What is Collagenex 2 and how will it help my patients?
Collagenex 2 is used to support the joints, muscles and tendons. It contains the most effective arthritis and connective tissue ingredients including glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen, derived from eggshell membrane (NEM®). Clinical trials suggest that Collagenex 2 reduces joint pain and stiffness and improves range of motion in 10-60 days at a dosage of one capsule per day.
Does Collagenex 2 actually rebuild cartilage?
Yes, it does.
Do you think Collagenex 2 would be effective for a 93-year-old female with osteoarthritis? Is the dosage different for older patients?
Collagenex 2 is designed for joint pain including osteoarthritis, considered “wear and tear” arthritis. Collagenex 2 rebuilds cartilage to improve joint functioning. It is not harmful to take more than one capsule per day, but we suggest trying it with additional pain relieving formulas if necessary, and take Collagenex 2 long-term at one capsule per day.
What is the best way to use Collagenex 2? Is it really effective at one capsule per day?
For patients in pain, we suggest using Collagenex 2 with one of Health Concerns’ pain formulas such as Mobility 2, which treats inflammatory, neurological and migrating pain, Mobility 3 for pain that worsens in cold damp weather, or AC-Q for joint and muscle pain, for the first sixty days. At that point, you could consider using Collagenex 2 alone. As Collagenex 2 helps build up the joint and connective tissue matrix, it is mainly designed to prevent pain; however, in some patients it also has an analgesic effect. In our experience, Collagenex 2 does work for many people at one capsule per day, however if you are treating patients over 200 lbs. you may consider an additional capsule.
I have a patient who suffers from chronic flexor strain, as well as no cartilage in her hips. Can you give me an herbal recommendation?
Use Collagenex 2 long-term. If the strain is recent, consider Resinall K/E for treatment; if it is more of a chronic strain, consider AC-Q topically and internally.
Some of my clients find that Collagenex 2 works right away. Do they need to take it for the rest of their lives?
If clients see an immediate benefit, we would suggest taking the formula for at least one year.
One of my patients got results in the first week of taking Collagenex 2, another took sixty days to get relief, and another patient said it didn’t work.
People have different genetics, lifestyle habits, and severity of illness. It is helpful to have multiple therapeutic approaches, because patient’s response can be variable. It is also important that you monitor compliance. One patient said the formula didn’t work, however he stopped taking it after a few days.
A 60-year-old female, osteoarthritis patient goes to physical therapy, but it doesn’t help. I am considering BioStrong, OsteoHerbal, and maybe Mobility 2. What do you think?
I would do a trial with Collagenex 2 for sixty days. I would add Mobility 2 to improve her circulation.
Do you have any products that inhibit the COX enzyme or that would be beneficial for someone who has gout?
Mobility 2 has helped many people with gout in terms of helping restore circulation and I also think Collagenex 2 would support his/her joints.
I have a patient who has severe arthritis in the thumb joint with bone erosion. Patient strained his hand approximately 3 months ago and has had very limited range of motion since. There is also swelling, which seems to be fluid, not tissue swelling – as when massaged, the swelling feels spongy and moves around; I think it is synovial fluid that has leaked from the joints. He’s currently using Mobility 2. What do you suggest?
My first suggestion is to use Mobility 2 in higher dosages than he is using now and add Collagenex 2 for at least sixty days.
Would Collagenex 2 help with a tendon that is worn or frayed (MRI has shown this be a 30% tear – not complete, which is why they are referring to it as frayed)? The patient wonders, what kind of results she can expect and how soon before she sees results using Collagenex 2?
For long-term repair, it is taken for more than sixty days. It should also help with pain and stiffness in 10-60 days. If it’s a recent tendon problem you should use both Resinall E and Collagenex 2. If this is more of a chronic problem, the best approach would be AC-Q topically and internally. If used by itself, Collagenex 2 will reduce pain and stiffness in 10-60 days. In the case of a partially torn tendon, you need to do whatever you can to heal the area as well as stimulate blood circulation. Herbs can play a powerful role in the healing of tendon tears. For best results, I would use one of the protocols above. It’s really impossible to predict how well they will work because this depends upon the constitution of the individual, the extent of injury, etc. To get the full benefit, I would use the treatment above for at least a few months in addition to other treatment methods, such as acupuncture and physical therapy.
