Tendonitis

Why it works: Analgesic & anti-inflammatory effects. Modern pharmacology reviews attribute comfrey’s topical benefit to phenolic acids (e.g., rosmarinic acid), allantoin, and other constituents...

Instructions: Use only topical, PA-controlled (pyrrolizidine alkaloid-limited or PA-free) comfrey root creams/gels. The EMA/HMPC (EU herbal regulator) allows external use for short periods and c...

Warnings: Topical-only & short-term: Internal comfrey is not safe; the U.S. FDA/FTC acted against oral product...

Studies: While labeled conditions in trials include sprains, acute ba...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory & analgesic activity. Multiple preclinical and review papers report COX inhibition and other anti-inflammatory/antihyperalgesic effects from CQ extracts, which is...

Instructions: There is no standardized, tendonitis-specific dosing. If you and your clinician decide to trial it, people typically copy regimens used in human studies for other indications:. • F...

Warnings: General safety window: CQ is rated “possibly safe” short-term (commonly cited up to ~10 weeks), with...

Studies: Human studiesJoint pain (not specific to tendonitis): Bloome...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanisms. Gingerols and shogaols (ginger’s main actives) can inhibit enzymes in the prostaglandin/leukotriene pathways (e.g., COX-2 and 5-LOX) and...

Instructions: 1) Oral ginger (capsules/powder). • Typical trial-level intakes for musculoskeletal pain (esp. knee OA) are ~0.5–2 g/day of standardized extract or dried powder, divided with meals...

Warnings: Common side effects: Heartburn, GI upset/diarrhea, mouth/throat irritation—more likely at higher dos...

Studies: For tendonitis specifically: There are no randomized clinica...

Why it works: In TCM, chronic tendon pain usually maps to Bi syndrome with wind-cold-damp obstruction over a background of Liver/Kidney deficiency—think aching, stiffness, worse with cold/damp,...

Instructions: Work with a licensed practitioner—DHJST is usually customized to your pattern (e.g., adding herbs for heat, more blood stasis, or pronounced deficiency).. Classical decoction (tāng...

Warnings: Because DHJST is a multi-herb formula, review both formula-level cautions and constituent cautions:....

Studies: Direct RCTs for “tendonitis”: none that are high-quality and...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory actions. Human and preclinical work shows bromelain can down-regulate pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g., prostaglandin E2, thromboxane A2), reduce neutrophil migra...

Instructions: Form & standardization. Choose a product that lists both mg and enzyme activity (e.g., GDU or MCU per gram); activity varies widely across brands. NOW Foods. Dose range used in stu...

Warnings: Bleeding risk / drug interactions.. • May increase bleeding risk, especially with anticoagulants/ant...

Studies: Although not tendonitis trials, several clinical studies sho...

Why it works: NSAID-like mechanism. Willow bark contains salicin, which is converted to salicylic acid in the body. This inhibits prostaglandin synthesis (via COX enzymes) and reduces inflammato...

Instructions: Choose a standardized product. Look for extracts standardized to a known salicin content (many products are ~15% salicin). Pharmacopoeial monographs define minimum salicylate conte...

Warnings: Because willow bark acts like a salicylate, all aspirin-type cautions apply:. • Age restriction. Do...

Studies: There are no high-quality RCTs specifically for tendonitis....

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory compounds (helenalin, dihydrohelenalin) from arnica can inhibit NF-κB, a transcription factor that drives inflammatory signaling. That’s the main proposed mechani...

Instructions: Form: Topical gel or cream containing an arnica extract/tincture (not ultra-dilute homeopathic pellets).. • How to apply: Thin layer to the painful area 3 times daily on intact ski...

Warnings: Oral arnica is unsafe (the plant is toxic if not in extreme homeopathic dilutions). Do not ingest ar...

Studies: Closest/most cited data (not tendonitis-specific):Hand OA RC...

Why it works: Juan Bi Tang (蠲痺湯, “Remove Painful Obstruction Decoction”) is a classic Chinese herbal formula used in TCM for “wind-cold-damp bi” patterns—aching/stiff joints and soft‐tissue p...

Instructions: Important: TCM formulas are prescribed based on pattern (not just diagnosis). Juan Bi Tang is appropriate for wind-cold-damp “bi” with qi/blood deficiency (e.g., stiffness/heavines...

Warnings: Pattern mismatch: Contraindicated in damp-heat presentations (hot, red, swollen, worse with heat). U...

Studies: There are no high-quality clinical trials specifically for t...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory constituents. Devil’s claw roots contain iridoid glycosides (especially harpagoside) that dampen pro-inflammatory pathways (e.g., COX-2, leukotrienes, TNF-α / IL-...

Instructions: Clinical guidance for tendonitis doesn’t exist, so dosing follows data from back pain/arthritis trials and regulatory monographs:. • Choose a standardized oral extract that deliver...

Warnings: Before you try Devil’s claw—especially if you have comorbidities or take medicines—review these caut...

Studies: There are no RCTs in tendonitis, but here are the most relev...

Why it works: Boswellia has plausible anti-inflammatory mechanisms and decent human data for joint pain (especially osteoarthritis). Direct, high-quality trials for tendonitis are scarce; one la...

Instructions: Oral standardized extracts (most studied):. • Look for products standardized to boswellic acids (often 30–65%) and/or AKBA (~20–30%).. • Typical trial-based regimens:. • Boswellia...

Warnings: Bleeding/platelets: Boswellia can inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro. Major centers warn of a pot...

Studies: MechanismAKBA’s selective, non-redox 5-LOX inhibition (leuko...

Why it works: Anti-inflammatory pathway effects. Curcumin down-regulates NF-κB and related inflammasome signaling and cytokines (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α), mechanisms relevant to painful tendon overus...

Instructions: If you choose to trial curcumin, typical approaches used in clinical research on joint pain/inflammation are:. • Dose & form (oral): 500 mg curcumin extract (not turmeric spice) tw...

Warnings: Bleeding/anticoagulants & antiplatelets: Curcumin can potentiate bleeding risk. Avoid or get medical...

Studies: Human RCTs specifically of curcumin for tendinopathy: None o...

Why it works: Biology 101 (what tendons are made of): Tendons are ~60–80% type-I collagen by dry weight. Tenocytes make procollagen, which is processed into mature collagen fibrils. Vitamin C is...

Instructions: Collagen is adjunctive to a progressive loading program (isometrics → heavy–slow resistance/energy-storage work). Use it to support tendon rehab, not replace it.. 1) What to take....

Warnings: Evidence quality: Current clinical evidence for symptomatic tendinopathy is limited (small RCTs/pilo...

Studies: Direct tendinopathy dataAchilles tendinopathy pilot RCT (dou...