Introduction

The process of tissue damage and repair happens continuously throughout our lives from the day we are born forward. Most of the time this dynamic process happens in the in our bodies without us ever knowing it is going on. Think about the last time you stubbed your toe, felt the pain, and decided it wasn’t too bad, went back to what you were doing and forgot about it. That simple toe trauma, or larger injuries like wounds, diabetic ulcers, infections, and even surgery will go through stages of healing.

Stage 1: Inflammation

The first stage is the inflammatory process. Cells were damaged by the trauma. Some degree of bleeding occurs. These damaged cells release chemicals called prostaglandins and cytokines that mediate pain, tell blood vessels in the area to open up and become leaky, and call for immune system cells to move to the area. This process is natural and allows the body to protect an injury, clean up the damaged cells, and make way for new cells to grow and repair the damage. When blood vessels become leaky, fluid comes out of the blood vessels through their walls and causes swelling. When cytokines call for immunes cells they release powerful enzymes and free radicals that damage even more healthy tissue in the area. This process of inflammation is natural, is required immediately after any injury, and should last no more than the first 72 hours after injury.

If an injury or wound is exposed to any form of stress, strain, or further trauma, this chemical inflammatory process will not shut off and tissue or wound healing will not occur. That is why strained tendons and ligaments must be rested. That is why all pressure must be removed from wounds. That is why infections must be treated. When all stress is removed from injured tissue, the inflammatory process will shut off and the next stage, wound repair will begin.

Stage 2: Wound Repair, Tissue Healing, Tissue Proliferation

Healing requires new healthy cells and tissues to be created. Tissues don’t just magically appear however. The surrounding cell structures must reproduce and create this new tissue. In order for this to happen massive amounts of building blocks must be supplied. Your cells must generate huge amounts of energy. The estimated amount of energy each cell must produce is 10 times the amount it otherwise would need just to live. Cells can only convert the food we eat into energy if it also has 10 times the amount of cellular chemicals that are required to run the process. You guessed it. I am talking about vitamins. Trying to heal an injury without all the right building blocks and all the right supplementary nutrients is like trying to run a restaurant with ingredients to make the dishes they serve. It is not going to happen.

Your body wants to heal. In order for this to happen, we must protect it from all stress and nourish it just as if it was a newborn baby. The following is a recommended supplement regimen to feed your healing tissues.

Generic Supplement Recommendations

  1. L-Argenine: opens blood vessels, stimulates collagen production. Recommended 2000-9000 mg daily.
  2. L-Glutamine: key substrate for fast growing, multiplying cells including white blood cells that fight infection. I stimulates growth of fibroblasts (cells that make collagen). Recommended 1000-3000 mg daily.
  3. Glucosamine: an important raw material for all connective tissues, not just joints. Recommended amount 1500 mg daily until healing is complete
  4. L-Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (OK6): promotes protein synthesis. Recommended 750-3000 mg daily.
  5. Whey protein: major building block for protein synthesis.
  6. Vitamin A: 25000 IU daily as beta carotene until wound healing is complete.
  7. Vitamin B Complex: double the recommended dose until wound healing is complete.
  8. Vitamin C: 1000-3000 mg daily
  9. Zinc: Important for energy production and collagen formation. Recommended dose 30-90 mg daily until wound healing is complete.
  10. Curcumin: reduces inflammation, inhibits swelling, and stimulates muscle regeneration. Recommended dose 400-800 mg daily

Life Extension Product List

  1. Item # 01203 Bromeline, specially coated: take one twice daily.
  2. Item # 16775 Glucosamine Mega 1000: take one three times per day.
  3. Item # 00927 Vitamin C 1000 mg with dihydroquercetin: take one three times per day.
  4. Item # 00038 Arginine 2250 mg, Ornithine 750 mg Powder: two teaspoons daily
  5. Item # 01819 Super Omega with Krill, Astaxanthin, & Olive Extract: take two twice daily.
  6. Item # 01808 Advanced Bio-Curcumin, Ginger & Turmerones: take one twice daily.
  7. Item # 01955 Life Extension Mix Tabs: take 3 tabs 3 times per day.
  8. Item # 01746 Creatine Whey Glutamine Powder: take one or two scoops daily.
  9. Item # 01903 NK Cell Activator 500mg: take one twice daily.

 

John C. Marzano DPM

Go Back