The 5 Most Effective Anti-Inflammatory Herbs and Spices

Inflammation in the body occurs when the inflammatory response is triggered. This natural bodily reaction happens in response to cells releasing chemicals including histamine, bradykinin and prostaglandins, sending signals to the surrounding tissues to release fluid and cause swelling. 

This inflammation can occur due to injury, infection or something else entirely and is primarily used to protect the body. Still, chronic inflammation can last for weeks, months or even years after the initial trigger has disappeared, making it hard to treat and tricky to manage. This kind of inflammation is dangerous as it’s commonly associated with a myriad of health issues, including rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, periodontitis and Crohn's disease, to name just a few.

Anti-inflammatory herbs and spices provide a natural and effective solution to manage the body’s inflammatory response and mitigate the negative effects of chronic inflammation or inflammation that occurs even when no stimuli are present. But what are the most effective anti-inflammatory herbs and homeopathic remedies?

How Can You Tell If You Have Internal Inflammation?

External inflammation is easily noticeable. If you’ve ever bumped your elbow, been stung by a bee or suffered an allergic reaction, the swelling around the affected areas is obvious, making it much easier to treat. Internal inflammation, on the other hand, is a lot more difficult to recognize, but it can present itself in several different ways:

• Redness 
• Dry skin or rashes
• Swelling
• Heat 
• Aches or pain
• Lack or loss of function.

These symptoms can indicate localized swelling deep beneath your skin. Finding the cause is the next challenge, which can be achieved via a blood test for C-reactive protein (CRP), a key marker of inflammation. If you have any of these symptoms or a blood test has revealed higher than average CRP levels, internal inflammation might be present. Now it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to get better and improve your symptoms.

How Can You Treat Inflammation?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — including aspirin and ibuprofen — effectively relieve pain and treat inflammation, but they come with a few drawbacks. They affect the whole body, not just the area that has the inflammation, so you’re not getting a localized solution to your problem. They can often cause an upset stomach, even when taken with food, creating more problems.

Anti-inflammatory herbs offer a more natural, holistic approach to treating inflammation. They’ve been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine to cure ailments and maintain health and wellness.

What Are the Best Anti-Inflammatory Herbs?

The best anti-inflammatory herbs have unique properties that make them effective at treating inflammation and swelling throughout the body naturally. Taken in supplement form, they can greatly reduce pain, swelling and other symptoms of localized or chronic inflammation. Some of the most effective anti-inflammatory herbs and spices include:

1. Turmeric (Curcumin)

Turmeric contains the active compound curcumin and is one of the most popular anti-inflammatory herbs available. It has many scientifically proven benefits and also boasts some impressive antioxidant properties, making it an excellent option for improving your health. Turmeric supplements are widely available in different formats, making it easy to take no matter your preferences, from BestVitamin Best Curcumin vegetable capsules to Botanica Turmeric Liquid Drops.

2. Ginger

A common ingredient in many culinary recipes, ginger is highly effective at treating inflammation. It has a warm, spicy flavour that makes it a tasty option for supplementation and is often paired with turmeric for some incredible health-boosting benefits. Botanica Daily Anti-Inflammatory Shot contains a fermented ginger and turmeric infusion, giving you a delicious way to manage inflammation while maintaining digestive health.

3. Garlic

While it may have a strong taste that might put some people off, garlic has several potent health benefits and is highly nutritious. Within the garlic bulb, there are active compounds that help combat inflammatory diseases. Allicin is a recognized anti-inflammatory abundant in garlic, and for those who aren’t keen on the taste of garlic but want its healthy benefits, supplements like Bestvitamin Best Allicin or Allimax Stabilized Allicin make a fine, flavourless choice.

4. Green Tea

Traditional in many cultures across the world, green tea has an array of benefits that can improve your health and wellness. It’s often used as a natural remedy to aid digestion, but it’s been proven effective in treating chronic diseases caused by inflammation like arthritis. It can be taken as a warm or cold drink or as a supplement, depending on your preferences — both options give you the benefits of green tea extract.

5. Cayenne

Although the cayenne pepper is technically a fruit, cayenne is often used to season various dishes due to its naturally spicy flavour. Not only does it give your culinary delights a kick, but it also has some potent anti-inflammatory properties thanks to capsaicin — the main compound found in cayenne. It can be taken as a supplement if you don’t like too much spice, and NOW Cayenne Capsules make it easy for you to benefit from cayenne.

What Is the Best Way to Reduce Inflammation?

You are what you eat, and one of the best ways to reduce inflammation is to review your diet. Avoiding sugar, processed meats, refined carbohydrates and excessive alcohol will greatly benefit your body and mind, while herbal remedies will make Better Health Simple. Discover a more natural way to stay on top of your health, prevent diseases caused by inflammation and start living a happier, healthier life today.

Don’t put up with pain caused by inflammation. Explore our wide range of gluten-free, dairy-free and non-GMO herbal supplements and reap the benefits of nature’s anti-inflammatories.