of a quarter and can appear on the head, eyebrows, beard or anywhere else hair grows.

Hair cycles between stages of growth and rest. The growth phase of scalp hair commonly lasts two to three years at a rate of about half an inch per month. The resting stage commonly lasts up to four months. Most people shed between 50 and 100 hairs each day. While this may seem excessive, there are about 100,000 hairs in the scalp, so the amount is minimal.

Temporary hair loss can result from wearing pigtails or a ponytail, using tight curling rollers, poor nutrition such as fad diets and eating disorders, or scalp infection, such as ringworm. Hormonal changes, such as thyroid disorders or beginning menopause, hair treatments to include bleaching or dying, diabetes, lupus, specific medications taken for hypertension, cardiac problems, arthritis or gout, or a course of chemotherapy or radiation therapy can all cause hair loss.

While some forms of alopecia do not require any treatment at all, for others, there are specific medications your physician can prescribe. Therefore, I recommend you make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your specific case. Once the cause of your hair loss has been discovered, he or she can determine if prescription or over-the-counter medication might help your condition.

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook."