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herbs for
back pain...
A
lot of people suffer back injuries; I've heard
estimates that 65 million people in America alone
suffer from chronic back pain. Conventional
treatment of such injuries usually revolves around
strong pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and
very often surgery. Unfortunately, it is too common
that these treatments do not yield the recovery
hoped for.
One
reason for this is that most conventional approaches
are suppressive in nature and do not really address
the issues that need attention in order for healing
to take place. In this regard, we are fortunate
that many medicinal herbs, coupled with other
therapies, can offer benefits and healing unique
from any other modality. I have applied this
knowledge for myself and with clients over the
years, and offer this insight based on first hand
(or perhaps “first back”?) experience.
I
thankfully acknowledge the insights of David
Winston, Lise Wolff, and especially Matthew Wood,
which have been invaluable to me in learning how to
address these types of injuries.
back injuries, joint injuries
structure & function; an anatomical overview…
Spinal injuries, though in many ways unique from the
injuries of other joints in the body, mirror similar
patterns to them. An understanding of how to treat
back injuries, and the reaction of the rest of the
body to them, offers insights that will prove useful
in addressing hurts to other joints. But in order
to do so, we much have at least a basic
understanding of the physiology of the joints in our
bodies.
The
foundation of joints can be viewed as the bones that
come together to make them. There are three types
of joints:
Synovial, which move a lot and are generally the
ones we think of when we say "joints" (knees and
shoulders and elbows and such)
Cartilaginous, bones that are connected entirely by
cartilage and move, but not so radically as synovial
joints (think about the ribs connecting to the
sternum. The discs of the spinal column are also
cartilaginous joints, but the spine has synovial
joints as well)
Fibrous, joints that don't move (think where the
plates of the skull come together)
In
synovial joints, each bone is "capped" with a
padding of cartilage, a hard, gristly substance that
pads the more rigid bone tissue. The junction where
these two cartilage capped bones come together is
encapsulated by a membrane called the synovial
membrane, and the space enclosed is filled with a
fluid called synovial fluid, which is produced from
glands with the joint cavity called (can you guess?)
synovial glands. This synovial fluid is slippery
and somewhat viscous (it’s been described as “egglike”),
and provides the lubrication so that the ever moving
joints do so freely and don't abrade or wear at each
other. In addition to merely lubricating the
joints, it softens the outer surface of the
cartilage. The joint itself is held in place by
tendons, which connect bones and muscles, and
ligaments, which connect the bones to bones.
In
the spinal column, there are both synovial joints
(called “facet joints”) and cartilaginous
joints (these are the actual discs that separate
each vertebra). These discs have strong and fibrous
exteriors to provide stability, and a softer,
gel-like interior to act as a cushion or shock
absorber. Think of them kinda like tough jelly
donuts. Between the facet and cartilaginous joints
is an opening that runs the length of the spine
which houses the spinal cord. Along the length of
the spine, 31 pairs of nerves branch outward and
connect the nervous centers of the body (traditional
understanding of what we might call “nervous
centers” are not limited to the brain, but are
housed throughout the body. The heart and solar
plexus are examples, and not just metaphorically;
both contain neural cells grouped into ganglia just
as neural cells in the brain are. The spinal cord itself
is covered by a protective membrane, and is
lubricated within this sheath by cerebrospinal
fluid.
Both
spinal and other synovial joints exist
interdependently with the muscles that surround
them. Not only do the joints respond to the will of
the muscles, but the muscles are also responsive to
the goings on in the joints.
This
is but a very brief sketch of the structural
considerations of joints, and though it gives a fair
picture, it leaves out a lot. I’d encourage you all
to look into learning more about this anatomy, and
as an initial offering would steer you towards a
very clear and concise overview of spinal anatomy
can be found at the Maryland Spine Center’s website:
www.umm.edu/spinecenter/education/anatomy_and_function_of_the_spine.html
nutrition for the bones and connective tissues
To
jump right into the use of herbs that have a
restorative action on bones, connective tissues and
joints would be a misstep. Before we look to take a
remedial action, we should be sure that all of the
body’s needs are being provided. This allows us to
build strong joints from the ground upward, rather
than trying to compensate for a shaky foundation
with herbs or other therapeutic modalities.
Nutrition is unstateably important. While an
overall nutrient rich diet is key, there are certain
minerals and nutrients that are worthy of special
mention. I owe a depth of gratitude to Paul
Bergner, who presented much of this information so
well in his Healing Power of Minerals, Special
Nutrients and Trace Elements.
calcium
Ca
We’ve all been ingrained that calcium is the
important nutrient to ensure “strong bones and
teeth”. While this is certainly true and adequate
calcium intake is an absolute necessity, it should
also be noted that if we look at the countries in
the world with the highest calcium intakes, we find
that they also have the highest rates of
osteoporosis. Conversely, developing countries
where, on average, calcium intake is by our
standards sub par, have much lower rates of
osteoporosis. What gives?
There are a couple of factors at play. One of the
most pertinent is that just because we’re getting
calcium doesn’t mean it’s going to the bones.
Activity levels determine where calcium goes; when
we are active, it goes to the bones, when we are
inactive, it leaches out into the serum. So
inactivity, a hallmark of “developed” western
cultures, causes the loss of calcium in the bones.
It also favors the production of bone spurs and
other calcifications on the exterior of the bones,
especially if there is inflammation, which
essentially “cooks down” fluids and causes the
precipitation of calcium and other minerals.
The
other big factor at play is that in our obsession
with calcium, we neglect other important vitamins
and minerals needed to effectively absorb and
utilize it. Rather, there is a tendency to grossly
over-consume calcium (many even believe the RDA of
calcium is higher than it need be), and are
deficient in its vital adjuncts. Calcium deficiency
is probably more strongly correlated to a deficiency
in the other nutrients needed to absorb and utilize
it than it is to an inadequate consumption of
calcium.
magnesium
Mg
Magnesium plays a role in over 300
vital physiological processes, and those are only
the ones we know about. Therefore, it goes without
saying I can’t give it the attention it deserves.
