Chronic Inflammation Am American Epidemic

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Chronic Inflammation: An American Epidemic

http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/terrain/chronic_inflammation.htm

 

Inflammation is an immune response; a response to an infection, an

irritation, or an injury. Immune cells are called to the site through the blood

stream.

The blood vessels near the site become miraculously permeable and the site

becomes warm and red due to the increased blood flow (warm, hence inflammation).

 

Neutrophils and macrophages engulf microorganisms and phagocytes are called

in. Some immune cells try to “eat†the invaders; others excrete hydrogen

peroxide (and other oxidative chemicals) trying to kill them so they can be

cleaned

up by the phagocytes and friends.

 

Inflammation is a part of the body’s natural defense system against injury

and disease.

 

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a disease. The system has gotten

hung up, and instead of protecting the organism (our bodies) it starts to kill

the organism, slowly but surely.

 

Today modern medicine is starting to admit that chronic inflammation is the

main contributing factor to all chronic degenerative diseases, and the root

cause of the two greatest killers in America: Cancer and Heart Disease. In deed,

chronic inflammation might just be the root cause of all degenerative disease.

 

 

Chronic inflammation may be the root of all degenerative disease. [Andrew

Weil — www.drweil.com ]

 

Accepting this would certainly simplify preventive medical practices (even as

non existent as they presently are), but I find it interesting that once in

our early history medicine tried to create a theory that reduced all disease

into one or two categories. History does, it seems, repeat itself.

 

The Damage

 

Pro-inflammatory cytokines are the part of our immune systems that attack and

kill cells with oxidative chemicals. If they don’t stop their attacks, they

will start killing cells our bodies need. The inflammation in a joint can eat

away at our cartilage and you’ve got a serious case of arthritis. Unchecked

inflammation in an organ, say the pancreas, can cause diabetes. Unchecked

inflammation is now thought to be responsible for cardiovascular disease and

cancers.

The elderly are especially vulnerable to this sort of unchecked inflammation

since the body looses the ability to “down-regulate†inflammation with age.

 

You do not have to be old to have chronic inflammation. You can have it and

not know it, until it is too late. Thus we are going to spotlight those tests

for having chronic inflammation or being at risk for chronic inflammation.

 

After that, we will outline the therapies to bring down chronic inflammation

and how to avoid it in the first place, for you will soon find that

inflammation begins on the end of your fork.

 

Does anyone recall the headlines in the New York Times about blood vessels

bursting like popcorn? The article told us that the latest theory on the cause

of heart disease is inflammation. One of the doctors who made this discovery

was Dr Paul Ridker. The results of his studies in the early 1900s landed on the

front pages of the New York Times right around the turn of the century. We’ve

covered this in our book, Bypassing Bypass, but we must tell you a little

about it right now.

 

Microorganisms cause inflammation within our blood vessels, and the

inflammation attacks the inside of the arteries. Besides immune cells being sent

to the

site to fight the inflammation, lipoprotein(a) is sent to form a sticky patch

over the damaged area; a patch that that can grab onto cholesterol

(supposedly bad cholesterol) and a cholesterol bandage is created over the site.

However, the inflammation is inside now. The patch grows and bulges. The

inflammation

grows and bulges. Eventually, “blood vessels explode like popcorn.â€

 

The reason I called the cholesterol “supposedly bad†is that it tried to

save your life. If the inflammation continued without being patched by

cholesterol, the artery would eventually open and you’d bleed out.

 

However, because the inflammation was not halted, the bandaged area has burst

and the body must quickly respond because your artery is about to open wide.

How is this patch formed? By a blood clot.

 

A clot is formed at the site to patch up the damage. Eventually,

lipoprotein(a) will come along and form a sticky patch and attract cholesterol

to form a

better bandage, but there is a problem, and it has to do with our diet and

lifestyle, our hypercoagulable lifestyles. Our blood tends to clot “tooâ€

much.

The clot formed is usually bigger than it need be, and being such, the chances

of it breaking loose increase. If it does break loose and it goes to your

brain, you suffer a stroke. If it goes to your heart, you suffer a heart attack.

 

This sums up a good deal of what we have to say in Bypassing Bypass (which we

are rewriting) but there is a lot more to learn (so if you want a copy, go

get it here: Bypassing Bypass, and keep in mind that you are eligible to get the

updated online version free when it is released).

 

Testing

 

Knowing you have a problem is the first step to fixing the problem.

 

The first test you should know about is called the C Reactive Protein test.

If your CRP test is positive, you have are three times more likely to die of a

heart attack, no matter how many cholesterol drugs you are on, or if your

cholesterol is normal. [NEJM, 1997]

 

If you have Vulnerable Plaque (the popcorn popping arteries described above)

you have an 800% greater chance of a heart attack.

 

In July of 2001, JAMA published a study on chronic inflammation and the risk

of diabetes. Another test they used, besides the CRP, was an inflammatory

marker test, the IL-6. The study concluded that your chances of developing type

two diabetes are easily predicted by the outcome of the CRP and IL-6 tests

together. The ultimate test would be the Inflammatory Cytokine Profile

consisting

of the two mentioned plus TNF (tumor necrosis factor), interleukins -1 beta and

8.

 

What is at stake?

 

Depression, asthma, pancreatitis, Parkinson's, lupus, anemia, kidney failure,

psoriasis, and fibrosis might just be the start. All of these diseases have a

suspected root cause of chronic inflammation.

 

From Life Extension Vitamins http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/agandin.html ,

we learned that seemingly unrelated illnesses “often exhibit excess levels of

pro-inflammatory markers:

*Allergy — Inflammatory cytokines induce autoimmune reactions

*Alzheimer's — Chronic inflammation destroys brain cells

*Anemia — Inflammatory cytokines attack erythropoietin production

*Aortic valve stenosis — Chronic inflammation damages heart valves

*Arthritis — Inflammatory cytokines destroy joint cartilage and synovial

fluid

*Cancer — Chronic inflammation causes many cancers

*Congestive heart failure — Chronic inflammation contributes to heart muscle

wasting

*Fibromyalgia — Inflammatory cytokines are elevated

*Fibrosis — Inflammatory cytokines attack traumatized tissue

*Heart attack — Chronic inflammation contributes to coronary atherosclerosis

*Kidney failure — Inflammatory cytokines restrict circulation and damage

nephrons *Lupus — Inflammatory cytokines induce an autoimmune attack

*Pancreatitis — Inflammatory cytokines induce pancreatic cell injury

*Psoriasis — Inflammatory cytokines induce dermatitis

*Stroke — Chronic inflammation promoted thromboembolic events

*Surgical complications— Inflammatory cytokines prevent healing

 

Lets take a closer look at some diseases and their inflammatory connection.

