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Post by 1234 on Aug 19, 2011 9:54:24 GMT -5
So I recognize that the subject line makes me sound insane, particularly the gin soaked raisins. But we finally got our shipment of 100% turmeric root from Karen's vitacost.com (thanks, Karen!!!!!!!), and made up a bunch of pills (using gluten-free, vegetarian pill capsules). My pile of raisins sitting in gin also fully dehydrated. I heard on the radio (NPR) this weekend that a new, really successful treatment for arthritis pain has been eating 9 raisins a day, that have been soaked in gin until it all evaporates (including the alcohol). You have to make sure that the gin is good enough quality that it's actually made from juniper. Here's a link to the radio show: www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/08/14/bob-edwards-interviews-joe-and-terry-graedon/So last night, I was curled in a ball again--miserable and in pain, as I've been for a couple weeks. I ate 9 raisins, and took two capsules of turmeric root. In 30 - 40 minutes, my pain was SIGNIFICANTLY reduced. Better than taking aleve + advil, which is what I've been doing. This morning, I did the same, and I"m still so much better. I'm actually near tears right now, because I feel so much better. One of my less pain weeks, I'll do an experiment to see if it's the turmeric or the raisins that have this quick effect (I think it's the turmeric--the raisins are supposed to decrease long term inflammation), but right now I'm just appreciating not being in pain.
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Post by JC on Aug 19, 2011 9:55:47 GMT -5
THIS IS SO COOL!!!
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Post by 1234 on Aug 19, 2011 10:04:23 GMT -5
maybe TMI, but I just had to poop, and it was very painful, and made me bleed (this symptom has come back full force--the week before my period, I bleed vaginally every time I poop. I guess the uterus and bowel are back fully connected again).
But the pain is calming down more quickly. It's radiating down to my right foot and up to the right shoulder, but I can already feel it dissipating. NOrmally pooping leaves me in agony for 30 minutes to an hour, if not longer--particularly for the last 3 - 4 weeks of my cycle. God if I can poop with only 10 minutes of bad pain how happy I will be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by JC on Aug 19, 2011 11:44:12 GMT -5
I really think pelvic physical therapy is going to help you a lot especially the way you describe how your pain radiates all over your body like that. I'm excited to hear how it goes for you!
I really want to try this raisin soaking and I have been meaning to buy turmeric for a long time now. Yogi makes a turmeric tea that I want to try.
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Post by Karen on Aug 19, 2011 16:57:36 GMT -5
Ah, Kristin, I love it. It's like you're your own witch doctor (and I mean that in an endearing way)!
Last year my doc gave me a supplement called Inflammatone (by Designs for Health) to help with inflammation, and it had a good dose of tumeric (200 mg). Sadly, it didn't do a whole lot for my pain, but I also didn't have raisins as well! I look forward to hearing more about your experiment and give you a lot of credit for making your own pills!
Oh, and glad you found vitacost.com to be useful. I'm addicted to that place now!
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Post by 1234 on Aug 19, 2011 17:09:37 GMT -5
Well, I haven't returned to the low level of pre-poop pain. Apparently that was some poop! But I'm still in MUCH less pain than I would be. like at level 4 - 5 rather than 9 - 10, if-I-didn't-know-it-wouldn't-do-any-good-I-would-go-to-the-ER kind of pain. A huge step. I took two more of our homemade turmeric pills at lunch.
and Karen, I dont' know if it's the gin-raisins, or the fact that I didn't have an mg of turmeric. It's not turmeric extract (which comes in mgs); it's turmeric root-a spice. You can get it on vitacost for $2.17 a bottle. I think it actually is less "powerful" than turmeric extract, but I think the direct root actually is better than a processed extract. Probably I'm just telling myself that.
We're also making our own pepper pills, you know....
I'm so excited to go and get my pelvis massaged tomorrow. I think I'll be singing all over hyattsville. which would be unfortunate for hyattsville.
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Post by redwood on Aug 19, 2011 17:40:58 GMT -5
wow, that is pretty cool that your gin raisins and turmeric helped. I take turmeric every day, but have never used it for an acute pain episode. the gin raisins I have never heard of. I'll have to look that up. I hope your physical therapy helps you tomorrow. Good luck!