But in regards to the musculoskeletal system,
magnesium is of vital importance. Magnesium
deficiency, like inactivity, causes the blood to
pull calcium from the bones. It also
inclines towards more brittle bones, since calcium
is, by itself, a more brittle mineral. There is a
direct relationship between magnesium deficiency and
muscle tension and spasm, both of skeletal muscles,
and of the heart, and severe muscle spasms and
tension can be caused by or predisposed by magnesium
deficiency.
It
is generally agreed among holistic nutritionists
that a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium is
desired. Herbalist and clinical nutritionist Paul
Bergner estimates that the average ratio among
Americans is 7:1, and not uncommonly 12:1. Not only
is this disparity between calcium and magnesium bad,
but it is also the case that the vast majority –
even amongst health & diet conscious folks – are
magnesium deficient. Now, supposing that one knows
that a 2:1 Ca/Mg ratio is ideal, and they buy a 2:1
mineral supplement, then they actually worsen
the gap, going from (let’s say) 7:1 to 9:2.
Unless someone has some reason to think they are
truly calcium deficient, it is often a better idea
to take, solely, magnesium.
vitamin d
Vitamin D is essential to the proper absorption and
utilization of both calcium and magnesium. Our
bodies will produce their own Vitamin D if provided
adequate sunlight to the skin, but in the US,
especially throughout the winter in the northern
latitudes, our sun exposure often is not adequate.
boron
Boron is a trace element that aids in the efficient
uptake and utilization of calcium and magnesium. It
also helps to prevent it loss from the body. It may
achieve this end by helping to convert Vitamin D to
its active form.
silica
This is not usually considered an
“essential nutrient” - there is no RDA for silica –
it is of vital importance in the structure of all
connective tissues, offering strength, resilience
and flexibility. Silica forms the matrix of bones,
cartilage, tendons, blood vessels, and myriad other
tissues, and provides the structure for proper
mineralization, and aids in the utilization of iron,
calcium, magnesium, boron and potassium. It has
been shown that high levels of silica and lower
levels of calcium form stronger bones that high
levels of calcium and low levels of silica. One
sign of silica deficiency is brittle nails and hair
with lots of split ends, both of which are formed
primarily of silica. Silica is best obtained from
strong infusions of herbs such as Horsetail and
Oatstraw.
omega 3 essential fatty acids
Omega 3 essential fatty acids are just that:
essential. Unfortunately, they are often lacking
from the diet. Omega 3 EFAs help to reduce
inflammation throughout the body. Actually, it is
probably more accurate to say that a lack of
Omega 3s promotes inflammation throughout the
body; that this inflammation can be a deficiency
syndrome. Omega 3 EFAs also promote stronger bones,
and give tissues a greater elasticity, making them
more pliable and so less prone to injury. And they
improve cardiovascular health, and they ease
depression (itself another deficiency sign), and and
and… I could go on a long time.
Omega 3 EFAs are found in certain plants (flax seed,
hemp seed, evening primrose oil), in fish and in
some other meats. Animal sources, though, must be
wild, or raised in a manner similar to that.
Though, for example, salmon is one of the richest
sources of Omega 3 EFAs, farmed salmon has little.
Similarly, cows, if free ranging and pasture fed,
will contain some Omega 3s (though nowhere near as
much as fish), but do not when raised on a poor diet
in a feedlot. Better red meat sources that have
appreciable levels of Omega 3s include deer, elk,
bison, and other game animals. You can also get
Omega 3 EFAs in some eggs (it’ll say on the
carton). There is, though, a difference between the
Omega 3s contained in plant versus animal sources,
and one that will not make vegetarians all that
happy. Plants sources of Omega 3 EFAs contain alpha
linolenic acid (ALA), which is referred to,
structurally as a “short chain” EFA. Animal sources
contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which are long
chain EFAs. These long chain EFAs are the ones our
bodies need. Though the body does have the ability
to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, it has been shown to
only convert, at the most, 10%. So, in terms of
supplements, fish oils are far more efficiently used
by the body than plant based Omega 3s. Another
concern with a specific plant based Omega 3 EFA,
flax seed oil, is that it has such poor stability
once press that virtually all flax seed oil
available today is some degree of rancid, and
consuming rancid fats is not a good idea. Flax
seed, and the ALA it contains is still useful, but
best taken freshly ground and added liberally to
foods as a condiment.
body work and adjunct therapies
If
you’ve hurt your back or a joint, you can’t just
“take stuff”. There are other things that are
equally, and even more, important. Of these, two
stand out as paramount:
Take
it easy.
Rest and time will do the most good, and I promise
you, if one thing is sure, overexertion and not
allowing yourself time to heal will result in more
pain and prolonged healing time. This is very hard
for some people, for both legitimate and ideological
reasons, but it is a time for thinking about how
your decisions will impact you long term, not short
term, especially in cases of back injuries.
Cultivate Body Awareness.
Many of the other options I list below are based on
this, but one needs to develop a keen sense of their
body’s reactions when dealing with back and joint
injuries, so that they can remain aware of when they
are, for example, stretching enough, and when they
are pushing things too far. When participating in
any therapies or engaging in any activities, your
own body awareness should be your guide as to what
you’re able to do and what you can’t.
stretching and yoga…
One
of the things that happens when we injure a joint is
that the muscles surrounding it tense up
protectively. They often hold onto that tension,
especially if we overexert ourselves early on.
Engaging, very carefully and very consciously, in
movement and stretching will help relax tension in
the muscles, and gradually reduce their tendency to
spasm or lock up. I cannot emphasize enough the
“carefully” and “consciously” part. I feel
that, especially initially, only very subtle
“micromovements” are justified, cautiously exploring
where and how your body is holding tension, and how
it reacts to movement. Though immobilization is
often a part of conventional therapies, this
markedly weakens the muscles and also may allow them
to adopt their tense, locked up state as normal.