 

Cancer: in an article entitled “Chronic Inflammation and Cancer,†by Emily

Shacter, PhD published in Oncology, she sums up her findings thus:

 

" A substantial body of evidence supports the conclusion that chronic

inflammation can predispose an individual to cancer, as demonstrated by the

association between chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and the increased risk

of colon

carcinoma. Chronic inflammation is caused by a variety of factors, including

bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, chemical irritants, and

nondigestible particles. The longer the inflammation persists, the higher the

risk of

associated carcinogenesis. This review describes some of the underlying causes

of

the association between chronic inflammation and cancer. Inflammatory

mediators contribute to neoplasia by inducing proneoplastic mutations, adaptive

responses, resistance to apoptosis, and environmental changes such as

stimulation

of angiogenesis. All these changes confer a survival advantage to a susceptible

cell. In this article, we discuss the contribution of reactive oxygen and

nitrogen intermediates, prostaglandins, and inflammatory cytokines to

carcinogenesis. A thorough understanding of the molecular basis of

inflammation-associated neoplasia and progression can lead to novel approaches

to the prevention and

treatment of cancer. [ONCOLOGY 16:217-232, 2002] "

 

Though conventional medicine hates admitting that sometimes we must fight “

like with like†(the theory behind homeopathy), what I gleaned from this

article

that truly stood out was that irritation caused by the oxidizing chemicals

released by the immune system can lead to a cancer. Cancer, in turn, is often

treated by attacking it with oxidizing chemicals, which a few chemotherapies

are, as is Paw Paw.

 

Since oxidizing chemicals are responsible for cancer, shouldn’t it be obvious

(as Shacter points out) that supplementing with antioxidants might be a smart

move to prevent cancer in the first place.

 

Aging: why do people age? One reason is the inflammatory process. This is why

you see people who appear much older than their age, and you see people who

look much younger than their age. One of them suffers from chronic

inflammation.

 

Macular Degeneration: JAMA, in Feb of 2004 linked this one to inflammation.

 

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: we still don’t know which came

first, the problem or the inflammation, but these two are often found together.

In her article “Cytokine and other immunological markers in CFS,†Dr Nancy

Klimas believed that the unusual amounts of cytokines might lead to hormonal

imbalances. Often called the most mysterious of illnesses, and hard to diagnose,

we do know that chronic inflammation accompanies both, and that treating the

terrain is a person's only hope for long term recover.

 

Osteoporosis: as we've seen with chronic periodontal disease, inflammation

leads to bone loss. Studies using people with inflammatory bowel disease are

also showing that bone loss progresses as the disease progresses.

 

Arthritis: earlier we mentioned that the inflammation eats away cartilage. In

Rheumatoid Arthritis, the inflammation is systemic eating away at the entire

body, an autoimmune disorder.

 

Multiple Sclerosis: this is a tough one. MS has been described as an

inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. According to Professor V

Hugh

Perry, the macrophage population in MS brains are much more activated than in

others, and that inflammations can be further amplified with age, injuries,

infections, and surgeries.

[ http://www.sedonalabs.com/news/HMinflammation.html ]

 

Healing Chronic Inflammation

 

To heal anything, you must know its cause. As stated at the beginning,

chronic inflammation begins on the end of your fork, or the Standard American

Diet

(SAD).

 

Sodas, French fries, chips, and burgers are the real weapons of mass

destruction.

 

Every day there are WMDs of our diet that assault our bodies rendering

countless damage and casualties to our body’s defenses, yielding more and more

inflammation and damage. [Dr. Richard Fleming, cardiologist]

 

Let us talk about prostaglandins.

 

There are three types: Prostaglandin 1, Prostaglandin 2, and Prostaglandin 3.

 

P1 and P3 are “good†in that they dilate blood vessels, reduce clotting, and

are anti-inflammatory. It is P2 that is considered bad, mainly because it

signals lymphocytes to increase the immune response. This in itself isn’t bad,

because if you have an infection, you want P2 to do just that. However, we’re

talking chronic inflammation here; the battle is over, but the soldiers fight

on.

 

The building blocks of prostaglandins come from the foods we eat, but are

synthesized (made) in our bodies. Biochemical synthesis requires that all the

parts are available plus enzymes. Enzymes are the workers that put chemical A

and

chemical B together to make chemical C. Well, it just happens that the COX2

enzyme takes lipids (fats, mostly omega-6s) from our food and add them to

arachidonic acid to create prostaglandin 2, which signals two things: Pain and

an

immune response.

 

Drugs on the market called COX2 inhibitors are designed to stop this process.

And they did. They did this so well, that we learned a bit more about the

connection between inflammation and cancer when Vioxx was discovered to prevent

colon cancer. The big drawback was that Vioxx attacked the arteries causing

heart disease.

 

There is another way to inhibit and stop this process, and that is by

increasing our good fats in our diet which inhibit immune response, and take out

the

things that are causing our inflammation.

 

Additionally we should learn to cook our foods at lower temperatures. Cooking

foods at high temperatures causes glycotoxins. Glycotoxins are sugars

(glucose) bonded to critical proteins that accumulate in our bodies naturally

(but we

don’t need to help the process by eating foods cooked at high temps). As this

buildup progresses, they cause cells to signal the production of inflammatory

cytokines. [ www.lef.org ] This is one reason that as we age, our ability to

bring “down†the inflammation response decreases.

 

The Most Dangerous Foods

 

Trans Fats: Funny, but we’ve been told for the longest time to avoid butter

and eat margarine. Well, the American Heart Association, even though it had

received a lot of money from the corn oil industry, finally came out and said

that trans fats “might†be deadly and that we should cut down on them.

 

Trans fats inhibit the enzymes in our bodies that process our omega-3 fatty

acids. They should just be avoided, plain and simple.

 

Corn Oil: This is the most popular omega-6 fatty acid in our diets today.

Above we learned that omega-6s are needed to produce prostaglandin 2. Although I

love the cult classic movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, I have to shake my

head, because I know that corn is the real killer in America.

 

When I lived in Israel, I was amazed at how much olive oil they used. Your

average Moroccan recipe called for anywhere from a half a cup of olive oil to

half a swimming pool of olive oil (especially for egg plant). However, while I

was there, the government began importing huge corn oil shipments from the US.

Suddenly corn oil usage was on the rise, and they were exporting more olive

oil than they were using. Today, Israel is a long-term human study in dietary

fats. Cancer rates are on the rise. It will not be long before all the results

are in. And no one who studies fats will be surprised, either.

 

Refined Carbohydrates: White sugar and corn syrup are in everything, it

seems. Fructose is no better. And what about High Fructose Corn Syrup? Here you

have a corn product and a highly refined carbohydrate. We have told you again

and

again and again that sugar depresses immune function. How does this work? you

ask. From the Linus Pauling institute we get this:

 

High glycemic-load diets have also been associated with increased serum

levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation that is

also

a sensitive predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. Not surprisingly, in the

Nurses’ Health Study, women whose diets provided the highest glycemic loads

had a risk of coronary heart disease that was almost twice as high as those

whose diets provided the lowest glycemic loads. The relationship between dietary

glycemic load and coronary heart disease risk was more pronounced in

overweight women, suggesting that people who are insulin resistant may be most

susceptible to the adverse cardiovascular effects of a high-glycemic load diet.

 

If you eat something that is high in sugar, it stimulates the inflammation

response. One thing we know about the inflammation response is that it taxes the

immune system.

 

This is the last time I want to ever have to tell any reader to avoid

processed foods. The more processed the food, the higher the glycemic level, the

more

chemicals, and the less food value. If high temp cooking is dangerous, Kellogg

’s Cornflakes must be pure poison, for they are actually heated up to 4000

degrees during the process.

 

If you take a trip over the internet searching for the terms “Chronic

Inflammation,†you will eventually find the worst foods you can eat:

 

French fries, Donuts, Commercial Pastries (donuts, cookies, crackers), Chips

(potato, tortilla), and Sodas (and bottled Teas and Fruit Juices).

