Inflammation: Even The Word Makes You Think, “Ouch!”

Inflammation is truly a fire within the body, generated by the immune system to fight a foreign substance or protect an injured area. We have all experienced it: the redness, swelling and pain. What many people aren’t aware of is that there are two different kinds of inflammation within the body – acute and chronic.

The Two Kinds of Inflammation

Acute inflammation is often caused by an injury. Chronic inflammation is generally more serious for it is difficult to stop and will result in the deterioration of body tissues over time. It may destroy a knee, as with rheumatoid arthritis, or even lead to cancer. Often with chronic inflammation the pain isn’t immediate, but only shows itself when the affected area has suffered some tissue destruction. With chronic inflammation the pain can even be located in a part of the body not associated with damaged tissues. When the heart is inflamed the person is more likely to experience a swelling in the legs than a pain in the heart.

The Science of Inflammation

When a person suffers an injury the immune system’s cytokines are usually the first ones on the scene. They send out the alarm of the damage. To aid in the repair, blood vessels in the area expand so more oxygen and white blood cells can be carried to the location. The rush of blood saturates the area causing fluids to leak into damaged cells. The result of this flooding of cells is swelling, redness and pain.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a cytokine protein generated by the liver. These proteins flow in the blood and are used to measure the progress of inflammation within the body. As a person ages their CRP levels rise. This is often associated with chronic inflammation and can lead to diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, allergies, anemia, cancer and others.

The Food Effect

It has been established that our diet is a major factor in both the amount of chronic inflammation that develops in our body as well as playing a part in lessening both kinds of inflammation. There are certain foods which generate inflammation. The most notorious are sugars and starches but coffee, wheat and peanuts also create inflammation. Toxins in our food like hormones and pesticides can result in further chronic inflammation.

The good news is that a lot of foods we eat, or should be eating, have anti-inflammatory properties. Among the best are olive oil, dark green vegetables, cherries, blueberries, ginger, garlic, green tea and the omega-3 family of fats contained in fish.

In the January, 2009 issue of Life Extension an article written by Julius G. Goepp, MD reported that the theaflavins in black tea have some amazing anti-inflammatory properties. In essence theaflavins target the gene that produces cytokines and halts its ability to make CRP. Not only do theaflavins halt cytokines production, but they also have the ability to block cancerous cells from reproducing by halting new blood vessel growth, which is essential to the growth of tumors.

The Drug Effect

There are a lot of anti-inflammatory drugs on the market. The over-the-counter drugs are Advil, Aleve and Aspirin. Celebrex is a well known prescription drug used mostly for arthritis. The problem with these drugs is they often cause inflammation in the intestinal lining. Since at least 40% of the immune system is located in the intestines these drugs can compound the irritation from chronic inflammation.

How to Treat an Injury

Most people know that with an injury you first apply ice to bring down the swelling, then heat to bring extra blood into the area. Putting an elastic band around the area can lessen the swelling, and elevating the leg or arm will help the drainage of excessive fluids.

Promolife carries a number of items which will further reduce inflammation. The Blue LED light pad soothes the inflammation from an injury much like ice does. By adding a red LED light the damaged area will receive the dual effects of hot and cold.

The BBS Lymphix Blood and Lymph Therapy Massager not only kick-starts the lymphatic system, so the impurities from an injury can be readily disposed, but will also stimulate collagen production. This connective tissue is required for cellular repair. The more rapidly the harmed tissues can be restored, the quicker the inflammation will end.

Spot magnets can help to reduce swelling when placed over the injured area.

The Magnopro uses a low frequency electromagnetic field to boost the oxygen levels within the blood resulting in reduced pain and inflammation. The Photon Sound Beam acts in a similar way except sound energy is used to promote the oxygenation of the injured area.

The Therasage RX 8000S massage bed uses far infrared to activate blood cells. With a penetration depth of up to three inches, all forms of far infrared will promote healing by reducing both pain and inflammation.

Long Tested Anti-Inflammatory Solutions

For years people have used effective folk remedies to control inflammation. An Epsom salt bath will help ease muscle inflammation, plus the magnesium in Epsom salt will help alleviate the modern body’s magnesium deficiency.

In this folk remedy you will need to blend six parts ginger and one part garlic. Bring two cups of olive oil to near boiling temperatures. Let the oil cool then strain the plant parts from the oil. Mix the cooled oil with an ounce each of arnica and calendula essential oils. Put in a dark glass jar and store in a cool place. Use this oil to massage into an injured area. Use as often as needed.

The hot mixture of ginger and garlic can be used as a poultice. Apply as hot as tolerable to the effected area and wrap in cloth for several hours. This poultice helps pull toxins from the damaged cells.

You don’t have to live with inflammation. No matter what type you have, taking care of the effects will help you live a pain-free life.

Article written by Cat Pippin Lowe for PromolifeNews.com.
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