A Homeopathic Cure for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a painful condition that can be puzzling. Sometimes natural, homepathic cures are the most effective--here's my story.

In November 2007, I started experiencing a nagging pain in my left arm. The pain sometimes extended up into my shoulder and down into my wrist, but it settled in my elbow. I tried over the counter pain relievers without much success, and a few months into it the pain became so constant that I consulted an orthopedic surgeon. After an examination, he diagnosed my problem as lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, a rather common affliction for people approaching middle age. I received a cortisone shot, an elbow strap, and a prescription for an anti-inflammatory drug, along with instructions to ice and massage the elbow frequently.

Things went well for a couple of months, then the effects of the injection wore off. The pain returned, and this time it was worse than before. Even the most menial tasks, like lifting a coffee cup, or pruning hedges, caused me a lot of pain. I returned to see my doctor and he gave me another shot and advised me to continue with the ice and massage. He also recommended naproxyn as a good over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.

This time the pain didn't go away, even though I had followed my doctor's orders to the letter. I was advised that tennis elbow is a condition that most always resolves itself over time, but the pain was so aggravating that I wasn't willing to wait and hope that it just went away.

I mentioned my problem with tennis elbow to an elderly friend of mine whose opinions I value and respect, and he told me about a cure for almost any tendon or ligament problem that a person could have. According to him, it was an old Native American cure that had been passed down to him by his mother. It was a simple, non-expensive thing, and at that point I was willing to try anything.

Here's the homeopathic cure for tennis elbow.

Buy a large box of golden raisins--the brand doesn't matter, but they must be golden raisins. Go to the liquor store and buy a bottle of gin--get the cheap stuff, because you won't be drinking it. Empty the box of golden raisins into a bowl and cover them with gin. Let the mixture set for seven days at room temperature, then eat ten of the golden raisins every morning.

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, it worked for me! The pain in my elbow is now almost non-existant, and I've been able to resume all of my normal activities. Most importantly, I don't have to take naproxyn any more, which caused me major stomach problems, even though it did help the pain.

Why does this cure work? I really can't say--it might be psychological, or there may be a legitimate medical reason for it. I do know that golden raisins are loaded with antioxidants, and that the sugar in the raisins breaks down when they're soaked in alcohol. The juniper berries used in making the gin may have something to do with it too, but the fermentation process that takes place with the golden raisins and gin apparently generates something that is conducive to healing tennis elbow.

This worked for me, and it may work for you, too.