There is a misconception that inflammation is not a good sign. Throughout our lives we all have seen thousands of commercials extolling the benefits of drugs in stopping inflammation. Between the acetaminophen and ibuprofen manufacturers, we’ve been totally indoctrinated to believe inflammation is bad and that we need to stop it immediately. But inflammation can actually be a good sign.
There is a saying in physiology: “no inflammation, no healing.” The four cardinal signs of inflammation rubor (redness), calor (heat), dolor (pain) and tumor (swelling) accompany inflammation. Many times these signs and symptoms are indicators the body is attempting to heal itself, but if this process is interrupted then small injuries can become chronic. Instead of stopping inflammation entirely, wouldn’t it make more sense to support the body through the inflammatory process to promote healing and naturally resolve injury?
Besides, joint inflammation there is also the problem of systemic inflammation. This can show up in the form of high blood pressure (vascular inflammation), cognitive issues (brain inflammation), digestive complaints (inflammatory bowel disease) and even cancer. Of course, the medical model for alleviating these issues is to just stop inflammation altogether with drugs like BP meds, psyche meds and steroids; none of which help the body long term to manage runaway inflammation that may be coming from an environmental source or just poor systemic regulation. The proof of this is remove the meds and the problems come right back!
Two powerful herbs that support a normal inflammatory response are Boswellia Serratta and Curcuma Longa (aka turmeric). Many have heard about turmeric, but not many folks know about Boswellia. As an herbal practitioner I tend to use these two herbs together for optimal results because they operate on different pathways. Boswellia down-regulates leukotriene formation and Turmeric is a dual inhibitor of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in that it inhibits both the enzymes 5-1ipoxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase, two potent pro-inflammatory agents.
A little-known fact about both of these herbs is that they need to be taken with other foods for maximum absorption. Boswellia is a resin from the bark of an East Indian tree. Resins by nature are water/fluid-resistant so this herb should be eaten with fat (butter or olive oil) for maximum absorption. Turmeric is generally poorly absorbed by the gut with less than 4% passing the gut barrier. As a culinary herb this makes it ideal for gastric issues, but if you want it to have a therapeutic effect on the brain (crossing the blood brain barrier) and the vasculature (passing the gut wall and getting into circulation), then you should take it with other herbs that are more easily absorbed. Recent research has shown that when taken with Fenugreek seed, for example, there is an uptick in absorption up to 24%.
Given all the environmental stressors in our air, food, and water it makes sense to take Boswellia and turmeric daily. They are also safe on the liver (unlike NSAIDS – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Not only will your joints feel better, but your heart, brain and gut will thank you too.
~ Joseph Olejak, DC
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