Yoga
may be an excellent means of facilitating this, but
one must keep in the forefront of their mind not to
overdo it. “Good postures for backs” is a broad
grouping of stretches that may be wonderful but also
may be very bad for this or that person’s particular
back injury. Same goes for injured joints like
knees and elbows. A good yoga instructor can be a
valuable guide, but be wary of any that seem to have
a heroic disposition that you feel pushes past the
limits of your body awareness.
chiropractic…
Chiropractors are doctors that specialize in
spines. It makes sense to consult with them when
the spine is injured. Unfortunately, they are
viewed as “quacks” by many people, and there are
some chiropractors that have a more drastic approach
that leaves many people turned off to them. A good
chiropractor is not just trying to get you to
“crack”, but is gentle and not forceful. The
chiropractor I see is excellent, and uses the
grostic technique, which relies on only the most
subtle adjustments of the atlas vertebra. If he
needs to make other types of adjustments, he will
but he starts subtly and uses more pressure or force
only as indicated, and is always gentle. This, I
think, is the hallmark of a good chiropractor.
massage…
Massage can be very useful, again keeping in mind
that, especially during the acute phase of an injury
when the muscles are very reactive, you don’t overdo
it. Massage helps relax the muscles and improve
circulation of both blood and the body’s vital
energy. Massage can be made more therapeutic by
using various herbal oils, balms or liniments, which
will help deliver their medicine topically over the
injured area. Massage would be inappropriate over
an area that shows sign of infection.
There are numerous other useful therapies one might
apply; really, the scope of possibilties is
literally endless. Reiki, qi gong, biofeedback,
acupuncture and many others have immense potential
for benefit. One consideration, most prevalent in
acute back injuries, is whether traveling and
getting in and out of a car will undo the benefits
offered by the treatment. It may be the case that
initially, rest at home will afford more benefit
than the trauma (literally) that a car ride can
inflict.
herbal treatment of back & joint injuries
Herbs, because they act on such a broad spectrum of
systems, tissues and reactions, offer virtues in
addressing back and joint injuries that few if any
other options give to us. Some of the virtues they
offer are clear, while others may seem “nebulous” to
the more rational in thought. Very often, a single
herb will act in several complimentary ways. I will
offer here the herbs I have seen to work, and those
taught to me by other herbalists I know and have
faith in. Many of these herbs are obscure and hard
to find in commerce; in fact, some of the most
valuable aren’t offered by any health food stores or
commercially distributed supplement companies at
all. I can, though, offer insights on small scale
medicine makers who offer these.
dealing with pain…
This
is, for obvious reasons, the first thing most people
want resolved. If the person goes to a doctor,
they’ll quite likely get prescribed strong pain
meds, especially for bad back injuries.
There are, however, significant risks to the use of
pain meds. Obviously, we need to acknowledge that
these are strong medications, and with them come
side effects, interactions and a potential for
addiction. But less obviously, and perhaps more
pertinently, their very effectiveness as pain
relievers pose significant risks. This is because
pain, uncomfortable as it can be, is an important
means of communication between the physiological
body and the conscious intellect. Pain tells us
what we can and can’t do. It forces us to give in
when we might choose to forge on. It is a vital
reaction, and if we silence it, we will not be able
to hear its wisdom.
If
we choose to use strong pain meds, it allows us to
better go about our day, but in doing so we cannot
hear our body telling us that we are re-injuring
ourselves, and in doing so worsening the original
injury. Even something so simple as carelessly
getting in and out of a car can result in
significant trauma, and thwart the body’s efforts to
heal. But because people using strong pain meds may
not be able to feel the pain, they do not know that
the trauma is occurring. It is my opinion that this
accounts for the need so often for back injuries to
be treated surgically; a person comes in, they get
pain meds, these meds allow them to overexert and
re-injure the body several times each day, and then
the lack of healing that results from this is used
to justify the need for surgery.
This
is not to say that someone should not take pain
meds. Sometimes relief from constant pain, even if
brought on by pharmaceuticals, will afford a healing
not attainable by other means. However, it is
vital that if one chooses to use these drugs
that they adhere to the rest required by such an
injury, and not use the drugs as a means to go about
business as usual. No herb, no drug, no therapy, no
surgical procedure can bypass the need to take it
easy, at least without consequences in the long
run.
No herbs - at least no legal herbs -
are as broadly potent as pharmaceutical pain
killers. There are a few exceptions to this, but
these plants are quite strong, potentially toxic,
and should only be used by those knowledgeable about
them. This does not mean though that herbs are
inferior; quite the contrary. Used skillfully,
herbs will not suppress pain, but rather resolve the
conditions that are causing it. This approach
generally does not result in immediate relief as do
pain meds, but can yield a far better long term
recovery.
To
achieve this end, we need to use herbs with more
specificity than is often done, and to do that, we
need to look at the pain in the same way. Pain is
not different only in degree, but also in quality.
It may be dull and achy, it may be stabbing, it may
feel like searing heat. When we differentiate pain
in such a manner, we learn to understand the
language in which it speaks to us, and we can use
this understanding to form the most effective
treatment.
While the varieties of pain are extensive, when
addressing injuries to joints we can use the
structures affected to help us differentiate
possible remedies:
Muscle pain from injury, spasm and constriction
Nerve pain
Inflammatory pain
addressing muscle reactions…
One
of the first responses by the body to injury of the
back or joints is for the muscles surrounding the
injury to seize up. This helps prevent movement
that may worsen the injury; in a very literal sense
the body is using the constricted muscles to form a
natural “splint” around the joint. As anyone who
has ever experienced this knows, though, the pain
can be agonizing. In the initial stages of injury
(say the first 24 hours), an application of ice can
help relieve some of this pain while the person is
returned to an environment in which they can rest
and take it easy. There is a difference of opinion
in whether, after this initial period, it is
appropriate to use ice, heat, or alternating heat
and cold. Good points can be made on all sides. In
my opinion, using heat, or alternating heat and cold
will more effectively help the muscles “let go” and
reduce their tendency to spasm or stay is tight
constriction. There are, however, exceptions, and
it is usually clear to the person with the injury
which end of the spectrum feels most appropriate.
