A joint or articulation is the location at which two or more bones connect. Joints can become compromised in many ways, by many types of injuries and conditions. One major factor in the decline of joint health is an irregularity or imbalance in the body’s healthy immune response. When the immune response is out of whack, the areas around joints can become painful, swollen and stiff. Over time, the joints can become severely damaged.
The accumulation of scar tissue around a joint can also cause compromise to the joint.
To support joints from life’s wear and tear, it’s very beneficial to stimulate circulation. Adequate blood flow to and around the joints helps to break up scar tissue and repair damage done to the cartilage cushion between weight-bearing joints.
Two other beneficial approaches are to support healthy cartilage within the body and promote a healthy inflammation response.
In addition, certain enzymes in the body cause inflammatory imbalance, and require inhibition and proper management in order to keep the joints healthy.
All of the above can be addressed with dietary measures, as many foods boost healthy blood flow, build cartilage and promote a more moderate inflammation response in the body.
Moderate and appropriate exercise, of course, is also beneficial as movement lubricates the joints and prevents stagnation and stiffness within the joints. Strengthening the muscles around the joints also provides an extra frontier of support, especially for the weight-bearing joints of the hips and knees, helping to avoid compression and the unnecessary friction of joints rubbing together over time, which can happen when there is not enough of a muscular support structure around a given joint.
Certain herbs are also particularly helpful for regulating a healthy immune response, breaking up scar tissue, and promoting healthy circulation. Ayurveda has long relied on the herb Boswellia serrata to support healthy joints, and balance any pain or mobility issues already present.
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- Have Dr. Douillard design an herbal program for you with a phone consultation.
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Boswellia Joints Plus: Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian Frankincense, is known in Ayurveda as the joint-loving herb that promotes a healthy inflammation response within the body. Traditionally, it was understood to support healthy blood flow to the joints while breaking up scar tissue surrounding the joints. In a recent study, boswellia was found to support healthy mobility and pain management in osteoarthritic knees by inhibiting an inflammatory enzyme called 5-lipooxygenase (1). While other herbs are excellent at managing a healthy inflammatory response in the body as a whole, Bowellia is renowned for its particular affinity for the joints.
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