Inflammation is your body’s response to irritation, injury and infection. While it can help protect your body in the short term, chronic inflammation can lead to long-term pain and damage.

Often, doctors will simply prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to help fight chronic inflammation. These drugs, however, are not safe for everyone. Extended use of these drugs could lead to side effects and complications.

If you’re worried about the side effects of anti-inflammatory medicine, the good news is that natural supplements that help fight inflammation exist. In fact, not only do these fight inflammation, but they also come with other health benefits.

Take note, however, that not all supplements work for every type of inflammation. As such, knowing which supplement to take is also important. We’ve listed eight natural supplements and the types of inflammation that they fight.

8 inflammation-fighting supplements

The natural supplements listed below cover many different types of inflammation. This means that it’s important to know exactly what kind of inflammation each supplement fights, so you know which ones can help you.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are some of the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. They can be found in abundance in fatty fish such as cod.

Part of what makes omega-3 fatty acids effective anti-inflammatory supplements is that they can fight several types of inflammation. This includes vascular inflammation, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease and heart attack.

Omega-3 can also be helpful for degenerative pain conditions. In one study, researchers found that fish oil – which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids – could be used as a substitute for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Curcumin

The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin has been shown to help reduce inflammation and speed up wound healing in animal studies.

A 2011 study found that curcumin may help reduce inflammation from obesity-related metabolic conditions. The study found that curcumin altered several inflammatory pathways, reducing insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia.

S-adenosylmethionine

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) is a substance created naturally in your body that plays an important role in the epigenetic regulation of genes. Epigenetic factors affect gene expression and behavior. These turn certain genes on or off while changing the effects of others.

Doctors usually recommend SAM-e to manage symptoms of depression, osteoarthritis and certain liver conditions. Inflammation may play a role in each of these.

Clinical trials have suggested that SAM-e may help relieve inflammation associated with various types of arthritis just as well as NSAIDs can.

Take note, however, that SAM-e may interact with a wide range of drugs. Consult with your healthcare provider before taking it.

Zinc

Research suggests that zinc is a potent anti-inflammatory supplement. These show that it supports the immune system and reduce several markers of inflammation.

In a research paper published in 2014, scientists detailed how zinc decreased inflammation and oxidative stress among older adults. The latter triggers inflammation and may also increase the risk of certain conditions, including cancer.

Zinc, however, interacts with calcium, diuretics and certain antibiotics, so be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before trying this supplement.

Green tea

Green tea has long been suspected by researchers to fight inflammation. This is because people who live in regions that consume more green tea have lower rates of inflammation-related illnesses.

Research has suggested that green tea might inhibit the production of certain inflammatory chemicals. It might also help slow the loss of cartilage, reducing the symptoms of arthritis.

Other studies have shown that green tea may hold promise as a treatment for inflammatory skin disorders such as psoriasis and dandruff. These are often characterized by patches of dry, red, flaky skin caused by the inflammation or overproduction of skin cells.

Frankincense

Frankincense, the resin of the Boswellia serrata plant, can ease both inflammation and pain. This is, in part, due to compounds called terpenes and boswellic acids that are present in frankincense. Studies have shown that these are as effective as NSAIDs but have fewer side effects.

Research has shown that frankincense may help reduce symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This is due to how it can reduce inflammation in the gut.

Capsaicin

This compound is what gives hot peppers their heat. Under certain conditions, however, capsaicin also demonstrates analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Other research shows that capsaicin may help with both nerve and muscular pain. It has been shown to help patients deal with pain from arthritis when used as a cream.

Cat’s claw

Cat’s claw is the bark of various plants in the genus Uncaria. It is commonly used in South America as an anti-inflammatory agent for treating arthritis and gastrointestinal inflammation.

Studies suggest that it may help reduce various forms of inflammation as it is very effective at inhibiting TNF-alpha, an inflammatory chemical in the body.

A further study into cat’s claw found that it also helped protect cells against oxidative stress, providing further evidence of its effectiveness in fighting inflammation.

Natural supplements can provide a safe way for you to fight inflammation without the side-effects and complications that taking drugs may bring. Just be sure to remember that specific natural supplements work better against specific types of inflammation. In addition, they may also not work as well for everyone. As such, be sure to consult with your natural healthcare professional before taking any supplement for inflammation.

Follow NaturalCures.news for more information on natural supplements that can address inflammation and other conditions.

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