Pain Part 2 - Joints and Muscles

If you’ve read the first blog post in our pain series, you are aware that one of the ways we will be talking about pain is within the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine.  If you haven’t read the first blog post, you may want to do that now.  Doing so will make this post and the ones to follow make a lot more sense.  To understand the role of TCM in joint and muscle pain, we first need a little background on the joint tissue and muscle tissue. 

The joints of the body work to provide mobility and to hold the skeleton together while the skeletal muscles work to produce movement, maintain posture and stabilize and strengthen the joints.  These two body tissues work in concert to create mobility and manipulation.  Joints are the weakest part of the skeleton, but even so, they are able to resist many forces like crushing and tearing.  The muscles definitely play a role in this.  The stronger a person’s skeletal muscles are, the more stable that person’s joints will be.  With so many of us living sedentary lifestyles with little to no exercise, the weakest part of our skeletons can become even weaker because that lifestyle decreases the strength of the skeletal muscles.  With that in mind, it makes sense that pain often affects these vulnerable parts of our bodies.  Like most people, I don’t actively think about my joints or muscles.  They just do what I need them to do.  Like most of you, I don’t think about my joints and muscles until they hurt.

When viewed from the TCM perspective, both joint and muscle pain can fall under the category of “pulling pain”.  They may also fall under the category of “aching pain”.  Issues associated with pulling pain involve Blood stagnation which basically means that the Blood is “stuck” – it’s not moving properly.  It can also involve obstruction of the vessels and a failure of the Liver to nourish the muscle tissue.  Aching pain involves an excess of dampness.  These issues contribute to the pain, so the goal is to maintain the free movement of the Blood and to dry the dampness.  That makes perfect sense, right?

 In case it doesn’t make much sense, here are a few tidbits of info to help clarify.  Skeletal muscle has a rich blood supply.  It needs to have a rich blood supply because contracting muscle fibers use a huge amount of energy and require an almost continuous delivery of oxygen and nutrients by the arteries.  Muscle cells also create large amounts of metabolic waste products that must be removed through the veins if we want our muscles to contract efficiently.  In contrast, the joint tissues are not well vascularized.  For example, cartilage is avascular; it doesn’t have a blood supply.  This feature makes it very difficult for cartilage to obtain sufficient nourishment to repair itself.  Instead of nutrients being directly delivered to the cartilage, they have to permeate through layers of tissue.  So, if the Blood, which functions to deliver all the nutrients our bodies require, is moving sluggishly along or the vessels that deliver Blood to the tissues are obstructed, the skeletal muscles don’t receive that necessary constant supply of oxygen and nutrients and the joint tissues don’t receive what little nutrients are permeating through layers of tissue.  A lack of nutrients leads to weakness, which leads to malfunction, which leads to pain.  Sluggish movement of the Blood can also cause an accumulation of dampness.  Think about how heavy your clothes are when they are wet.  Wearing wet clothes can hinder your movement by weighing you down.  Same thing can happen in our bodies.  What do we do to dry wet clothes?  We apply heat.  Certain TCM herbs do the same.  They gently warm the body, providing a tender nudge toward Blood movement.  

Now it makes sense, right?  The basic concepts of Blood and Qi (energy) movement are directly related to the skeleton's ability to move itself and to move without pain.  If we can maintain and support Blood and Qi movement, we can ensure proper nutrition for the muscles and joints and prevent the accumulation of dampness that weighs us down.

Pain: Part 1

The most widely accepted definition of pain goes like this:  “Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in such terms.”  This very long-winded definition goes on to say that “pain is always subjective”.   Look at the definition.  Read it again.  Did you see the phrase “pain is inflammation?”  Yeah, neither did I.   Yet, when you walk down the pain relief aisle of any drugstore, you see acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen….all NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).  What if the pain you feel doesn’t have anything to do with inflammation?  Did you realize that you can have pain without inflammation?   If that is the case – pain without inflammation -  how exactly would any of these anti-inflammatory products help you?  The fact is that while inflammation can be associated with certain types of pain, such as pain from a traumatic injury or pain associated with the wear and tear of the joints, it isn’t the only reason why people experience pain.  The single compound, single action theory of anti-inflammatories in the Western approach falls short for so many people struggling with pain.  It is time to recognize that there are other factors involved.  There are other pathways and channels in play.

