Every year around this time, pumpkins
are everywhere! We enjoy them for décor, but
they offer so much more! News of late highlights
the benefits of their leaves to reduce the speed of disc degeneration
and even possibly support regeneration. That is news
to your Millville chiropractor’s ear…and without doubt to
our Millville back pain and neck pain patients’ ears, too!
THE DISC – Healthy and Degenerated
Many back pain treatment approaches focus on relieving the pain and returning function
without a thought about how
to slow the degenerative process and/or promote
regeneration. The intervertebral disc has an inner core
(nucleus pulposus) made of proteoglycans and a layered outer rim (annulus
fibrosus) rich in collagen. Combined, these two act
as a shock absorber and stabilizer for the spine. Treatment choices
for the degenerated disc come from being aware of the
processes that precede degeneration so as to
help alleviate discogenic pain more effectively. (1) Your
chiropractor probes these mechanisms all
the time!
PUMPKIN LEAVES AND CAROTENOIDS
It's well-known that pumpkin products and
by-products (like leaves!) contain major carotenoids - β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin – with β-carotene
being the main one in most pumpkin varieties. The
total content of carotenoids rests on a variety of
factors, one being the extraction procedure. 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
One way to put pumpkins to work for us is described in a recent study regarding how
the leaves of pumpkins may help. The acetone extract from Violina pumpkin
(curcurbita moshata) leaves provoked a significant
rise in extracellular matrix components like aggrecan and collagen
type II along with 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 higher,
too. This news motivated the researchers to state
that the hypothesis about how adequate stimuli can support
resident cells to repopulate the degenerated discs was thus reinforced.
The report overall concluded that data indicate that the breakthrough that molecules may
effectively reduce disc degeneration using a part of the pumpkin
that most of us get rid of as waste – the
leaves! (3) Wilson Family Chiropractic bets you will look at the
pumpkin leaves differently this season!
CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. James Cox on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes 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 in combination with The Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management reduce and control
spine pain. We’ll keep watching the pumpkin leaves’ research as it grows!
Make your Millville 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."