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Gin-Soaked Raisins for Joint Pain

We first heard about gin-soaked raisins as a remedy for arthritis back in 1994. A gentleman wrote to ask our opinion about this approach. At the time, we thought it was the most original home remedy we had encountered, but we had no way of knowing whether it would help anyone.

Since then, we have heard from hundreds of readers of our syndicated newspaper column and visitors to this website. Many report outstanding success. Others tell us that the gin-raisin remedy is worthless. Why some would get such benefit and others none is beyond us. Then again, some people get great relief from ibuprofen and others find it doesn’t do much for their discomfort. Ditto for glucosamine and chondroitin.

Here are just a few recent stories about gin-soaked raisins:

Last fall I began having arthritis pains in my knees. It was painful to walk up and down stairs. I tried the gin-soaked raisins, though I fully expected that they wouldn’t work.

I was amazed and thrilled that after one week I could feel a difference. After about one and a half months, the improvement is terrific! I am thrilled and hope it keeps up.

Dona, January 14, 2011

I suffered from hip pain for almost six years. The pain was worse when I was standing, not so bad when I was walking or moving around.

During this time, I went to two different chiropractors, had three different injections with three different doctors (pain doctors and sports medicine), and went through several acupuncture sessions with two different acupuncturists. My regular doctor commented that two of his patients had pain relief from the raisin/gin treatment, so I tried it.

A few days after I started the treatment I was standing in line to pick up some prescriptions at WalMart and suddenly realized I had no hip pain even though I was standing. I’ve been pain free for a little over a year now.

JM August 10, 2010

I personally am completely convinced that taking a teaspoon a day of the gin-soaked raisins has done what the chiropractor could not do for my feet and ankles. My problem was serious because I have a gardening business and I MUST walk, shovel, rake, and move around on uneven ground many times a week.

I was in such pain. I am 60, but I must keep doing hard physical work because it is my only source of income. Not even a couple of ibuprofen could really help, but what turned the condition around was the raisins.

Cindy March 5, 2008

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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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