There are two different types of inflammation, acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation
Acute inflammation is a short-term inflammatory response that occurs after an injury or infection. It is a normal part of the body’s immune response and helps to protect the body from further damage. Acute inflammation is often characterised by redness, swelling, warmth, pain, and loss of function in the affected area.
Chronic inflammation
The second type of inflammation is chronic inflammation and occurs when the body continues to enact an inflammatory response even when there is no immediate danger. Generally, the extent and effects of chronic inflammation vary with the cause of the injury and the ability of the body to repair itself and overcome the damage.
The challenge with chronic inflammation is that it doesn’t always show the telltale physical signs the way acute inflammation does, so knowing it’s present can be a little harder to determine.
Immune cells for inflammation
When the body encounters an offending agent (like viruses, bacteria or toxic chemicals) or suffers an injury, it activates the immune system which sends out its “first responders”, inflammatory cells and cytokines, substances that stimulate more inflammatory cells.
These cells begin an inflammatory response to trap bacteria and other offending agents or start healing injured tissue.
These same inflammatory cells respond in both acute and chronic inflammation, so even when there is no outside danger, the body still responds the same way. Chronic inflammation can also result in a wide variation in symptoms making it harder to pinpoint.
Anti-inflammatory diets
Nourishing your body with anti-inflammatory foods is a sound approach when experiencing inflammation. Anti-inflammatory diets involve eating nutrient-rich, whole foods that reduce markers of inflammation in the body[1].
They contain plenty of fibre, antioxidants, and omega-3s and involve consuming a diet rich in vegetables, whole fruit, whole grains, legumes and fatty fish.
On the flipside there are foods that can exacerbate inflammation and general recommendations are to avoid them if you are trying to calm down an inflammatory response. These foods include unrefined grains, highly processed foods, refined sugars and even excessive alcohol.
Having an action plan to assist if or when there is inflammation present is always a good idea.
Herbs and nutrients for inflammation
Herbs and nutrients have been shown to be beneficial in inflammation, or even in conditions that are characterised by inflammation, such as gout.
Gout is an inflammatory condition of a joint, usually the big toe, which occurs when uric acid builds up around the joint. Herbs of Gold Gout Relief Complex is a comprehensive formula that contains Ayuric®, a clinically trialled[2] extract of Terminalia bellirica that relieves inflammation. This product also features Celery, traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to relieve symptoms of occasional episodes of gout.
Other ingredients, like fish oil, have a generalised anti-inflammatory action by having a positive influence on the cells involved in the inflammatory response.
Herbs of Gold Triple Strength Omega-3 contains the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA which are important as the body cannot produce them, therefore they can only be obtained from the diet or through supplementation. Triple Strength Omega-3 can be beneficial to relieve inflammation, while also supporting the health of the heart, eyes, skin, brain, muscles and joints.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
[1] Furman, D., Campisi, J., Verdin, E., Carrera-Bastos, P., Targ, S., Franceschi, C., Ferrucci, L., Gilroy, D. W., Fasano, A., Miller, G. W., Miller, A. H., Mantovani, A., Weyand, C. M., Barzilai, N., Goronzy, J. J., Rando, T. A., Effros, R. B., Lucia, A., Kleinstreuer, N., & Slavich, G. M. (2019). Chronic inflammation in the etiology of […..] across the life span. Nature Medicine, 25(12), 1822–1832.
[2] Usharani, P., Nutalapati, C., Pokuri, V. K., Kumar, C. U., & Taduri, G. (2016). A randomised, double-blind, placebo-, and positive-controlled clinical pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of standardised aqueous extracts of Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellerica in subjects with hyperuricemia. Clinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applications, 8, 51.