 

Why? French fries are cooked at high temps in trans fats. So are donuts and

most commercial pastries plus they are made from white sugar; trans fats

(shortening), and lots of white sugar, mmmmm. Chips are either high in trans

fats or

high in omega-6 fatty acids, not to mention the high-glycemic starches. And

we should all know by now what’s in our sodas and fruit juices: sugar, sugar,

and more sugar. Aspartame/NutraSweet isn’t any better; it too has been linked

to triggering inflammation.

 

Beyond what you eat, you should be careful about how you live: diet and

lifestyle are not two separate things. When the body is overloaded in toxins, it

can respond only in one way: chronic inflammation. Smoke, pesticides, cleaning

chemicals, allergens, dust, contaminants, herbicides all contribute to toxic

overload just as much as nutritional deficiencies. Pathogens, as we’ve already

seen cause infections that lead to inflammation. We’ve already discussed

stealth viruses; but there are many more pathogens (Parasites, bacteria, and

yeast)

that are also contributing. If you don’t get enough sleep, your IL-6 markers

can go thru the roof. If you are on drugs, antibiotics, steroids, birth control

pills, they are killing off the good bacteria in your body. Candida can

flourish. And don’t forget chlorinated water. Anything that kills off our good

bacteria allows Candida to flourish. [Read about Probiotics]

 

Finally there is stress. Stress increases your natural steroids and

eventually leads to depression. Depression has been linked to the inflammatory

response. [Licinio J et al. “The role of inflammatory mediators in the biology

of

major depression: central nervous system cytokines modulate the biological

substrate of depressive symptoms, regulate stress-responsive systems, and

contribute t

o neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.†Mol Psychiatry, 1999 Jul: 4(4):317-27].

 

First Aid

 

Birch taken as a tea and made from, the bark or leaves, is a diuretic and

anti-inflammatory herb used for gout, kidney stones, and rheumatism. Oil and

creams are used for swollen joints. Do not use if you are allergic to aspirin.

 

Berries are wonderful antioxidants. Raspberries, acai berries, blue berries,

cranberries and strawberries. All your antioxidants are needed to help fight

chronic inflammation; antioxidants are anti-inflammatory.

 

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a Native American remedy, used mainly

for “women’s problems†(menopause). It is also used for tinnitus (ringing

in

the ears) and arthritis. It contains alicylic acid, tannins, resin and bitter

glycosides, so it is contraindicated if you are allergic to aspirin. It is an

aspirin substitute, but should be avoided if pregnant, nursing, or using

anticoagulants or are on HRT therapy.

 

Boswellia is a rainforest herb that in clinical studies has been shown to

improve symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Like

Curcumin, its active ingredients block the production of inflammatory

prostaglandin hormones and other inflammatory chemicals.

 

Butterbur, a plant from the UK and Europe, is an amazing anti-inflammatory

and anitispasmodic (prevents cramps). Just recently, studies in the British

Medical Journal fount that butterbur treated allergies (hey fever) just as well

as

expensive medicines. Another study showed that it was far superior to the

traditional allergy medications. In a combined study from Germany and

Switzerland

using a group of 330 patients, they discovered that an extract used, called

Buterbur Ze339, was just as effective as Claritin and Tavist with no

drowsiness. Dosage: 50mg twice daily with meals. [ " Treating intermittent

allergic

rhinitis: a prospective, randomized, placebo and antihistamine-controlled study

of

Butterbur extract Ze 339. " Phytotherapy Research Vol. 19, Issue 6.]

 

Vitamin C has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties and

works best when taken as a Vitamin C Complex (with bioflavonoids such as

quercetin and copper, calcium, and l-lysine). In a study of people exposed to

simulated sunlight, researchers found that vitamin C and E worked

synergistically

to reduce skin inflammation. In a cell study, Italian researchers noted that

quercetin and vitamin C worked together to protect cells from

inflammation-induced damage. The daily dosage should be 1,000-2,000 mg if you

live in a

relatively non toxic neighborhood, up to 6,000 mg per day if you live in lots of

smog.

 

Capsicum/Hot Pepper aka Capsicum frutescenscan, or Cayenne Pepper helps fight

dangerous blood clots, can " cool " a number of inflammatory responses

including burns, some nerve ending disorders and even possibly arthritis. Has

definite

fibrinolytic activity (can break down blood clots through enzymatic mechanism

to some degree), also may be helpful in the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and

a number of bowel diseases. Topical capsicum cream cools pain of several nerve

ending disorders such as shingles and post-therapeutic neuralgia, a drop or

two to the gum around an aching tooth works wonders. The cream can be helpful

for pain due to diabetic neuropathy, and the pain which occurs after an

amputation or mastectomy, as well as other peripheral neuropathies such as those

that

occur in AIDS patients. If you are taking anticoagulants or have a bleeding

problem (slow clotting time) do not take capsicum without your doctor's

approval. If the pepper you have eaten is too hot and starts burning you up,

eating a

banana will quickly cool you down.

 

Carnosine, at least 1000 mg a day, and/or 300 mg of the European drug

aminoguanidine can inhibit pathological glycation reactions in the body.

 

Cat's Claw, known as una de gato and Uncaria tomentosa, is a Peruvian herb

with a long history as a remedy for inflammatory arthritis. Recent cell-culture

and animal experiments at the Albany Medical College, New York, Studies show

that cat's claw inhibits inflammation by blocking the activity of NF-kB.

 

Celery seed (Apium graveolens) has a calming effect on the nervous system,

helps to lower blood pressure, and can aid in a urinary infection. The seeds are

traditionally used to improve circulation to muscles and joints and helps

excrete uric acid. Celery seed is contraindicated if you are pregnant or

suffering from kidney disease. Like Curcumin, celery seed can cause

photosensitivity

if taken in large doses.

 

Coconut Oil is antiviral, antibacterial, and parasiticidal (kills parasites).

Inflammation begins with a bad terrain and germs. Coconut oil can improve the

terrain and help get rid of the germs.

 

Curcumin is the natural yellow pigment found in turmeric, a spice from India.

Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant; is active against a range of

bacterial and fungal infections; a superb liver tonic; helps normalize blood

cholesterol, and thins the blood. In a study from Cornell University, it was

found

that curcumin blocked the activity of Cox-2. which might explain some of the

herb's anticancer effects. Curcumin is contraindicated if you are taking

anticoagulants, suffer from gall stones or obstructive gallbladder disease.

Curcumin

also increases your sensitivity to the sun, so it is advisable to avoid long

periods in strong sunlight. The daily dosage is 2.8 mg.

 

Devil's claw tuber (Harpagophytum procumbens) contains glycosides,

phytosterols, flavonoids and harpagoquinone. It is a bitter, anti-inflammatory

herb,

useful for a wide-range of joint and muscular problems, including Rheumatoid

Arthritis. It is also a digestive stimulant. Devil’s claw tuber is

contraindicated

if you are suffering from stomach or duodenal ulcer, taking anti-coagulant

therapy, or are pregnant.

 

DHEA is a hormone that decreases with age. DHEA has been shown to suppress

IL-6, an inflammatory cytokine that often increases as people age. Typical doses

of DHEA are 25-50 mg daily, although some people take 100 mg daily.

 

Vitamin E is a protective antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. A

vitamin E complex that contains gamma tocopherol and tocotrienols provides the

most broad-spectrum protection. Take 1-2 capsules (400 - 800 IU) daily.

Vitamin E is a blood thinner.

