35 Food, Herbs and Spices that help prevent inflammation

Inflammation in the body is a natural process where our bodies are attempting to repair damaged tissue or prevent foreign invaders from taking hold. If we did not have this ability, a simple cut could become filled with an infection that could rage through the body and kill you. Too much or long-term inflammation is not good for us and can lead to or exacerbate some chronic diseases.

There are two types of inflammation, acute and chronic. If you have ever sprained an ankle, noticed swelling or redness around a cut, experienced an in-grown toenail, or dealt with common ailments like appendicitis, bronchitis, or tonsillitis, you have experienced acute inflammation. In most cases, it doesn’t last more than a few days till you are back to normal or clears up with surgery or antibiotics, and is never experienced again.

Chronic inflammation includes conditions such as allergies, asthma, Crohn’s, IBD, lupus, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It is longer term and includes what many people call the “wear and tear” problems people tend to go through as they age. It is the "wear and tear" conditions where people most often look to natural remedies to help as there is not much modern medicine can do other than attempts to limit pain.

Also Remember

Before using any anti-inflammation herb, I strongly suggest you check with your doctor first. In some cases, decreasing inflammation can cause more harm than good.

Most herbs have more than one benefit. Sometimes what is a benefit to some people can cause harm to someone else, so before taking any herb for the first time, always check to see if it will interact with any medications, herbs, or illness you may have.

List of herbs that help with inflammation

• Animal based Omega-3 fat
• Basil& Holy Basil
• Black Pepper
• Blueberries
• Boswellia
• Cardamom
• Cat’s Claw
• Celery Seed
• Chamomile (oil)
• Chili Peppers
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Fennel Seeds
• Fermented Vegetables
• Frankincense
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Green Tea
• Leafy Greens
• Maritime Pine Bark
• Marjoram
• Matcha Tea
• Neem
• Nutmeg
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Resveratrol
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Shiitake mushrooms
• Spirulina
• Thyme
• Tulsi
• Turmeric
• White Willow Bark

Eat, Drink and be Merry!

Some of the above items are considered foods. Some are considered Herbs and others Spices. Of course, there are some that are used under more than one label. How you get them into your body, in most cases, is not as important as simply getting them there.

For instance, many people prefer use garlic oil, specifically the odorless type. I have always preferred the original, smelly type of garlic oil. It seems to help relieve sinus pressure better than the odorless type. On occasion, especially if I get a sore throat that won't go away, I will used thinly sliced fresh garlic in a sandwich with mayonnaise. It burns like fire going down, but the sore throat is usually gone before bedtime.

If you are growing the herb in question, tea is always an easy solution, but let's face the fact. Some herbs make crappy tasting tea, lol. A tincture might work better.

How much is too much?

Every herb is different. It is far beyond the scope of this post to give specific measurements for all the various uses of every plant. I suggest you research the individual plant you plan on taking. Start with the lowest dose possible and build up from there.

Also remember, there are differences in fresh and dried herbs and between powdered loose herbs and standardized capsule. I have seen turmeric products suggesting taking 6 pills per day (500 mg) but a different companies standardize product suggests just 1 per day.

Last but not least

Everything in this post is based on historical uses and should not be considered medical advice. It is always in your own best interest to check with a doctor before using and food, herb or spice in a medicinal way.