Arthritis is a painful joint disorder that cannot be completely cured but its symptoms, like pain and inflammation, can be reduced, usually through pain medication and physical therapy. There are, of course, alternative or folk remedies that can be used for the same purpose, such as copper bracelets, fruit pectin and magnets. Lately, there has been much talk about the beneficial effects of gin-soaked raisins as a remedy that relieves arthritis pain. This remedy may sound ridiculous to many people but there are those who swear that gin-soaked raisins really work.
Gin-soaked raisins recipe
There are several versions of the recipe for gin-soaked raisins for arthritis, but the general recipe seems to involve a box of gold raisins and enough gin to cover them well. The raisins must be of the gold variety, also called white raisins. Black raisins do not seem to work well for this purpose. The gin should be a quality one. The raisins should be placed in a shallow container and covered with enough gin. They should be left to soak for a few weeks, until they soak up enough and the gin evaporates. As for the amount of raisins, most recipes recommend none a day, although there are variations on this as well.
Does it work?
The only way to confirm whether a treatment or a remedy really works for a specific disease is to perform several double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Such study has not yet been done on the subject of gin-soaked raisins as a remedy for arthritis, probably because medical experts do not take it too seriously. There are, however, some therapies as to why this remedy could actually be effective.
All recipes state that it is necessary to use white or golden sultanas for arthritis remedy, which is why some experts believe that the effectiveness of gin-soaked raisins comes from the sulfur or sulfides used in the process of making white raisins. There is a common misconception that white raisins are basically bleached black raisins. This is not true because manufacturers use sulfur to slow down enzymatic process of browning of fresh grapes.
Some believe that benefits of gin-soaked raisins come more from the gin than from the raisins, because of the juniper berries used in making of this alcoholic beverage. Juniper berries are rich in vitamin C and terpenes, which have anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial for arthritis patients. Others, however, disagree and believe that raisins, with their anti-inflammatory and pain relieving substances, are the dominant element in this remedy.
There are, of course, those who think that gin-soaked raisins work because of the placebo effect. That, of course, is always a possibility but it should be confirmed through controlled studies.
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