 

Ginger inhibits Cox-2 and another proinflammatory compound, 5-lipoxygenase.

This simple herb and condiment contains almost 500 different compounds, many of

which are anti-inflammatory. It contains many volatile constituents,

including zingiberene, zingiberole, phellandrene, borneol, cineole and citral,

and can

also be used externally. Ginger is contraindicated if you are taking

anticoagulants. Large doses are contraindicated if you are pregnant or suffering

from

an ulcer. The daily dosage is 100 mg.

 

GLA: Although GLA (Gamma-linolenic acid) is an omega-6 fatty acid, it has

anti-inflammatory properties. Very little GLA is converted to arachidonic acid

and prostaglandin E2; GLA actually increases production of the anti-inflammatory

prostaglandin E1. Robert B. Zurier, MD, of the University of Massachusetts

Medical Center, Worcester, gave GLA supplements or placebos to 41 patients with

rheumatoid arthritis. Two-thirds of those receiving GLA had a 25 percent

reduction in their arthritic symptoms. The daily dosage is 2-3 grams.

 

Green tea: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland,

recently reported that the antioxidant polyphenols in Green tea had

anti-inflammatory

properties by inhibiting Cox-2 and TNFa. Genistein inhibits prostaglandin E2

and Cox-2, and quercetin inhibits the activity of inflammation-promoting

" adhesion " molecules. It's likely that Pycnogenol, grape seed extract, and other

bioflavonoids work through similar mechanisms. The daily dosage is 25-500 mg.

 

Vitamin K helps reduce levels of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory messenger. Vitamin

K also helps in the treatment of osteoporosis by regulating calcium and

promoting bone calcification. One 10-mg capsule daily is recommended for

prevention

purposes. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables.

 

Lyprinol is a unique configuration of Eicosatetraenoic Acids (ETAs) that are

related to the omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed and fish that could

easily be 200 to 300 times more powerful than most NSAIDs (non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drug) for relief of muscle and joint pain if used over a

period of

time. You seafood lovers will be glad to know that the Green Mussel (it has all

sorts of names, but Green is always in the name, and it comes from New Zealand)

from which this oil comes can be found in the frozen food section at your

supermarket.

 

Meadowsweet flowering tops (Filipendula ulmaria) contains salicylic acid,

tannin and citric acid. It is an excellent digestive remedy, that reduces

acidity

in the stomach and helps to alleviate gastritis and peptic ulceration, which

makes it tremendously useful for those with arthritic conditions who cannot

take aspirin or other NSAIDs due to the side effects on the stomach. Quite a

large dosage is needed for treating arthritis, but it does combine well with

other herbs (mentioned above), but avoid if you are allergic to aspirin.

 

Minerals such as Calcium, magnesium, and potassium help to fight acidity and

inflammation. Additionally you'll need some trace minerals Boron (found in

raisons, prunes, and nuts), chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese,

molybdenum, selenium (works best with Vitamin E), silver, zinc (abundant in

fish). All

of these are found in Celtic Sea Salt.

 

MSM is a form of nutritional sulfur. With the advent of chemical fertilizers,

our foods no longer have the nutritional sulfur our bodies need. Patrick

McGean, a reader of ours who has researched MSM extensively told us, " Sulfur is

the mineral which enables the transfer of oxygen by keeping the cell membrane

semipermeable. Gases do not transfer as well as liquids through the cell

membrane when the membrane is no longer permeable, and anaerobic disease happens

in

the toxic carbon dioxide trapped in the cell. Otto Warburg proved this but he

never asked why? " MSM has a long history of helping people with arthritis,

lupus, and even pollen allergies. It is necessary to good health.

 

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC )is a protective antioxidants with anti-inflammatory

properties. NAC is an amino acid with antiviral and liver protectant

properties. One 600-mg capsule daily is recommended.

 

Nettle leaf has been shown to suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-a.

It contains amines including histamine, choline, acetylcholine and serotonin.

It is usually charged with minerals such as calcium, potassium, silicic acid

and iron. It strengthens and supports the whole body. In addition to its major

role as a skin herb, nettle improves elimination of wastes via the kidneys, in

particular uric acid, making it a useful cleansing remedy and helpful in gout.

You can find many preparations of Nettle leaf at health food stores, but

picking the young leaves and making tea is one of the best ways to take this

herb,

just strain well (and wear gloves when picking it).

 

Olive Leaf Extract is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. Clearing up

systemic yeast is another good start.

 

Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oils contain EPA and DHA which

are essential building blocks for the body's anti-inflammatory prostaglandins

(e.g., prostaglandin E1) and for turning off Cox-2 and the body's

pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNFa). In addition, omega-3 fatty

acids block

the activity of an enzyme that breaks down joint cartilage. Docosahexaenoic acid

(DHA) might just be the most effective nonprescription supplement to suppress

pro-inflammatory cytokines. The daily dosage is 3 or more grams. Keep in mind

that the body can make DHA and EPA from linoleic acid (flax seed oil) if

you've got healthy probiotics [ http://www.mnwp.org/s_labs/index.htm ] in your

gut. My favorite food product, Omegasentials [

http://www.mnwp.org/omega/index.htm ], contains all you need to fulfill your

daily omega-3 requirements.

 

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid compound that blocks the release of histamine and

other anti-inflammatory agents at supplemented doses; a minimum 100 mg per

day.

 

Probiotics help clean up fungus in the gut. There are formulas that are even

more specific against candida/yeast. Additionally, probiotics help turn your

flax oil (linoleic acid) into DHA and EPA, natural anti-inflammatories.

 

Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant that reduces osteoarthritis pain. A

recent German study published in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapay (Vol. 60),

discovered that it inhibited significantly the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes within 30

minutes of taking the supplement. [Nutra

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=65624-pycnogenol-arthritis ]

 

Rosemary is a common kitchen herb is rich in ursolic acid. In laboratory

experiments, researchers found that the ursolic acid extract of rosemary was a

potent inhibitor of Cox-2 activity. The daily dosage is 100 mg.

 

St. John's wort is better known for its antidepressant effect, but this herb

also has anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers from the University of

Frieburg, Germany discovered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Except for the repeated contention that inflammation is a root cause

when it's a result iself, it's a good article.

 

See also F H Chilton's book Inflammation Nation.

 

 

Duncan

 

, surpriseshan2

wrote:

>

> Thanks to Clare for url. More will not fit on AOl email. Go to

website for

> drug Warning.

> Chronic Inflammation: An American Epidemic

> http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/terrain/chronic_inflammation.htm

>

> Inflammation is an immune response; a response to an infection, an

> irritation, or an injury. Immune cells are called to the site

through the blood stream.

> The blood vessels near the site become miraculously permeable and

the site

> becomes warm and red due to the increased blood flow (warm, hence

inflammation).

>

> Neutrophils and macrophages engulf microorganisms and phagocytes

are called

> in. Some immune cells try to “eat†the invaders; others excrete

hydrogen

> peroxide (and other oxidative chemicals) trying to kill them so

they can be cleaned

> up by the phagocytes and friends.

>

> Inflammation is a part of the body’s natural defense system

against injury

> and disease.

>

> Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a disease. The system

has gotten

> hung up, and instead of protecting the organism (our bodies) it

starts to kill

> the organism, slowly but surely.

>

> Today modern medicine is starting to admit that chronic

inflammation is the

> main contributing factor to all chronic degenerative diseases, and

the root

> cause of the two greatest killers in America: Cancer and Heart

Disease. In deed,

> chronic inflammation might just be the root cause of all

degenerative disease.

