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 stiffness and discomfort in my back made daily activities extremely difficult. It started as a little discomfort when bending over, but evolved over the course of a few months to one morning I woke up with such limited mobility that I couldn’t walk unaided for several months.
My doctors recommended a non-invasive procedure for my lower back, which helped me get back on my feet. While my mobility was still limited and discomfort remained, it was a turning point. After about eight months of focused physical therapy, I regained around 60% of my strength. Still, everyday life wasn’t easy—I was 50 years old and struggled to walk through airports or carry a grocery bag to my car. Even simple tasks like showering, getting dressed, or loading the dishwasher were difficult.
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 experienced greater ease during daily movement and felt more stable during walks.. “I was able to go about daily chores with greater ease and confidence. 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 helped me feel like myself again.
Since the formula helped me so much, I recommended it to my mom, whose aging joints have 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 felt more comfortable and at ease while using her hands, which made gardening more enjoyable again.
Unfortunately, my mother and I are not alone. Age-related changes in the spine, such as disc degeneration, are a common source of back discomfort—impacting millions each year. Globally, over 350 million people experience joint-related challenges, including nearly 40 million 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 kidneys.
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 help 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 – A naturally occurring protein that helps support connective tissues involved in healthy joint function.
If this herbal blend helped my mom enjoy gardening again and supported my daily mobility, imagine the potential benefits for your occasional joint discomfort. Easy to use and great tasting, Joint Vitality from DAO Labs is a valuable addition to your wellness routine.
Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider. This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease. That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options. If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.
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.
