Q. I am very disappointed that you suggest gin-soaked raisins to relieve arthritis pain. I have served on the local Public Education Committee for the Arthritis Foundation. During one meeting someone mentioned this remedy.
A physician at the meeting said sarcastically, “Forget the raisins and just drink the gin. Neither will help, but the gin could make you forget your arthritis briefly.”
People with arthritis need the care of a competent rheumatologist who can prescribe appropriate medications. Home remedies have no place in rational therapy.
A. We would be horrified if someone drank gin (or any alcoholic beverage) to alleviate arthritis pain. The recipe calls for golden raisins soaked in gin that has been allowed to evaporate. When we had this remedy tested, the lab found a total of one drop of alcohol in nine raisins.
Home remedies are rarely tested in scientific studies, and we are not aware of any research supporting the use of gin-soaked raisins for arthritis. There are also no studies proving this remedy ineffective. To dismiss it without evidence seems prejudiced.
Many people have found this simple and inexpensive approach helpful. Compared to prescription arthritis drugs, it is much less likely to cause serious side effects.
