Herbal Remedies for Inflammatory Response

By Marcelina Hardy,

Joint pain can keep you from doing the activities you love. And popping over-the-counter pills every few hours isn’t fun either. There may be hope for inflammatory response sufferers though. Herbal remedies may help those who have inflammatory pain.

The Story Behind the Immune Response
When your body encounters a foreign substance, your immune system attacks it. It’s what protects your body so it doesn’t become injured or ill. These foreign substances are bacterium, viruses and other antibodies.

So how does your immune system know that these foreign substances are toxic? They have a signal called antigens. These antigens, which are molecules on the surface of the substances, are chemicals that the immune system uses to locate and then identify its toxicity. This is the immune response. The immune system goes out searching for these chemicals on the substances, finds them and then kills the substances; mission complete.

However, sometimes, the immune response fails and an inflammatory response occurs.

The Process of the Inflammatory Response
When the immune system fails to identify or destroy a foreign substance, injury may result. The toxin may cause cell damage, tissue swelling or inflammation.

The reason why your tissues swell is actually another protective response of your body (the inflammatory response). Attacked cells quarantine themselves by sending out chemicals to induce the swelling. The swelling stops the toxins from spreading and moving on to other cells and other bodily tissue.

The cells also send out the call to white blood cells (phagocytes). They help repair the damage that the foreign bodies have done and clean up the mess of dead cells. This way, new cells can regenerate and thrive.

While the inflammatory response is positive because it stops the process of your whole body being attacked by infection, the swelling can be painful. Some people’s immune system have a much harder time keeping up with the toxins that enter their body. Their inflammatory response is much more active as a result, and thus, causes more pain. This is why, the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) have come up with a syndrome for it.

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
The ACCP and SCCM, defined SIRS in 1992. The symptoms included in this definition have to include at least two or more of the following according to eMedicine from Medscape:

• Fever between 38 degrees Celsius to 36 degrees Celsius (97 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Heart rate of 90 beats per minute
• 20 breaths per minute or PACO2 level of less than 32 mm Hg
• Abnormal white blood cell count

They also wanted to include cases in which the inflammatory response was caused by ischemia, trauma or other causes other than infection from toxins.

Herbal Remedies for Healthy Inflammatory Response
Many inflammatory response sufferers take over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin and ibuprofen. However, these drugs can sometimes have undesirable long-terms side effects. To avoid these drugs, many individuals turn to natural remedies such as turmeric, ginger, boswellin and other combination remedies.

Turmeric
According to Dr. Weil, a leader in herbal remedy advice, turmeric is a good inflammartory herb. He says that individuals with arthritis, tendonitis and autoimmune conditions may find benefit from this remedy by taking 400 to 600 mg three times a day. He does advise that it may take at least two months for it to work.

DO NOT TAKE: If you are pregnant, have gallstones or bile duct dysfunction.

Ginger
According to two studies mentioned on the Web site, The World’s Healthiest Foods, three quarters of arthritis patients and all patients with muscular discomfort reported being free from pain and swelling when taking ginger supplements.

Dr Weil also recommends ginger for a health inflammatory response. It might take up to two month before you’ll notice a difference with this remedy and you’ll have to take one to two capsules, or 500 to 1000 mg, twice a day.

Boswellin
Boswellin, used in Ayurvedic medicine, may support healthy joints. It’s known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Dr. Weil recommends it as well with two capsules twice a day.

Combination Herbal Remedy
If you’re looking for an herbal remedy that includes a combination of herbs, you may want to look into Zyflamend by New Chapter. It has many of anti-inflammatory herbs mentioned above along with other possible healthful joint and cardiovascular proponents such as holy basil, green tea, rosemary, Hu Zhang, Chinese goldthread and Barberry, oregano and Baikak Skullcap.

Seek Doctor’s Recommendations
Before starting any herbal remedy, please discuss it with your doctor. Just because herbs are natural does not mean they do not have side effects or that they don’t interact with other prescription drugs. Call or visit your doctor before you begin taking any of these or other herbal remedies.

Sources: http://www.evitamins.com/a/herbal-remedies-inflammatory-response-100#.VHk9oWfaIyk

Mimosa Pudica - Uses

Uses : Decoction of root is used with water to gargle to reduce toothache. It is very useful in diarrhea (athisaara), amoebic dysentery (raktaatisaara), bleeding piles and urinary infections. It arrests bleeding and fastens the wound healing process. It is mainly used in herbal preparations for gynecological disorders. It has been said to have medicinal properties to cure skin diseases. It is also used in conditions like bronchitis, general weakness and impotence. It is also used to treat neurological problems. Root is bitter, acrid, cooling, vulnerary, alexipharmic and used in treatment of biliousness, leprosy, dysentery, inflammations, burning sensation, fatigue, asthma, leucoderma, blood diseases etc. Decoction of leaves is used for diabetes.

Sources:  http://www.motherherbs.com/mimosa-pudica.html

Seasons And Ayurvedic Treatment

 

 Seasons And Ayurvedic Treatment

Ayurveda, the holistic healing science propagates health for all with the aim of prevention is better than cure. Ayurveda explains the concept of seasonal regimens which help us to maintain the quality of life.The severity of heat and cold vary in each seasons. These changes affect the level of doshas (three basic constituents of functioning of the body in Ayurveda namely vata, pitha and kapha) in the human body.

Eventhough the seasonal variations are considered natural it will affect the equilibrium of doshas in the body and produces certain symptoms if not managed properly. This can be corrected by making changes in the life style. If these are neglected it will produce disease.In Ayurveda the year is divided in to six seasons (ritu) and each season consist of two months. These are Sisira (Late winter), vasantha(Spring), greeshma(Summer), varsha(Rainy season), sarat(Autumn) and hemantha(Early Winter).

Based on earth movement seasons are divided in to two groups, Adana kala (sisira, vasantha, greeshma) when earth moves closer to sun and heat is felt more and Visarga kala (varsha, sarad, hemantha) which consists of cooler seasons. According to modern calendar the seasons of Ayurveda starts with middle of January (start of Sisira ritu) to Middle of November (Hemantha ritu).Season or time of the treatment both external therapy and internal medication is an important factor in Ayurveda. The treatment done without looking season will be pointless. So it should be done in proper time except in emergency condition.

Two weeks before and after the period of each season has also to be considered. During this period treatments like vamana(medicated emesis), virechanam(induced laxation), dhara (pouring of medicated oil or decotion or milk or buttermilk on head or body), pizhichil (pouring of warm medicated oil on body along with massage), navarakizhi (massage with special bundle made of navara rice processed with milk and sida cordifolia), snehapanam (intake of medicated ghee), vasthy (enema), siravedham (mild surgical incision of veins inorder to remove impure blood) can be done along with internal medication.

There is an another opinion that treatment done in Varsha   for the diseases due to vitiation of three doshas ,in Sarad  for the diseases due to pitha vitiation and in for the diseases due to kapha vitiation should have more effect.In emergency conditions treatment can be done without looking for suitable season, but should take precautions to protect patients body from extreme cold, hot and rain if it persist. Treatments in which strict regimens are not needed also can be done in all the seasons.

Sources:  http://www.medibiztv.com/articles/seasons-and-ayurvedic-treatment