Following the injury, the muscles don’t just slip
back into a state of relaxation. Rather, it is
quite appropriate to say that they stay on a vigil,
cautiously watching for any movements or actions
that might aggravate the injury, and if they sense
these, they will spasm and bind up, causing often
excruciating pain. The first step to dealing with
this is to listen to it: don’t do the things that
cause it. Of course, that’s not so easy, since you
may be lying in bed and would prefer to go to the
bathroom to pee than to do it right there. So
you’ll need to move very carefully and very slowly,
using your greatest concentration and awareness to
figure out how you can get up, sit down, or whatever
movement you deem necessary. In doing so, listen to
what your body says it can and can’t do. While it
may say it can’t do anything, you’ll likely
find that some specific sequence of movements will
afford you the ability to move less painfully than
other ways. If you are using pain meds, it is very
important you try to be as aware of the reactions of
your body to your movements as possible, because
each time the body goes into a state of intense
spasm, that aggravates the injury and reinforces the
tendency of the muscles to do so again. It sets you
back. This sets up a state in the muscles that I
refer to as “hypervigilance” or “reactivity”; they
are more prone to go into spasm, even when they just
think you might do something that would be
risky. The degree to which they do this can be
minor or debilitating, and it can even recur long
after the initial injury is healed.
Thankfully, there are numerous herbs that possess
antispasmodic activity; each one with its own niches
and indications. Among them, I have found the
following to be especially useful. In regards to
which form of the herb works best, I am referring to
each remedy prepared as a tincture, unless otherwise
noted. Also, while I will suggest dosage ranges as
is appropriate for each plant, the most important
consideration in the use of these herbs is that they
need to be taken, at least initially, quite
frequently; at least every hour, though preferably
every half hour and if indicated every 15-20
minutes. As muscle reactivity lessens, dosage can
lessen as well, but do understand that while a
commercially prepared tincture of Cramp Bark might
say “Take 30-40 drops 3 times a day”, that just
won’t cut it in an acute situation. Rather,
smaller, more frequent doses provide a continual
influence of the herb on the system, and will yield
a greater relaxant activity. Exceptions are noted
in their summaries. And of course, remember the
foundational role of magnesium.
cramp bark
viburnum opulus, v. prunefolium, v. acerfolium
Cramp Bark, as its name clearly implies, is used to
treat cramping. While many herbal antispasmodics
can be very specific in regards to the kind of
cramps they work best on, the beauty and virtue of
Cramp Bark is that it possesses a broadly effective
relaxant action that works throughout the body to
reduce muscle tension and reactivity. Though small,
frequent doses do work, I find its action most
effective when taken in doses of around 30 drops of
tincture. I often alternate this with more specific
remedies, taking these more frequently, and Cramp
Bark every two or three doses.
black cohosh
cimicifuga racemosa
Though Black Cohosh has been pigeon holed as a
“menopause herb” by supplement company marketing, it
excels at treating muscle pain characterized by
significant stiffness and a dull, achy, tender
sensation. I have used a combination of Black
Cohosh and Arnica tincture (not homeopathic but
herbal) and find that the two together taken in
small frequent doses are very effective at reducing
muscle reactivity. Though Arnica is not properly an
antispasmodic, it does act decidedly on muscles,
relieving inflammation and increasing circulation to
them. It may be worth noting that I feel that Black
Cohosh tincture should be made from the fresh
plant. While preparations made from the dried root
may also be effective, I don’t think that they work
as well, nor do I think that they possess the
fullness of activity that the fresh plant brings to
a preparation. 5-15 drops is a good dose range; I
feel that larger doses of this herb are unnecessary.
lobelia
lobelia inflata
Lobelia is a powerful antispasmodic, indicated by
severe spasm. It doesn’t seem to work so well as a
preventive, and so would not be an herb for regular
use, but rather help to resolve spasm when the
muscles are seized up and just won’t let go. To
this end, it can be very effective; I know of a
woman here in Michigan that has used it to address
grand mal seizures, and said it has worked better
than anything she’s ever seen used. Lobelia, in
large doses, can have an emetic effect – it can make
a person throw up, but the tincture taken in small
doses is unlikely to produce this result. It also
has a reputation of being dangerous, and some books
have suggested that overdoses can prove fatal. This
is, though, blatantly untrue, and although the story
of how this misinformation got started is very
interesting, it’s too long to report here. 1-10
drops of lobelia can do the trick; start low, and
work your way up if needed.
kava kava
piper methysticum
Kava
Kava is a very effective remedy for relaxing
tension, and it works both on the mind and the
muscles. I very often use it when people are
holding their emotional or mental tension
physically, but it can also be useful when the
physical tension of an injury is causing a lot of
mental anxiety and unrest. While I think Kava
poses no problems when taken frequently, it’s an
herb I’d restrict to use as needed to deal with the
anxiety attending injury, and not the mainstay of
treatment. Also, I do think kava works rather nice
in larger doses, anywhere from 30 to 90 drops (1 to
3 “squirts” of tincture).
nerve pain…
Nerve pain can be distinguished from muscle pain by
certain characteristics. Pain that involves
numbness, tingling, “shooting” or “searing” along
the length of a limb indicates to us that the nerves
are involved. While there is certainly an overlap
in the herbs that treat muscular and nerve pain, the
following are among the most effective:
saint john’s wort
hypericum perforatum
Like
Black Cohosh, Saint John’s Wort has been labeled an
“herbal antidepressant” and few people know that it
is an incredible remedy for injured nerves. Saint
John’s Wort seems to effectively restore the
function of injured nerves, whether the injury has
impaired their function (causing numbness, tingling
and impaired sensation) or induced excessive
reactivity (shooting and searing pains along the
length of a nerve, as in sciatica, which it is
specific for). Saint John’s Wort not only helps to
resolve the pain of nerve injuries, and probably the
inflammation as well, but it also appears to build
up and restore damaged or poorly functioning nerve
cells to proper function; what herbalists call a
trophorestorative. Saint John’s Wort helps to relax
muscles as well, though its actions on the nerves
remedy predominate. 5-15 drop doses are effective,
more can be taken if needed. External applications
of an infused oil can also be astoundingly in their
effect. Dried Saint John’s Wort loses much of its
virtues however; look for preparations made from the
fresh plant.