 There are two key factors in that definition of pain that should be pointed out:  “pain is sensory and emotional” and “pain is always subjective”.   The Traditional Chinese approach to pain not only recognizes, but appreciates and uses these factors in its approach to pain.  In TCM, pain is defined as an imbalance between Qi (energy) and Blood.  This can happen when energy or Blood is deficient, or it can happen when energy and Blood get stuck in a certain area of the body.  Whenever the flow of energy and blood is obstructed and not free flowing, the organs of the body begin to malfunction and so pain develops.  TCM also recognizes that pain is either made worse or alleviated by the emotional health of the person and is quite often caused by stress itself.  In TCM, there is no distinction between physical pain and emotional pain; they are one and the same and they are treated in the same ways.  “Pain is always subjective.”  This means that an individual’s level of pain is influenced by his or her own feelings, emotions and opinions.  Each individual has his or her own perception of pain.  Because TCM does not view the mind as separate from the physical body, if the potential for higher thresholds for pain is present in one person, then the potential is there for all.  If strength is reinforced and the mind is quieted, the threshold can be altered.  In the Western medicine approach, pain is seen as a simple nerve impulse – an electrical message sent from the brain initiating the pain we feel.  It is viewed as mechanical; thus the symptomatic approach of anti-inflammatories or pain killing substances.  The Western approach does not recognize the emotional component of pain; it does not view pain as the dynamic physical and emotional response that it really is. 

Elements of TCM blended with the symptomatic approach of Western theory can have a dramatic impact on pain.  Looking at pain through a TCM lens and recognizing the following:   1) pain comes in all shapes and sizes; 2) there are multiple channels or pathways for pain; 3) stress contributes to pain; and 4) pain is subjective; will go beyond any benefit that an anti-inflammatory focused approach can offer.  Human beings are dynamic and fluid.  Our minds are not detached from our physical bodies.  They are one and the same.  You cannot support one without affecting the other.  You cannot aim to truly restore one without aiming to restore both.  

Real Food = A Healthy Heart

Cardiovascular health starts with good nutrition.  Food is a primary part of Eastern medicine, but not a part of Western medicine.  Real food- not Pop Tarts passed off as a serving of fruit and whole grains – I’m talking about an actual piece of fruit and an actual grain (hull and all).  If the food we eat is devoid of nutrients, so is the blood that pumps through the body.  As incredible as the human body is, it can’t make something out of nothing. 

PAUSE A MOMENT…AND LET THAT LAST SENTENCE SINK IN.

 Magnesium is a good example of that.  It’s a mineral and good sources include green leafy vegetables and whole grains, especially.  That mineral is incredibly important to muscle function and what is the heart?  It’s a muscle.  And guess what is a main component of the structure of arteries and veins…muscles again.  Magnesium helps muscle contract and relax normally.  In fact, they don’t really relax well without it.  With green, leafy vegetables being a top source of magnesium from food, does it make sense that many people with heart disease are advised not to eat large amounts green, leafy vegetables because of certain medications (blood thinners)?  What is a “large amount?”  1 serving?  2 servings?  3?  Because of those questions, many people avoid green, leafy vegetables all together.   That seems a bit counterproductive, because the most nutrient-dense foods are typically plants.   Here’s another little tidbit – we are told over and over again to avoid saturated fats, the “bad fats” as they are known (mistakenly).  We are told to replace them with polyunsaturated fats – especially olive oil.  We all know how good olive oil is for our hearts!  News flash – olive oil is pretty high in vitamin K – (that’s the reason why people on blood thinners are told to avoid “large amounts” of green, leafy vegetables.)  So…let’s think about this.  If you are a heart patient, with let’s say a stent and possibly on blood thinners, you can’t eat green leafy vegetables, you can’t eat olive oil, and you’re being told to avoid saturated fats.  Hmmmmm…. what’s left?  Low-fat/no-fat refined carbohydrates and low-fat/no-fat dairy?  The foods that probably put this person in this situation in the first place. 

Here’s a simple solution to this predicament.  Eat your food in the way nature presents it to us.  Full fat-unrefined and whole.  Avoid processed food.  It’s really that simple.  Honey nut cheerios?  Try steel cut oats instead.  Sodas and soft drinks - how about some water?   Skim milk?  No thank-you!!!  I’ll stick with the full-fat, whole version- cholesterol and all.  And I’ll tell you why in our next blog post.  

Raising Awareness - The Goal of American Heart Health Month

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in both men and women.  Six hundred thousand people die of heart disease in the United States every year.  That equals 1 in 4 deaths.  Why is this?  The prevalence of smoking has decreased to an all-time low since 1944 – at 20% of adults.  We’ve been bombarded by low-fat/no-fat foods for at least the last 3 decades and that is the diet pushed by the American Heart Association.  Three of the top 10 most prescribed drugs are designed to lower a person’s mortality from heart disease.  All of those facts lead me to these questions:

Why are so many people dying of heart disease? 

Why does it remain the leading cause of death? 

Did thousands of people lie on the Gallup poll on smoking? 

Are hundreds of thousands of people ignoring the dietary guidelines? 

Do the drugs not work? 

