Herbal Q&A // Herbal Anti-Inflammatories, Chronic Back Pain, Arthritis

Q: Hi Sue, I have a question for you about anti-inflammatory herbs. My husband has spinal stenosis and can’t take NSAIDs anymore due to stomach problems. Tylenol doesn’t really help that much, he had an epidural shot in his back but continues to have lower back pain. The pain is from a bulging disk located just to the lower right of spine and he gets a sharp pain that sometimes throbs. He says heat feels best on it. We have tried an assortment of various ointments that bring very temporary relief. I was researching some anti-inflammatory medicines that might be helpful, but I was wondering if you had some thoughts on what would be best for him to take? I have given him some turmeric but it is commercial grade so it’s hard to know how much he should be taking. Also, someone told me that eggs can be inflammatory, he eats one to two almost every day. I would appreciate any advice you could give us.

--Janice

A: Thank you so much for reaching out! I do have some ideas that might help. Basically, I am hearing a need for acute pain relief, addressing the root inflammation causing the pain as well as possible nerve damage, and some ideas on anti-inflammatory foods.

First off, let’s address acute pain relief options. My first thought for this type of pain with intense inflammation is full-spectrum CBD oil to take internally. Full-spectrum CBD has a teeny amount of THC in it, but nowhere near enough to cause any unwanted hallucinatory effects. I believe that it is important to have full-spectrum as it increases the absorbability of the cannabinoids. I know CBD oil can be very expensive, but it may be a worthy investment as it is a pain-reliever and very strong anti-inflammatory plant. It is best used on a regular basis, at least once a day. Follow the dosage instructions on the bottle and increase the dose in increments of 5 drops if nothing seems to be happening. A feeling of relaxation should be present. Another herb that I think would be very useful is St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum). It is great for relieving acute nerve pain, it sounds like the acute throbbing pain he has is from pressure on the nerves as well as muscle spasms. He can carry a bottle of the tincture and take it as needed, as often as every 5 minutes. Start with one dropperful into a cup of water and increase the dose as needed. St. John’s Wort also comes as an oil for external use and can be rubbed on the back at the end of the day. Use St. John’s Wort in any form regularly and it will actually begin to heal nerve damage and decrease pain over time. Another herb I use often of Willow Bark Tincture. Willow Bark (Salix spp.) contains the compound salicin, which is what aspirin is made out of. This can be used very much like aspirin, in moderation and as needed. Try one dropperful into a cup of water to start. If nothing happens within 30 minutes, try another dropperful. Skullcap (scutellaria lateriflora) is another pain-relieving herb. This one is quite strong and can have sedative effects, so it is best used at night as a sleep aid when pain is the cause for an inability to sleep well. Take 5-10 drops of the tincture in water before going to bed, or when awoken in the middle of the night by discomfort. I suggest starting with the CBD and picking one other herb that sounds attractive. It is important to remember that every herb works differently with every body, and that herbs are most effective when used regularly over a certain period of time. Don’t give up right away if something doesn’t seem to be working!

Next, to address the underlying issue of severe inflammation, I would encourage him to consider drinking Linden Flower Infusion. Linden flower (Tilia spp.) is the turmeric of the Americas. Boil one quart of water, then remove from the heat. Immediately add 1 oz. of herb to it, and steep for 4-8 hours (overnight works well for many people). Strain and drink throughout the day. Linden is a powerful anti-inflammatory tonic and is deeply nourishing. I believe it can help heal inflammatory conditions over time, and in this case it will also be soothing for the stomach. Linden has a nice mucilaginous quality that can be incredibly healing for stomach damage due to NSAIDs. He should drink it 3-4 times a week for at least 3 months, ideally longer. Another similar tonic intended for long term use is a cold infusion of Marshmallow Root (Althea officianalis). Take 1 oz. of dry Mallow Root and add it to 1 quart of water. Steep in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours. Add a sprig of mint for flavor if you wish. Strain and drink. Mallow is extremely beneficial for gut health and general inflammation. Pick one or rotate both throughout the week.

