Gin Soaked Raisins Might Be Used To Manage Arthritis Pain?

Arthritis is a condition that can affect either an isolated spot or several places on your body and is sometimes quite disabling for those who suffer from it. The discomfort is caused by swelling/inflammation in the joints resulting in stiffness and pain.

Increased physical activity, weight loss and hot/cold therapies help to not only manage the aching and tenderness, they also facilitate increased endurance and range of movement.

There are occasions though where things get quite excruciating and you may be looking for a source of comfort not requiring a prescription.

I’ve received this tip throughout the years by a few different readers but I was hesitant to publish the treatment since it involves consuming a bit of alcohol (minimal) and I’m extra cautious with those. I finally took the time to do a bit of investigating and found some credible online sources declaring that it can indeed be beneficial for alleviating arthritic aching (and why).

First, here’s the gist of the home remedy (all three recipes were pretty much the same so I’ve combined into a single file), I referenced the sources I researched underneath…

Recipe

*Rough guideline, make any amount desired

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Golden or “White” raisins (can’t be any other variety)
• Approximately 3/4 cup good quality Gin

Directions:

• Dump them into a glass or ceramic bowl (a large canning jar will also suffice) then pour the alcohol over top until they are *just* covered (they must be fully submerged).
• Take a piece of cheesecloth or a coffee filter to cover bowl (keeps out dust) and set it out of the way (keep at room temperature).
• Leave for two weeks or until all the liquid has been absorbed by the fruit (minimum one week, top up with more if necessary).
• Store in a sealed glass jar and refrigerate.

Instructions:

• Eat 9 each day, sprinkle over a bowl of cereal if you don’t care for the taste of them on their own. Sprinkling a bit of cinnamon helps improve flavor.
• May take 4 to 6 weeks of daily consumption before results start kicking in.
• *Variation: One person suggested consuming 15 each day for the first two weeks, then dropping to 9.

Who Says It Works?

Dr. Oz himself has declared this a winner (quoted from Oprah Winfrey’s website, though page is no longer available online):

Verdict: It works! Drinking alcohol has been shown to cut the risks of developing rheumatoid arthritis in half. Gin is flavored by the juniper berry, which contains anti-inflammatory properties. Raisins contain ferulic acid, gentisic acid and salicylic acid – all natural pain relievers.

Another article on the net that is no longer available (from Foxnews.com) explains in more detail why it can help. Here’s a brief quote (they also advise eating 10 a day):

The deductions here do not add up to an absolute guarantee that gin-soaked raisins will work to relieve your arthritis. But without question, there are enough anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving compounds in the golden raisins, the sulfur dioxide and the juniper gin to add up to a lot of very likely relief.

Thanks very much to Bill, Cheryl and Maria for sharing the tip, sorry I took my time posting it!

Alternative Remedies

If you’re looking for a solution that doesn’t incorporate liquor, I do have a few to try:

• Eat tart cherries or drink sour cherry juice frequently.
• Cinnamon: Each morning take 1/2 tsp of cinnamon with 1 TBS of honey.
• Juniper Berry Tea: Include a titch of honey if too bitter.
• Turmeric: Contains curcumin which has anti-inflammatory properties. Add to food when cooking. Caution: People who are on blood thinning medication should avoid this since turmeric can thin blood.
• Reduce Sugar From Diet: Skip sodas, desserts and sugary drinks.
• Apply soothing hot pads (instructions for making them on this page).
• Chamomile Tea Bags: Apply used bags over achy joints (may be kept chilled in the refrigerator).
• Fresh Ginger: A small piece of peeled, fresh ginger at breakfast, lunch and dinner (piece size about 1/2″).
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar: (Daily) Add one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a large glass of water (warm).
• DIY Massage Oil: Mix a good pinch of ground cayenne with a couple tablespoons of olive oil. Apply to trouble spot (cover with a cotton wrap). May cause a burning sensation which will dissipate over time. The spice can stain skin.

Note: Information above is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and is simply a collection of information I’ve gathered.