I have a number of patients who are sensitive to eggs. Would this be a problem?
The feedback we have received is that it is generally okay for egg sensitive patients. We use the eggshell membrane but it probably won’t be appropriate for those with a true egg allergy.
I want to give Collagenex 2 to a diabetic patient. Will the glucosamine affect the person’s blood sugar?
It will not.
According to the website, it’s effective for joint pain, including RA. Would it also be effective for pain caused by Lyme disease? I have a patient who has been suffering with this for 10 years.
Yes, it would be a good adjunct with people with Lyme disease. If the person is in a lot of pain, I would use Collagenex 2 plus AC-Q for the first 60 days, then perhaps use Collagenex 2 by itself. There are complete protocols for Lyme disease in Healing Immune Disorders.
I have seen an immediate benefit from recommending Collagenex 2 to a number of patients. Can it be combined with Serramend or would that be too much blood thinning?
Collagenex 2 does not have a blood-thinning effect. It works by reducing inflammation and to improve joint and connective tissue nutrition, therefore there is no reason to avoid taking these two formulas on the same day.
My client’s M.D. said not to use any herbs from China because of safety concerns. Can you comment?
First of all, Collagenex 2 is entirely sourced and manufactured in the U.S.A. Second, problems with Chinese herbs are typically due to either an allergic reaction or due to poor manufacturing in China. This is why we manufacture Chinese herbs in the U.S.A.
New Study on Collagenex 2 (NEM®) for Joint, Muscle, and Tendon Repair
By Andrew Gaeddert
A new study was conducted to gain insight into Collagenex 2’s (NEM®) clinical efficacy in reducing joint pain and stiffness. Human immune cells were exposed to a water extract and subsequently compounds that are known to cause an inflammatory response. Collagenex 2 (NEM®) was shown to significantly reduce a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This effect was most pronounced for the cytokines Interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-a). The reduction in TNF-a was further enhanced by a simulated gastric digestion; TNF-a plays an important role in inflammatory processes, particularly chronic joint inflammation.1
Collagenex 2 (NEM®) is a unique, natural ingredient derived from eggshell membrane that is composed of naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans such as chondroitin and hyaluronic acid and key proteins like collagen, which are all essential for healthy joints and connective tissue. It has been and continues to be extensively evaluated in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. In two separate open-label pilot clinical studies in humans (published in Clinical Interventions in Aging), Collagenex 2 (NEM®) was shown to be effective at relieving joint pain (18-26%) and increasing flexibility (28%) in as little as 7 days. The positive results of the pilot studies were confirmed in a follow-up randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial in humans (published in Clinical Rheumatology) in which the compound was shown to reduce joint pain (16%) and stiffness (13%) versus placebo in just 10 days. By the end of the 60-day trial, nearly one-third of the patients in the treatment group reported a 50% or greater reduction in pain and more than half of these patients experienced a 50% or greater reduction in stiffness. The conclusions from these studies are that Collagenex 2 (NEM®) reduces joint pain, and stiffness and increases flexibility both rapidly (7-10 days) and continuously (30-60 days) with just one 500mg capsule per day.
- 1. Katharina Buck, Aida Karina Zaineddin, Alina Vrieling, Jakob Linseisen, and Jenny Chang-Claude. Meta-analyses of lignans and enterolignans in relation to breast cancer risk. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28573
Effect of Collagenex 2 (NEM®) on Joint Pain
By Andrew Gaeddert
In osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, there are microscopic changes in the structure and composition of cartilage responsible for joint discomfort. Cartilage may swell because of water retention, become soft, and then develop cracks. Tiny cavities form in the bone beneath the cartilage weakening the bone. Eventually the cartilage becomes rough and pitted so that the joint can no longer move smoothly and absorb impact.