It
must be noted that Saint John’s Wort does interact
with certain medications, causing them to be cleared
from the body more rapidly. Because of this, it
must be used with awareness and not used with drugs
it may interact with. Be aware that it does not act
with all drugs, but only those that are processed
through certain detoxification channels in the
body. Herbalist Jonathan Treasure explains the
mechanism behind these interactions thoroughly here:
www.herbological.com/images/downloads/SJW.pdf
jamaican dogwood
piscidia erythrina
Jamaican Dogwood is a very effective
and unique remedy for pain. It has an action on
both muscular and nerve pain, and when the tincture
is applied topically, it can produce a topical
anesthetic action. I’ve used Jamaican Dogwood when
there is a combination of tight muscle constriction
and very sensitive nerve pain. I’ve found it very
effective as well when mental tension causes the
muscles to lock up and not give. Though Jamaican
Dogwood can be toxic in large doses, the large doses
are measured in ounces, and not drops, and as the
eclectic herbalist Finley Ellingwood says, it may
“truly be called a harmless nerve sedative,
indicated in the three following conditions: (1)
spasmodic affections; (2) neuralgic affections; (3)
cerebral excitation.” Dosage range would be 5-30
drops, using 30 if needed, not from the start.
prickly ash
xanthoxylum americanum
Prickly Ash tincture is sometimes, though
unfortunately not quite always, amazingly effective
for treating very severe, agonizing nerve pain.
This would be pain of the searing and shooting
variety - like an electric current - that doesn’t go
away and has the person either perpetually shifting
or writhing around trying to find a position that
makes the pain feel less intense. It does little
for muscle pain and spasm, though. Like the
muscular remedies, small frequent doses are far more
effective than larger, in frequent ones. 5-10 drops
should do, if it’s going to work.
sweet clover
melilotus officinalis, m. alba
Though I have not personally used either
extensively, both White and Yellow Sweet Clover have
been used to treat nerve pain, specifically when
spinal nerve injuries are causing rather dreadful
headaches. Upper Peninsula herbalist Andrea
Corpolongo has used it and found it to be especially
effective for headaches & migraines, taken
immediately upon sensing their onset. King’s
American Dispensatory states that “Many observers
have found it peculiarly effective in certain
painful disorders, particularly neuralgias of
long standing and associated with debility.” Harvey
Wickes Felter adds, “Melilotus is a remedy for pain
associated with a sensation of coldness of the
extremities and marked tenderness, lameness, or
soreness to the touch.” 5-15 drop doses should be
sufficient.
nettle
urtica dioica, u. urens
Nettle, in regards to addressing joint injuries, can
be remarkable when the fresh plant is used to sting
the area over the injury. This use, called “urtication”,
was once traditionally used to address injuries
resulting in impaired nerve function, loss of
sensation and paralysis. I’ve also used it to
address inflammation in joints; it is specifically
useful in tendonitis and other repetitive stress
injuries, and has been used effectively in various
forms of arthritis as well. Probably, it works by
calling blood to the area affected. Because the
sting can be uncomfortable, people have shunned this
use, but I have found the long term benefits greatly
outweigh the short term discomfort.
inflammation…
Inflammation can also be a cause of pain, though its
initial occurrence is really a part of the body’s
healing response. The “heat” of inflammation is
generated by an increase in activity in the area
affected. So, when we injure ourselves, the body
increases the cellular activity in that area to heal
itself. When inflammation of a joint becomes
chronic, this is a sign that some necessary function
of the healing process cannot be completed; so we
see again that it is a means the body uses to
communicate with us. It may be that we are
deficient in some essential nutrient, such as Omega
3 EFAs, or that there is a lack of lubrication in
the joint. Chronic inflammation may also result
from autoimmune activity or a food allergy. When we
use suppressive anti-inflammatory medications - or
even certain herbs - we suppress the healing
response of the body, and this can perpetuate the
injury as well, even as the inflammation itself is
negated. Thankfully, most anti-inflammatory herbs
do not act suppressively, but change the conditions
in the tissues so that the healing process completes
itself, and returns to a state of health.
Most
of the herbal anti-inflammatories will be discussed
in detail elsewhere, so here I will simply list them
along with the tissues they seem to affect most.
Some herbs possess a systemic action, which broadens
their scope but also limits the specificity of their
action.
Black Cohosh: muscles
Arnica: muscles
Saint John’s Wort: muscles
and nerves
Jamaican Dogwood: muscles
and nerves
Sweet Clover: nerves
Solomon’s Seal (both True and False): tendons,
cartilage and connective tissues
Teasel: muscles, tendons,
cartilage and connective tissues
Salicin-containing herbs (Willow, Wintergreen,
Aspen, Birch, Meadowsweet):
systemic
Licorice: systemic
Ginger: systemic
Turmeric: systemic
lubrication of joints & tissues…
One
cause of inflammation can be a lack of lubrication
in the joints. A foundational cause of this can be
nutrient deficiency, especially a lack of Omega 3
EFAs. These, by providing oils, give tissues
pliancy and resiliency, and make cells more
resistant to damage. Another cause, specifically in
synovial joints, hinges around the production and
quality of synovial fluid in the joints. If, for
some reason, the production of this fluid is
impaired, there will not be adequate lubrication in
the joint, and as a result friction and abrasion
will result in inflammation. In such instances,
using an anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits the
body’s inflammatory response is inherently short
sighted, since it allows the cause of the condition
to remain unaddressed and further structural damage
to take place.