>

>

> Chronic inflammation may be the root of all degenerative disease.

[Andrew

> Weil †" www.drweil.com ]

>

> Accepting this would certainly simplify preventive medical

practices (even as

> non existent as they presently are), but I find it interesting that

once in

> our early history medicine tried to create a theory that reduced

all disease

> into one or two categories. History does, it seems, repeat itself.

>

> The Damage

>

> Pro-inflammatory cytokines are the part of our immune systems that

attack and

> kill cells with oxidative chemicals. If they don’t stop their

attacks, they

> will start killing cells our bodies need. The inflammation in a

joint can eat

> away at our cartilage and you’ve got a serious case of arthritis.

Unchecked

> inflammation in an organ, say the pancreas, can cause diabetes.

Unchecked

> inflammation is now thought to be responsible for cardiovascular

disease and cancers.

> The elderly are especially vulnerable to this sort of unchecked

inflammation

> since the body looses the ability to “down-regulateâ€

inflammation with age.

>

> You do not have to be old to have chronic inflammation. You can

have it and

> not know it, until it is too late. Thus we are going to spotlight

those tests

> for having chronic inflammation or being at risk for chronic

inflammation.

>

> After that, we will outline the therapies to bring down chronic

inflammation

> and how to avoid it in the first place, for you will soon find that

> inflammation begins on the end of your fork.

>

> Does anyone recall the headlines in the New York Times about blood

vessels

> bursting like popcorn? The article told us that the latest theory

on the cause

> of heart disease is inflammation. One of the doctors who made this

discovery

> was Dr Paul Ridker. The results of his studies in the early 1900s

landed on the

> front pages of the New York Times right around the turn of the

century. We’ve

> covered this in our book, Bypassing Bypass, but we must tell you a

little

> about it right now.

>

> Microorganisms cause inflammation within our blood vessels, and the

> inflammation attacks the inside of the arteries. Besides immune

cells being sent to the

> site to fight the inflammation, lipoprotein(a) is sent to form a

sticky patch

> over the damaged area; a patch that that can grab onto cholesterol

> (supposedly bad cholesterol) and a cholesterol bandage is created

over the site.

> However, the inflammation is inside now. The patch grows and

bulges. The inflammation

> grows and bulges. Eventually, “blood vessels explode like

popcorn.â€

>

> The reason I called the cholesterol “supposedly bad†is that it

tried to

> save your life. If the inflammation continued without being patched

by

> cholesterol, the artery would eventually open and you’d bleed

out.

>

> However, because the inflammation was not halted, the bandaged area

has burst

> and the body must quickly respond because your artery is about to

open wide.

> How is this patch formed? By a blood clot.

>

> A clot is formed at the site to patch up the damage. Eventually,

> lipoprotein(a) will come along and form a sticky patch and attract

cholesterol to form a

> better bandage, but there is a problem, and it has to do with our

diet and

> lifestyle, our hypercoagulable lifestyles. Our blood tends to clot

“too†much.

> The clot formed is usually bigger than it need be, and being such,

the chances

> of it breaking loose increase. If it does break loose and it goes

to your

> brain, you suffer a stroke. If it goes to your heart, you suffer a

heart attack.

>

> This sums up a good deal of what we have to say in Bypassing Bypass

(which we

> are rewriting) but there is a lot more to learn (so if you want a

copy, go

> get it here: Bypassing Bypass, and keep in mind that you are

eligible to get the

> updated online version free when it is released).

>

> Testing

>

> Knowing you have a problem is the first step to fixing the problem.

>

> The first test you should know about is called the C Reactive

Protein test.

> If your CRP test is positive, you have are three times more likely

to die of a

> heart attack, no matter how many cholesterol drugs you are on, or

if your

> cholesterol is normal. [NEJM, 1997]

>

> If you have Vulnerable Plaque (the popcorn popping arteries

described above)

> you have an 800% greater chance of a heart attack.

>

> In July of 2001, JAMA published a study on chronic inflammation and

the risk

> of diabetes. Another test they used, besides the CRP, was an

inflammatory

> marker test, the IL-6. The study concluded that your chances of

developing type

> two diabetes are easily predicted by the outcome of the CRP and IL-

6 tests

> together. The ultimate test would be the Inflammatory Cytokine

Profile consisting

> of the two mentioned plus TNF (tumor necrosis factor),

interleukins -1 beta and

> 8.

>

> What is at stake?

>

> Depression, asthma, pancreatitis, Parkinson's, lupus, anemia,

kidney failure,

> psoriasis, and fibrosis might just be the start. All of these

diseases have a

> suspected root cause of chronic inflammation.

>

> From Life Extension Vitamins

http://lifeextensionvitamins.com/agandin.html ,

> we learned that seemingly unrelated illnesses “often exhibit

excess levels of

> pro-inflammatory markers:

> *Allergy †" Inflammatory cytokines induce autoimmune reactions

> *Alzheimer's †" Chronic inflammation destroys brain cells

> *Anemia †" Inflammatory cytokines attack erythropoietin production

> *Aortic valve stenosis †" Chronic inflammation damages heart

valves

> *Arthritis †" Inflammatory cytokines destroy joint cartilage and

synovial

> fluid

> *Cancer †" Chronic inflammation causes many cancers

> *Congestive heart failure †" Chronic inflammation contributes to

heart muscle

> wasting

> *Fibromyalgia †" Inflammatory cytokines are elevated

> *Fibrosis †" Inflammatory cytokines attack traumatized tissue

> *Heart attack †" Chronic inflammation contributes to coronary

atherosclerosis

> *Kidney failure †" Inflammatory cytokines restrict circulation and

damage

> nephrons *Lupus †" Inflammatory cytokines induce an autoimmune

attack

> *Pancreatitis †" Inflammatory cytokines induce pancreatic cell

injury

> *Psoriasis †" Inflammatory cytokines induce dermatitis

> *Stroke †" Chronic inflammation promoted thromboembolic events

> *Surgical complications†" Inflammatory cytokines prevent healing

>

> Lets take a closer look at some diseases and their inflammatory

connection.

>

> Cancer: in an article entitled “Chronic Inflammation and

Cancer,†by Emily

> Shacter, PhD published in Oncology, she sums up her findings thus:

>

> " A substantial body of evidence supports the conclusion that

chronic

> inflammation can predispose an individual to cancer, as

demonstrated by the

> association between chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and the

increased risk of colon

> carcinoma. Chronic inflammation is caused by a variety of factors,

including

> bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections, chemical irritants, and

> nondigestible particles. The longer the inflammation persists, the

higher the risk of

> associated carcinogenesis. This review describes some of the

underlying causes of

> the association between chronic inflammation and cancer.

Inflammatory

> mediators contribute to neoplasia by inducing proneoplastic

mutations, adaptive

> responses, resistance to apoptosis, and environmental changes such

as stimulation

> of angiogenesis. All these changes confer a survival advantage to a

susceptible

> cell. In this article, we discuss the contribution of reactive

oxygen and

> nitrogen intermediates, prostaglandins, and inflammatory cytokines

to

> carcinogenesis. A thorough understanding of the molecular basis of

> inflammation-associated neoplasia and progression can lead to novel

approaches to the prevention and

> treatment of cancer. [ONCOLOGY 16:217-232, 2002] "

>

> Though conventional medicine hates admitting that sometimes we must

fight “

> like with like†(the theory behind homeopathy), what I gleaned

from this article

> that truly stood out was that irritation caused by the oxidizing

chemicals

> released by the immune system can lead to a cancer. Cancer, in

turn, is often

> treated by attacking it with oxidizing chemicals, which a few

chemotherapies

> are, as is Paw Paw.

