Joint Health Support for Active Life | Secrets of the Tribe

Joint Health for Physical Comfort and Flexibility

What is a joint? It’s a place where two or more bones are connected. Most of the joints are mobile, which means the bones in the joint can move. 

Our joints are like intricate mechanisms. They are designed to allow us to move our bodies and limbs in various directions. Without joints, we wouldn’t be able to walk, run, dance - even sitting down would be impossible. 

Our comfort during physical activities depends on our joint health and function. The more smoothly they work the more comfortable we feel.

However, like any mechanism, our joints might wear out over time. We can help them by taking care of them. Let’s find out how.

Herbal Support

The best support is the inner support. Nourish the joints with the nutrients they need to maintain their function. What compounds have the most benefits for joints?

• Collagen: our joints, bones, and cartilage (a special tissue supporting bones and joints) are made of this protein.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: nourish the tissues, which supports a healthy inflammatory response.

• Vitamin C: our body needs it to produce collagen.

• Calcium: we need it for strong bones. Don’t forget to consume enough vitamin D - it promotes calcium absorption.

• Water: our cells, these little bricks that all our tissues and organs are made of, can’t live without water.

Try to consume these products regularly with your daily meals or herbal supplements.

Bromelain

Bromelain is derived from a pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruit and stem. The plant was cultivated by ancient Mayas and Aztecs as far back as 200 BC. The first European who ever tried the fruit was Christopher Columbus who brought one to Europe. It was very challenging to grow a pineapple in a cold European climate, so the fruit was a symbol of luxury and wealth. It was so expensive that people didn’t eat it, they just exposed it during lavish feasts, again and again, until the fruit would rot. 

Sailors cherished pineapples as a source of vitamin C. They noticed that consuming this fruit makes them feel better during long travel.

Bromelain is not a single compound, but a mixture of enzymes (stem bromelain, fruit bromelain, and ananain). 

A study showed that bromelain may promote a healthy inflammatory response in the musculoskeletal system. A more recent review describes similar effects of the bromelain.

Bromelain is also an antioxidant, it supports cellular health from oxidation. 

The tastiest and the juiciest way to add bromelain to your daily meals is with food or drinks:

• raw pineapples;

• pineapple juice (on its own or mixed with homemade lemonade, or herbal and fruit teas);

• smoothies (check out these 3 herbal recipes for inspiration;

• salads;

• Bromelain Tincture for easier consumption.

Chaga

Chaga is a mushroom found in different regions of the northern hemisphere, including the USA and Canada. Its Latin name, Inonotus obliquus, means “penetrate at an angle”, and this is how it grows on a tree. Believe it or not, chaga, sometimes called “a king of mushrooms”, is a parasite, and lives on a living tree, instead of a log. Their “favorite” tree is a birch but sometimes the mushrooms can be found on oak, alder, beech, or other common trees.

Indigenous people in northern Canada - Cree, Denesuline, and Ojibway - burned Chaga during pipe smoking ceremonies. And Denesuline people even used powdered chaga to predict the future.

The mushroom has also been used in traditional herbal practices. Giksan and Wet’suwet’en people consumed chaga to promote joint health. Khanty and Siberian people in Russia have used the mushroom in wellness practices since the 16th century. 

Chaga is one of the best mushrooms for health because it is rich in bioactive compounds, including polyphenolic compounds, triterpenoids, and steroids, such as lanosterol and inotodiol. Several studies report that chaga may promote a healthy inflammatory response and support immune function. It is also one of the best mushrooms for brain health.

Chaga also contains betulin and betulinic acid, like a tree it grows on (“Betula” is a Latin name for a birch). Derivates of betulin support collagen synthesis, thereby promoting joint comfort.

The mushroom is rich in polysaccharides, D-glucans and β-glucans, which are antioxidants and help protect cells from oxidative stress.

You can enjoy chaga’s benefits in chaga tea (by the way, it used to be a coffee substitute in the 1940s) or in Chaga Tincture.

Cat’s Claw

Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is an Amazonian woody vine. Its name is derived from the plant’s hooked thorns which look like cat’s claws.

The Ashaninka people from the Peruvian Amazon have used cat’s claw in their herbal practices to promote joint and muscle comfort.

Cat’s claw contains alkaloids and flavanols which have antioxidant properties. The herb can be your daily multivitamin. The plant may also help maintain joint and muscle health. 

2002 and 2005 studies have shown the plant’s benefits for joint health. 

Steep cat’s claw and consume it with herbal tea or take Cat’s Claw Capsules or Cat’s Claw Tincture.

Black Pepper

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is native to the Malabar Coast of India. It was used in Indian cuisine back to at least 2000 BC. Black pepper was so cherished that it was called “a king of spices”, even its name in Sanskrit - pippali - means “black gold”.

The plant wasn’t used only for culinary purposes: it was also treasured in Ayurvedic herbal practices.

Black pepper is rich in the phenolic component piperine, which has antioxidant properties. A 2009 study showed that piperine may promote a healthy inflammatory response and that it supports joint health. A 2013 study described the same effect.

The plant is also a great source of manganese, a mineral that can support metabolism and bone health.

Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), also known as “golden spice”, or “Indian saffron” for its vibrant yellow color, has been used for culinary purposes and as a cooking agent: the robes of Buddhist monks were dyed with turmeric.

Turmeric is probably one of the best herbs for joints. The plant has also been used in Vedic practices for almost 4000 years in India. It reached China by 700 AD, where the herb was also cherished for its health benefits. Read more about turmeric and curcumin health benefits and uses, and also about the benefits of taking turmeric and ashwagandha together.

The main component of the root is turmerone, which is a volatile oil. The plant also contains curcumin, thiamin, and minerals, including potassium and iron.

A 2022 study has also shown that curcumin, a yellow polyphenolic pigment, may promote a healthy inflammatory response and that it supports joint health.

You can easily add turmeric to a variety of foods and drinks:

• Tea or coffee;

• Golden milk;

• Rice dishes;

• Soups and broths;

• Stews;

• Turmeric Capsules, or Turmeric Tincture.

What you can do to help your joint health

A holistic approach can help maintain joint health and comfort. This is what you can do:

• Be active: exercise regularly You don’t have to stick to one certain activity, find whatever you like: yoga, pilates, dancing, swimming, or hiking. 

• Eat healthy: don’t overeat and don’t starve. Eat food that joints love: rich in fatty acids, collagen, calcium, and vitamin C. 

• Drink enough fresh water: it keeps your joints lubricated, which is important for their health and function.

• Listen to your body: don’t overexercise, consult your health specialist if you feel joint discomfort.

Try to integrate these habits into your lifestyle: it supports healthy joint function. Also, try incorporating natural herbal supplements to your daily routines into maintain mobility and comfort.