You never realize how much you take for granted, until it's taken away.  For me it was being able to stand, walk and physically function in general as degenerative discs and inflammation in my spine brought my life to a grinding halt.  It started as a little discomfort when bending over, but evolved over the course of a few months to one morning having to crawl out of bed and having to be in a wheelchair for several months.

My doctors decided to try a non-invasive lower back procedure that was fortunately, successful in getting me walking again although my movement was limited and I still had significant discomfort.  Intense physical therapy over the course of eight months brought me back to about 60% strength but things still weren’t great. I was 50 years old and couldn’t walk through airports or carry the weight of a grocery bag from the checkout at my local market to my car in the parking lot, not to mention still having difficulty with daily activities such as taking a shower, getting dressed or loading the dish washer.  

I was 50 years old and couldn’t walk through airports or carry the weight of a grocery bag from the checkout at my local market to my car in the parking lot, not to mention still having difficulty with daily activities such as taking a shower, getting dressed or loading the dish washer.  

 

Finally, Natural Joint Support That Works

Enter Joint Vitality by DAO Labs. Previous to taking Joint Vitality, my spine moved like a solid board and not like the individual pearls as it should as my physical therapist would say.

After just two to three weeks of taking Joint Vitality, I could notice something was happening: I had increased range of motion and more flexibility. After six weeks, I was starting to feel more like my old self as I was able to enjoy long walks once again and carry bags of groceries up and down stairs.  Daily chores became easier as I no longer needed the assistance of a cane. Even though I am a Co-Founder of DAO Labs and have believed in the power of Chinese herbs since discovering them about eight years ago, I never expected to feel this much benefit. This ancient formula has literally given me my life back.

Since the formula helped me so much I recommended it to my mom whose aging joints has made activities like gardening and cooking less enjoyable due to less movement in her hands.  After just two weeks of taking the herbs in Joint Vitality, she was able to regain flexibility in her hands and is once again enjoying gardening and cooking.

Unfortunately, my mother and I are not alone as degenerative discs is one of the most common sources of back pain and affects approximately 30 million people every year while arthritis sufferers include around 350 million worldwide and nearly 40 million persons in the United States.  If you have noticed less flexibility in your hands or lower back, I highly recommend that you give the DAO Labs Joint Vitality formula a try - you will be glad you did.  Joint Vitality is based on the classic Chinese herbal formula Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang - 14 herbs that for me are life changing. 

What is Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang?

Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is an ancient Chinese herbal formula first recorded in the seventh century that in Chinese herbal medicine language "nourishes the blood, soothes the sinews and expels wind and dampness".  From a western perspective, it supports joint and back health. Wind, cold and dampness can prevent the free flow of Qi-energy and blood which causes pain. This formula supports the Liver and Kidney.  

An Overview of the Herbs and the Components in Joint Vitality

Chinese herbs are complicated (that's one of DAO's reasons for being - making them simple), but I've come to appreciate the "Chinese medicine" perspective on what the herbs do.  To this point, I've summarized the 14 herbs below and how a Chinese herbal medicine doctor would describe them:

Tuhuo Angelica root (Du Huo) - Chief - Expels wind, dampness and cold from the lower burner, bones and sinews

Taxillus plant (Sang Ji Sheng) - Assistant - Expels wind dampness and tonifies the liver and kidneys

Eucommia bark (Du Zhong) - Assistant - Expels wind dampness and tonifies the liver and kidneys

Cyathula root (Niu Xi) - Assistant - Expels wind dampness and tonifies the liver and kidneys

Gentiana Macrophylia root (Qin Jiao) - Deputy - Relaxes the sinews and expels wind dampness

Poria fungus (Fu Ling) - Assistant - Resolves dampness and strengthens the spleen

Cinnamon bark (Rou Gui) - Assistant - Warms and unblocks the channels and fortifies the yang

Siler root (Fang Feng) - Deputy - Expels wind and overcomes dampness

Sichuan Lovage root (Chuan Xiong) - Assistant - Nourishes and invigorates the blood

Ginseng root (Ren Shen) - Assistant - Resolves dampness and strengthens the spleen

Licorice root (Gan Cao) - Assistant - Tonifies the middle Qi and harmonizes the actions of the other herbs

Dong Quai root (Dang Gui) - Assistant - Nourishes and invigorates the blood

White Peony root (Bai Shao) - Assistant - Nourishes and invigorates the blood

Rehmannia root (Sheng Di Huang) - Assistant - Nourishes and invigorates the blood

With an eye toward "adapting" the herbs a bit more, we've added a few additional components that both boost the power and performance of the herbs, but also helps with taste.  Importantly, they all align with Chinese medicine theory for the following reasons:

Cinnamon – Warms flow in blood vessels, transforms Qi

Cayenne – Warming digestive spice

Coconut oil powder – Lauric acid, a medium chain triglyceride fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties.

Collagen – Protein in body that helps form connective tissue and keeps our joints moving smoothly

If this powerful formula can help my mom get back to gardening and help me regain my confidence in walking, just think of what it can do for your recurring weekend bum knee or a shoulder that needs more strength. Easy to use and great tasting, Joint Vitality from DAO Labs is a must have for your medicine cabinet. 

Dining with Culinary Artist Travis Metzger is an unforgettable experience. You can taste the passion, creativity and culinary expertise in each of Travis’s one-of-kind recipes. Most would agree that Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs in their original form taste less than delectable, but Travis has proven that TCM for today can taste great with DAO Labs. Travis develops unique flavors for each DAO formula to complement the proprietary blend of herbs and their health benefits. After extensive training at the New England Culinary Institute, Travis ran some of the finest restaurants across the country before starting his own in Minneapolis. To survive the stresses and physical challenges of the kitchen heat, Travis focused on combining natural ingredients for healthy AND delicious eating and juicing.