Juniper berries a remedy for arthritis?

Q. When I read about the gin-soaked raisins solution for arthritis pain, I wondered why I would need the raisins and the gin and not just the juniper berries. You specified that the gin had to be flavored with juniper to be effective.

I started chewing a few juniper berries until they are pulp and then washing them down with water. Since I began this daily ritual, I don’t need any pain pills such as Advil, and my arthritis pains have mostly disappeared.

A. There are many species in the juniper family. Some juniper berries have both anti-inflammatory activity and pain-relieving potential (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Aug. 22, 2016). They also may help with blood sugar and cholesterol control (International Scholarly Research Notices online, Nov. 11, 2014).

In the past, we have warned against eating juniper berries for fear that some species might irritate the kidneys. Another possible side effect is stomach upset.

Those who would like to know more about the gin-soaked raisin remedy will find it and other natural anti-inflammatory approaches in our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis.

Q. Many years ago, I was at my wits’ end with cold sores. Stress and sunshine were both triggers.

I worked for a division of the drug company Sanofi and asked one of the folks in R&D how to volunteer for a clinical trial. She did not know, but she told me that rubbing a cut clove of garlic over a tingling sore produced favorable results.

Whoopee! Indeed it does! When I feel the first tingle, I cut a clove of garlic and rub it on. It stings a bit, but there’s no eruption. While I smell a bit garlicky for a few hours, it’s so much better than two weeks of a blister.

A. Garlic has antiviral as well as antibacterial and antifungal activity (Microbes and Infection, February 1999).

We’ve not heard before of using garlic topically to prevent or treat cold sores, but we can’t think of any reason not to try it.

Q. You had a question recently about urinary-tract infections. Twenty years ago, I had chronic UTIs that occurred after sexual encounters with my husband. They were so bad, my husband and I were tested for chlamydia. We were negative.

I finally figured out what was causing the UTIs. I realized that the clothes-dryer sheets left a perfumed residual film on my underwear that irritated my urethra during sex. That led to the UTI.

I started washing my underwear with perfume-free products and without softeners. I have not had another UTI since. It was an amazing, cost-free solution to this annoying health problem.

A. Perfume can be irritating. Although we could find nothing in the medical literature about dryer sheets and UTIs, your solution seems simple and reasonable. Penn State University Health Services advises students to avoid urinary irritants such as spermicidal condoms, dryer sheets and artificial sweeteners. Perhaps someone else will let us know if your approach works for them.

SCrt 2016 King Features Syndicate Inc.