Arthritis and gout have been around for generations. Folk remedies for these conditions have a likewise long pedigree. Among them is a food item that sounds like it belongs in a fruitcake recipe: golden raisins soaked in gin. Though this remedy has no scientific support, many people, some of them famous, do swear by it. It is unlikely to cause you harm so long as you don't use it as a substitute for medical care.
Popularity
The popularity of gin-soaked golden raisins for arthritis got a boost in the early 1990s thanks to radio announcer Paul Harvey. Later, Teresa Heinz Kerry suggested it during the presidential campaign of her husband John in 2004. "The New York Times" cited a health care discussion in Nevada during which Kerry gave instructions on how to apply the decades-old folk remedy.
Recipe
Kerry's version of the remedy requires you to soak white raisins in gin for two weeks. After that, you eat nine of these gin-soaked raisins a day. She emphasized that only white raisins will do. "White raisins" is an alternative term for golden raisins.
Lack of Scientific Support
No clinical studies exist to support or refute the claim that gin, raisins, or gin-soaked raisins can assuage arthritis symptoms.
Medicinal Potential of Raisins
A clinical study reported in the journal "Inflammation" in 2007 demonstrated a connection between resveratrol -- a compound found in grape skin and red wine -- and relief from inflammatory arthritis. However, the study's conclusions concern only intra-articular injections of resveratrol, not digested resveratrol. And according to the article in "The New York Times," raisins are a poor source of resveratrol. The process of drying grapes to make raisins generally destroys the compound.
Medicinal Potential of Juniper Berries
A possible connection between gin-soaked raisins and pain relief is the juniper berry, a common flavoring ingredient in gin. According to the "Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine," anti-inflammatory properties are among the many medicinal qualities attributed to the juniper berry. These and other therapeutic effects stem from compounds found in the berries' oil, such as terpenes, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins. Native Americans used juniper berries to treat arthritis. Herbalists during modern times use an ointment made from the berry to treat the symptoms of arthritis and gout.
Caution
Use juniper oil in very small quantities. It can be toxic in doses as small as six drops. Do not start new treatments without first consulting your doctor.
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