Athletic Endurance through Herbal Medicine

I wrote an article last fall about supporting athletes during training to help prevent and recover from injuries. I discussed the Chinese medicine view of tendomuscular health and the role the Liver and Kidneys play in bone strength and keeping the muscles and tendons nourished and lubricated.

 (You can read that here)

Recently, I decided to do a couple of mud run races this summer, starting with the 10-12 mile Tough Mudder race next month. If you're not familiar with the Tough Mudder, it's an obstacle course designed by British Special Forces that includes things like 12-foot walls to scale and 1/2-mile mud crawls under barbed wire and electrified fencing, all along a 10-mile off-road raceway.

In order to train for this, I've started doing some trail running in addition to the circuit training I had started a few months ago. Running the rough and uneven trails of Cherokee Park will help me get used to the type of running required in the event, and the circuit training exercises simulate some of the movements needed to tackle many of the course's obstacles. All of this is pretty hard on the knees, and I'm also pretty susceptible to lateral shin splints. Luckily, taking Chinese herbs are making these a non-issue!

This is a formula that be taken by someone making the jump from cough potato to gym member or a veteran marathoner. It focuses on nourishing and lubricating the muscles to increase strength, endurance, and flexibility while minimizing pain, soreness, and recovery time. Most importantly, it's designed to help prevent injuries.

Because it reduces inflammation, protects the knees, and treats shin splints, this formula is ideal for runners, football players, basketball players, soccer players, and triathletes of all levels from novice to professional.    

• Huang Qi - Astragalus Root - tonifies the Qi, especially the Lung Qi and the Protective Qi, meaning it increases energy, improves breathing, and strengthens the immune system 

• Ren Shen - Ginseng Root - strongly tonifies the Qi and generates fluids, providing an energy boost, as well as lubrication to the body 

• Dang Gui - Chinese Angelica Root - nourishes the Blood and increases circulation

• Bai Shao - White Peony Root - nourishes the Blood, calms and nourishes the Liver, which governs the tendons, stops muscle spasms

• Sha Shen - Glehnia Root - generates body fluids, guides the action of the herbs to the Stomach Meridian (Tibialis Anterior muscle) to treat lateral shin splints

• Mai Men Dong - Ophiopogon Tuber - moistens the Lungs to improve breathing, generates body fluids, guides the action of the herbs to the Stomach Meridian (Tibialis Anterior muscle) to treat lateral shin splints.

• Gou Qi Zi - Goji Berry - nourishes the Liver Blood to nourish muscles

• Sheng Di Huang - Rehmannia Root - nourishes the Blood while clearing heat to reduce inflammation

• Niu Xi - Achyranthes Root - invigorates Blood in the legs, used to reduce pain and inflammation in the knees

• Chuan Xiong - Szechuan Lovage Root - invigorates Blood to reduce pain

• Chuan Lian Zi - Toosendan Fruit - smoothes out Liver Qi to reduce pain

• Ji Xue Teng - Spatholobus Vine - invigorates Blood to reduce pain and inflammation, stretches and relaxes the tendons

• Mu Gua - Chaenomeles Fruit - relaxes the tendons and muscles, unblocks the channels, increases flexibility, and reduces pain

• Hong Jing Tian - Rhodiola Root - tonifies the Qi, together with Huang Qi improves respiratory function, reduces pain and inflammation 

• Zhu Ru - Bamboo Shavings - this can be added to the formula to guide the actions of the herbs to the Gallbladder Meridian, which runs through the IT band 

These herbs are, of course, compounded and cooked into a tea in order to extract all the medicinal properties out of the raw, whole plant parts for maximum potency. Cooking them together allows for the properties of all of the herbs to combine synergistically - something that is not achievable when using pills and powders. Tinctures are okay, but their limited potency makes them ideal for children. Raw decoctions are the way to go!

I take this formula steadily whenever I kick my butt into gear and work out consistently, and it always saves my knees and gives me the boost to keep going. I would definitely recommend using this formula during training regiments or sports seasons. It's completely natural and safe to consume regularly, and with an herbal consultation and diagnosis, it can easily be modified to address more specific muscle groups or other complaints.