I recently discovered that I can use Yucca Stalk when my DDD pain flares. Interestingly, it also seems to help with the allergy (whatever it is) that causes my eye to water/get floaters. I use Nature's Way only because it's the highest dose I could find (1 g). I take two capsules at two meals each day. It stops the pain in a way other things simply have not been able to do for me. When there is a burning sensation in the middle of my spine for instance, I can stop it with just this for the entire day. And I sleep so much better with less pain. It seems the saponins in Yucca Stalk and the resveratrol in it as well are powerful anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories for joints. (They bind inflammatory chemicals called cytokines in the blood.)
I've been researching DDD because I have two MTHFR gene mutations, which are causing serious inflammation in my body and the more rapid break down of my body than other people. My doc says my spine is more like someone 20 years older than I am. My heart’s not doing much better. And all of this accelerated when I entered peri-menopause. And my two mutations make this worse for me than those who have only one mutation. I had my first disc rupture at 20. I was 110 pounds of lean muscle and an athlete who took great care to minimize joint impact given my family’s experience with joint issues.
I decided that since the other issues I suffer with (fibromyalgia, chemical sensitivity, severe sleep apnea and its related endothelial (vascular lining) dysfunction, very easy bruising/spider veins, migraines, brain fog/cognitive declines, etc) are related to inflammation issues and my inability to effectively methylate (read: activate or make bioavailable) folic acid, that perhaps DDD was also related to these two issues.
From what I've been able to derive from the research, it is indeed related to the body's inability to repair itself effectively---MTHFR gene mutations cause this among other things and the number of people with them is growing in leaps and bounds. The buildup of cytokines causes inflammation which is responsible in large part for causing the accelerated break down of the body. But apparently the inflammatory markers (cytokines) are bound by the saponins in Yucca stalk so that they cannot do their damage. All I know for sure is that it works like nothing else works. And even the radiculopathy (radiating/burning pain in my arm/hand due to another disc degenerating) stops when I use it.
I found Dr. Ben Lynch when I was researching MTHFR gene mutations and he suggested that since I have two mutations it was very important to control the inflammation before I start taking the already methylated (activated) form of folic acid and B12---called methyl-folate & methyl-cobalamin---or I could make matters worse instead of better.
So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to keep taking the Yucca Stalk since it seems to be dampening all of my inflammatory responses (muscle pain, joint pain, allergies, etc). I’m going to start drinking a 4 oz glass a day of George’s aloe Juice for my gut inflammation and after a few weeks I’m going to start very slowly introducing the methyl-folate at 400 mg a day and methyl cobalamin 5 mcg a day by taking it ever 3 days for a week, then every other day for a week and so on until I can tolerate it without causing any issues.
By doing this, I hope to quench the inflammation enough to stop the pain and further damage with the yucca/aloe juice and then begin the attempt to repair the cartilage with the methylated B vitamins (and glucosamine chondroitin w/MSM) along with pharm grade multi that has no folic acid. (Taking folic acid when you have one or two of these mutations is a very bad idea. Your body treats them like toxins and makes you sicker because it can’t convert it. I also avoid it in foods for the same reason.)
Anyway, it’s taken me a few years and a great deal of research to come to this. I’m not a doctor though so please consider that as well. Be well.
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I recently discovered that I can use Yucca Stalk when my DDD pain flares. Interestingly, it also seems to help with the allergy (whatever it is) that causes my eye to water/get floaters. I use Nature's Way only because it's the highest dose I could find (1 g). I take two capsules at two meals each day. It stops the pain in a way other things simply have not been able to do for me. When there is a burning sensation in the middle of my spine for instance, I can stop it with just this for the entire day. And I sleep so much better with less pain. It seems the saponins in Yucca Stalk and the resveratrol in it as well are powerful anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories for joints. (They bind inflammatory chemicals called cytokines in the blood.)
May 3, 2015 - 5:29pmI've been researching DDD because I have two MTHFR gene mutations, which are causing serious inflammation in my body and the more rapid break down of my body than other people. My doc says my spine is more like someone 20 years older than I am. My heart’s not doing much better. And all of this accelerated when I entered peri-menopause. And my two mutations make this worse for me than those who have only one mutation. I had my first disc rupture at 20. I was 110 pounds of lean muscle and an athlete who took great care to minimize joint impact given my family’s experience with joint issues.
I decided that since the other issues I suffer with (fibromyalgia, chemical sensitivity, severe sleep apnea and its related endothelial (vascular lining) dysfunction, very easy bruising/spider veins, migraines, brain fog/cognitive declines, etc) are related to inflammation issues and my inability to effectively methylate (read: activate or make bioavailable) folic acid, that perhaps DDD was also related to these two issues.
From what I've been able to derive from the research, it is indeed related to the body's inability to repair itself effectively---MTHFR gene mutations cause this among other things and the number of people with them is growing in leaps and bounds. The buildup of cytokines causes inflammation which is responsible in large part for causing the accelerated break down of the body. But apparently the inflammatory markers (cytokines) are bound by the saponins in Yucca stalk so that they cannot do their damage. All I know for sure is that it works like nothing else works. And even the radiculopathy (radiating/burning pain in my arm/hand due to another disc degenerating) stops when I use it.
I found Dr. Ben Lynch when I was researching MTHFR gene mutations and he suggested that since I have two mutations it was very important to control the inflammation before I start taking the already methylated (activated) form of folic acid and B12---called methyl-folate & methyl-cobalamin---or I could make matters worse instead of better.
So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to keep taking the Yucca Stalk since it seems to be dampening all of my inflammatory responses (muscle pain, joint pain, allergies, etc). I’m going to start drinking a 4 oz glass a day of George’s aloe Juice for my gut inflammation and after a few weeks I’m going to start very slowly introducing the methyl-folate at 400 mg a day and methyl cobalamin 5 mcg a day by taking it ever 3 days for a week, then every other day for a week and so on until I can tolerate it without causing any issues.
By doing this, I hope to quench the inflammation enough to stop the pain and further damage with the yucca/aloe juice and then begin the attempt to repair the cartilage with the methylated B vitamins (and glucosamine chondroitin w/MSM) along with pharm grade multi that has no folic acid. (Taking folic acid when you have one or two of these mutations is a very bad idea. Your body treats them like toxins and makes you sicker because it can’t convert it. I also avoid it in foods for the same reason.)
Anyway, it’s taken me a few years and a great deal of research to come to this. I’m not a doctor though so please consider that as well. Be well.
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