Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation of one or more tendons and is often linked to an injury.

Tendons are made up of fibres covered by a sheath; their function is to attach muscles to bones and they are what give your joints such a wide range of movement.

Touching an inflamed tendon usually causes pain ranging from mild to severe depending on the severity of the injury. Unfortunately, for this kind of injury complete recovery can take several months.

Tendinitis sometimes becomes chronic, at which point there’s a risk of calcium deposits and bony growths forming.

Acidity can foster the development of tendinitis and/or slow the healing process. Acidic foods tend to bind with alkaline substances like calcium and magnesium in the body, at which point they are eliminated to prevent tissue irritation.

In so doing, they remove from the bones and muscles some of the nutrients they need to stay healthy, making them more fragile and brittle.

A diet that fosters the accumulation of uric acid includes large quantities of caffeine, meat, processed foods (white flour, white sugar, artificial colours and additives), animal fat, dairy products, eggs, citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, alcohol, soft drinks and salt.

Stress can also contribute to body acidification.

Adopting a healthier lifestyle can help reduce body acidity.

Try to include 20 minutes of light exercise in your daily routine (especially stretching, walking and swimming).

To avoid stiffening up, it’s important to stay active despite the pain. However, avoid overburdening the injured tendons.

Effective stress management will also promote healing: stress weakens the immune system, which slows the healing process.

To reduce acidity in the body, it is recommended that people eat more alkaline foods: vegetables (especially dark green ones), vegetable oils, whole grains (brown rice, millet, buckwheat, khorosan wheat (Kamut®), spelt, oats, etc.), kidney beans, dried fruits (figs and raisins), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame), fish, Golden Delicious apples, pineapple, papaya, mango, guava, blueberries, blackberries and cherries. 

Fatty fishes such as herring, mackerel, salmon, tuna and sardines are sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect on the joints. If you take a supplement, it’s better to choose omega-3 fatty acids derived from plants which, unlike animal-source omega-3s, aren’t contaminated and therefore don’t need to be put through a decontamination process that subsequently makes the supplement hard to digest and absorb. Taken in low doses (for optimum absorption), A.Vogel VegOmega-3 is excellent for reducing inflammation. 

Water is an essential element in the quest for healthy joints, as it carries acids to the kidneys to be eliminated.

A.Vogel Stinging Nettle has excellent purifying properties. It acts as a blood tonic, providing nutrients to the tissues while removing waste products. It is particularly useful for halting or reversing the tendency to accumulate acidity in the joints, which is what happens in most cases of chronic tendinitis. Stinging nettle contains silica, a mineral that contributes to the regeneration of connective tissues, which include tendons. While there are no contraindications to the use of stinging nettle, it is best to increase the dose gradually in cases of low or high blood pressure.

A.Vogel Calcium Absorber Urticalcin is a homeopathic complex that promotes the cellular absorption of calcium and silica. If you tend to get calcified deposits on your tendons, Calcium Absorber Urticalcin will help reverse the process and relocate calcium to where it’s needed. Calcium Absorber Urticalcin can be taken with other calcium supplements or on its own to maximize the absorption of dietary calcium. If you use calcium supplements, avoid those in the form of calcium carbonate and always take calcium together with magnesium to avoid the risk of deposits forming.

Absolüt Arnica Gel  is a topical preparation containing (phytotherapeutic rather than homeopathic) arnica, a plant with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Arnica contains substances called sesquiterpene lactones, which have the ability to stop the body’s inflammatory reactions. A study comparing Absolüt Arnica Gel and a topical gel containing ibuprofen showed that Absolüt Arnica Gel is just as effective at relieving inflammation and causes fewer undesirable side effects.

Lastly, glucosamine is highly recommended in cases of joint wear because it is a substance our body uses to make cartilage, tendons and ligaments. It can accelerate the healing process and prevent the problem from becoming chronic.

Supplements are very useful for restoring the body’s equilibrium, but if your diet is primarily acidic and you keep making repetitive movements, the problem is likely to return.