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03/08/2007: "Natural Anti-Inflammatory"

Drugs like Ibuprofen, Motrin®, Advil® and Aleve® are considered to be Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) and are the most common over the counter drug in the US. NSAIDs have recently been shown to increase risks of heart attack and stroke, decrease bone healing, decrease tendon healing, and actually reduce the body’s absorption of nutrients. Other anti-inflammatory drugs like Vioxx® and now Celebrex®, have been pulled because of their danger. Ibuprofen, thought milder than most drugs, still strains the stomach and liver and is a concern since I am trying to get my immune system to go above and beyond.

Lately the pain in my shoulders and arms has been intense and constant. So I am seeking more natural anti-inflammatory remedies. I am not alone in my suffering as these drugs are used daily by people with arthritis pain, back injuries and sports or work related muscle pain. So doing a little research, here is what I found.

I have given up fast food because it seems that the more convenient the food, the worse it is for you. French fries were my drug of choice. Until I learned that they are full of the known carcinogen, Acrylamide. The EPA limits the amount in our drinking water to under 0.12 micrograms per serving. Did you know that McDonald’s large fries has 72 micrograms (600 times more)?

Junk foods contain fats and other ingredients that irritate inflammation. Also sugars and refined starchy carbohydrates like white flour can also aggravate inflammation. Some vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant contain the chemical Solanine which can make inflammation worse. Other culprits are dehydration (drink 60+ ounces a day and avoid caffeine and alcohol since they are diuretics), high fat, processed foods and red meat.

So anti-inflammatory foods look a lot like the ones I have recommended before. Essential Fatty Acids are turning up more and more as a must in your diet. I am back on the Falx Seed Oil and Cottage Cheese remedy as well as eating cold water oily fish, walnuts and pumpkin seeds. For protein, stay with lean poultry and fish. If you have to eat red meat try bison, venison and other game. Eat lots of green leafy and bright colored vegetables and avoid sugar and starchy carbohydrates (a challenge). Berries like blueberries and strawberries help plus apples and red onions contain quercetin, which has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Some natural supplements to consider are: Boswellia (Taken orally to help reduce inflammation of joint tissue and treat arthritis.), Grape Seed (Works well for swollen ankles due to circulatory difficulties an blocks histamine associated with allergic reaction.) Devil’s Claw (Works well for arthritis pain.) Willow Bark (It includes the same component, salicylic acid, as aspirin. However, does not upset the stomach.)

Replies: 2 Comments

on Thursday, March 8th, Rovina said

Hi Doug, I am sorry to hear that you are still in pain. As you know I have eaten what I consider to be a rainbow diet - every lunch (for the past 5 years) which is a variety of colorful raw vegetables, such as snap peas, carrots, red peppers, yellow peppers, radishes and tomatoes. Plus a lot of dark green leafy lettuce. I also eat a lot of fresh fruit - green apples, tangerines and grapefruit. Because I do have arthritis I was told to eliminate Citrus, tomatoes and Red Peppers, plus caffeine. Can't quite give up on my rainbow diet though since I am very rarely sick. Have tried a new liquid for my arthritis pain - called syn-flex. Even have my dog Ziggy on it for her hip dysplasia. Seems to help both of us and has reduced my drug of choice Advil, to the occasional headaches that I still suffer from. But I will look for some of the other natural remedies you discussed because I value your research and insight. Thanks for sharing your wealth of new information, as you struggle to find remedies for yourself, you still think of others too. You're still an educator at heart always and forever.

on Thursday, March 8th, Ric Barline said

Hi Doug. I've been lurking on your blog hre for a year or so. As you recall from our last email exchange (if you remember... :~) I was diagnosed with Gleason 8 prostate cancerabout 18 months ago. About a year after surgery (to remove my prostate, duhh ...:~) I showed a slowly rising PSA, so my oncologist had me undergo the standard 7 week radiation treatment, which I just finished. I am also on log-term androgen blocking hormone treatment, another standard treatment for "high-risk" prostate cancer.

The reason I am replying to this post is first to say how sorry I am that you are having chronic pain. and second to say that I read a book titled "What color is your diet", that says the same thing as you are saying - eat colorful foods. Another book that I am sure you have read (or at least skimmed) is "The CHina Project."