The
role of herbs on the lubrication of joints and the
production of synovial fluid is predominantly
founded on empirical observation; which standard
medical process does not, for the most part, value
as a means of discerning legitimacy. Nonetheless,
the results that practitioners have obtained using
these plants speaks volumes. On the whole, plants
acting on lubrication needn’t be used as frequently
as antispasmodics or herbs used for nerve pain. 3-5
doses a day is usually sufficient, and 2 will often
do, if not optimal
solomon’s seal
polygonatum biflorum, and various other polygonatum
species
I
have found Solomon’s Seal to be, without a doubt,
among the most valuable herbs for addressing joint
injuries of all kinds. Solomon’s Seal seems to have
a remarkable ability to restore proper lubrication
in the joints, and I believe also helps restore
pliancy to tendons and ligaments by supplying
moisture to them if they are atrophied. It is
specifically indicated for tendonitis and other
repetitive motion injuries. While nothing works all
the time in all cases, it has been my experience and
that of others I know who use it that Solomon’s Seal
almost always helps a condition, and sometimes does
so miraculously. Though I can only speculate, I
think that in joints it acts directly of the
synovial glands to restore proper lubrication. I
have frequently seen and experienced Solomon’s Seal
completely resolve that sensation of friction,
grinding, or clicking in joints, and on a number of
occasions see this result within a few minutes of a
single dose of tincture. This is not always the
case, though, and an immediate response should not
be expected outright. Daily, consistent use of the
tincture provides optimal results. Solomon’s Seal,
as noted above, seems to act as an anti-inflammatory
on almost all of the connective tissues (though I
don’t feel that it has a pronounced action on the
muscles), this end being achieved by restoring
proper lubrication, which both supplements the
deficiency and acts protectively to reduce friction
on the tissues. Small doses of tincture work quite
well; I tend to use 5-10 drops, though Matthew Wood,
from whom I learned about this plant, uses 3-5.
I
have used both the tincture internally and the
infused oil externally quite a bit. I’m often asked
if the tea will work as well as the tincture, and
the honest answer is that I haven’t used it and so
don’t really know. One consideration about using
tea is that it will require a lot more root
than the tincture, and since Solomon’s Seal is
difficult to find in commerce (I can confidently say
that there probably isn’t a single store in SE
Michigan that has Solomon’s Seal and I only know of
a few in the country).
mullein
verbascum thapsus
Mullein is mostly thought of as a “cough herb”, but
is, like Solomon’s Seal, among the best
musculoskeletal remedies I know of. While both the
leaf and root can be used, I have the most
experience with, and am partial to, the root. To be
honest, I’m not entirely sure that Mullein works by
affecting synovial fluids, though this is Matthew
Wood’s hypothesis: “It has a moistening, lubricating
effect on the synovial membranes… so that it is
hydrating to the spine and joints. It is often
indicated in back injuries. People think they are
untreatable and incurable, but an increase the
synovial fluids will make the spine more pliable and
comfortable. The vertebra will slip back into place
more readily, pain and inflammation will decrease
and the condition will get better." So, that’s his
thought. What I know of mullein root (Matt uses the
leaves) is that it is one of the most effective
means of addressing back problems caused by or
resulting in misalignment. Whether or not it’s
working via lubrication, Mullein Root has helped me
immensely when my spine’s been kinked and I couldn’t
straighten up, and I’ve repeatedly seen it work well
for clients and students as well. It seems to be
most effective before the muscles react to the
misalignment, and I’ve seen and experienced numerous
instances where a single dose allow the person
(occasionally myself) to just straighten right up.
I think it is specific to misalignment resulting
from herniated discs, as well as in treating
sciatica resulting from misalignment. In acute
cases, with all the nerve and muscle reactions that
go along with them it need to be used more long term
and supportively with other herbs, but after the
acute phase has past and the back is no longer in
“crisis” mode but still weak and not wholly stable,
Mullein Root on its own can be immensely helpful. I
think of it among the most essential remedies to
restore spinal strength and integrity. 5-15 drops
is a good dose; you can also make a tea from the
roots.
fluid stagnation…
Another factor affecting lubrication is a stagnation
of fluids in the joints. Since synovial fluid
exists in a small, encapsulated space, stagnation is
not likely. But other fluids, including
cerebrospinal fluid, blood and lymph are more prone
to impaired flow.
black cohosh
cimicifuga racemosa
Black Cohosh, in addition to having an
anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action on the
muscles, seems to possess a unique lubricating
action on the spine. Matthew Wood, who has shown
this plant to be among the best herbs in treating
both recent and old whiplash cases, suggests that
the injury causes a stagnation, or impaired flow, of
the cerebrospinal fluid. We can think of the injury
of whiplash as resulting in something similar to a
kinked hose. Using this analogy, we can recognize
that not only does the kink affect nerve function,
but the ability of the cerebrospinal fluid to
properly lubricate the spinal cord. Matthew Wood
and Lise Wolff, both Minnesotan herbalists, have
used Black Cohosh in whiplash extensively, and I
have seen good results from it as well, though I
have less experience with whiplash. If it seems to
work, but not fully, a bit of Lobelia can be added
to enhance its function. 5-15 drop doses are
sufficient, and (again) I feel that Black Cohosh
should be avoided in larger doses.
yarrow
achillea millefolium
Yarrow acts specifically on the blood, and possesses
the unique ability to staunch bleeding, to break up
and disperse congested blood and to dispel
stagnation and impaired circulation, despite that
these uses seem contradictory. It is quite
appropriate, if strangely nebulous, to say “Yarrow
knows what to do with the blood”.