>

> Since oxidizing chemicals are responsible for cancer, shouldn’t

it be obvious

> (as Shacter points out) that supplementing with antioxidants might

be a smart

> move to prevent cancer in the first place.

>

> Aging: why do people age? One reason is the inflammatory process.

This is why

> you see people who appear much older than their age, and you see

people who

> look much younger than their age. One of them suffers from chronic

> inflammation.

>

> Macular Degeneration: JAMA, in Feb of 2004 linked this one to

inflammation.

>

> Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: we still don’t know

which came

> first, the problem or the inflammation, but these two are often

found together.

> In her article “Cytokine and other immunological markers in

CFS,†Dr Nancy

> Klimas believed that the unusual amounts of cytokines might lead to

hormonal

> imbalances. Often called the most mysterious of illnesses, and hard

to diagnose,

> we do know that chronic inflammation accompanies both, and that

treating the

> terrain is a person's only hope for long term recover.

>

> Osteoporosis: as we've seen with chronic periodontal disease,

inflammation

> leads to bone loss. Studies using people with inflammatory bowel

disease are

> also showing that bone loss progresses as the disease progresses.

>

> Arthritis: earlier we mentioned that the inflammation eats away

cartilage. In

> Rheumatoid Arthritis, the inflammation is systemic eating away at

the entire

> body, an autoimmune disorder.

>

> Multiple Sclerosis: this is a tough one. MS has been described as

an

> inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. According to

Professor V Hugh

> Perry, the macrophage population in MS brains are much more

activated than in

> others, and that inflammations can be further amplified with age,

injuries,

> infections, and surgeries.

> [ http://www.sedonalabs.com/news/HMinflammation.html ]

>

> Healing Chronic Inflammation

>

> To heal anything, you must know its cause. As stated at the

beginning,

> chronic inflammation begins on the end of your fork, or the

Standard American Diet

> (SAD).

>

> Sodas, French fries, chips, and burgers are the real weapons of

mass

> destruction.

>

> Every day there are WMDs of our diet that assault our bodies

rendering

> countless damage and casualties to our body’s defenses, yielding

more and more

> inflammation and damage. [Dr. Richard Fleming, cardiologist]

>

> Let us talk about prostaglandins.

>

> There are three types: Prostaglandin 1, Prostaglandin 2, and

Prostaglandin 3.

>

> P1 and P3 are “good†in that they dilate blood vessels, reduce

clotting, and

> are anti-inflammatory. It is P2 that is considered bad, mainly

because it

> signals lymphocytes to increase the immune response. This in itself

isn’t bad,

> because if you have an infection, you want P2 to do just that.

However, we’re

> talking chronic inflammation here; the battle is over, but the

soldiers fight

> on.

>

> The building blocks of prostaglandins come from the foods we eat,

but are

> synthesized (made) in our bodies. Biochemical synthesis requires

that all the

> parts are available plus enzymes. Enzymes are the workers that put

chemical A and

> chemical B together to make chemical C. Well, it just happens that

the COX2

> enzyme takes lipids (fats, mostly omega-6s) from our food and add

them to

> arachidonic acid to create prostaglandin 2, which signals two

things: Pain and an

> immune response.

>

> Drugs on the market called COX2 inhibitors are designed to stop

this process.

> And they did. They did this so well, that we learned a bit more

about the

> connection between inflammation and cancer when Vioxx was

discovered to prevent

> colon cancer. The big drawback was that Vioxx attacked the arteries

causing

> heart disease.

>

> There is another way to inhibit and stop this process, and that is

by

> increasing our good fats in our diet which inhibit immune response,

and take out the

> things that are causing our inflammation.

>

> Additionally we should learn to cook our foods at lower

temperatures. Cooking

> foods at high temperatures causes glycotoxins. Glycotoxins are

sugars

> (glucose) bonded to critical proteins that accumulate in our bodies

naturally (but we

> don’t need to help the process by eating foods cooked at high

temps). As this

> buildup progresses, they cause cells to signal the production of

inflammatory

> cytokines. [ www.lef.org ] This is one reason that as we age, our

ability to

> bring “down†the inflammation response decreases.

>

> The Most Dangerous Foods

>

> Trans Fats: Funny, but we’ve been told for the longest time to

avoid butter

> and eat margarine. Well, the American Heart Association, even

though it had

> received a lot of money from the corn oil industry, finally came

out and said

> that trans fats “might†be deadly and that we should cut down

on them.

>

> Trans fats inhibit the enzymes in our bodies that process our omega-

3 fatty

> acids. They should just be avoided, plain and simple.

>

> Corn Oil: This is the most popular omega-6 fatty acid in our diets

today.

> Above we learned that omega-6s are needed to produce prostaglandin

2. Although I

> love the cult classic movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, I have

to shake my

> head, because I know that corn is the real killer in America.

>

> When I lived in Israel, I was amazed at how much olive oil they

used. Your

> average Moroccan recipe called for anywhere from a half a cup of

olive oil to

> half a swimming pool of olive oil (especially for egg plant).

However, while I

> was there, the government began importing huge corn oil shipments

from the US.

> Suddenly corn oil usage was on the rise, and they were exporting

more olive

> oil than they were using. Today, Israel is a long-term human study

in dietary

> fats. Cancer rates are on the rise. It will not be long before all

the results

> are in. And no one who studies fats will be surprised, either.

>

> Refined Carbohydrates: White sugar and corn syrup are in

everything, it

> seems. Fructose is no better. And what about High Fructose Corn

Syrup? Here you

> have a corn product and a highly refined carbohydrate. We have told

you again and

> again and again that sugar depresses immune function. How does this

work? you

> ask. From the Linus Pauling institute we get this:

>

> High glycemic-load diets have also been associated with increased

serum

> levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic

inflammation that is also

> a sensitive predictor of cardiovascular disease risk. Not

surprisingly, in the

> Nurses’ Health Study, women whose diets provided the highest

glycemic loads

> had a risk of coronary heart disease that was almost twice as high

as those

> whose diets provided the lowest glycemic loads. The relationship

between dietary

> glycemic load and coronary heart disease risk was more pronounced

in

> overweight women, suggesting that people who are insulin resistant

may be most

> susceptible to the adverse cardiovascular effects of a high-

glycemic load diet.

>

> If you eat something that is high in sugar, it stimulates the

inflammation

> response. One thing we know about the inflammation response is that

it taxes the

> immune system.

>

> This is the last time I want to ever have to tell any reader to

avoid

> processed foods. The more processed the food, the higher the

glycemic level, the more

> chemicals, and the less food value. If high temp cooking is

dangerous, Kellogg

> ’s Cornflakes must be pure poison, for they are actually heated

up to 4000

> degrees during the process.

>

> If you take a trip over the internet searching for the terms

“Chronic

> Inflammation,†you will eventually find the worst foods you can

eat:

>

> French fries, Donuts, Commercial Pastries (donuts, cookies,

crackers), Chips

> (potato, tortilla), and Sodas (and bottled Teas and Fruit Juices).

