Q. I read about golden raisins and gin helping arthritis. I am 66 with arthritis and post-polio syndrome, so I am looking for any conservative approach to pain relief.
Is there a reason that people choose golden rather than brown raisins? Is any type of alcohol OK or is gin the only one to try? Do you have any other non-drug treatment hints to help me?
A. Home remedies often have no science to back them up, and this one is no exception. Some people who have done their own experimenting found that dark raisins may also help. Others have tried rum instead of gin, and we recently heard that soaking raisins in vinegar and honey also works.
If gin-soaked raisins do not work, other natural remedies that might be worth a try include boswellia, bromelain, tart cherries, turmeric and various concoctions of grape juice with other juices. We are sending you our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis, with more details and many other options for you to try.
