Pain Is Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

Weakened muscles, stiff joints, and pain are not an inevitable part of aging and I have the research to prove it.

I started to experience arthritis, bursitis, low back pain, and knee aches in my early 40s and considered it to be a normal part of aging. Likewise, many of my clients come to me having accepted a certain amount of pain that comes with getting older. 

Recently, I learned of two studies that contradict this bit of common wisdom, suggesting that we can maintain our vitality into our 70s and beyond.  Both studies show that not only can we prevent pain from weakened muscles and stiff joints, but that we can reverse these conditions in our older years.

In one study, active men in their 70s had better muscle function and energy production than inactive men in their 30s. The differences showed up in how far they could walk, their strength, and their general mobility.  The active participants weren’t extreme athletes either--they put in around 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

Most exciting of all, even participants who began regular exercise later in life showed significant protection against further decline.  Our bodies remain responsive to activity at any age!

What about people who struggle to become active because of pain and immobility? The second study showed that stiffened tissues can be rejuvenated with the application of stretching and massage therapy.

Pain develops when we first become inactive for whatever reason—injury, surgery, or a prolonged period of immobility—and the connective tissue that surrounds and holds our muscles and organs in place (called fascia) conforms to these positions and movements becoming more stiff and fibrous.

Moving against the stiffened fascia is difficult and painful which causes us to stick with the dysfunctional positions or movements. This leads to the fascia becoming stiffer, which causes more pain when we move.

Researchers demonstrated that massage and stretching interrupted the pain cycle by remodeling the fascia and retraining muscles where fibrous connective tissue had developed.

That’s great news for those of us who are already “set” in our ways.  We don’t have to sit around bemoaning our fate, but can start to explore gentle stretching, possibly with the help of a physical therapist depending on the severity of the immobility. A nice massage would also help soften tissues! 

I see many clients who have resigned themselves to a “bad back”, achey hands, or weak knees because they know of no solution. The good news is that there are ways we can all start to feel better and start on the path to being free of pain.

Sources

1 “Impact of Physical Activity on Physical Function, Mitochondrial Energetics, ROS Production, and Calcium Handling Across the Adult Lifespan in Men”, https://Cell.com/cell-reports-medicine

2 “Manual therapy prevents onset of nociceptor activity, sensorimotor dysfunction, and neural fibrosis induced by a volitional repetitive task”, https://Pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

3 “Downward Facing Rat? How Rat Yoga is unraveling the Mystery of Back Pain”, https://bwhclinicalandresearchnews.org/2017/09/08/downward-facing-rat-how-rat-yoga-is-unraveling-the-mystery-of-back-pain/

Stiff Joints? Try this Herb for Relief

I was delighted to find an herb that not only relieves pain, but actually repairs tissues.

Comfrey

Comfrey is well-known in folk medicine as “knitbone”.  Now scientific studies have verified that comfrey, when applied topically, penetrates so deep into the tissues that it can even heal bone fractures.

Comfrey owes its healing powers to allantoin, a compound that stimulates the regeneration of connective tissue, and rosmarinic acid, which reduces inflammation at the cellular level.  As a result, comfrey heals bruises, pulled muscles, and torn ligaments in addition to relieving the pain of those conditions.

Infusing herbs

Comfrey also has many applications for rejuvenating and protecting skin. In addition to its tissue-regenerating powers, comfrey contains collagen-stimulating vitamin C and anti-aging antioxidants. It  heals scars, hydrates skin, reduces fine lines, and protects skin from irritants.

Comfrey can be dangerous if taken internally.  It is banned in the U.S. and many other countries for internal use due to alkaloids that can cause liver damage.  It also should not be applied to broken skin. Comfrey can heal so quickly that it can seal an infection into a wound.

At Golden Age Wellness, we use comfrey in our Joint Repair Warming Salve. It contains essential oils that warm up stiff joints and shea butter to moisturize skin.

Powerful Pain Herb: Saint John's Wort

What is Saint John’s Wort?

Saint John’s is a beautiful flowering bush with tiny yellow flowers loved by bees. I often find my bushes abuzz when I go to harvest.

Saint John’s Wort is a miraculous herb. Used as a topical, it can:

—soothe inflamed and irritated nerves
—block pain signals to the brain
—heal cuts and scrapes, strengthening skin tissue integrity
—relieve rashes and burns

Saint John’s is considered a common weed and I see it in empty lots and along the roadside. It blooms from June to August.

How Do You Harvest Saint John’s Wort?

An unusual aspect of Saint John’s Wort is that it must be prepared fresh. It is almost useless as a dried herb. I can’t speak to how it is prepared as a supplement since I only use my herbs topically. It is possible that when it is consumed internally, the fresh rule doesn’t apply or that supplement makers have found a way to retain the freshness in their preparations.

I harvest the tiny flowers and buds during prime blooming time right into a jar and prepare to infuse it immediately. Pack the jar as much as you can and fill it right to the top.

How do you prepare Saint John’s Wort?

I infuse Saint John’s into alcohol that acts as a preservative to the fresh flowers and prevents spoilage.

Step One: Infuse as a liniment

Add 80-proof vodka to cover the herb. Vodka is the best spirit to use for a liniment because it is colorless and odorless. 80-proof is the strength used for a topical to avoid harsh skin reactions.

Step Two: Set Aside

Place on a shelf out of the sunlight for one month. As Saint John’s infuses, the liniment becomes a lovely shade of red.

Step Three: Strain

Place a cheesecloth or piece of muslin into a strainer set over a bowl or large measuring cup. Pour contents of jar into strainer, straining out the herb and leaving the infused liniment in the bowl or cup.

Step Four: Store

Using a funnel, pour infused liniment into a glass bottle. Label it with the contents and date, then store it in a cool, dark place. Liniments should keep for up to 10 years.

Sore Muscle Solution

Saint John’s Wort is the ideal herb for our Sore Muscle Solution liniment.

Saint John’s Wort is perfect in Sore Muscle Solution because it works directly on the nerves to block pain signals to the brain. Whether you have overworked muscles or a strain that needs rest, Saint John’s will provide the needed pain relief. Combined with menthol-rich essential oils that calm inflammation, Sore Muscle Solution is an effective topical remedy for everyday muscle aches. I make it as a roll-on or as a lotion to suit individual preferences.