Joint Inflammation
Natural Treatments of Acute and Chronic Joint Inflammation
Before we start, let’s make one thing very clear, Inflammation is not the bad guy on the block. Inflammation is the process in which the body heals.
Inflammation includes direction of more blood flow to the area of the injury, more white blood cell and swelling of the area in order to immobilize it, to prevent worsening of the injury.
In acute inflammation, our system takes care of the injury, or we are helping it a bit with different forms of medicine. The problem starts when the inflammation becomes chronic.
Chronic inflammation could be a condition where there is physical damage that is not healing, and the body keeps the inflammatory state going. Without progress, and/or a state of immune system weakness, in which the body does not have the capacity to heal itself.
We all use ice right after an injury, and that is a good idea. Ice helps constrict the blood vessels, so the area is not as swollen, and helps reduce pain, but I don’t recommend using ice for too long, just a day or two, in most cases.
Over use of ice could reduce the natural ability of the body to heal. In a long term inflammation, use heat or alternating heat and cold compresses.
There are 3 main forms of natural anti-inflammatory medicines, Homeopathic Remedies, Western Herbal Remedies (including supplements) and Chinese Herbal Remedies and Acupuncture.
Homeopathic remedies are diluted herbal and mineral solutions, that stimulate the body to react in a specific way.
Choosing the right remedy is not a simple task (refer to a homeopathic practitioner), but using “combination Homeopathic” remedy is quite easy, and very beneficial, more for the short term issues.
Western herbal remedies are many, and the most commonly used ones are:
Glucosamine Sulphate, Chondroitine Sulphate, and MSM. These 3 supplements are the building blocks of all connective tissues in the body, and have a great effect on healing of all cartilage, tendons, ligaments and fascias.
They have no side effects and are crucial in many joint inflammatory conditions healing.
There are many herbs that have some anti-inflammatory effects, the most common are: Bromalain, Cucumine, Boswelia, Devils Claw.
There is a good combination of anti-inflammatory formulae on the health food market, that are very effective. Chinese medicine herbal and Acupuncture (TCM) is one of the most effective way to treat joint injuries and other Chronic and Acute inflammations.
In TCM, we diagnose each person individually and approach each injury not only as pain in a specific area, but look at all the other conditions in the body that might have precipitated the injury, or holding the bodies ability to heal properly.
Acupuncture is an amazing treatment for any joint inflammation. It relieves the pain immediately in most cases temporarily, but facilitates a process of healing in the body.
TCM herbal remedies have strong anti-inflammatory effect and have the ability to enhance all the different functions of the body’s immune and healing responds.
Dr. Eyal Lebel is both a Dr.of TCM, Acupuncture, as well as a Master herbalist of “western herbal remedies” in Vancouver, BC.