>

> Why? French fries are cooked at high temps in trans fats. So are

donuts and

> most commercial pastries plus they are made from white sugar; trans

fats

> (shortening), and lots of white sugar, mmmmm. Chips are either high

in trans fats or

> high in omega-6 fatty acids, not to mention the high-glycemic

starches. And

> we should all know by now what’s in our sodas and fruit juices:

sugar, sugar,

> and more sugar. Aspartame/NutraSweet isn’t any better; it too has

been linked

> to triggering inflammation.

>

> Beyond what you eat, you should be careful about how you live: diet

and

> lifestyle are not two separate things. When the body is overloaded

in toxins, it

> can respond only in one way: chronic inflammation. Smoke,

pesticides, cleaning

> chemicals, allergens, dust, contaminants, herbicides all contribute

to toxic

> overload just as much as nutritional deficiencies. Pathogens, as

we’ve already

> seen cause infections that lead to inflammation. We’ve already

discussed

> stealth viruses; but there are many more pathogens (Parasites,

bacteria, and yeast)

> that are also contributing. If you don’t get enough sleep, your

IL-6 markers

> can go thru the roof. If you are on drugs, antibiotics, steroids,

birth control

> pills, they are killing off the good bacteria in your body. Candida

can

> flourish. And don’t forget chlorinated water. Anything that kills

off our good

> bacteria allows Candida to flourish. [Read about Probiotics]

>

> Finally there is stress. Stress increases your natural steroids and

> eventually leads to depression. Depression has been linked to the

inflammatory

> response. [Licinio J et al. “The role of inflammatory mediators

in the biology of

> major depression: central nervous system cytokines modulate the

biological

> substrate of depressive symptoms, regulate stress-responsive

systems, and contribute t

> o neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.†Mol Psychiatry, 1999 Jul: 4

(4):317-27].

>

> First Aid

>

> Birch taken as a tea and made from, the bark or leaves, is a

diuretic and

> anti-inflammatory herb used for gout, kidney stones, and

rheumatism. Oil and

> creams are used for swollen joints. Do not use if you are allergic

to aspirin.

>

> Berries are wonderful antioxidants. Raspberries, acai berries, blue

berries,

> cranberries and strawberries. All your antioxidants are needed to

help fight

> chronic inflammation; antioxidants are anti-inflammatory.

>

> Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a Native American remedy,

used mainly

> for “women’s problems†(menopause). It is also used for

tinnitus (ringing in

> the ears) and arthritis. It contains alicylic acid, tannins, resin

and bitter

> glycosides, so it is contraindicated if you are allergic to

aspirin. It is an

> aspirin substitute, but should be avoided if pregnant, nursing, or

using

> anticoagulants or are on HRT therapy.

>

> Boswellia is a rainforest herb that in clinical studies has been

shown to

> improve symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid

arthritis. Like

> Curcumin, its active ingredients block the production of

inflammatory

> prostaglandin hormones and other inflammatory chemicals.

>

> Butterbur, a plant from the UK and Europe, is an amazing anti-

inflammatory

> and anitispasmodic (prevents cramps). Just recently, studies in the

British

> Medical Journal fount that butterbur treated allergies (hey fever)

just as well as

> expensive medicines. Another study showed that it was far superior

to the

> traditional allergy medications. In a combined study from Germany

and Switzerland

> using a group of 330 patients, they discovered that an extract

used, called

> Buterbur Ze339, was just as effective as Claritin and Tavist with

no

> drowsiness. Dosage: 50mg twice daily with meals. [ " Treating

intermittent allergic

> rhinitis: a prospective, randomized, placebo and antihistamine-

controlled study of

> Butterbur extract Ze 339. " Phytotherapy Research Vol. 19, Issue 6.]

>

> Vitamin C has long been recognized for its anti-inflammatory

properties and

> works best when taken as a Vitamin C Complex (with bioflavonoids

such as

> quercetin and copper, calcium, and l-lysine). In a study of

people exposed to

> simulated sunlight, researchers found that vitamin C and E worked

synergistically

> to reduce skin inflammation. In a cell study, Italian researchers

noted that

> quercetin and vitamin C worked together to protect cells from

> inflammation-induced damage. The daily dosage should be 1,000-2,000

mg if you live in a

> relatively non toxic neighborhood, up to 6,000 mg per day if you

live in lots of

> smog.

>

> Capsicum/Hot Pepper aka Capsicum frutescenscan, or Cayenne Pepper

helps fight

> dangerous blood clots, can " cool " a number of inflammatory

responses

> including burns, some nerve ending disorders and even possibly

arthritis. Has definite

> fibrinolytic activity (can break down blood clots through enzymatic

mechanism

> to some degree), also may be helpful in the pain of rheumatoid

arthritis and

> a number of bowel diseases. Topical capsicum cream cools pain of

several nerve

> ending disorders such as shingles and post-therapeutic neuralgia, a

drop or

> two to the gum around an aching tooth works wonders. The cream can

be helpful

> for pain due to diabetic neuropathy, and the pain which occurs

after an

> amputation or mastectomy, as well as other peripheral neuropathies

such as those that

> occur in AIDS patients. If you are taking anticoagulants or have a

bleeding

> problem (slow clotting time) do not take capsicum without your

doctor's

> approval. If the pepper you have eaten is too hot and starts

burning you up, eating a

> banana will quickly cool you down.

>

> Carnosine, at least 1000 mg a day, and/or 300 mg of the European

drug

> aminoguanidine can inhibit pathological glycation reactions in the

body.

>

> Cat's Claw, known as una de gato and Uncaria tomentosa, is a

Peruvian herb

> with a long history as a remedy for inflammatory arthritis. Recent

cell-culture

> and animal experiments at the Albany Medical College, New York,

Studies show

> that cat's claw inhibits inflammation by blocking the activity of

NF-kB.

>

> Celery seed (Apium graveolens) has a calming effect on the nervous

system,

> helps to lower blood pressure, and can aid in a urinary infection.

The seeds are

> traditionally used to improve circulation to muscles and joints and

helps

> excrete uric acid. Celery seed is contraindicated if you are

pregnant or

> suffering from kidney disease. Like Curcumin, celery seed can cause

photosensitivity

> if taken in large doses.

>

> Coconut Oil is antiviral, antibacterial, and parasiticidal (kills

parasites).

> Inflammation begins with a bad terrain and germs. Coconut oil can

improve the

> terrain and help get rid of the germs.

>

> Curcumin is the natural yellow pigment found in turmeric, a spice

from India.

> Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant; is active against a range

of

> bacterial and fungal infections; a superb liver tonic; helps

normalize blood

> cholesterol, and thins the blood. In a study from Cornell

University, it was found

> that curcumin blocked the activity of Cox-2. which might explain

some of the

> herb's anticancer effects. Curcumin is contraindicated if you are

taking

> anticoagulants, suffer from gall stones or obstructive gallbladder

disease. Curcumin

> also increases your sensitivity to the sun, so it is advisable to

avoid long

> periods in strong sunlight. The daily dosage is 2.8 mg.

>

> Devil's claw tuber (Harpagophytum procumbens) contains glycosides,

> phytosterols, flavonoids and harpagoquinone. It is a bitter, anti-

inflammatory herb,

> useful for a wide-range of joint and muscular problems, including

Rheumatoid

> Arthritis. It is also a digestive stimulant. Devil’s claw tuber

is contraindicated

> if you are suffering from stomach or duodenal ulcer, taking anti-

coagulant

> therapy, or are pregnant.

