From our list of herbs and spices, the following are recommended for Anti-Inflammatory:
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- Barberry Bark
- Barley Grass
- Bee Propolis
- Bilberry Complex
- Cats Claw
- Curcumin
- Evening Primrose Oil
- Ginger
- Green Tea
- Hemp Oil
- Saw Palmetto
- Turmeric
Natural Cures and Remedies for Anti-Inflammatory
St John’s wort has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that come in useful for an external treatment for earache caused by an infection.
Despite a similar name, cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is unrelated to devil’s claw. Cat’s claw is native to South America and known as una de gato in Peru. Its use as an anti-inflammatory herb dates back hundreds of years, to the Inca civilization.
Barberry Bark, Barley Grass, Bee Propolis, Bilberry Complex, Cats Claw, Curcumin, Evening Primrose Oil, Ginger, Green Tea, Hemp Oil, Saw Palmetto, Turmeric
Although anti-inflammatory drugs can be therapeutically useful at times, they treat symptoms and not the causes of disease, and some even speed the progression of inflammatory diseases. The side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs derive from the fact that they are biochemical inter-lopers that disrupt, rather than enhance, the normal functions of the body.
In this chapter you have learned about the impressive anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin E. It lowers levels of CRP and many other pro-inflammatory compounds, and it reduces the risk of coronary artery disease. In addition, vitamin E supplements can, for many people, ease the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, and Alzheimer’s disease. In the next chapter you will read about three nutrients that play a central role in maintaining and rebuilding tissues in the body.
Gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, is part of the omega-6 family, but it behaves more like an anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid. GLA is found in seeds, and nearly all supplemental forms are derived from borage, evening primrose, or black currant seeds. It constitutes about 20 percent of borage seed oil, 15 to 19 percent of black currant seed oil, and 9 percent of evening primrose seed oil. If you have been consuming vegetable oils such as corn, safflower, or soy, do not assume that your body has been converting its linoleic acid to GLA. Foods high in these oils are often high in trans fatty acids, which interfere with the conversion process.
Barberry Bark
Barley Grass
Bee Propolis
Bilberry Complex
Cats Claw
Curcumin
Evening Primrose Oil
Ginger
Green Tea
Hemp Oil
Saw Palmetto
Turmeric
Most fish oil supplements contain roughly three-fifths EPA and two-fifths DHA. If you want a high-EPA supplement use Omega-Brite, which contains 90 percent EPA and 10 percent DHA. To enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 fish oils take gamma-linolenic acid supplements. (See the following section.) DHA supplements made from algae may not have the anti-inflammatory effect of EPA, but they may provide other health benefits, such as improving memory.