These unique multifaceted actions make Yarrow an
invaluable ally in addressing any circulatory
stagnation resulting from or concurrent with an
injury. Yarrow oil or tincture applied topically
over an area will both increase circulation in that
area, and break up and congealed or stagnant blood.
It may also be used internally in small doses of the
tincture; 5-10 drops. The infusion works as well,
both internally and as a compress. I’ll elaborate a
bit more on Yarrow when discussing injuries.
arnica
arnica montana and related species
Arnica increases the circulation of blood to
muscles, and within and around a joint. It can be
applied topically as a tincture, salve or an infused
oil, and also taken internally. Arnica, in large
doses can be very irritating to tissues and thus has
been considered toxic. In appropriate doses of 5-10
drops, likelihood of aggravations are rare. Many
people use homeopathic arnica for this reason, and
because the uses of the two forms are almost
identical. I have not, though, found the
homeopathic form to be as effective as the herbal.
I’ll elaborate more on Arnica when discussing
injuries below.
calendula
calendula officinalis
Calendula is a broadly acting herb, but here we’ll
stick to its uses as a lymphatic. Lymphatic herbs
are used to decongest or otherwise improve the flow
of the lymph within the body. Lymphatic fluid is
responsible for supplying the cells with nutrition,
cleaning up metabolic wastes, acting as the
environment in which immune activity takes place and
pretty much makes up most of the interstitial fluid
of the body. Lymphatic fluid is not circulated by
a pump as is the blood (though it does travel with
the blood on its way to the cells), but rather
relies on movement of the body to circulate.
Inactivity - which more or less comes along with
most injuries - impairs lymphatic flow, and thus an
herb like Calendula can be useful to prevent
stagnation. I’ll elaborate more on calendula (déjà
vu?) when discussing injuries below. Dose of
tincture would be 5-30 drops.
structural integrity…
Of
course, when considering healing from back and joint
injuries, we must acknowledge the foundational
importance of the strength and nutrition of the
bones and connective tissues. If these are weak,
then they will have difficulty healing, and will be
prone to re-injury. The importance of nutrition has
already been covered, but I would like to again
stress that excess calcium intake and the exclusion
of the nutrients needed to properly absorb and
utilize it should be thoroughly considered. There
are certain herbs that we can add as offering a
nutritive influence…
horsetail
equisetum
arvense and related species
Horsetail species are probably the richest sources
of silica available to us via plants. They contain
so much as not to be edible, and their common name
“scouring rush” refers to their use as an abrasive
to scour pots and pans. Since silica, as covered
above, is so important in its role of providing a
matrix for all connective tissues, improving their
strength and resilience, horsetail is a very
valuable ally. Steeping a good handful of the plant
in boiling water will extract a very bioavailable
form of silica. As an infusion, Horsetail may be
combined with Oatstraw (also high in silica),
Nettles, Raspberry leaf and other nutrient rich
herbs to provide mineral nutrition. Strangely,
though alcohol is a very poor solvent for silica,
the tincture of the fresh plant seems, nonetheless,
to afford many of the benefits we would ascribe to
silica. Why this is I don’t know, but perhaps the
plant not only supplies silica in its whole form,
but also improves the metabolism and utilization of
silica. Dosage of tincture would be 5-15 drops, 2-3
times a day. The infusion would probably be
preferable as a form of nourishment; look to thin
hair with splitting ends and brittle nails as signs
of silica deficiency.
royal fern
osmunda regalis
I’m
still getting to know Royal Fern, but was turned
onto it by Matthew Wood. It’s a very seldom used
plant, more obscure even than Mullein root or
Solomon’s Seal, but what little information can be
found on it makes reference to its usefulness as a
restorative medicine for bones and joints. Eclectic
herbalist Finley Ellingwood wrote of it “With some
physicians this agent is very popular in the
treatment of… diseases of the bones from
malnutrition, weakness of the osseous structure,
rickets... It is also useful in weak back,
especially in those cases where, with weakness of
the muscular structure of the back, there are
symptoms of incipient disease of the spinal
vertebrae. It has been used also in subluxations.”
Matt has said that it’s the only thing that has
reliably helped his back pain. Dose would be 5-15
drops, 3 or so times a day.
structural damage-breaks and tears
There are myriad herbs that can be used to address
the damage that physical trauma inflicts on the
body. Probably, no other modality offers as many
virtues or as many options. Among the most
effective, I offer…
comfrey
symphytum officinalis
Comfrey possesses a remarkable ability to facilitate
rapid healing of virtually all tissues, and has been
known and revered for long ages for this ability.
It will heal broken skin, broken bones, torn
muscles, tendons or ligaments, and just about
anything else with great speed. Recently, though,
the presence of potentially liver toxic pyrolizidine
alkaloids in Comfrey have prompted some people to
avoid its use. While there is not a lot of clear
cut evidence that liver failure or other harm is
directly associated with the use of Comfrey, very
good herbalists have opinions on both sides of the
debate. I urge you, if you choose to use Comfrey,
to look at the points presented on either side and
make your own educated decision. For my part, I do
not think that, taken in small doses and in limited
duration, the use of Comfrey in healing injuries
poses more risk than the benefits it offers. One
thing I would say, though, is that the quick pace at
which Comfrey heals may cause problems; for
instance, healing bones together before they are
well aligned (in this case I’d mix it with
Mullein). Some herbalists have also voiced
suspicions that Comfrey may in some cases produce
calcifications around a fracture it’s healing. I
have not seen this, but offer it as a consideration.
arnica
arnica montana and related species
Arnica is among the premier herbs for treating
injury. Applied topically, it summons the blood and
Vital Force of the body to the injury and will help
ease swelling, inflammation, pain, and bruising.