Think about what your heart does – from the 6^th week of fetal development to the moment life ends – it beats.  That muscle, about the size of your fist, will relax and contract over 3 billion times, pumping about 5 quarts of blood every minute.   In that blood is all the oxygen and nutrition your body needs to survive and thrive and the waste that needs to be removed.   That’s a lot of work; it makes sense why the heart is called the “King of the Body” in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Ponder those things during this month of February – American Heart Health Month.  

Schisandra Chinensis

Goji berries, acai berries, sea buckthorn berries, yumberries, macqui berries, blueberries…all considered “superfruits” for their nutritional content and antioxidant potential.  I’m sure you’ve heard of at least a few of those, but you likely have not heard of what could very well be considered the original super-berry:  the adaptogenic Schisandra berry.  

The berries of the Schisandra chinensis plant have been used in Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine for thousands of years.  They are known as “wu wei zi” in TCM which means “five flavor berry”.   You see, these berries have the very unique property of possessing all five flavors of TCM:  sweet, sour, salty, bitter and pungent.  Because it possesses all five flavors, it benefits the 5 yin organs:  liver, kidney, heart, lungs and spleen.  It is widely used as a tonic remedy to increase energy and fight fatigue. 

                As an adaptogen, Schisandra berry displays the required properties to be considered a true adaptogen:  non-toxic; reduces stress; non-specific benefits (works throughout the entire body) and normalizing.  It has been shown to decrease fatigue, increase physical work capacity and promote endurance and stamina.  They are also quite useful for the immune system, particularly during times of stress.  When we are stressed, our bodies are more susceptible to infections like colds and flus.  I’m sure it’s happened to you.  When you think that nothing else could possibly go wrong, you wake one morning with a splitting headache, sore throat and a nasty cough.  Our defenses are down when we are under lots of stress.  Schisandra can stop that from happening.   These little red berries keep our immune systems alert and ready to attack invading pathogens even when we don’t feel like we can attack the next load of laundry. 

                The benefits don’t stop there.  Schisandra also has an unusual dual effect on the nervous system.  As I said before, it is used for fatigue and work capacity.  These show a somewhat stimulant property on the nervous system.  Keep in mind that this only happens when we need it; when we are under stress.  At the same time, Schisandra can have a calming effect on the mind and can ease anxiety.  These berries can actually increase our resistance to emotional stress and create a platform where we are more equipped and ready to handle the many emotional stressors we face from day to day. 

                Modern research has shed light on schisandra’s significant benefits for the liver.  It is a potent hepatoprotective  (liver-protective)  herb and has strong antioxidant effects specifically in the liver.  Basically, it helps the liver rid the body of toxins – whether they are the result of normal, everyday metabolic processes or something environmental. 

             

      It’s incredible that a small red berry would have so many benefits in the body.   Now, you could eat these, I suppose.  It’s common in China that medicinal plants are added to foods to increase their healing properties.  But I’m thinking that the weird flavor profile (first salty, then sweet and sour, then bitter and pungent) may not be appealing to most.  Schisandra is widely available as a dietary supplement.  It also makes a great complement ingredient in formulation.  And remember when the next fad “super-fruit” berry comes around that these little red berries have stood the test of time.  They were super 3,000 years ago and still are today.  

Panax Ginseng (Asian Ginseng)

Panax ginseng has a long, rich history of use in China, Korea and Japan that goes back thousands of years.  It is a well-known adaptogen and a widely used restorative tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Its scientific name “Panax” comes from the Latin word “panacea” because of its use for a huge variety of conditions.  Panax ginseng is one of the most studied herbs on Earth.  Its safety has been well established, not only through scientific research, but also through historical usage.  And even so, it has gotten a bad rap here in the States.  We are unfortunately “ginseng phobics” – the phobia being rooted in misinformation and simple misunderstanding of the plant. 

                The team here at Redd is not afraid of ginseng.  We feel it is one of the most prized natural medicines available to us.   Remember that Panax ginseng is a true adaptogen.   In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is one of the great tonic remedies, used to restore “qi”, or vital energy, and restore vitality.  Ginseng promotes resistance to fatigue and stress; increases physical work capacity; stimulates learning and is radioprotective.  It looks to balance and nourish; to support the normal functions of the immune, cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous system. All of these effects are very well-established.  There are so many health benefits of ginseng that I could write volumes on this plant alone.  The roots of Panax ginseng contain various components – polysaccharides, sterols, and saponins.  The active constituents in the roots are collectively called “ginsenosides”, and the amounts of these active compounds can vary depending upon the age of the plant, where it was grown and other factors. 

