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Cherries May Help Ease Joint Pain

Q. I would like some info about cherries for a friend who suffers from arthritis and gout.

A. A small study in the Journal of Nutrition (June, 2003) suggested that sweet cherries could lower uric acid levels that cause gout. The researchers also observed that “cherries may inhibit inflammatory pathways.”

Readers have been telling us that sour cherries (fresh, dried, frozen, juice or CherryFlex pills) can ease both gout attacks and arthritis pain. Here is one recent account:

“I tried the cherry juice after reading about it in your column. I now get out of bed without back pain (after less than a month). I have sciatica, along with other back issues, and arthritis in both knees. I can do stairs again.

“On top of that, I asked our vet if I could give it to our dog. He said yes, as the worst it would do is give her the runs, but to give her half a dose. I give her two capsules a day and she is now running again after only two weeks.”

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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