Herbs That Heal Tendons and Ligaments

HERBS FOR PAIN AND TISSUE REPAIR

Solomon’s seal. This is, hands down, my favourite herb for musculoskeletal injuries. I put my 2 month LCL recovery down to this herb alone (well that and hydrotherapy and the other stuff I list here). It is the best thing I’ve ever used for ligament and tendon issues, will help heal torn muscles and repair broken bones. For bad injuries, I’ll use a tincture internally and a salve (with goldenrod and cottonwood and alder too) externally. Remember that guy I told you about with the separated AC joint? Well although he wasn’t fully healed without surgery, using solomon’s seal restored some sort of function to his left arm, and he carried on training up until the day before his surgery.

Goldenrod. For those aches that keep you up at night, goldenrod infused oil is downright amazing, topically. There were some nights when my torn LCL would ache so badly I was writhing, and goldenrod reduced the pain enough to let me sleep. It also helps repair torn muscles.

Teasel. For torn muscles. I’ve used a salve with teasel, goldenrod and cottonwood for a really badly torn gastrocnemius and other minor tears with great success.

St. John’s wort. St. John’s wort is seriously brilliant for agonizing nerve pain. It also helps repair damaged tissues with a quickness. I use it both externally (oil) and internally (tincture).

Comfrey leaf. For breaks and tears–there’s a reason it’s called ‘knit bone’. I do tincture internally and salve externally*.

Cottonwood. Oil or liniment. Topically, for pain. Amazing.

Tobacco leaf. Oil. To be honest, using tobacco topically makes me feel nauseous, but plenty of other people seem to do fine with it, and it’s definitely numbing.

NUTRITION
The most important thing while injured is to get enough protein and fat so that your body is adequately nourished to repair itself. Eat high quality wild or grass-fed meats, high quality animal fats and butter fats, with lots of vegetables. Also, bone broth- it’s delicious to sip on, and provides lots of amino acids and collagen and building blocks for your body to heal itself faster.

ABOUT INFLAMMATION
I’m not a fan of taking anti-inflammatories, be them herbal or pharmaceutical. Here’s why:
A certain amount of inflammation helps your body heal faster. Inflammatory cells (macrophages) produce a large amount of insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) which in turn repair injuries faster. I am fully convinced that the body knows best how to handle things like injuries, and inflammation seems to be its way of having resources sent to the areas that need them. Instead of reducing the inflammation, you can do things that HELP the body’s natural healing processes like the following:

Hydrotherapy. The basic principle of hydrotherapy is simple: Blast the area for 2 minutes with water as hot as you can handle, and then a 30-second blast with freezing cold water. Do this as many times a day as you can. It stimulates circulation to the area, speeding healing and reducing pain. You wouldn’t think that a simple bit of water would help, but I’ve seen it work over and over again, and really shortens recovery time.

Movement. When injured, after the initial inflammation has gone down, gentle movement can really help. I’m not talking about flinging oneself back into full practice-mode (or full workout mode), but adjusting ones practice and really using the time to listen to the body and move at a snail’s pace. With myself that meant doing a yoga practice with some serious modifications (my knee couldn’t support my weight at some angles, and any kind of lateral motion would re-tear), paying really close attention to what I was doing and how it was feeling. I got to the point where I could feel when inflammation was starting, and that was when I knew to stop. You don’t want to reinjure yourself or set yourself back, but having your body send more resources to the area is a good thing.

Rest. Chances are, if you’re type-A like me, the thought of sitting still makes you frustrated, especially when you’ve got a to-do list the length of Santa’s gift list. Guess what? You won’t heal if you don’t rest. Use this time to ask people for help. It’s humbling and it sucks, but the majority of people will be glad to. Use this time to watch movies and write lists and plan for how you’re going to LAUNCH into action when you’re back on your feet. But for now, take it easy dude.

Collagen, the major component of these connective tissues, begins to degenerate and stiffen as we age. Additionally, tendons and ligaments have a poor blood supply, making existing injuries harder to heal, leading to decreased strength in those tissues and chronic pain.[i] Because the integrity of these connective tissues decline with age, leading to weakened tendons and ligaments and potentially an injury and/or chronic pain, it is important to support them with good nutrition and a few choice supplements.
                                                                                   
Collagen. Collagen is the main structural protein that makes up all human connective tissue, including tendons and ligaments, and helps keep these tissues strong. As we age, collagen production slows and existing collagen can deteriorate, causing tendons and ligaments to weaken. A diet high in quality protein will provide the building blocks the body requires to make collagen, including the amino acids proline and lysine.[ii] Additionally, collagen supplements have been shown to stimulate collagen production, helping to maintain healthy tendons and ligaments.[iii]

Vitamin C. Vitamin C is required to convert the amino acids proline and lysine into collagen[iv]; in fact, vitamin C plays such an essential role in collagen production that a deficiency can weaken the tendons and ligaments.[v] The vitamin also reduces inflammation due to injury or overuse. In a human cell model of tendonitis, a proprietary combination of collagen and vitamin C suppressed a number of pro-inflammatory compounds and promoted healing.[vi]

