Turmeric: how this curry favourite can also help reduce joint inflammation

What is inflammation?

Inflammation is the immune system’s first reaction against damage or infection and an extremely effective one at that. During this battle of repair the injured site may become swollen and red as the flow of blood increases to the area. Once the repair has been completed the immune system can put its feet up again. However when the inflammation becomes more constant, low-grade and chronic, the immune system remains revved up. This can lead to exhaustion of the immune system where its ‘off button’ becomes de-sensitized. This in turn leads to pain and damaging inflammation that attacks the joint. This is often the case in arthritis. In the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis the body’s immune system improperly identifies the synovial membrane to be ‘foreign’ to the body, inflammation results, and cartilage and tissue around the joints is damaged. The damaged tissue is then replaced with scar tissue, forcing normal spaces within the joints to become narrow and the bones to fuse together. Not a pretty picture overall, and uncomfortable for the sufferer.

So what causes joint inflammation and am I at risk?

The onset of joint inflammation is commonly attributed to physical and mental stress, poor nutrition, food allergies and/or bacterial, viral or fungal infection of the joint.
We are all at risk of developing joint inflammation if we do not look after our health, especially those that use their joints more than the average, such as those in sports. Age is becoming less of a factor in joint inflammation, in the case of Rheumatoid arthritis, there is a rise of sufferers under the age of 40.

How is joint inflammation treated?

There has been a lot of controversy over conventional approaches to reducing inflammation. Perhaps the most commonly used is Acetiminophen, followed by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen. Despite the popularity of these drugs, there have been questions raised about both their safety and potential damage to other areas of the body.
Over the last decade natural alternatives for relieving pain through inflammatory reduction has come on leaps and bounds. One botanical in particular has been esteemed by practitioners for centuries. Turmeric contains both potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory curcuminoids. These reduce pain by blocking the enzymes that cause inflammation. Clinical trials suggest it is as effective as Cortisone and Phenylbutazone, both commonly used in conventional medicine for the treatment of joint inflammation, but without the side effects. It is also thought to read more