The phytotherapist who built Lifetones.

Vincent Tones is a phytotherapist, which means he studies how plants support the body. He and his wife were both dealing with chronic discomfort. He had gout. She had carpal tunnel syndrome, the pins-and-needles and wrist pain that come from compressed tendons.

Between them, they had tried most of what was available. Prescriptions. Topicals. Diet changes. Supplements aimed at the symptoms. Some things helped a little. Nothing addressed what Vincent kept coming back to: the root cause of joint discomfort.

In their case, that root cause was uric acid. When uric acid builds up in the body faster than it can be cleared, it crystallizes in the joints. That's the source of the discomfort, the swelling, the flare-ups. Most products on the shelf were designed to mask the feeling. None were designed to support how the body manages the uric acid in the first place.

So Vincent built his own formula.

Most of what we eat and drink leaves an acid behind. The body's job is to keep blood pH slightly alkaline, around 7.3 to 7.5. When too many acidic foods come in too quickly, the body has to work harder to balance things out.

Uric acid is one of the toughest acids for the body to clear. It travels from the blood into the muscles, then into the joints. In the joints, it converts into small, sharp crystals. Vincent described it as sandpaper grinding inside the joint.

The crystals usually settle in the extremities first, often the big toe. From there they can spread upward to other joints. The longer they sit, the more discomfort, swelling, and stiffness they cause.

Vincent's approach was to formulate a blend of herbs traditionally known for their alkalizing properties. Plants that help the body move uric acid out, instead of letting it accumulate.