ways to maintain and support bone health will become more important.
nutrition
The well-being of our muscles, bones, tissues, and joints doesn’t just
depend on how much wear and tear or stagnation they receive in daily
walking, running, lifting, bending, sitting, or lying. It also relies on our
internal health and the food we use to create and support this moving
structure. Sugar, sweet drinks, processed foods, tea, and coffee will strip
magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C from the body. All of these elements
are vital for the formation and repair of bone, muscle, cartilage, and
synovial fl uid. Magnesium, calcium, and vitamin C can be found in dark
greens, seaweeds, and whole grains and should be eaten daily. Also note
that iron is vital to structural well-being. Night twitching can be a result
of a lack of iron, so the nettle leaves and red raspberry leaves used to
meet calcium requirements will also provide copious and assimilable
amounts of iron. Vitamins A, E, B 6 , and B complex and zinc are all
important for the synthesis and maintenance of good structure. Ensure
that you eat foods that are rich in zinc and the vitamins listed above, such
as red peppers, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, and carrots. Essential fatty
acids and water are also vitally important lubricants.
For postmenopausal women, kidney health and estrogen and
progesterone levels should be maintained in order to guard against
osteoporosis and brittle bone disease.
For serious injury, stop all food immediately and switch to superfood,
juices, and herb teas in order to allow the healing process to begin
quickly.
herbs
Use lobelia leaf tincture both internally (if legally possible) and externally
for muscle strains, broken bones, and the like; it will quickly relieve the
associated spasms and pain. Pau d’arco inner bark, oat straw, and nettle
leaf, which are rich in both calcium and magnesium, make ideal choices,
while skullcap leaf and peppermint leaf, rich in zinc, will give general
support to the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems. Echinacea root
and the zinc herbs listed above, along with vitamin C, will help the
immune system fi ght any breaks, strains, or bone porosity.
Elasticity and mobility can be a problem with diseases like
osteoarthritis or simply old age. Devil’s claw root and both the European
and Chinese angelica roots (Angelica archangelica and Angelica sinensis) will
greatly help here. So will pau d’arco inner bark and black cohosh root.
Turmeric rhizome and meadowsweet leaf and fl ower will soothe joints
and muscles — both can be used internally and externally for painful
186 The Complete Home Guide to Herbs, Natural Healing, and Nutrition