Q: When I get under great stress, I often end up with swollen ankles which are extremely painful. This does not seem to be related to long periods of standing, although I notice some slight swelling of my ankles on long airplane trips. I have normal to low blood pressure and do not have varicose veins.
A: Cat’s Claw (Royal Cat’s Claw Liquid Extract or Tea) can be helpful to the circulatory system – especially to promote a healthy blood pressure level and to promote healthy platelet function. However, it sounds as if you need support for your capillary function—rather than the veins or arteries. Stress often produces muscle contractions—which creates a multitude of structure/function problems in the body. You can see this when people under great stress have back problems. Others develop heart angina or migraine headaches. Stress can also create problems with digestion or constipation. Even coughing can develop under stress. All of these situations involve muscle contractions or spasms, whether of striated muscles such as those in the back or smooth muscles which we have in our circulatory system, the stomach, the uterus, and the lungs.
Stress can also affect capillaries. Even the capillaries, which do not have any smooth muscles in their walls, have a small muscle called the precapillary sphincter. Contraction of the precapillary sphincter can close off the branches of the capillary system (or beds) to blood flow creating high capillary pressures. This causes the fluid to pass out of the capillaries into the insterstitial spaces, causing edema or fluid swelling especially in the ankles and feet – which are most susceptible to gravity.
Desmodium adscendens, which Whole World Botanicals sells as Royal Desmodium Liquid Extract (also available as a Tea) has the special property of taking muscles out of spasm, whether smooth muscles, such as in the lungs (it is a quick-acting bronchial dilator and provides lung support for people with asthma, emphysema, etc.) or striated muscles, such as the back. There is published scientific research on its effect on the smooth muscles of the lungs. A traditional use for this botanical is for back pain – this plant is called “Strong Back” in Jamaica. Whole World Botanicals has one testimonial as to its effect on high capillary pressure in the ankles and feet and more numerous testimonials of its effect in relaxing stomach and uterine muscles. The nice thing about using an herbal product is that it does no harm—unless you are allergic to it. There would be no harm in trying it out to see if it would help relax the precapillary sphincter muscles in your ankles and feet.
About Royal Desmodium
our Royal Desmodium Products