                Asian ginseng comes in many forms and many varieties.  This is where I think some of the confusion comes in.  There are 2 distinct forms of Panax ginseng that are widely available here in the States – white and red.  White Panax ginseng is simply dried in the air and sun.  Red Panax ginseng is steamed and then dried.  The steaming process slightly changes the properties of the root and essentially the effects in the body.  Red ginseng is much “warmer” than white ginseng, which is considered “slightly warm”.  These obviously aren’t terms we use in Western Medicine, but think about them for a minute….it makes sense.   A “warm” or “hot” herb is more stimulating; hence, its effects in the body might give more of a “push”.   The warming nature of the herb helps to move energy around the body.  While red ginseng is still considered a tonic, it is used when more of a “push” would be more appropriate for a person.  Ginseng is commonly used for fatigue and exhaustion.  In these cases, a little push is certainly needed.  And this brings me to another point…misuse.

                Much of the negative attention ginseng has received has a lot to do with misuse.  I don’t know why, but many of us have this “more is better” attitude.  It isn’t necessarily the “more ginseng” that is the issue; it’s the “more” of every other stimulant people consume with it.  Remember the first criteria for all adaptogens – they must be nontoxic and safe.  This is true of ginseng.  There is no known toxicity.  There are no known or recognized contraindications according to the World Health Organization and the German Commission E.  Caffeine, on the other hand…certainly has known toxicity issues – is the most widely abused stimulant in the world.  Put those two things together and the “push” it creates in the body can be significant.   It’s not inconceivable that mass amounts of ginseng (especially red) paired with excessive amounts of caffeine could cause issues.  Let me try to explain why.  Caffeine is a stimulant that artificially extends the central nervous system beyond its limits.  (That’s why we experience the “crash”).  Panax ginseng is going to make this artificial boost even stronger, because it is looking to balance a system that is obviously out of whack.  It will also up-regulate body systems, such as the adrenals and the central nervous system, because they need it.  It isn’t the ginseng that causes the irritability or the rise in blood pressure – it’s the caffeine.  If the correct type of ginseng is used in the correct doses in the absence of excessive amounts of other stimulants, the outcome would be very different – it would be normalizing. 

Panax ginseng is the grand-daddy of all adaptogens.  (Its Chinese name, ren shen, actually means “man root”.)  This incredible adaptogen has had the trust of several cultures for many millennia.  And as long as you don’t follow it up with a few cans of Red Bull, you can experience the truly significant health benefits of this little root.  

What are Adaptogens?

I think it goes without saying that we are huge fans of adaptogens here at Redd.  (I think I’ve talked about them once or twice in past blogs.)  Adaptogens are incredible plants and (sometimes fungi) and they deserve some spotlight of their own.  So the next handful of blog posts will focus on this exceptional group of herbs. 

                So what exactly is an adaptogen?  This exceptional group of natural medicines helps the body adapt to stress, restore balance and support normal body functions.  They have the unique ability to increase our resistance to stress – any kind of stress – mental, emotional, environmental or physical, whether it’s short term or chronic.  The use of adaptogens as medicine dates back thousands of years to ancient China and India, but modern science is still playing “catch-up”.  Modern research into adaptogens didn’t begin until the 1940’s in Russia and a formal definition wasn’t developed until 1968.  While there is currently no “official” definition for an adaptogen that is recognized by any herbal or scientific body, scientists and researchers continue to use the 1968 definition of an adaptogen, developed by Dr. Israel I. Brekhman, PhD and Dr. I. V. Dardymov.  In order for any plant or fungi to be considered “adaptogenic”, it should have the following 3 properties:

·         Adaptogens are nontoxic.  Adaptogens should not be harmful.  They must have very minimal side effects on overall health. 

·         Adaptogens have nonspecific actions against stress.  What does that mean, really?  “Nonspecific” is simply a way to describe the “adaptive” properties of these agents – their ability to keep the body balanced in the face of multiple stressors.

·         Adaptogens are normalizing.  Adaptogens work regardless of direction.  If something needs to be “toned-down”, they’ll do that.  If something needs a “tune-up”, they’ll do that too.  They especially have this influence on the immune system, the nervous system and the endocrine system. 

                These 3 properties just highlight the common properties that all adaptogens share.  Many adaptogens have a “highlight” or a “specialty” in the body.  Many adaptogens are cardioprotective, liver-protective, and radioprotective (protect against radiation).  The health effects of adaptogens are diverse and their reach is broad. 

So, I’ve given you a basic overview of adaptogens.  You want to take them every day, right?  We think you should.  Here are a few known adaptogens:  Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng), Ashwagandha, Rhodiola rosea, Reishi mushroom, Holy basil and Schisandra.  These are just a few.  We’ll focus on specific adaptogens and their unique properties in future blog posts.  And if you’ve been using some of our formulas, you probably already have felt the difference they can make in your daily life.