A tendon is a bundle of strong fibers that are attached to both your muscle belly and your bone. Tendons help transmit force from your muscles to your skeleton to cause joint movement. If your tendon rupture, or tear, is serious enough, you may require a tendon graft, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Supplements have long been used in treating tendon problems, although you should always check with your doctor before using supplements.
Ruptured Tendons
Tears, or ruptures, notes MerckManuals.com, can develop in your tendons, muscles or ligaments. Tears are graded as minimal, moderate to severe, and complete. Complete tears, also known as third-degree tendon tears, may cause significant disability. Some of the most common locations for tendon tears include your hamstring tendons; patellar tendon; biceps tendon; and the tendons of your rotator cuff, or shoulder, muscles. Mild to moderate tendon ruptures may respond favorably to conservative treatment approaches.
Useful Supplements
Dietary supplements may be helpful in treating tendon injuries, including tendon tears. However, some supplements used in treating tendon tears may require more scientific testing to determine their efficacy and actions within your body. Some of the most frequently prescribed supplements for tendon tears, notes naturopathic physician Sharol Tilgner, author of "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth," include rue, arnica, pycnogenol, cayenne, bromelain, and multivitamin and mineral complexes.
A Powerful Supplement
Cayenne may be one of the most powerful supplements in the treatment of tendon tears. Cayenne, notes Ed Smith, an expert herbalist and author of "Therapeutic Herb Manual," is a potent circulatory stimulant that helps deliver more blood to injured areas throughout your body. Smith states that cayenne also possesses pain-relieving properties. Excessive internal doses should be avoided, as this may cause stomach irritation in some individuals, reports Smith.
Considerations
Severely ruptured tendons can significantly affect your quality of life and your ability to perform your usual work and recreational activities. If you suffer a tendon rupture, you should meet with your musculoskeletal health specialist to review your treatment options and discuss the potential risks and benefits of dietary supplements for your health problem. Ask your doctor about possible side effects and drug interactions associated with dietary supplements before using these powerful natural healing agents.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Tendon Repair
- MerckManuals.com: Sprains, Strains and Tendon Tears
- "Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth"; Sharol Tilgner, N.D.; 1999
- "Therapeutic Herb Manual"; Ed Smith; 2007
