Connecticut Herb Association: Healing Injured Joints

Being a gardener or farmer definitely puts some wear and tear on the joints and connective tissues, so familiarizing your self with plants specific to healing connective tissues is a very good idea. In my case, not only am I a gardener, but I am a student of Jiu Jitsu, a martial art that specifically emphasizes joint locks--so researching this topic definitely has its personal benefits. Unfortunately, it took a sprained ankle to motivate me to finally get around to it! The information below is the result of that research—I hope you find it helpful.

The most common herbs used externally in varying configurations for an injury like a sprain are:

Calendula

St. Johnswort (effective enough on it’s own!)

Arnica Montana

Cajeput (a species of Tea Tree!)

Some of the many other herbs indicated for external use in trauma and inflammation include:

Plantain Plantago major

Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare

Indian Tobacco, Lobelia inflata

Formulations

Here is an external formula adapted from Michael Moore’s public online manual “Herbal Formulas for Clinic and Home”:

Olive Oil 12 Parts
Hypericum Oil 3 Parts
Beeswax 2 ½ Parts

Calendula Flowers 1 Part

Arnica montana Herb 1 Part

Grain alcohol/witch hazel 1 Part

Cajeput Essential Oil ¼ Part

Make a 1:6 steeped oil with the Calendula and Arnica. Add the Hypericum Oil (made from the fresh flowers), heat slowly, dissolve the beeswax. Add the Cajeput and pour into tins.

The names for this salve are CHAC Salve (Calendula, Hypericum, Arnica and Cajeput), OSFA Salve (One Size Fits All) or Rescue Grease or Limbaugh Leech. (Michael Moore, 2008)

Internally, some of same herbs can be used in a different formulation by Michael Moore.

TRAUMA TINCTURE

Hypericum (fresh plant tincture) 3 parts
Calendula (fresh flower tincture) 2 parts
Arnica montana (fresh plant tincture) 1 part

“Mix these tinctures from fresh plants (if you can), using the volumes of compressed herbs for the parts. Useful in acute conditions, such as sprains, contusions, hyperextensions and muscular-skeletal trauma. It should be applied topically and taken internally, (10-20 drops) both modalities every two hours for three or four rounds. Taken internally it will also help for faintness and lightheadedness resulting from parasympathetic or vagus discharge caused by physical manipulation or trauma.”(Michael Moore, 2008)

Note: According to The Eclectic Materia Medica, and Kings Dispensary, ¼ to 10 drops of Arnica can be taken safely.

Other random tidbits of herbal information:

For tendinitis and sprains with dull pain and muscle strain add Black Cohosh (be aware though, that some people report headaches with using Black Cohosh.)

Add silica rich herbs like horsetail and the green herb parts of oats to teas and formulas to help rebuild the tissues, and especially if bone healing is needed.

Comfrey can be used in external applications; internally it is not recommended due to the potential hepatotoxicity, though I could not find any research on the short term use.

Now let’s not forget Solomon’s Seal, which is also a powerhouse herb for healing insults to the connective tissues. It can be used internally and externally.

Two other herbs that have been used as folk remedies in external applications on sprains are wormwood, as a warm fomentation or vinegar, and Chrysopsis graminifolia (Fevergrass/Grass-leaved Silver Aster) as a poultice. I couldn’t find much more on the use of these herbs, but I figured I would throw those in there just in case you want to try something new!

~ posted by Melissa Emma, Connecticut Herb Association board member

The information, products and statements posted on this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please seek professional medical advice for the treatment of any health conditions.

References:

Michael Moore: http://www.swsbm.com/ManualsMM/MansMM.html

Henrietta Kress: http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/felter/arnica-mont.html

Rosemary Gladstar (2001) Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal