Using Liniment to Maintain Runners’ Knee Health

As anyone in the running world knows, runner are prone to injury. While the constant impact of feet pounding on pavement is punishing to all of the joints of the leg, it seems that it is the knees that take the most punishment. They can often become swollen, achy, and stiff after a hard run. Not only can this stagnation limit how often an athlete can run, it can also be a sign that permanent damage is occurring. Between the articulation of the femur and tibia bones that make up the knee joint are cartilaginous menisci that cushion the impact of running. Unlike muscles and bones that are well supplied by fresh oxygenated blood, the menisci are minimally nourished by the synovial fluid of the joint. Impact sports like running eventually wear out these menisci. In order to maximize healing and minimize injury, circulation must be maximized before and after a run.

Every runner should have a pre-run warm up routine they go through before every run. While many runner know the importance of stretching and warming up their muscles, few are yet aware of how important the application of warming liniment can be. By warming the joint, and increasing circulation of qi and blood, liniments are an ideal way to prepare knees for a run. Herban Pharmer’s Chronic Injury Liniment is a perfect tool for the job. While some might be dissuaded by the name, the liniment isn’t just for chronic injuries. By rubbing it into the knees for several minutes before a run, it can help prevent, and heal chronic knee problems. Unlike traditional analgesics like aspirin or ibuprofen, the Chronic Injury Liniment doesn’t numb an athlete to their body’s warning system, pain. Instead, it helps eliminate the cause of pain, cold stagnation of qi and blood.

After Run Treatment

Many runners find that after they run their knees are swollen and sore. Many even resort to icing their knees. From a Chinese Medicine standpoint, icing is a temporary solution that exacerbates a long term problem. While icing reduces swelling, and alleviates pain, it drives cold stagnation into the joint. This stagnation will limit the body’s ability to heal itself, and limit the knees ability to circulate qi, blood, and synovial fluid the next time the athlete runs. Instead of using ice to treat knees after a run, runner should use herbal ice. Herban Pharmer’s Acute Injury Liniment clears heat, swelling, and pain out of the knee without causing stagnation. Instead of just eliminating symptoms, it acts to heal the knees. In addition, it doesn’t cause local stagnation, so the runner will experience less knee stiffness after their run.

Other Joints

While this article has focused on runners’ knees, the principles discussed can be used to prevent and heal injury in various joints involved in many types of activities. For example, activities requiring repetitive motion like typing or needle point could be treated well using these same techniques.

Happy Healing,

Pharmer Jake