Q. When I read about gin-soaked raisins, I laughed all the way to the liquor store. When I told the clerk why I was there, he said he sells a lot of gin for that very purpose.
I was still skeptical but tried the remedy anyway. I had relief from my joint pain and stiffness within a week but still thought it was probably just a fluke. When I stopped taking the raisins I found out what a difference they had made! I now keep golden raisins and gin on hand for everyday use.
A. Quite a few people have had a similar experience with liquor store clerks reassuring them that others have also bought gin for just such a purpose. This is one of the most popular arthritis remedies we have ever written about. There is a complete recipe and a page of FAQs about gin-soaked raisins in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis.
One reader, Cindy, reported: “Gin-soaked raisins: the 17-year-old that works with and for me at times in my landscaping business told me that he now takes them regularly. I gave him a sample – a very kindly gift to friends, by the way. He had recently had a crash on his little motorcycle. He was motivated by the pain to try the raisins and is now a true believer.
“Oddly, I got away from taking the spoonful myself. I mentioned to him about how swollen one of my knees was and my ankle also gets swollen. He said, G-s R, remember? Within a day there was improvement, not just in the pain but in the swelling of my knee.”
