Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased turmeric oil because I had read about its ability to help with arthritic pain: and I have two family members that live with quite a bit of pain on a regular basis. One of them has osteoarthritis in his knees and the other has rheumatoid arthritis in his hands, wrists, elbows and knees. They apply a 2% dilution to the affected areas a few times a day. And while they are certainly not pain free, there has been some improvement. It hasn't reduced the swelling, but there is some relief from pain which has resulted in increased mobility. (Be sure to rub it in thoroughly; it will take a few minutes for the oily feel to disappear.) This oil should not be used without first diluting it with carrier oil. I mix the turmeric oil with cold pressed sweet almond oil. A good rule of thumb is to use a 2% to 3% dilution. That amounts to approximately 12 to 15 drops of essential oil to 1 oz. of carrier oil. Be sure to keep it in a dark amber bottle and away from light. Just so that it doesn't come as a surprise, I should tell you that it really doesn't have a nice scent. The good news is that once you rub it in, the scent dissipates quickly - you won't get any strange looks from anyone in your office or at the grocery store. Note: 5 star ratings for this company's products are questionable. They will send an email to you offering a complimentary product if you post a review. If you give the item fewer than 5 stars they will ask what they can do to change it to 5 stars. I told them that my review was based solely on the product's performance and not upon anything they had done. As a result, I never received a complementary product - which really isn't an issue for me. What I have a problem with is the practice of "buying" a particular rating. I rely on fellow reviewer's opinions to help me decide whether or not to make a purchase; and I write reviews in order to do the same for others. If companies are buying ratings, it defeats the whole idea behind reviews. They will become worthless.