>

> DHEA is a hormone that decreases with age. DHEA has been shown to

suppress

> IL-6, an inflammatory cytokine that often increases as people age.

Typical doses

> of DHEA are 25-50 mg daily, although some people take 100 mg daily.

>

> Vitamin E is a protective antioxidants with anti-inflammatory

properties. A

> vitamin E complex that contains gamma tocopherol and tocotrienols

provides the

> most broad-spectrum protection. Take 1-2 capsules (400 - 800 IU)

daily.

> Vitamin E is a blood thinner.

>

> Ginger inhibits Cox-2 and another proinflammatory compound, 5-

lipoxygenase.

> This simple herb and condiment contains almost 500 different

compounds, many of

> which are anti-inflammatory. It contains many volatile

constituents,

> including zingiberene, zingiberole, phellandrene, borneol, cineole

and citral, and can

> also be used externally. Ginger is contraindicated if you are

taking

> anticoagulants. Large doses are contraindicated if you are pregnant

or suffering from

> an ulcer. The daily dosage is 100 mg.

>

> GLA: Although GLA (Gamma-linolenic acid) is an omega-6 fatty acid,

it has

> anti-inflammatory properties. Very little GLA is converted to

arachidonic acid

> and prostaglandin E2; GLA actually increases production of the anti-

inflammatory

> prostaglandin E1. Robert B. Zurier, MD, of the University of

Massachusetts

> Medical Center, Worcester, gave GLA supplements or placebos to 41

patients with

> rheumatoid arthritis. Two-thirds of those receiving GLA had a 25

percent

> reduction in their arthritic symptoms. The daily dosage is 2-3

grams.

>

> Green tea: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University,

Cleveland,

> recently reported that the antioxidant polyphenols in Green tea had

anti-inflammatory

> properties by inhibiting Cox-2 and TNFa. Genistein inhibits

prostaglandin E2

> and Cox-2, and quercetin inhibits the activity of inflammation-

promoting

> " adhesion " molecules. It's likely that Pycnogenol, grape seed

extract, and other

> bioflavonoids work through similar mechanisms. The daily dosage is

25-500 mg.

>

> Vitamin K helps reduce levels of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory

messenger. Vitamin

> K also helps in the treatment of osteoporosis by regulating calcium

and

> promoting bone calcification. One 10-mg capsule daily is

recommended for prevention

> purposes. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables.

>

> Lyprinol is a unique configuration of Eicosatetraenoic Acids (ETAs)

that are

> related to the omega-3 fatty acids found in flaxseed and fish that

could

> easily be 200 to 300 times more powerful than most NSAIDs (non-

steroidal

> anti-inflammatory drug) for relief of muscle and joint pain if used

over a period of

> time. You seafood lovers will be glad to know that the Green Mussel

(it has all

> sorts of names, but Green is always in the name, and it comes from

New Zealand)

> from which this oil comes can be found in the frozen food section

at your

> supermarket.

>

> Meadowsweet flowering tops (Filipendula ulmaria) contains salicylic

acid,

> tannin and citric acid. It is an excellent digestive remedy, that

reduces acidity

> in the stomach and helps to alleviate gastritis and peptic

ulceration, which

> makes it tremendously useful for those with arthritic conditions

who cannot

> take aspirin or other NSAIDs due to the side effects on the

stomach. Quite a

> large dosage is needed for treating arthritis, but it does combine

well with

> other herbs (mentioned above), but avoid if you are allergic to

aspirin.

>

> Minerals such as Calcium, magnesium, and potassium help to fight

acidity and

> inflammation. Additionally you'll need some trace minerals Boron

(found in

> raisons, prunes, and nuts), chromium, copper, iodine, iron,

manganese,

> molybdenum, selenium (works best with Vitamin E), silver, zinc

(abundant in fish). All

> of these are found in Celtic Sea Salt.

>

> MSM is a form of nutritional sulfur. With the advent of chemical

fertilizers,

> our foods no longer have the nutritional sulfur our bodies need.

Patrick

> McGean, a reader of ours who has researched MSM extensively told

us, " Sulfur is

> the mineral which enables the transfer of oxygen by keeping the

cell membrane

> semipermeable. Gases do not transfer as well as liquids through the

cell

> membrane when the membrane is no longer permeable, and anaerobic

disease happens in

> the toxic carbon dioxide trapped in the cell. Otto Warburg proved

this but he

> never asked why? " MSM has a long history of helping people with

arthritis,

> lupus, and even pollen allergies. It is necessary to good health.

>

> N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC )is a protective antioxidants with anti-

inflammatory

> properties. NAC is an amino acid with antiviral and liver

protectant

> properties. One 600-mg capsule daily is recommended.

>

> Nettle leaf has been shown to suppress the pro-inflammatory

cytokine TNF-a.

> It contains amines including histamine, choline, acetylcholine and

serotonin.

> It is usually charged with minerals such as calcium, potassium,

silicic acid

> and iron. It strengthens and supports the whole body. In addition

to its major

> role as a skin herb, nettle improves elimination of wastes via the

kidneys, in

> particular uric acid, making it a useful cleansing remedy and

helpful in gout.

> You can find many preparations of Nettle leaf at health food

stores, but

> picking the young leaves and making tea is one of the best ways to

take this herb,

> just strain well (and wear gloves when picking it).

>

> Olive Leaf Extract is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.

Clearing up

> systemic yeast is another good start.

>

> Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oils contain EPA and

DHA which

> are essential building blocks for the body's anti-inflammatory

prostaglandins

> (e.g., prostaglandin E1) and for turning off Cox-2 and the body's

> pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNFa). In addition,

omega-3 fatty acids block

> the activity of an enzyme that breaks down joint cartilage.

Docosahexaenoic acid

> (DHA) might just be the most effective nonprescription supplement

to suppress

> pro-inflammatory cytokines. The daily dosage is 3 or more grams.

Keep in mind

> that the body can make DHA and EPA from linoleic acid (flax seed

oil) if

> you've got healthy probiotics [

http://www.mnwp.org/s_labs/index.htm ] in your

> gut. My favorite food product, Omegasentials [

> http://www.mnwp.org/omega/index.htm ], contains all you need to

fulfill your daily omega-3 requirements.

>

> Quercetin is a bioflavonoid compound that blocks the release of

histamine and

> other anti-inflammatory agents at supplemented doses; a minimum 100

mg per

> day.

>

> Probiotics help clean up fungus in the gut. There are formulas that

are even

> more specific against candida/yeast. Additionally, probiotics help

turn your

> flax oil (linoleic acid) into DHA and EPA, natural anti-

inflammatories.

>

> Pycnogenol is a powerful antioxidant that reduces osteoarthritis

pain. A

> recent German study published in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapay

(Vol. 60),

> discovered that it inhibited significantly the COX-1 and COX-2

enzymes within 30

> minutes of taking the supplement. [Nutra

> http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=65624-pycnogenol-

arthritis ]

>

> Rosemary is a common kitchen herb is rich in ursolic acid. In

laboratory

> experiments, researchers found that the ursolic acid extract of

rosemary was a

> potent inhibitor of Cox-2 activity. The daily dosage is 100 mg.

>

> St. John's wort is better known for its antidepressant effect, but

this herb

> also has anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers from the

University of

> Frieburg, Germany discovered

>

>

>