Q. I have been suffering with unbearable hip and knee joint pain. For the last several years I have taken to using a cane. I finally went to the doctor after my sister-in-law mentioned that I walked like a person who needed a hip replacement. After reviewing X-rays, the orthopedic surgeon said I am a good candidate for both hip and knee replacements.
When I visited a friend in Florida recently, she pulled out a People’s Pharmacy article about gin-soaked raisins and told me to try them. She had a batch made up already because she has started to get the same type of pain.
I started by taking nine raisins that night before going to bed. The next morning I was shocked. I had no snap, crackle or pop! I could almost jump out of bed. That day I did not need a cane. I was surprised by my ability to walk up stairs and move around with little or no effort.
I don’t know how it works, but I take nine raisins every night knowing that when I get up in the morning I’ll be able to move pain-free. It may not last forever, but for now it is great.
A. Your story is dramatic because you got such quick relief. Many readers report that it takes a month or even two before they notice the benefits of gin-soaked golden raisins. We do not know why they work either, but we include the recipe for this and many other remedies to alleviate joint pain in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis. In it, you will find FAQs about gin-soaked raisins.
Some readers prefer to avoid gin, and one has suggested an alternate recipe. The golden raisins are soaked in a mixture of honey and apple cider vinegar.