Use a Cissus extract standardized for ketosterones, not just plain ground powder.
The Active Ingredient
My elbows were constantly aching from lifting weights. I tried a cheap Cissus powder I found online. After a month of taking it, I felt absolutely no difference. I was about to give up when I learned that the real benefits come from the active compounds called ketosterones. I switched to a brand that sold a concentrated extract standardized for a high percentage of these ketosterones. The difference was immediate and dramatic. The nagging, persistent ache in my tendons started to finally fade away. The extract was the key.
Stop thinking of Cissus as only for bone healing. Do use it for tendon and ligament support as well.
The Connective Tissue Healer
I heard about Cissus after a friend broke a bone and used it to support his healing. I filed it away as a “bone supplement.” It wasn’t until I developed a nagging case of tendonitis in my shoulder that I took a second look. I learned that its true power lies in its ability to support all connective tissues—tendons and ligaments included. I started taking it, and after a few weeks, the chronic inflammation in my shoulder began to calm down in a way that rest and ice alone never achieved.
Stop taking Cissus for general joint pain. Do use it specifically for recovery from joint and tendon injuries.
The Specialist
I had general, arthritic-type pain in my knees, so I tried Cissus. It didn’t do much. I was using a specialist’s tool for a generalist’s job. Glucosamine and chondroitin are better for that kind of chronic, osteoarthritic pain. Where Cissus shines is as a specialist for injury recovery. When I later developed a specific case of golfer’s elbow from lifting, I tried Cissus again. This time, it worked like magic, helping to reduce the pain and inflammation right at the site of the tendon injury.
The #1 secret for lifters with achy elbows and knees is a daily Cissus Quadrangularis supplement.
The Lifter’s Lubricant
Every serious lifter knows the feeling: that persistent, nagging ache in the elbows or knees that never seems to fully go away. It’s the tax you pay for heavy training. I thought it was just something I had to live with. Then I discovered Cissus. I started taking it daily, and after a month, my “lifter’s elbow” had vanished. My knees felt more stable and less creaky during heavy squats. It’s the single best secret weapon I’ve found for managing the specific tendon and ligament stress that comes from years of moving heavy iron.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about Cissus is that it will instantly heal a broken bone.
The Support, Not The Solution
When a supplement is nicknamed the “bone-setter,” it creates unrealistic expectations. People imagine it working like a magic glue, instantly fusing broken bones back together. That’s the lie. Cissus doesn’t heal the bone; your body does. What Cissus does is provide powerful support for that natural healing process. It helps to reduce inflammation and may provide some of the raw materials the body needs to do its job more efficiently. It’s a powerful supporter, not a magical solution.
I wish I knew about Cissus when I was dealing with nagging tendonitis from weightlifting.
My Tendonitis Torment
I spent the better part of a year battling a stubborn case of biceps tendonitis. I tried rest, ice, stretching, and massage, but the sharp pain would always return as soon as I started lifting again. It was incredibly frustrating and derailed my progress. Years later, I learned about Cissus. I now know that a daily dose of a standardized extract would have likely calmed the inflammation and supported the tendon healing in a way that all my other efforts failed to do. I wish I could get that lost year of training back.
I’m just going to say it: For tendon-related pain, Cissus is more effective than glucosamine.
The Tendon Specialist
I tried taking glucosamine for my tennis elbow. It did nothing. I was frustrated because I thought it was the ultimate “joint” supplement. The problem is, my issue wasn’t in the joint cartilage; it was in the tendon. Glucosamine is for cartilage health. Cissus is for connective tissue health, especially tendons. When I finally switched to Cissus, I felt relief for the first time. It’s about understanding the problem. For the specific pain of tendonitis, Cissus is simply the superior tool for the job.
99% of athletes make this one mistake: ignoring supportive supplements like Cissus until they are already injured.
The Reactive Athlete
Most athletes, myself included, have a “bulletproof” mentality. We only think about recovery after we’ve pushed ourselves too far and something breaks. We wait for the pain of tendonitis to appear before we even think about tendon support. This is a huge mistake. The smart approach is to be proactive. By taking a supportive supplement like Cissus during your most intense training blocks, you can help your connective tissues handle the heavy load, potentially preventing the injury from ever happening in the first place.
This one habit of adding Cissus to your supplement regimen during intense training blocks will change how your connective tissues feel forever.
The Training Shield
I used to dread the end of a heavy, high-volume training cycle. I knew I’d be strong, but I’d also be a walking collection of aches and pains in my elbows, knees, and shoulders. I started a new habit: during any period of intense training, I add Cissus to my daily supplement stack. It acts as a shield for my connective tissues, allowing me to handle the volume with far less pain and inflammation. My joints and tendons no longer feel like the weak link holding back my progress.
If you’re still relying only on ice and rest for tendon pain, you’re losing out on the healing support of Cissus.
The Outdated Protocol
The old R.I.C.E. protocol (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) is what we’re all taught for injuries. But for chronic tendon pain, it’s an incomplete and often ineffective strategy. Ice can reduce immediate pain but may also slow healing by restricting blood flow. By relying only on these passive modalities, you are losing the opportunity to provide your body with the active, biological support it needs. Cissus works from the inside out to help manage inflammation and support tissue repair, offering a level of healing that ice can’t touch.