Q: What are natural ways to treat chronic inflammation? - T.L.
A: Inflammation is your body's way of communicating with you and attempting to rid your body of what doesn't belong. Acute inflammation comes and quickly and becomes severe. It only persists for a few days or weeks.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is long-term inflammation that may last for several years or months. Chronic inflammation may be caused by:
- Failure to eliminate whatever was causing an acute inflammation
- An autoimmune response, where the immune system attacks healthy tissue
- A chronic irritant of low intensity that persists
Examples of underlying diseases and conditions that may cause chronic inflammation include:
- Asthma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Chronic periodontitis
- Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
- Chronic sinusitis
- Chronic active hepatitis
Try these four natural remedies to treat or prevent inflammation:
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Curcumin (turmeric). There are easily hundreds of published studies that demonstrate turmeric's amazing anti-inflammatory benefits. Curcumin, which is widely believed to be the primary active ingredient in turmeric, has been shown to help treat and prevent conditions like indigestion, prostatitis, osteoarthritis, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease and a number of others. In fact, by directly modulating inflammatory cytokine levels inside the body, turmeric helps protect against a vast array of debilitating illnesses, including heart disease and cancers.
Boswellia (frankincense). Similarly, the boswellia plant, from which the aromatic resin frankincense is derived, contains powerful anti-inflammatory compounds known as boswellic acids. These substances inhibit the activity of leukotrienes, which are inflammation-causing chemicals in the body. Studies have shown that taking boswellia can help treat osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and asthma, among other conditions.
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Spirulina. This increasingly popular blue-green microalgae variety is poised to become the next big thing as far as...
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..."superfoods" are concerned, and for good reason. The anti-inflammatory properties of spirulina are already well-established, and continue to be affirmed by major studies, including a 2012 study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. This particular study found that spirulina helps modulate a number of transcription factors linked to causing inflammation, effectively exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity when consumed.
Vitamin D. Is there anything a little natural sunlight exposure every day cannot cure? One of the easiest and most powerful ways to prevent inflammation-related disease, vitamin D, which is naturally produced in the body as a result of exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, is crucial for quelling chronic inflammation. Hundreds of peer-reviewed studies show that a lack of vitamin D, which can also be obtained through high-quality vitamin D3 supplements, is associated with hundreds of illnesses ranging from autism to cancer.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to 'Ask Dr. Renee'. Follow me on Twitter @AskDrRenee and on my website.
