DEAR READER:
This is one product I’ve never heard of, but I will pass it along for what it is worth.

Other aids for pain include Castiva in a warming or cooling form that contains capsaicin and is a topical ointment for arthritis relief, topical castor oil, Hawthorne berry, omega 3 oil, and purple grape juice and pectin. Thank you for your tip.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

DEAR READER:
Thank you for sharing your experience. There are numerous endorsements for arthritis, including grape juice and pectin, anti-inflammatories, over-the-counter Castiva, and prescription drugs. Plain castor oil is simple and effective. If it works, stick with it.

I have not seen anyone mention this but I want to tell those who might be “put off” by this treatment because they think it will be oily and messy; it isn’t. I rub it on my hands at night, put on some soft gloves and go to bed. In the morning, my hands are not the least bit oily — just baby soft and smooth.

Now for the most important part of this letter.

Recently I was diagnosed with gout. I had a bad episode a couple of years ago but didn’t know what it was. When I had another episode, my doctor diagnosed it. I have learned to watch for the first signs of an attack (pain and discomfort in my big toe). It happened again recently so I tried rubbing castor oil on it. Instantly — and I do mean instantly — the pain disappeared. I put on a sock and went to bed. I didn’t have any pain all night. About an hour after I woke up the pain came back, so I put on more castor oil. Again, instant relief.

My podiatrist told me that gout is a form of arthritis so perhaps this is why the castor oil did such a good job. In fact, it worked better on my gout than on my arthritic hands! It might not work if the gout gets really bad before it is put on. I don’t know since I was diligent about putting it on as soon as the pain came back. I think the trick may be to catch it as soon as possible. I hope this helps some of your readers as much as it has helped me!

DEAR READER:
Thank you for writing to share your experiences. I had not heard of castor oil relieving the pain of an acute gout attack. So far the most popular method has been cherries. For this who experience gout, I recommend eating a handful (10-12) cherries (dried, fresh, frozen or canned) each day. This should prevent an attack. Another option is to eat 15-20 cherries each day once an attack has started. This should reduce the severity and duration allowing for more normal daily activity. Some readers have had success by drinking cherry juice rather than eating the fruit. I am glad to say that now there are several options (including prescription medication) to treat or prevent acute gout.

Folks, let me know about your experiences using castor oil for gout.

To give you related information, I am sending your copies of my Health Report “Compelling Home Remedies” and “About Gout”. Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 FOR EACH report to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

I have tried your “Certo with grape juice” remedy for arthritis. Sadly it didn’t work for me. However, in today’s column, a patient wrote in telling you how it helped her IBS. Then it dawned on me that you’re supposed to DRINK the stuff, not rub it on your joints. Which, by the way, is what I was doing and it is very messy!

Just thought you might like to know that you have to “spell it out” for some of us! I am going to try again and I hope to get better results this time. Thanks!

DEAR READER:
Several readers have sent me letters touting the value of Certo and grape juice in helping reduce the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome. This was certainly news to me. Remember that the combination should be swallowed, not simply rubbed in over a painful joint.

If you want a product that you can rub into the joint, rather than drinking, I recommend using castor oil or Castiva. Castiva is a cream that contains castor oil base and comes in warming and cooling formulas. Castor oil is rubbed onto the affect joint(s) twice a day. The Castiva can be used as often as needed.

Certo is liquid pectin. Brand does not seem to make a difference in effectiveness. It is found in the baking section of many grocery stores. Castor oil can be purchased at most pharmacies. Castiva is available at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, or online at www.CastivaBrands.com.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Understanding Osteoarthritis” and “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 FOR EACH report to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

I, too, have had 3 cortisone shots in my hip (no recommendation from my doctor for hip surgery) and so far they only offer temporary relief.

Inasmuch as I did not read your original article about the castor oil rubs and grape juice with pectin, I am very interested in knowing your instructions for such. I realize there is no guarantee that this treatment will help me but I would like to give it a try.

DEAR READER: Castor oil is simply rubbed onto the affected joint or joints twice a day.

To eight ounces of purple grape juice, add 1-2 tablespoons liquid pectin. This mixture can be taken up to 3 times a day until pain is decreased and then reduced to 1 glass per day as a maintenance.

Because of the high reader interest, I have recently written a health report that contains the most popular and effective home remedies.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Dr. Gott’s Compelling Home Remedies”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed 4 ¼” X 9 ½” letter-sized stamped envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.