Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOriginsRecipeEvidenceAlternativesFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Origins
Recipe
Evidence
Alternatives
FAQ
Are gin-soaked raisins the natural cure that some people claim, or simply a myth? This article takes a closer look at the origins of this claim, how it works, and the evidence in support of it.
Origins of Golden Raisins and Gin
Like many folk remedies, it is difficult to trace the origin of gin-soaked raisins. The idea has likely been around for a long time but got its first real boost in the 1990s when radio personality Paul Harvey mentioned the remedy on one of his popular broadcasts.
Although there are numerous variations on the remedy, there is a basic recipe that involves only two ingredients: golden raisins and distilled gin.
How to Make Gin-Soaked Raisins
It is unclear why golden raisins are used instead of black raisins. For their part, authors Joe and Teresa Graedon noted that golden raisins are preferred but “some people have found that the darker raisins work just fine as well.”
Gin-Soaked Raisin RecipeEmpty a box of golden raisins into a shallow container.Pour the gin over the raisins to barely cover.Cover the container with cheesecloth and leave a cool dry room. The alcohol will prevent bacteria from growing.Allow the raisins to soak for a few weeks until the gin evaporates. The raisins will not dry out but will stay moist like normal raisins.Eat nine raisins a day to help relieve your arthritis pain.
Gin-Soaked Raisin Recipe
Empty a box of golden raisins into a shallow container.Pour the gin over the raisins to barely cover.Cover the container with cheesecloth and leave a cool dry room. The alcohol will prevent bacteria from growing.Allow the raisins to soak for a few weeks until the gin evaporates. The raisins will not dry out but will stay moist like normal raisins.Eat nine raisins a day to help relieve your arthritis pain.
Results can vary, but natural health experts like the Graedons advise that it can take two weeks or more before you feel the effects.
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Evidence and Theories
To date, there have been few, if any, studies proving that gin-soaked raisins help arthritis. There is also no real understanding as to why nine raisins are called for. Although some experts will recommend more or fewer raisins, nine seems to be the general consensus.
Despite the lack of research, followers of natural medicine offer theories as to why gin-soaked raisins actually work.
Juniper
There is a widely held belief that the juniper berries used to flavor gin have anti-inflammatory effects that can relieve arthritis pain.
Juniper has, in fact, been used for centuries for this purpose. Juniper contains plant-based compounds known asflavonoidsthat are thought to reduce inflammatory chemicals in the body calledcytokines. These might help alleviate arthritis pain.
Others contend that another group of compounds, calledterpenes, is responsible for the pain relief. Terpenes are aromatic chemicals found in juniper andmarijuanathat may have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties.
Even so, it is unclear if the amount of flavonoids and terpenes found in gin has any real benefit. To date, there is little scientific evidence of this.
Sulfur
Other natural health experts think thatsulfurused to process golden raisins may be the active ingredient. Sulfur-containing foods and sulfur baths are among the natural remedies some people turn to treatosteoarthritis(“wear-and-tear arthritis”).
Rather than being sun-dried like black grapes, the grapes used to create golden raisins are mechanically dried. During the process, they are exposed to sulfur dioxide that prevents caramelization and helps the raisins retain their golden color.
Some research suggests that supplements containing organic sulfur not only have anti-inflammatory effects but also trigger vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels).
Although these combined effects mightin theoryprovide short-term pain relief, it is unknown if the trace amounts of sulfur in golden raisins (roughly 2,500 to 3,000 parts per million) are enough to be beneficial.
The Placebo Effect
There is not enough evidence to suggest that gin-soaked raisins can help treat arthritis in any way. However, that doesn’t mean that they may not have a powerful placebo effect in some people (in which your strong belief in a treatment causes you to feel better).
Nonetheless, without adequate research, it’s impossible to know for sure whether gin-soaked raisins are a placebo or not.
This Is Your Brain on the Placebo Effect
Other Natural Remedies for Arthritis
Someherbal remediesdo show promise in the treatment of arthritis, including:
More research is needed to determine how these therapies may be used to treat arthritis. As always, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider before attempting to treat yourself with any therapy that has not been prescribed for you.
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Summary
Gin-soaked raisins are a home remedy that some people believe can treat arthritis pain. The theory is that golden raisins and gin contain organic compounds (like flavonoids, terpenes, and sulfur) that can help reduce inflammation and pain sensations. To date, there are few studies to support the claims.
Frequently Asked QuestionsTraditionally, the raisins are covered only with a cheesecloth at room temperature. If you are uncomfortable with that, you can allow them to soak in the fridge. The evaporation process may take longer and can leave your refrigerator smelling of sweetened gin.No, you won’t become intoxicated since the alcohol will have already evaporated. Even so, people with alcoholism should avoid gin-soaked raisins since the flavor of gin will remain and can be a powerful trigger for a relapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, the raisins are covered only with a cheesecloth at room temperature. If you are uncomfortable with that, you can allow them to soak in the fridge. The evaporation process may take longer and can leave your refrigerator smelling of sweetened gin.
No, you won’t become intoxicated since the alcohol will have already evaporated. Even so, people with alcoholism should avoid gin-soaked raisins since the flavor of gin will remain and can be a powerful trigger for a relapse.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
McGill University.Gin…without the tonic.
Bais S, Gill NS, Rana N, Shandil S.A phytopharmacological review on a medicinal plant: Juniperus communis.Int Schola Res Notes..2014;2014:634723. doi:10.1155/2014/634723
Tam TW, Liu R, Saleem A, et al.The effect of Cree traditional medicinal teas on the activity of human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism.J Ethnopharmacol. 2014;155(1):841-6. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.045
Raina R, Verma PK, Peshin R, Kour H.Potential of Juniperus communis L as a nutraceutical in human and veterinary medicine.Heliyon. 2019;5(8):e02376. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02376
Shu CC, Wu WS, Shieh JP, Chu HL, Lee CP, Duh PD.The anti-inflammatory and vasodilating effects of three selected dietary organic sulfur compounds fromAlliumspecies.J Funct Biomater.2017 Mar;8(1):5. doi:10.3390/jfb8010005
National Raisin Company.Technical data sheet: golden Thompson seedless grapes.
Zunhammer M, Spisák T, Wager T, Bingel U.Meta-analysis of neural systems underlying placebo analgesia from individual participant fMRI data.Nat Commun. 2021;12(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21179-3
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