It would be so painful and annoying to have a reddened, swollen and heated organ due to some injury or reaction, this entire state is called inflammation. Though it is the body that is striving to protect it from the irritants, foreign particles and commence its healing. Inflammation can’t be categorized under infection because it is body’s reaction to it.

When an infection can’t be controlled by our immune system it responds in the form of inflammation. If you twist your ankle or catch cold your immune system gets to work. An injury activates a series of events known as the inflammation flood.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?

  • Reversing the process of inflammation means follow what your body has to say. When you know what your body says you can figure out what escalates or alleviates the inflammatory reactions in your body. You can make certain changes to reduce the inflammatory response of your body. Be slow and steady about the changes you make, we don’t want to rush and ruin things but we want to take one thing at a time and at any momentum that suits your needs.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES:

Diet changes

  • Like vehicles our body also needs fuel to work. What we put in our body shows externally also. If we’re not having a healthy balanced diet it will have an impact on our health. It is very important to eat a healthy and nutritious diet to give strength to our spine which holds the body’s posture.

Shun foods that cause inflammation:

  • Foods that contain high sugars, Trans- fats and processed foods should be avoided.
  • Any form of unnatural sugars shouldn’t be consumed.
  • Red meat should be replaced with poultry and fish.
  • Dairy products in excess shouldn’t be used though yogurt is good.
  • Aerated drinks, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, Processed foods should not be consumed either.

Exercise:

  • Exercising regularly is very important to ward off any disease. But exercising in the right posture and correct clothes and doing the exercise correctly is very important. Yoga can be done even by the elderly but it is better to consult a physiotherapist and have a better view on what suits you and what doesn’t.

Alleviate stress:

  • If you follow a healthy diet regimen and do proper exercise then it is possible for you not to have any kind of stress. You have to train your body in a way that you can balance your life and keep stress at bay. As soon as you figure your stress triggering do your relaxation and breathing exercises to help decrease cortisol levels which will as a result reduce inflammation. Not having enough sleep also cause you to be irritable and start stressing, therefore, it is necessary to get enough sleep.

ANTI- INFLAMMATORY FOODS:

TURMERIC:

  • It has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-oxidant properties that help to reduce inflammation. If inflammation is not attended it can become chronic which can be cumbersome in the long run. But curcumin alleviates inflammation without causing harm to any other organ.

GINGER:

  • It has powerful anti-inflammatory components known as gingerols. It can be used both internally and externally.

GUGGULU:

  • The exudates secreted from guggul tree have anti-inflammatory benefits which are as good as ibuprofen and drugs like that.

NEEM:

  • Extracts of various parts of this tree have anti-inflammatory properties but it should be avoided by pregnant women or women trying to conceive.

HOLY BASIL [TULSI]:

  • This plant is worshipped in Indian households. Basil oil has anti- inflammatory and other healing properties which are effective across diabetes, arthritis, chemotherapy etc.

ALOE VERA:

  • It has various healing, cooling and anti-inflammatory properties both internally and externally.

LICORICE [MULETHI]:

  • It has potent anti-inflammatory component that heal severe cough, ulcers etc. Licorice can also be spelled as Liquorice.

FEVERFEW:

  • This herb has strong anti-inflammatory compounds which help to reduce fever as its name suggests. It can also help to ward off migraines and headaches. It shouldn’t be used by pregnant women. It is related to Chrysanthemum

SLIPPERY ELM:

  • This tree’s bark has such substances which have proven to be anti-inflammatory in health issues like IBS, arthritis, cough and other disorders which cause inflammation.

Home Remedies for Inflammation

GINGER AND TURMERIC INFUSED TEA:

    Boil 500 ml of water and add ½ teaspoon each of crushed or grated turmeric and ginger. Simmer it for 10 minutes, strain it and add a spoon of honey and consume it twice daily.

SEA SALT SOAK:

    Fill a tub or huge bowl with warm water and add generous amount of Epsom salt and soak the inflamed area in it for 15-20 minutes or you can also bathe with this water but you’ll need more water and a lot more salt.

OLIVE OIL:

    Massaging the inflamed area or sore joints with olive oil to provide enough lubrication. You can also consume it or cook your food in this oil.

OIL BLEND:

  • 8-10 drops each of peppermint and eucalyptus oil.
  • 20ml of almond oil
  • Mix all the oils and store it in a dark bottle away from heat and light and use it on the inflamed areas to get relief.
  • Consuming bitter clarified butter [tikta ghrit] is the eventual remedy for inflammatory disorders.
  • 15 ml of castor oil added in 250 ml of ginger tea continuously for ten nights helps to reduce inflammation to a great extent.
Author's Bio: 

DR. Vikram Chauhan, MD - AYURVEDA is an expert Ayurvedic practitioner based in Chandigarh, India and doing his practice in Mohali, India. He is spreading the knowledge of Ayurveda Ancient healing treatment, not only in India but also abroad. He is the CEO and Founder of Planet Ayurveda Products, Planet Ayurveda Clinic and Krishna Herbal Company. For more info visit our website: http://www.planetayurveda.com & See the Real Testimonials from our Patients : https://www.youtube.com/user/planetayurvedatv