/oss/taxonomy/term/746/all en /oss/article/health-nutrition/are-there-benefits-tart-cherry-juice <hr /> <p><em>Shira Cohen is studying Nutrition at the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ University, specializing in Global Nutrition. </em></p> <hr /> <p>If you are suffering from headaches, muscle pain or inflammation, you may be interested to hear that<a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0718300"> tart cherries may function in a fashion similar to drugs like Aspirin and Ibuprofen</a>. It seems that the anthocyanins they contain prevent the formation of certain prostaglandins that are linked to pain and inflammation, much like aspirin.</p> Thu, 01 Aug 2019 16:00:00 +0000 Shira Cohen, Student Contributor 7842 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-drugs-health-supplements-you-asked/you-asked-instaflex-joint-pain <p>I had a question about Instaflex, a widely advertised supplement for arthritic joints that contains a variety of ingredients each of which has potential antinflammatory properties. Although this product has been around for a while, interest was stirred recently because of a discussion on "The Doctors," a CBS TV show. Reference was made to a clinical trial that showed efficacy. Indeed a properly controlled double-blind randomized trial at Appalachian State University showed that those taking Instaflex reported a 37 percent reduction in joint pain.</p> Sun, 25 May 2014 13:28:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2148 at /oss /oss/article/health-quirky-science/ginwithout-tonic <p>While there is no scientific evidence that gin has any medicinal benefit, one piece of folklore has persisted. That’s the use of gin-soaked raisins to treat arthritis. The common recipe is to take a box of golden raisins, soak them in gin for a few weeks until the gin evaporates and then eat nine a day. Various explanations have been forwarded as to why this works, usually speculating about anti-inflammatory compounds in juniper berries or in the raisins. Pretty far-fetched speculation given the tiny amounts of these compounds present.</p> Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:10:57 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2113 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/can-copper-bracelets-help-arthritis <p>Diseases, such as arthritis, which have no known cure often drive sufferers to what orthodox science might call "questionable treatments." The wearing of copper bracelets to ease the symptoms of arthritis is a case in point. This practice does indeed sound nonsensical; after all, how could wearing a bracelet affect the inner workings of the body? Well, perhaps if some of the copper dissolved in sweat and was absorbed into the body, one could make a case, albeit probably a feeble one. But does copper dissolve in this fashion?</p> Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:52:21 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1796 at /oss