Symptoms usually develop gradually and affect only one or a few joints at first. Joints of the fingers, base of the thumbs, neck, lower back, big toes; hips and knees are commonly affected. In some people, the joint may be stiff after sleep or inactivity. In time, the joint may become less flexible and the joints may grind, grate, and crackle when they are moved. As osteoarthritis progresses the joint lining and sites where the ligaments and tendons attach to the bone may become inflamed.
Inflammation may also occur in connective tissue diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, Reiter’s Syndrome (reactive arthritis), and ankylosing spondylitis. In these conditions, there is also joint pain and swelling. In RA, components of the immune system attack the soft tissue that lines and can attack connective tissue in many parts of the body. Eventually the cartilage, bone, and ligaments of the joint erode, causing deformity, instability and scarring within the joint. Psoriatic arthritis resembles RA, causing inflammation of the joints hips and spine. When inflammation is chronic, the joints may become swollen and deformed. Reiter’s syndrome is inflammation of the joints and tendon attachments of the joint, often accompanied by inflammation of the eye, mouth, and genitourinary tract. Ankylosing spondylitis is the inflammation of the spine and large joints resulting in stiffness and pain.
Why is nutrition an important solution for people with painful, stiff, and aching joints? It can be tempting to reach for aspirin and other NSAID pills or Tylenol. However, aspirin and NSAIDs can cause bleeding and increase the risk of heart attack, whereas too much Tylenol is associated with liver problems. Natural products such as Glucosamine often take three months to work, and TCM treatments involve high dosages of herbs. The Solution: Collagenex 2 (NEM®).
Collagenex 2 features the same ingredients found in human joints and connective tissue including naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans, including glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, collagen, and other proteins. Collagenex 2 (NEM) is derived from eggshell membrane and processed with an advanced manufacturing process. In clinical studies, the active ingredient has been shown to reduce joint discomfort by 25 percent in just seven days at the dosage equivalent to one capsule of Collagenex 2 per day.
The results of the studies showed that supplementation with Collagenex 2 (NEM) produced an average 25% reduction in pain (both Study 1 & Study 2) in just 7 days. By the end of the 30-day trial, patients in Study 1 had an average reduction in pain of more than 72% (see graph) and nearly half of these patients reported that they were completely pain-free by the end of the study. Patients in Study 2 experienced more moderate relief with an average of 30% reduction in pain at the completion of the trial, however about one-third of them experienced more than 50% reduction in pain. No side effects were reported by study participants in either trial.
Collagenex 2 Study
By Andrew Gaeddert
Collagenex 2 (NEM®) is a dietary supplement containing naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans and proteins essential to maintaining healthy joint and connective tissues. Two single center, open label pilot studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety. The follow up randomized, multi-center double blind placebo controlled osteoarthritis study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Collagenex 2 as treatment for pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.
The primary endpoints was the change in overall Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index as well as pain, stiffness and function measured at 10, 30, and 60 days. Supplementation with Collagenex 2 produced a statistically significant response for pain and stiffness and tended toward improvement for function and overall WOMAC subscores. Rapid responses were seen for mean pain and mean stiffness subscores (15.9, 12.8) after ten days of supplementation. At sixty days, pain response was maintained, while stiffness improved to a 26.6 percent reduction. There were no serious events reported during any of the studies and the treatment was well tolerated. The conclusion was that Collagenex 2 is an effective and safe therapeutic option for the treatment of joint and connective tissue disorders including arthritis, lupus, gout, fibromyalgia, neck and back pain.[1]
- Ruff, Kevin J. , Winkler, Anne, Jackson, Robert W., DeVore, Dale P., Ritz, Barry W. Eggshell membrane in the treatment of pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study. Clin Rheumatol (2009) 28:907–914. DOI 10.1007/s10067-009-1173-4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19340512/.
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