Herbs to Reduce Inflammation

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski May 17, 2023

Chronic inflammation is a slow, long-term issue that can last several months to years. (1) You may have wondered what all the fuss is about because some inflammation is a good thing, right? In this article, we’ll cover the misconceptions about inflammation and what you can do to support your health naturally while calming down the problems associated with too much inflammation.

What is inflammation?

The first thing you should know is that there are two types of inflammation. Acute inflammation happens quickly and usually settles down once the infection or injury begins the healing process. Chronic inflammation, the one we’ll focus on today, is much different. It can happen when you least expect it and last a lifetime if you don’t get to the root of the problem.

Chronic inflammation is the immune system’s reaction to an illness. It may be an autoimmune disease or something more severe. Over half of all deaths worldwide are associated with chronic inflammation. (2) Many times chronic inflammation gets ignored for a long time because it’s there in the background. You know it’s an issue, but you may not address it until it becomes a larger problem. Truthfully, lots of people live with pain every day and they think it’s normal.

What causes inflammation?

  • Systemic inflammatory issues are more common than you may think. The causes may surprise you. Often we get accustomed to going through our days and not noticing some of the triggers that may inflame our bodies. Here are some of the most common causes of chronic inflammation: Environmental toxins - think of the beauty products and household cleaning supplies you use each day. Many of these chemicals are toxic and you may come into contact with hundreds of them throughout your day.
  • Alcohol/drugs - excessive use of alcohol can cause chronic inflammation, but so can recreational and prescription drugs. Many pharmaceuticals cause toxicity in the body.
  • Food sensitivities - although you may not have a food allergy, you could still have sensitivities that you’re not aware of, even to healthy foods. These can drive inflammation in your body, even hours after you’ve eaten the food.
  • Sugar - sugar is one of the most inflammatory ingredients you can ingest. Americans consume around 77 grams of sugar every single day. (3)
  • Bad fats - these aren’t to be confused with healthy fats. Bad fats are seed oils like the ones you get from fried foods. Healthy fats can help decrease inflammation.
  • Stress - It’s not always what you eat that causes chronic inflammation. If you have too much stress it can raise your cortisol and cause you to become highly inflamed.
  • Oxidative stress - the free radicals from oxidative stress can damage healthy cells, which leads to inflammation. Oxidative stress is typically triggered by your immune response as those cells produce free radicals when fighting off illnesses. (4)

Problems from inflammation

If you think chronic inflammation is not a big deal, you should know how many health problems may be caused by it. As we mentioned, many people live with tremendous pain because they think it’s a part of life, but this is not the case. If any of these issues have plagued you, it could be a sign that you have inflammation in your body. Here are some of the most common health conditions that can be caused by chronic inflammation:

  • Autoimmune conditions like arthritis
  • Neurological problems
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction
  • Various diseases like cancer or heart disease
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic pain

It’s crucial to note that the above list is not exhaustive. We still may not know all the problems chronic inflammation causes, but by removing it, many people get better and stay healthy.

Herbs to reduce inflammation

Herbs have been used for centuries as natural treatments for a variety of health issues. Interestingly, many herbal remedies have anti-inflammatory properties that can calm down inflammation. Let’s take a look at some of the most potent herbs to reduce your inflammation.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that has over 300 active compounds. The primary one is curcumin, which is an antioxidant with incredible anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown curcumin can block the molecule that promotes inflammation. (5)

Ginger

Ginger has long been used in traditional medicines because it can lower the production of cytokines, which promote inflammation. Research also shows that ginger has strong anti-inflammatory properties which can be useful in treating arthritis and pain. (6)

You can add ginger and turmeric to meals to make them healthier, but if you’re trying to calm inflammation, you’d have to consume a lot to make it effective. A supplement like HerbalFlam contains high doses of these herbs to decrease that inflammation naturally, without side effects. It also includes other herbs helpful in reducing inflammation, like Boswellia. It’s critical to get the clinical doses for the most benefit.

Boswellia

Boswellia has been used in folk medicine for centuries. It contains acids responsible for the inhibition of inflammatory processes. It’s usually taken in capsule or tablet form. People who take it have found lessening symptoms in inflammatory issues like RA.

Garlic

Garlic is a spice you’re likely familiar with, as it’s a popular ingredient in many common dishes. The health benefits of garlic come from the sulfur compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have been conducted to show the difference in inflammatory markers after supplementing with garlic. The group who used garlic had significantly less inflammation than the group who did not. (7)

Black pepper

Many people use pepper on everything. It’s a common spice to add to foods, along with salt. Yet, traditionally, black pepper was used to treat health issues like gastric problems and asthma. Today, we know that black pepper can reduce inflammation. Black pepper is easy to obtain and most people have it in their kitchens.

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most fragrant herbs and is used in many Mediterranean dishes. This herb is also powerful when it comes to reducing inflammation. Studies have shown that people who consumed rosemary had less pain and joint stiffness. (8) It can also be helpful for other inflammatory conditions like asthma and gum disease.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been shown to significantly reduce inflammatory markers. This is another spice you probably have at home. It’s easy to use cinnamon, as you can sprinkle it in your morning coffee, or add it to yogurt or some cottage cheese as a snack.

Clinical use of herbs for inflammation

When you think about it, you put a lot of stress on the body in different ways. It may be from daily stressors or diet. These various stressors can increase inflammation and before you know it, you have a real problem on your hands. Rather than continuing to take prescriptions or OTC meds that have harmful side effects, why not use a natural method that has been effective for hundreds of years? If you can control the inflammation in your body, you can avoid many major diseases and illnesses. That is why we use a pharmaceutical-grade product that combines the most effective ingredients in the proper doses to reduce your pain and inflammation. If you need more help to decrease inflammation in your body, we’d love to talk to you about your health journey. With our experience and expertise, you can be sure your wellness and nutrition questions will be answered accurately and promptly.

References :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324368#summary

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213434416300056

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21660-inflammation

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-all-the-buzz-about-inflammation-and-just-how-bad-is-it-202203162705

https://www.novanthealth.org/healthy-headlines/chronic-inflammation-why-its-harmful-and-how-to-prevent-it

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/how-much-sugar-is-too-much#:~:text=American%20adults%20consume%20an%20average,are%20even%20worse%20for%20children.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324863#:~:text=Oxidative%20stress%20can%20cause%20chronic,healthy%20cells%2C%20leading%20to%20inflammation.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/anti-inflammatory-herbs#9.-Cinnamon

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25058311/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32673835/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6272784/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3309643/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326599#_noHeaderPrefixedContent

Dr. Nick Zyrowski
Dr. Nick Zyrowski