Taken internally it helps repair and ease the pain
resulting from torn muscles and connective tissues,
either from a sprain or from overzealous exercise
(think about the achy feeling after a workout, or
the first day of heavy duty yardwork in the spring);
I’ve taken 5 drops before bed after a hard days
labor to ease that sore, achy, “I did too much”
feeling that often comes the next morning.
Remember, in its herbal form Arnica should be used
in small doses of 5-10 drops. Also, because of its
action of summoning blood to the site it is applied
topically to, it should not be used on broken skin.
In such cases, think Yarrow.
solomon’s seal
polygonatum biflorum, and various other polygonatum
species
Solomon’s Seal is very effective at both healing
broken bones (I sometimes call it “bone glue”) and
addressing injuries to tendons and ligaments. It
has a unique ability to adjust the tension of
tendons, helping relax them if they’re to tight, and
tighten them if they’ve been stretched out. It will
also heal tears, and for this would combine well
with Comfrey, Teasel and/or Horsetail.
saint john’s wort
hypericum perforatum
Saint John’s Wort is very effective at potentizing
the healing response to trauma. If the infused oil
or salve is applied topically, it really does help
improve the recovery quite a bit, acting on the
muscles, nerves, and pain. To this end, it is very
often combined with Arnica, Calendula and Yarrow, as
they all compliment each other’s actions.
horsetail
equisetum
arvense and related species
Horsetail is probably one of the best remedies to
help heal broken bones and, particularly, torn
cartilage, tendons and ligaments. The tincture in
5-15 drop doses works quite well, as does the tea.
yarrow
achillea millefolium
As
mentioned above, Yarrow helps both to stop bleeding
and also to disperse congealed blood, making it very
important in the treatment of bruising. It can be
applied topically as a poultice (the fresh leaves
and/or flowers crushed up), a tincture, an infused
oil, a salve, or a compress made from the tea.
Yarrow stops bleeding, even severe bleeding,
remarkably well. It is also markedly antiseptic.
calendula
calendula officinalis
As
an injury remedy, Calendula helps the body clean up
the debris that results from trauma to a joint. It
helps to resolve the swelling of injuries by
facilitating lymphatic cleanup. A tea can be used
as a compress for external application, as can an
oil, tincture or salve.
teasel
dipsacus
sylvestris
Teasel root has been used to treat torn connective
tissues, and may be among the best remedies for torn
muscles. It possesses an anti-inflammatory action
on virtually all joint tissues, and David Winston
has spoken of its usefulness in treating narrowing
of the vertebral discs. Dose of tincture: 5-15
drops.
goldenseal
hydrastis
canadensis
Goldenseal tincture can be applied topically, or
taken in very small (1-3 drop) doses internally to
help strengthen weak and injured spinal discs. This
is another use I learned from Matthew Wood, and know
works, but have no real sense of how. When I first
tried Goldenseal for a herniated disc, I could
immediately feel it working. I think it has a very
important place in the treatment of disc injuries,
as well as Matt’s other uses, torn bursa and torn
meniscus. Please though, if using Goldenseal,
only use organically cultivated root. This
plant is endangered in the wild because of its
popularity as an herbal medicine.
customizing treatment…
While I have presented most of the
herbs individually, with a few references to
combinations, using a number of the herbs together
to address the totality of the injury is essential
to attaining optimal results. Using Mullein, for
example, to help align the spine will do little good
if powerful muscle spasms are pulling it back out of
alignment. By recognizing some of the specific
affinities of the herbs, we can put together a much
more comprehensive treatment protocol than we would
be able to by simply looking up “anti-inflammatory”
or “herbs for sprained ankles” in an herb book or
online. Well crafted formulas are like well crafted
meals; it takes time and a knowledge of the
ingredients to make the best recipes. This
familiarity, though, comes from experience, and
there is no substitute for trying the herbs and
seeing how they work in specific situations. We
learn by doing.
So…
This
presents, I think, a rather useful overview of some
of the possibilities offered by plant medicines, and
one, I feel, that presents information not easily
found elsewhere. As is always the case, I feel like
a truly comprehensive exploration of the topic could
go on infinitely, so please view this presentation
as a foundation to expand upon.
In
closing, I would like to make offer the idea that
one of the (albeit bittersweet) gifts that an injury
gives to us is humility. It’s often very easy to
think we know what would be good for someone to do
for this or that problem, but when we are afflicted
by a severely or chronically painful condition, all
pretenses of ego fall away (its hard to have to big
an ego when it takes you a half hour to get out of
bed). It is important to remember that even when we
do a exceptional job healing an injury, we cannot
pretend that we are over and done with it for good.
Very often, even when we have done an impeccable job
in healing, we are left with a joint or back that
while strong, is not “like new”. While I’ve found
that I can still do really aggressive lifting (like
portaging a canoe on top my head), I also know that
when I’m stressed and overexerted my back is more
susceptible to having a relapse. This isn’t because
I didn’t do a good enough job healing, but because
an injury leaves an imprint in the body which will
resurface when we need to be told again to pay more
attention and take greater care of our body.
There are always, in any therapy or treatment,
limitations, and while the use of herbs to address
back and joint injuries has constantly and
repeatedly amazed me, there are still times when my
best efforts don’t work well enough, and others when
I just don’t know quite what to do. In some of
these cases, the options afforded by modern
medicine, which can be so inappropriate as an
initial option, may provide the best choice to
make. If this is the case, it makes no sense
whatsoever to deny their usefulness, or to feel like
turning to those options means you have in any way
failed or been failed by more holistic
alternatives. Holism is by nature inclusive; even
of conventional medical practice.
I
think, however, that such an end can be made far
less common if the ideas and principles outlined
here are explored and implemented as indicated.
When we nourish ourselves and use herbs to enhance,
rather than suppress, our body’s innate wisdom, we
are again taught humility by the power and potential
of the healing force that resides within us.
This, at least, has been, and continues to be, my
experience.
© jim
mcdonald |
