Every year around this time, pumpkins
are all over the place! We enjoy them for décor, but
they offer so much more! News of late highlights
the benefits of their leaves to slow disc degeneration
and even possibly encourage regeneration. That is news
to your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor’s ear…and surely to
our Burlington and Hamilton back pain and neck pain patients’ ears, too!
THE DISC – Healthy and Degenerated
Most treatments of
back pain focus on easing the pain and returning function
without consideringa means
to slow the degenerative process and/or promote
regeneration. The intervertebral disc is made up of an inner core
(nucleus pulposus) made of proteoglycans and a layered outer rim (annulus
fibrosus) rich in collagen. Combined, these two work
as a shock absorber and stabilizer for the spine. Treatment options
for the degenerated disc come from understanding the
processes that lead to degeneration so as to
help alleviate discogenic pain more effectively. (1) Your
chiropractor studies these mechanisms all
the time!
PUMPKIN LEAVES AND CAROTENOIDS
It's recognized that pumpkin products and
by-products (like leaves!) contain major carotenoids - β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin – with β-carotene
being the foremost one in most pumpkin varieties. The
total content of carotenoids rests on a variety of
factors, one being the extraction process. Functional
foods are advanced from carotenoids which are said to add
significantly to the multiple health benefits of the foods.
(2) Nutrition can plan a role in disc health. Pumpkin and its by-products should not just be thrown
away!
PUMPKIN LEAVES AND COLLAGEN AND PROTEINS AND DISC CELLS
A unique way to put pumpkins to work for us is described in a recent study about how
the leaves of pumpkins may help. The acetone extract from Violina pumpkin
(curcurbita moshata) leaves induced a significant
rise in extracellular matrix components like aggrecan and collagen
type II as well as other proteins and stress
response regulators in the degenerated intervertebral disc cells removed
from degenerated disc tissues of spinal surgery patients. Markers indicating
the presence and activity of stem cells were significantly increased as well. This news motivated the researchers to declare
that the hypothesis about how enough stimuli can support
resident cells to repopulate the degenerated discs was thus reinforced.
The report overall determined that data point
to the discovery of molecules that may
effectively slow disc degeneration using a part of the pumpkin
that most of us throw away as waste – the
leaves! (3) Spinal Care Clinic bets you will look at the
pumpkin leaves differently this season!
CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates how nutrition may decelerate and possibly
avert degeneration and stimulate regeneration via ingredients
like chondroitin sulfate based on years of research done
already and how nutrition combined with The Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management reduce and manage
spine pain. We’ll keep watching the pumpkin leaves’ research as it grows!
Make your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic appointment
soon to see us this pumpkin season!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."