Now nutrition! Turmeric is lovely in curry but in my opinion the capsules are essentially useless since the constituents cannot readily be absorbed by the human body without an accompanying fat like oil, butter, coconut milk, etc. I would not consider eggs to be objectively inflammatory, however they do contain a certain protein that some people’s immune systems can respond to with an inflammatory  response. In my experience boiling the egg neutralizes this protein, so he can try eating them hard-boiled or poached if they seem to be upsetting his system. If he does not have a reaction to eggs, I would think they are ok. Honestly, I would focus on eliminating sugar and refined white flour products as much as possible. I would also invite him to use lots of culinary herbs like thyme, garlic, oregano, onions, rosemary, ginger, and curry powder in as many foods as possible. Soups, stews, broths, and curries will be very nourishing for his damaged stomach and increase the absorbability of nutrients. I would go easy on the tomatoes and peppers as some folks with stomach issues can have a hard time with the acidity of these foods.

This may seem overwhelming, but he can just pick and choose one thing at a time to incorporate into his lifestyle. I wish you both well, and please let me know how it all goes!

To summarize:

Acute Pain Options:

-CBD Oil

-St. John’s Wort Tincture (internal) and Oil (external)

-Willow Bark Tincture

-Skullcap Tincture

Anti-Inflammatory Nourishing Tonics:

-Linden Flower Infusion

-Marshmallow Roost Cold Infusion

Food as Medicine:

- Always use turmeric with fat

-Incorporate aromatic herbs and spices as much as possible

-Avoid sugar and refined white flour products

In Love,

Susan Marie

Q: I am 68. Starting to think I might have some arthritis in my hips, knee and a couple of finger joints. What is good topically and internally ( good foods to eat and/or avoid). I already have arnicare cream and comfrey ointment

-- V.H.

A: Thank you so much for your inquiry! I am excited to share with you some herbs and foods that might ease the discomfort of arthritis in your body, and I am sure that many others will be interested in this topic as well. Great question!

There are many different types of Arthritis, but most experiences with arthritis are due to inflammation and stiffness in the joints due to either cartilage depletion or loss of fluid in the joints. As we age the connective tissues and fluids in our bodies tend to change and lessen, but there are a lot of things that can be done to decrease the discomfort you are feeling. That is great that you are using Arnica and Comfrey externally! Let’s talk about some things you can do to address your pain, to strengthen your connective tissues, some ways you can ally with your body, and some lifestyle choices that might help.

First of all, Comfrey is great for healing damaged tissue and inflammation, but not so effective for pain-relief. I would recommend you consider also using St. John’s Wort oil on the joints that feel stiff or inflamed. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) works with the nervous system to reduce pain and is also excellent for healing the musculoskeletal system. Apply the oil liberally when needed. Taking it internally in Tincture form can also help with decreasing the overall reactivity and inflammation of your body’s systems, try taking one dropperful a day in a glass of water as a tonic herb.

To address the underlying issue of damaged cartilage and tissues, I would highly recommend you deepen your already existing relationship with Comfrey by considering using Comfrey Leaf poultices or baths. You can use dry comfrey leaf in a large satchel and add to a hot bath to basically make a giant cup of tea for your whole body. Our skin is one of the most absorbent organs on the body, and herbal baths are simply luxurious. Using comfrey in this way is very safe. Comfrey is also very commonly found, and it may be fun to harvest or grow some fresh comfrey leaf to use as a poultice. Simply take the fresh leaf and immerse it in just boiled water. Apply the leaf to the sore area and cover with a warm, wet cloth. I would also recommend Borage (Borago officinale), a common weed that is excellent for reducing inflammation and repairing damaged tissues. A simple tea of borage leaf and flower may be soothing for you.

