Certain supplements may be helpful in treating your ligaments, which are fibrous bands of connective tissue that connect two or more bones or other structures. Ligaments help stabilize your joints during movement and rest. Sprains are a common injury that involve excessive stretching of your ligaments. Before using supplements to help treat your ligament problems, talk with your doctor about possible side effects, proper dosage and potential drug interactions.
Arnica
Arnica, also known as Arnica montana, is an herbal supplement that may be beneficial for your ligaments. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, arnica, a member of the aster family, has been used as a tincture by Europeans and Native Americans to help treat muscle aches, inflammation and wounds. Arnica is an herbaceous perennial plant that grows in the temperate parts of western North America. Arnica has a light and flowery taste and has soft, hairy leaves. The fresh whole plant or flower heads are used for medicinal purposes, including tendon injuries. Ed Smith, an herbalist and author of the book "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that arnica is an anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic that helps repair tissues, including ligaments injured by trauma or overuse. Arnica, notes Smith, is used to help treat sore and strained joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles.
Rue
Dr. Sharol Tilgner, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," states that rue, also known as Ruta graveolens, is an anti-inflammatory that strengthens your capillaries, or the smallest blood vessels in your body. Rue, notes Tilgner, is used to help treat ligament, tendon and joint problems and may help treat conditions of your periosteum, or the outermost layer of bone, onto which your ligaments attach. Rue is an herbal supplement that can be used externally or taken internally in small doses to help treat ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendinitis and bruises. Rue is a plant native to southern Europe that is used both for medicinal and ornamental purposes. Rue has a bitter taste, possesses cooling tendencies and is known for its ability to tolerate challenging soil conditions. The aerial parts of the rue plant are used to make medicine.
Comfrey
Comfrey is a perennial plant native to Europe that is known for its versatility and usefulness in organic gardening. Comfrey, also known as Symphytum officinalis, has a bland, nutritious and mucilaginous taste, possesses cooling and moistening tendencies, and thrives in damp environments such as riverbanks and ditches. Practitioners of botanical medicine use the root of the plant medicinally to help treat numerous health problems, including ligament sprains, broken bones, arthritis, acne and other skin conditions. According to Dr. William A. Mitchell Jr., a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Plant Medicine in Practice," comfrey, a member of the borage family, is well-known for its ability to treat knee ligament sprains. Comfrey contains a substance called allantoin, which helps speed the natural replacement of cells in your body. If you are pregnant or are a nursing mother, avoid using comfrey, notes Tilgner.
References
- Spine Universe: Ligaments
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Arnica
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Plant Medicine in Practice: Using the Teachings of John Bastyr"; William A. Mitchell Jr., N.D.; 2003
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