Natural Inflammatory Relief
Monday, March 19, 2018
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Why would this be?
Could it be that consuming natural, organic antioxidants is a good way to protect ourselves from cancer?
So, You're In Pain
...and don't want to swallow the poison garbage peddled by big pharma? Yeah, me neither!
I had a run in with policy officers about 6 months ago, where I ended up face down with a blue knee in my back. I felt fine that day, but 6 weeks later, in agonising pain, I finally presented to the doctors office. Look, it's been so long since I'd even visited a doctor, as I firmly believe in organic and natural remedies. However, I truly have an aversion and FEAR of pain.
I freaked out at the pain, and reverted to old thinking patterns, hence the visit to the doctors. Duh, didn't think, just reacted. This is changing slowly as I learn to deal with the chronic pain now in my life. 42 years old and never, ever understood the saying "At least you've got your health" I used to think "So what?" Now, in everyday pain, I FINALLY get it.
There's nothing like the extreme and sudden diversion from ALL your regular ways of walking, dressing, bathing, moving, exercising, working, sitting, into PAIN PAIN PAIN. Nothing like it, at all. I've had to relearn how to move. No more plopping down on the sofa. No vigorous exercise. Even sex is different (after wondering for months if I could at all!)
I have been on a mission to uncover any and all natural anti inflammatories. Fear of pain is a GREAT motivator!
What Is Inflammation?
There are 2 types of inflammation; acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is an good thing. It's when you are injured and a biochemical cascade quickly and dramatically improves blood flow to the area. Nerve endings and healing molecules at the site of the injury or infection send out signaling molecules and other chemical components to amass white blood cells that fight off foreign bacteria and start healing the wound site. This is, on a cellular level, an amazing process but all you see is swelling and pain. Inflammation of this kind is good. It means your body is doing what it is supposed to.
Chronic inflammation is the other type and it is the bane of many peoples' lives.
Free Radicals Are The Baddies
I imagine free radicals as red hot, mischief making particles, bouncing around inside the cells scorching everything they come into contact with such as cell membranes and proteins in the cytoplasm, cell membranes AND your DNA.
Some of these proteins are enzymes, responsible for driving thousands of chemical reactions in our bodies. When enzymes are destroyed the reactions that they catalyze will not be able to take place; they are damaged. We understand that damage to our DNA is never a good thing and when our cell membranes are damaged the covering of the cell itself, as well as the membranes of all the cellular structures inside the cell, are no longer efficiently getting nutrients in and waste out. All of this free radical damage causes our cells and their myelin sheaths to weaken and malfunction ie chronic inflammation.
Annoyingly enough, inflammation leads to free radical production which leads to inflammation.
When the cells deteriorate, the electrical impulses that nerves communicate with, slow down their transmissions to each other. This is the process of aging and, worst case scenario, degenerative diseases.
All manner of modern day stressors can cause free radical production to go into overdrive...inflammation (that's a vicious circle right there!) ... stress, environmental toxins, ultraviolet radiation, x-ray radiation, low magnesium levels and immune activation...the list goes on.
INFLAMMATION causes INFLAMMATION! ..how rude! So let's see what we can do to minimise it, shall we?
Anti Oxidants Are Your Friend!
My Go-To List of Inflammation Relievers
With this list, please remember to source as much organic food as you can. Even though the descriptor 'organic' can be something of a misnomer now, it's still the cleanest food you can buy if you aren't growing your own. Most major cities in Australia now have a home delivered, all organic grocery and fresh produce store.
- ginger - is one of my big go-to anti inflammatories, just don't use too much as it thins the blood and can make you light headed (as it does me).
- bromelian - found in pineapples, juicing the stems gives the most of this compound. Powdered capsules are available with just the bromelian.
- turmeric and black pepper - a great anti inflammatory and pain reliever combo
- gelatin - "Several investigations showed a positive influence of orally administered gelatin on degenerative diseases of the musculo-skeletal system." (REF: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10498764) = Get it in you! Jelly will do to start.
- bioflavonoids and polyphenols that limit free-radical production in the body like omega 3's, walnuts, flaxseed, fish oil.
- deeply colored vegetables - doesn't matter the color, the darker the better.
- chilli - another deeply colored fruit/vegetable, having the compound called capsaicin, exhibits anti-inflammatory property by inhibiting IkB-a degradation in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. From the National Library of American Medicine, in 2013, "...capsaicin... (in addition to the known analgesic properties) has any anti-inflammatory effect comparable to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics (NSAIDS)" (Ref:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3824481/)
I hope you find something that takes the edge off your pain. Good luck!
Oh, and as an end note to the policy officer' drama...They ended up dropping the charges on a N.E.T.O. basis ie No Evidence To Offer. That's right, as I maintained all through 6 months and 4 court apppearances; I'm innocent!
Have a fab day!