Anthocyanidins. The anthocyanidins found in dark-colored fruits such as cherries and blueberries, and in grape seed extract and Pycnogenol^® supplements, have been shown to help the collagen fibers link together in a way that strengthens the connective tissue matrix.[vii]

Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic acid is a component of tendons and ligaments and has been shown to stimulate collagen production.[viii] It is also comprises the synovial fluid that surrounds certain tendons, helping to keep them lubricated and moving smoothly.[ix] Researchers recently discovered that a thin layer of “skin” made of epithelial cells covers the tendons;[x] because hyaluronic acid is a major component of connective and epithelial tissues, it is thought to help maintain the integrity of this tendon “skin.” An animal model of tendon injury found that hyaluronic acid significantly speeded healing.[xi]

Gelatin. Gelatin-rich foods have long been a part of traditional diets—cultures around the world commonly consume all parts of animals, including the gelatin-rich cartilage and bones. Consuming gelatin has been shown to increase collagen proteins in the blood,[xii] helping to build the structure of both tendons and ligaments. One easy way to introduce more gelatin into your diet is to regularly make and consume bone broth, a savory broth made by simmering bones in water. (Ever made homemade chicken broth from a chicken carcass? That’s one type of bone broth.) Or consider taking a gelatin supplement.

Although caring for your tendons and ligaments may not occur to you until you are already suffering from pain or an injury, maintaining the health of these important connective tissues may just save you from an injury in the first place. A healthy natural foods diet along with a few choice supplements will help nourish these connective tissues, keeping them healthy and strong, and keep you moving smoothly through life.

Tendons, Ligaments, Sprains, Strains (Testimonies)

I have seen so many cases of stretched, loose, or tight tendons cured by Solomon's Seal that I can hardly count them, probably over a hundred. I remember one man in his forties who had been a cornerback on a famous college football team. He had all sorts of problems from old injuries, such as sprains, strains, broken bones, a separated shoulder, etc. Solomon's Seal made him feel almost completely free of pain and flexible in a short time.
A woman in one of my classes had an adult son who was suffering from a stretched ligament in the ankle. The doctors estimated that it was over an inch too long and recommended surgery to cut out the elongated part and sew the ends back together. The man decided against that option, though the condition was painful and debilitating. I recommended Solomon's Seal and Horsetail, but he ended up taking Solomon's Seal and homeopathic Calcium carbonate, which was also a good idea. The stretched ligament was back to its normal size in one week. No surgery was needed.
Mathew Wood, herbalist and author
Book of Herbal Wisdom, p. 399

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I have been giving selected patients Cortesia Solomon's Seal Tincture for the past 3 months. Reports range from a complete elimination of chronic headaches, to increased joint stability. Since, heretofore, the only truly effective method of increasing ligamentous stability has been treatment by prolotherapy, this remedy is a Godsend. Believe it or not (I can hardly believe it myself) patients with terribly misaligned feet, ankles and knees are actually straightening out over the course of several weeks.
I would highly recommend this remedy to anyone who suffers from chronic neck pain, headaches, or instability anywhere in their skeletal structure.
Sincerely, Rich Phaigh LMT
Eugene, OR

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I have suffered for many years with stretched out tendons and ligaments in my badly pronated ankles - a result of flat feet. An orthopedic physician determined costly surgery was necessary, with no certainty for full success.
After one week using Somomon's Seal tincture, my ankles were no longer pronated. My physical therapist/masseuse was amazed. He has worked on me monthly since a car accident ten years ago. He took one look at my ankles and affirmed that now I would no longer need the surgery I had been trying to avoid for years. Two weeks later, as I continued to take three daily doses of ten drops each, my lifelong problem with knock knees was resolved. My knees are now straight, allowing me to hike and mountain-climb as I did avidly in my younger years. Next, a thirty year shoulder injury was healed, allowing me to sleep on my side again with little or no discomfort. I no longer experience serious neck problems as I have for so long, and require minor adjustments only a few times per year.
Tricia Clark-McDowell

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When I would get up in the morning my legs would just lock up - the tendons would tighten up on me. But your Cortesia Solomon's Seal Tincture works really well for Charlie horses, and I don't have that problem now. (I haven't been taking anything else, like vitamins or such.)

Solomon's Seal tincture helps my wife, too, with her bones, joints and arthritis. She takes the arthritis formula (Cortesia Solomon's Seal Tincture - Formula #1: Arthritis & Joint Repair). So, I'm a believer. Now we want to try it for our son-in-law's carpal tunnel.

James Polk

Abilene, Texas

I started using Cortesia's Solomons Seal tincture and salve in 2008 when I broke my ankle. The break was not very serious, but the collateral damage to muscles and tendons was fairly severe, so I started using both remedies once I was out of the air cast.
I used the tincture for several months (combined with physical therapy); now I keep a jar of the salve on hand and use it when I have tendon pain. I think it's great!

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Sources:

http://www.cauldronsandcrockpots.com/2011/10/herbs-for-athletes-part-2/

http://www.naturalgrocers.com/nutrition/body-mechanics-nourish-your-tendons-and-ligaments-keep-your-body-move

http://www.solomonsseal.net/testimonials.html