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Post by 1234 on Aug 20, 2011 10:37:49 GMT -5
Ladies, I swear it's the raisins. It's supposed to take 2 weeks to get to its full effect, but right now it has an amazing effect, though it doesn't last forever.
Yesterday was one of those epically horrible days. Not only was I bleeding every time I pooped, but even riding my bike to and from work made me bleed. Everything was hurting badly: right side, lower back, ass, uterus, you name it. My morning hours were really amazing low in pain, though it flared up back through teh day. I took the tumeric again at dinner and it helped some, but not hugely.
I started my period this morning, and woke up in a ball. I ate my raisins and took 2 tumeric capsules, and felt well enough to get up and cook breakfast. I still don't feel great--first day of period--but I'm functional, and have MUCH MUCH lower pain. So based on 3 days of experimenting, it seems to be the raisins, not the tumeric.
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Post by JC on Aug 20, 2011 11:52:32 GMT -5
It's funny because before you posted this, I had been eating a hand full of golden raisins every evening when my craving for ice cream comes. They are super sweet and kill my sweet tooth so I don't go and attack my GF cookies or eat a tub of ice cream. Maybe this is why I'm having a pain free period this month? It would make sense because I thought this one would be really bad because it was 11 days late.
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Post by hannahjex on Aug 21, 2011 7:26:22 GMT -5
I am SO trying the gin raisin thing! How long did it take for the gin to evaporate? I hate gin though. Do the raisins taste really gin-y?
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Post by 1234 on Aug 21, 2011 8:28:09 GMT -5
It took about4 days I think? It doesn't need to evaporate fully. The big things though are that you need to buy golden raisins, not red ones, and a high enough quality gin that it's made from juniper, not fake juniper flavor. I got a small bottle of tanqueray (sp?). but google "gin soaked raisins"--it's amazing how many hits you get.
They don't taste great--I'm not sure that juniper and raisin flavors go together. but the effects are amazing. My husband keeps telling me I can't credit just the raisins, since I'm on this cocktail of anti-inflammatories (kelp, turmeric, pepper), but I really do.
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Post by Karen on Aug 21, 2011 9:05:56 GMT -5
Seeems to be a lot of people that have had success with your raisins: www.peoplespharmacy.com/2005/10/18/gin-soaked-raisins-for-arthrit/ Seems to be big with the arthritis crowd! Might pass this along to a few friends/family with arthritis. Quoting home remedy experts Joan and Lydia Wilen, this is the Amazing Gin-Soaked Raisin Remedy 1 lb golden raisins Gin (approx 1 pint) Glass bowl (Pyrex is good-crystal is bad) Glass jar with lid Spread the golden raisins evenly on the bottom of the glass bowl and pour enough gin over the raisins to completely cover them. Let them stay that way until all the gin is absorbed by the raisins. It takes about five to seven days, depending on the humidity in your area. (You may want to lightly cover the bowl with a paper towel so that dust or insects don't drop in) To make sure that all of the raisins get their fair share of the gin, occasionally take a spoon and stir the mixture, bringing the bottom layer of raisins to the top of the bowl. As soon as all the gin has been absorbed, transfer the raisins to the jar, put the lid on and keep it closed. DO NOT REFRIGERATE. Each day, eat nine raisins-exactly and only nine raisins a day. Most people eat them in the morning with breakfast. This recipe was tested by www.rti.org for alcohol content and it was found that less than one drop of alcohol was left in nine raisins, so it is not the alcohol that is relieving the pain. They caution against use of this remedy by anyone with iron overload in their bloodstream, and advise against use by children or pregnant or nursing women.
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Post by Lady Tewlie :P on Aug 23, 2011 20:28:06 GMT -5
Ok, seriously, I just saw an article about this, and some woman wrote in to the author to say that she was a recovering alcoholic, but she had bad arthritis pain or something, and she heard that the alcohol evaporated, so she thought it would be safe, but she tried it and is now back to being a raging alcoholic. To me, it seemed a little bit self-denial-y.
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Post by JC on Aug 24, 2011 5:42:33 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure any recovering alcoholic would slip up if they had bottles of gin laying around the house.
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Post by Karen on Aug 24, 2011 5:47:22 GMT -5
I saw an alternate recipe for people avoiding booze, and it involved honey and Apple cider vinegar?
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