Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Hi, Terry, “I have plantar fasciitis in my left foot and was wondering if you think a natural product would be a good complement to the other things I’m trying (icing, soaking in warm water, rolling on a golf ball, stretching on steps, etc.) I’m trying to avoid getting a cortisone shot, but it’s awfully painful, and unfortunately it’s one of those things that seem to hang on forever.” Mike B., Ann Arbor, MI A. Dear Mike, Plantar fasciitis is a hard one, and can linger for months, even years, at a time without proper intervention. You are doing many of the right things with stretching and icing. One idea is to freeze a plastic water bottle 2/3rds full of water and use your sore foot to roll it back and forth. This gives you stretching, icing, and massage all in one activity. You may also want to consult your chiropractor and/or foot specialist, because sometimes this disorder develops because of poor foot alignment, often caused by low or flat arches. Using orthotic devices (shoe inserts) that keep your foot properly aligned as you walk and exercise can reduce the strain on the plantar fascia. In addition to these interventions, it is important to reduce the inflammation in your foot so that the tissue can heal and repair itself. The best combination for this is a blend of curcumin, boswellia, DLPA (dl-Phenylalanine) and nattokinase. Curcumin (from turmeric) and boswellia are two Indian plants that exhibit very effective anti-inflammatory properties. However, plain curcumin 95% is very poorly absorbed and basically is trapped in the intestinal tract. Recently, an Indian company developed a new high absorption curcumin that is up to 1000% (10 times) better absorbed than plain curcumin 95%. This is a micronized curcumin with turmeric essential oils blended back into the powder, along with some natural plant phospholipids. Boswellia should be standardized to at least 18% AKBA, which is a potent anti-inflammatory boswellic acid in the herb. DLPA works to sustain the effects of the body’s own natural pain killers, called endorphins and enkephalins, and nattokinase increases microcirculation and balances fibrinogen levels in muscle tissue, which is particularly useful in soft tissue injuries. You can find formulas such as this at quality health food stores in your area.