The purpose of this information is to assist any individual interested in optimizing the healing processes of the human body by focusing on the use of specific nutrients (vitamins and minerals as well as homeopathic remedies) to more favorably affect the outcome of healing.

In this case we are focusing on the role of nutrition and homeopathic remedies in musculoskeletal injury – post traumatic injury or CVA – stroke – apoplexy of cerebral nature, however remote, seems to have caused your present condition as you now receive therapy for rehabilitation.

Question: Is healing more difficult than ever? The current approach, which is to treat the pain and inflammation and let the body heal itself, assumes that the American diet is sufficient enough to supply the body with the nutrients needed for it to heal itself. In face, the American diet is often lacking in basic nutrient requirements. The likelihood of a patient being discharged into a world of perfect nutrition, consistent rehabilitation, plenty of rest and regular exercise is very low. Research has consistently shown the importance of nutrition in the body's repair process. There is only a small percentage of Americans whose daily diets are nutritionally balanced. This poses a serious problem when an injury occurs because the body's demand for nutrients dramatically increases. Nutrient intake following an injury needs to be higher than normal to provide the body with the materials needed for building and repairing tissues. For the healing rehabilitation process to be successful, the body must be well nourished. Adequate nutrient intake helps to promote new tissue formation, suppress oxidation of tissue, improve wound function and keep the immune system strong. While several clinically significant factors are known to impede wound healing, one that is often overlooked is a diet deficiency in vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Pain Relief and Healing – Two Separate Concepts:
It is important to understand that pain relief and healing are two very separate concepts. The removal of discomfort should never imply that the body is beginning to repair tissue damage. Often it is quite the opposite and medications given to eliminate pain can sometimes hinder the body's attempts to heal. It is also a mistake to believe that there can be recovery without pain or discomfort. Even in the final stages of the healing process and individual can experience various uncomfortable symptoms.

Factors That Affect Healing:

Age Type of injury Psychological influences Mobility (local & whole body)

Rest Medications Dietary intake Nutritional status

Prior health status Severity of injury Blood supply

The Three Stages of Healing:
The body is fearfully and wonderfully created by God's amazing Grace. Whether it is a broken bone, sprained ankle, or a neurological trauma, it begins to heal itself from the moment of injury provided your body has the proper function and nutrient supply for cellular regeneration. There are three basic phases of healing:

Phase 1 – called the “inflammation phase” which is the body's initial response to any injury with the help of your white blood cells. This phase takes on two steps: a) application of cold compresses to the inflamed areas (see time element) to reduce heat, redness and swelling. b) the use of proteolytic enzymes to control white blood cell accumulation at the site of injury (which is the body's normal reaction to injury, see our literature on enzymes).

The inflammation phase of an injury can last up to seven to ten days depending on your physiological function prior to the trauma incident. In any case, research has shown consistently the importance of proper nutrition in the body's repair process. There is a far greater need now following an injury for increased intake of proper nutrients (food) and supplementary intake of vitamins and minerals adequate to begin healing and rehabilitation successfully.

Phase 2 – the repair phase, which is characterized by cell growth and new blood cells.

Phase 3 – the remolding phase, which is characterized by strength of collagen fibers.

Key nutrients:
Vitamins:

Vitamin A	to boost immune system
Vitamin C	for repair and reconstruction of connective tissue and cellular regeneration - healing.
Vitamin B complex	for bioenergetics. B vitamins are involved in many biochemical pathways (steps) to break down food into their proper constituents that enter cellular respiration.
Vitamin Zinc	for skin, wound healing (just like vitamin C) and is essential (necessary) for DNA synthesis, cell division and protein synthesis - all necessary for tissue repair.

Minerals:

Mg (Magnesium)	like Mg (magnesium) the most neglected and insufficient mineral in the body after calcium. It performs hundreds of co-factor functions vital to sustaining life through enzymation actions.
Mn (Manganese)	a mineral needed for anti allergy function, is also essential in enzyme function of magnitude too often neglected and causing extreme, severe dysfunction in the biochemical pathways necessary for life - resulting in deficiencies and consequent disease of malnutrition.

Finally there is Chondrotin Sulfates essential for musculoskeletal healing. Chondrotin Sulfate accelerates surgical wound healing and stimulates secretion of proteoglycans for cartilage repair. Glysoaminoglycan – a form of protein and sugar called a fibrous protein, including collagen, elastin, fibronectin and laminin.