Cherries... Powerful Arthritis Pain & Inflammation Relievers...

Eating cherries every day is one of the standard "must do" arthritis treatments (along with drinking cherry juice). Here's why the experts agree this is one of the best remedies for arthritis when done correctly... 

Article by Troy Sawyer (Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Health & Wellness Coach, Sports Nutritionist)

Updated March 13, 2024 -- This post contains affiliate links  

cherries for arthritis gout pain relief

The fact is cherries are a "tried and tested" arthritis pain and inflammation reliever. This healthy fruit has been consumed for centuries and used successfully to treat arthritis - along with gouty arthritis - for well over a hundred years. So rather than taking dangerous anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers, why not try eating some cherries instead!

Here’s what health expert, Mike Adams, has to say about cherries as an authentic home treatment for arthritis…

"I bet the big drug companies wish they had invented cherries – they’ve proven to be the most powerful medicine in the world for eliminating gout and reducing the pain and inflammation of arthritis. If the public finds out the truth about cherries, after all, they won’t need arthritis drugs anymore (and Big Pharma will lose billions in profits). As you’ll see in the collection of quotes about cherries, gout and arthritis (below), cherries are extremely safe, effective and fast-acting for eliminating swelling and pain."

And to whet your appetite, here's a few of those timely quotes from some of the world’s most respected leaders and authors in the natural health field…


"Cherries are a well-known remedy for gout, arthritis, and rheumatism. They also help overcome numbness in the limbs and paralysis as a result of rheumatism. Part of their action in rheumatic disorders occurs from their ability to eliminate excess body acids. Cherries are most beneficial for treating disorders accompanied by coldness, such as when the person feels perennially cold. Richly supplied in iron, cherries are often used to improve the blood and treat anemia."

– Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchford (available from Amazon.com)


"A Michigan State University study found that 20 tart cherries were at least as effective as other painkilling remedies, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). That’s why cherries are a popular folk remedy for arthritis and gout. Like many fruits and vegetables, dried cherries also have fiber and make a great snack."

– Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods by The Editors of FC&A (available from Amazon.com)  


"I continued eating the sour cherries during their season and had relief the entire time. When I stopped eating them, the pain returned. I usually freeze cherries every year for pies, but instead of making pies, I resumed eating my frozen cherries. Doctors, family and lay people as well all laughed at me, but I still maintain that cherries were my cure for arthritis. Since that time if I ever get an attack I head for the freezer and my cherries. Mrs. M.G. reports: After hearing about them, I began eating red, sour cherries for my gout."

 – Miracle Medicine Foods by Rex Adams (available from Amazon.com)


"The report says that “no attacks of gouty arthritis have occurred on a nonrestricted diet in all 12 cases, as a result of eating about one-half pound of fresh or canned cherries per day.” This amazing fruit, often used in ice cream, cake, candy and desserts, may relieve your arthritis! Dr. Blau tells of astonishing cures by eating cherries-canned, sour, black, Royal Anne, or fresh black Bing cherries. One arthritis patient just drank the juice and the curative powers were equally effective." 

– Miracle Medicine Foods by Rex Adams (available from Amazon.com)


"History & Folklore Dioscorides, a 1st-century AD physician, claimed that cherries relieve gas. The 16th-century herbalist John Gerard recorded the French custom of hanging cherries in houses to ward off fever. Medicinal Actions & Uses In Europe herbal medicine, cherry stems have long been used for their diuretic and astringent properties. They have been prescribed for cystitis, nephritis, urinary retention, and for arthritic problems, notably gout. Cherries can be a helpful part of an overall regimen treating arthritic problems."

– Miracle Medicine Herbs (Reward Books) by Richard Melvin Lucas (available from Amazon.com)


"The red in raspberries and cherries, the blue in blueberries, and the orange in peppers all contain powerful plant chemicals that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and frequently anticancer activity. The secret to the benefits of cherries and cherry juice are compounds called anthocyanins. These are the particular pigments in cherries that give them their bright red colour and are considered to be the key to helping the body relieve inflammation."

– The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What Treatments Work and Why by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S (available from Amazon.com)


"If he forgot to take the cherries, while travelling, it took only a few days for the stabbing pain in his big toe to return with a vengeance. More than 20 years after Dr. Blau wrote up his experiences in a medical journal (his research at that time revealed that there were 12 other case histories of people whose gout or arthritis had been helped by eating cherries or drinking cherry juice), he told us that he was still eating six to eight cherries every day and was still in good health."

– The Practical Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Mark Bricklin (available from Amazon.com)




"Just three dried cherries a day could end your gout pain. It may sound like a miracle, but this delicious, vitamin-packed fruit is proven to relieve arthritis pain even better than aspirin, ibuprofen and other drugs with no stomach upset or other side effects. The secret lies in anthocyanins. These natural compounds not only give cherries their luscious red colour, they also stop your body from making prostaglandins, the hormone-like substances that cause pain and inflammation."

– Unleash the Inner Healing Power of Foods by The Editors of FC&A (available from Amazon.com)


"Another reader shared this experience: “I used tart cherries to cure a gout attack and it worked.” The real news is that the pain from osteoarthritis of the hip joint diminished also. I’ve been able to reduce my use of Celebrex from 400 milligrams per day to 200 milligrams per day and still have less pain. Celebrex (celecoxib) is not only expensive (400 milligrams costs more than $4 per pill), it also has potential side effects. You will find this kind of story sprinkled throughout this book. We can think of no better way to share the wisdom of our readers than to let you read their stories."

– Best Choices From the People’s Pharmacy by Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D (available from Amazon.com)


"The secret to the benefits of cherry juice are compounds called anthocyanins, which are the pigments that give cherries their bright red colour and are also believed to be the key to helping the body relieve inflammation. As an added bonus, these same anthocyanins may significantly reduce your risk for colon cancer, the third leading cancer in America. Doctors and scientists believe that it’s the anthocyanins in the cherries that cause the decrease in blood urates and the relief from gout pain. Anthocyanins act like natural COX-2 inhibitors."

– The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. (available from Amazon.com)


"Cherries are a good “spring cleaner” to stimulate and cleanse the digestive system, the darker ones being all the more valuable to the system as they contain a greater quantity of magnesium, iron, and silicon. They are a well-known remedy for gout, arthritis, and rheumatism; part of their action in rhematic disorders occurs from their ability to eliminate excess body acids."

– Whole foods Companion: A Guide For Adventurous Cooks, Curious Shoppers, and Lovers of Natural Foods by Dianne Onstad (available from Amazon.com)

All quotes are sourced and available from this link Cure for Arthritis Pain? Six Cherries a Day




Home Remedies for Arthritis - Best Way's to Get Your Cherries...

So as part of your "natural arthritis treatment" plan, be sure to include cherries, cherry bark and cherry juice (fresh or canned) in your daily eating and drinking regimen. Just remember, you'll need to consume them consistently for a minimum of 20 days before you'll start to feel any lasting and permanent relief.



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