Inflammation is an interesting event in the body – inflammation is necessary for healing, but too much of it can be detrimental to the healing process. The most important part of inflammation is pain – telling us to change, modify, or stop what we are doing.
Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications exist to help manage inflammation and pain, yet these medications are synthetic and actually inhibit the anti-inflammatory pathways of the body as well as the inflammatory.
The signs of inflammation (“Cardinal Signs of Inflammation”) can be remembered by an acronym, SHLRP, which include swelling, heat, loss of function, redness, and pain. Each of these responses of inflammation assist in protecting the body from further damage and proper recovery.
The pathway of inflammation is complex. Certain pathways are blocked by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and blocks the inflammation. Yet, when NSAIDs block the inflammation pathway, they also block the anti-inflammatory pathways. As a better alternative, many nutrients block inflammatory pathways while promoting the anti-inflammatory pathways.
My favorite product that accomplishes this is Liga PN by Nutriwest. Liga PN is a powerful combination of herbs and vitamins that complement the anti-inflammatory pathways and naturally relieve pain and inhibit the inflammatory pathways. I regularly recommend it in my office.
Each tablet of Liga PN include:
- N-Acetyl Glucosamine – a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, a major component of cartilage
- Bromelaine – natural anti-inflammatory
- Valerian – natural muscle relaxer
- Fever Few – natural anti-inflammatory (parthenolide)
- Passion Flower – natural muscle relaxer
- Scullcap – natural muscle relaxer
- White Willow – natural pain reliever
- White willow was the precursor to modern day aspirin (and its derivatives). It takes a bit longer than aspirin to start acting, but its effects last longer. Moreover, it does not cause stomach bleeding or other known adverse effects.
- Kava Kava – natural muscle relaxer / tranquilizer
- Tumeric – natural anti-inflammatory (curcuminoid)
- Ginger – natural anti-inflammatory (curcuminoid)
- Plus many other vitamins, minerals, and herbs
With any injury, two (2) tablets every two (2) hours is highly effective to reducing inflammation and pain for the acute time period (72 hours). From that point, 1-2 tablets three (3) times per day is adequate.