PAIN & INFLAMMATION

Inflammation is the body’s attempt to repair and heal itself. Blood is rushed to the site of an injury, to bring oxygen and nutrients to repair and rebuild and take away waste products.

The heat is turned up to kill invading germs (they don’t like it hot), for the same reason that we get a fever when we get infections like colds and flu. (Turning down the heat of a fever with medications is hampering the body from doing it’s work and prolonging the infection.)

Fluid collects at the site to bathe the injury in moisture, diluting the toxins produced by the injury and the fight with any invaders, and helping flush them away. The fluid also causes swelling and helps immobilize the injured part preventing us doing more harm.

Pain tells us something is wrong and also encourages us to slow down and rest to give the body chance to heal the injured part.

The inflammation process is controlled by hormone like substances called prostaglandins. Some prostaglandins turn up the inflammation response and others turn it down.

Prostaglandins are made from fatty acids.

You may have heard the phrase ‘Good Fats – Bad Fats’ but may not understand fully what that means.

Bad fats such as arachidonic acid, come from red meats and dairy and these are the fatty acids that turn up the inflammation response. (This is why arthritis sufferers often gain benefit from a diet free of red meat)

Good fats come from fish (especially oily fish), nuts and seeds. These fatty acids turn down the inflammation response.

Goods fats, when combined into the structures of our cells in blood, blood vessels and all other structures keep them pliable and able to function well. Supplementing the diet with high quality fish oils, high in omega 3 fatty acids, lowers blood pressure, lowers triglycerides and cholesterol, and turns down pain and inflammation.

Bad fats, when we eat them to excess, enter all our cell structures making them inflexible and poorly functioning, aggravating cardiovascular problems and turning up pain and inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory medication such as NSAID’s control the pain by blocking production of the inflammatory substances but do nothing to address the cause of the problem, and long term use can cause serious side effects especially in the gut.

Steriods are often used for severe cases but their side effects are well known and can cause such problems as osteoporosis.

However nature provides us with many alternatives which have been proved to be as effective as drugs without the side effects. (Bear in mind that mainstream doctors will always reach for the prescription pad, because that is the way they were trained, and the influence of the drug companies is all powerful. You are the guinea pigs as the companies try out their new drugs by persuading the doctors to try them on you. Most doctors don’t have time to keep up with the latest research and information, and rely on the heavily biased product information and training schemes provided by the drug companies.)

Helpful dietary supplements:-

Glucosamine.

Most people have now heard of glucosamine. It is an essential part of the building material for joints and cartilage and the cellular glue that holds the body together. Research has shown that glucosamine not only relieves the pain of arthritis but also helps the body rebuild lost cartilage. Glucosamine sulphate and glucosamine hydrochloride are available, the hydrochloride being the most potent. Glucosamine supplements usually contain chondroitin another similarly helpful substance. Bear in mind this is a long term treatment.

Indian herbs.

Boswellia and Ashwagandha are powerful anti-inflammatory agents. Ashwagandha has been found to be much more effective than steroids in animal studies without any of the side effects. Boswellia can be obtained as either tablets or cream. I find the cream very useful for sprains and strains.

Curcuminoids and capsaicin.

The yellow pigment cumin found in the spice turmeric and capsaicin found in cayenne pepper are also good anti-inflammatory agents. If you don’t wish to use them in your cooking they can be obtained in tablet form.

MSM

MSM is a source of the mineral sulphur, which is essential in many functions including pain control, inflammation, detoxification and tissue and cartilage formation.

Other helpful substances are Ginger, Bromelain (a collection of enzymes found in pineapple) and Quercitin (a potent anti-oxidant found in onions, broccoli, red grapes and citrus fruits.

Look for a complex supplement containing as many of these ingredients as possible, as their effect when combined together is greater than for single supplements. Go for a good quality product. Cheap products are of questionable quality and much lower content, representing far less value for money.

Deep sea shark liver oil

This contains substances that boost the immune system, powerful anti-inflammatories that reduce pain and inflammation.