“​​​​Approximately one in three Australians has a chronic inflammatory disease”…, states The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Let’s put that into perspective. Imagine you are sitting around an office table with your work colleagues. Look around. How many of them do you think have an unresolved inflammatory concern? If there are six (6) people at the meeting, then two (2), on average, are affected by daily pain, aches, swelling and discomfort. And the one in three could be you.

With such an alarming rate of Australians experiencing inflammation, which can cause long term damage to the organs, tissues and cells, it’s time to address inflammation, learning how to combat the pain and enjoy a fulfilling life.

Read on to find out what is inflammation, what causes inflammation, what are the symptoms of inflammation, and how can I treat inflammation?

What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is the body’s response to something not quite right within its temple. The signals of inflammation are like a siren screaming, “Alert. Alert. Notice me!”

Typically driven by reactive immune cells, inflammation is a natural defensive response to notify of an infection, or damage to organs and/or the cells. However, acute inflammation, left untreated, can lead to autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and other health concerns.

What Causes Inflammation?
Many lifestyle and environmental factors can cause inflammation.

• Sporting injury
• Food allergies such as red meat, chemically processed foods
• Cleaning chemicals
• Unresolved trauma held within the cells and nervous system
• Ageing
• Alcohol, drugs and cigarettes
• Western medication
• Cuts, abrasions or burns

Those examples can then exacerbate inflammation whereby the body’s immune system then goes into overdrive trying to protect the body.

What Are The Symptoms Of Inflammation?
Have you ever seen a Therapist touch the area of pain that you are seeking reprieve from? They do this to determine if there is an increase in heat to the site. This is one (1) sign of inflammation.

Other signs may include –

• Swelling
• Loss of function or reduced function in the chronic area
• Redness
• Chronic Pain
• Brain fog
• Feeling emotionally unbalanced, distinctive of hormonal imbalance due to inflammation
• Depression
• Lethargy and tiredness

How Can I Treat Inflammation?
We immediately respond to pain and inflammation by applying a cold compress or ice pack to the site. However, this temporary fix will not heal the underlying cause. However, there are other alternatives to manage inflammation effectively. It all depends on your individual circumstances.

First, our qualified and experienced Naturopaths will discuss your lifestyle based on diet, medications, stress load etc. From there, they will endeavour to dig deeper to find the root cause of the inflammation, providing recommendations and lifestyle adjustments.

Supplements are also able to reduce inflammation. For the best and most viable supplements, our Naturopaths will advise what herbs and supplements will be the most successful in managing your inflammation.

Research from the National Library of Medicine shows, “Recently, there is growing evidence indicating that honey could have inhibitory effect on chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and on their relative gene expression…targeted tissues benefit from the honey’s…preventive actions which modulate the inflammatory cytokines functions and ultimately reduce the severity of chronic inflammatory diseases”.

Interesting fact – Did you know that some inflammation is beneficial? When the immune system discovers an attack, and it has repeat exposure, the body recognises the attacking agent, which can result in greater immunity.

For example, parents are always concerned about kids getting grubby and playing in the dirt, eating the dirt, picking up insects and bugs, climbing trees, etc. You get the picture. But, as a result of constant exposure to a wide range of pathogens and germs, children who play outside often tend to have a robust immune system compared to children who may stay inside a lot more.

Whatever the reason, we can surmise that inflammation can be debilitating and painful if left untreated. And while we have touched on the topic of inflammation, each client that presents themself to us at Nurtura Health is assessed individually with respect and care. Not all cases are the same, and in most scenarios, inflammation can be a multi-threshold component from causes such as trauma, physical and mental ailments or environmental stress.

So if you would like to discuss your health in greater detail, please contact our team of Naturopaths at Nurtura Health, Bundaberg, and start living the life you deserve.