You compare: 4 oz. juice/day at $4/day or 3 capsules/day at $0.50/day*
*based on my personal consumption and estimated shipping costs
My Story
History is full of various incantations of the Snake Oil Salesman who offered the latest panacea to cure every ill from a-z. Thus, when I first heard the purported claims of Mangosteen enthusiasts I was instantly wary. But I was hurting and I kept hearing "try the juice". This was from people I work with, not nomadic salesmen of Wild West folkyore. OK, what could it hurt? Hurt...indeed! More like a huge relief! Let me share my story.
At the beginning of the new millennium, my Primary Care Physician in Seattle suspected that I was suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis and sent me to a leading Rheumatologist and Clinical University Professor. He confirmed the diagnosis and started me on a weekly dosage of Methotrexate. Of course I had read the warnings of possible side-effects, but who really thinks anything bad will happen to them?
We moved to Arizona after a few years and I found a local Rheumatologist who continued my regime, increasing the dosage of Methotrexate and also prescribing Nabumetone. I was blithely "supressing" (destroying, in my opinion) my immune system with no thought to the consequences.
In early November 2006 I came down with a bad cold that kept getting worse. When I woke up Thanksgiving morning and couldn't breathe, my husband rushed me to emergency. The diagnosis was Valley Fever, a fungal disease that settled in my lungs. Most people never know they've even had it, but I had a compromised immune system so I was hit especially hard. I've been on Diflucan, an anti-fungal medicine, for over a year. My dose was reduced from 600 to 400 ml to control the hair loss.
Two weeks in the hospital gave me plenty of time to ponder what I've been doing to my body. I was off the Methotrexate and determined to find my way back to health. Friends of my cousins visited me in the hospital, prayed over me and told me the success the husband had with Bovine Colostrum for building up his suppressed immune system. I started dosage immediately along with my medicine and vitamins with good success.
I still needed an anti-inflammatory; however, and was intrigued to hear about the phytonutrients in Mangosteen. What could it hurt? My boss gave me a couple of bottles of juice to try and I started taking 2 oz. in the morning and 2 oz. in the evening. It has a very pleasant taste - except to the pocketbook. Towards the end of the second bottle I was startled to realize I was rarely reaching for pain medicine and the swelling had dissipated from my joints, especially my hands! I'm happy to report that I've found that the capsules are having the same affect for an eighth of the cost! For years I was embarrassed about the protruding knuckle bones I inherited from my Dad; that is, untill they were engulfed by inflammation. Now I wish I'd taken a picture of my swollen hands as my knuckles are back in all their glory!
There are volumes of claims and as many disputes floating out on the Internet. My Pulmonologist suggested that I must have never had Rhuematoid Arthritis in the first place. My Rhueumatologist sneered at the suggestion of Alternative or Integrative Medicine. On the flip-side, my Chiropractor, Naturopath and Masseuse have seen results in their patients.. Since only I truly know how I feel, and my treatment by those who practice medicine is predicated on how willing they are to listen to me and work with me, this is an ever-evolving journey.