As far as lifestyle choices that might help you, I would also recommend you consider linden flower infusion for yourself. Again, bring one quart of water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add 1 oz. of dried linden flower to the water. Stir, then steep for 4-8 hours. Strain and drink throughout the day or evening. Another amazing herbal ally for body inflammation and joint healing is Nettle Leaf. You can make an infusion out of this as described, rotating the two so that you are drinking an infusion of something several times a week. Nettle is an amazing herbal ally that has a long history of healing arthritis. Nettle leaf has also been used fresh as a very intense treatment for chronic arthritis via a process called urtification, which is essentially whacking the effected joints with fresh nettle. The venom the nettle releases is incredibly potent and moving, it may be worth whacking your finger joints against some fresh nettle as you see it in the wild. But if this does not sound attractive to you, then just stick with drinking the dried leaf as an infusion 😊. I would also recommend eliminating sugar and refined white flour products from your kitchen as much as possible. These are both inflammatory foods to everyone, and if you feel that other foods create a lot of gas or digestive upset, consider going easy on those foods as well. Incorporate lots of aromatic herbs and spices into your cooking to build long term health. I would also encourage you to buy only organic dairy and meat if your budget allows. The hormones and pesticides used in conventional food become much more absorbable when found in dairy and meat due to the fat content of these foods. Also avoiding low sugar or fat free products as much as possible is useful, as these products often contain harmful ingredients to imitate the taste and consistency of full-fat products, all of which can contribute to inflammation. Try choosing products that naturally do not have high amounts of sugar and investing in organic full-fat dairy products and using in moderation.

Movement is also an important part of arthritis healing. Low-impact exercises like yoga, pilates, water aerobics, and walking on natural earth are great. I would also suggest that you check out the work of Katy Bowman, a bio-mechanist who has a wealth of exercises available for us to re-orient our limbs and joints back into a more natural alignment, preventing further damage to your knees and hips. Consider her book “Move your DNA” or visit her website https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/ for a huge amount of resources and information on how to use and move your body.

I would also like to introduce the idea that arthritis itself can be your ally. I like to think of discomfort or problems in my life as potential allies, messages that my body is telling me that hold a deeper wisdom. You can try a journaling exercise to try and discern how the stiffness and soreness you are feeling can teach you. Here’s an example from my life:

I’m feeling a lot of pain after throwing out my back. This sucks. How could this possibly be helpful to me? What is happening as a result?

The back pain literally put me in bed for two days. Now I can barely work at all. It’s so embarrassing and uncomfortable.

How exactly did this happen, me, laid up in bed?

Well, I have been working extremely hard, pushing my body to its limits. I have been desperate for rest. But I didn’t give myself that because I didn’t want to appear weak.

How is this benefiting me?

My back pain allowed me to take a break. Yeah. I got to rest. And now I am forced to go extremely easy at work. And ask for lots of help. Ugh, I hate asking for help. Maybe it is good though, to learn how to ask for help. I will not push myself so hard anymore, I just end up injured. Maybe I can learn to have better boundaries and listen to my body. My back was really sore for a while before the injury happened.

What lessons can I learn from my mindset during the injury?

Well, to be fair, I was comparing myself to other people and hurt myself trying to lift as much as someone else. Guess that is not honoring myself at all. I will stop comparing myself to other people and listen to my body first. Thanks back injury. There is a lot of wisdom here.

There are also studies that show Story Medicine can really help with arthritis pain. Try meditating with the joints you mentioned. Breathe deeply, send your focus to that joint. Ask your body what stories are contained in that area of your body. Write them down as they come. Doing this until you feel the stories you needed to be told have been expressed can be deeply healing.

I hope this has been helpful to you. Let me know if anything helps your body feel and move better!

To Summarize:

Pain Relief:

-Deepen use of Comfrey Plant with baths and poultices

-St. John’s Wort Oil and Tincture

Lifestyle Medicine:

- Focus on foods with no added sugar, eating lots of veggies, whole grains, organic dairy, and organic meats.

- Consider researching exercises to gently re-align the body to create new wear patterns on the hips and knees.

Story Medicine:

-How is this problem your ally?

-What stories are “stuck” in your body? Let it flow!

In Love,

Susan Marie

Please note that I am not a certified medical professional, and that this information is provided for educational purposes only and is to be taken at your discretion. You are responsible for any foods or substances you choose to use, and if in doubt should consult your certified health professional of choice.