Inflammation

Pain, swelling, redness, heat… these are all signs of inflammation. Inflammation is a natural and necessary immune response to injury or infection. The purpose of inflammation is to remove the offending antigen and initiate the healing process. This is usually a localized process. Inflammation only becomes a problem when it is unabated, chronic, and/or systemic. Stress, poor diet, hidden infections, and toxicities are the most common causes of chronic inflammation. Science has linked virtually every disease with inflammation: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and any disorder ending in “-itis.” The good news is that we can do many things to prevent and reverse chronic inflammation. Acupuncture, massage therapy, deep breathing, rest, yoga, exercise, a plant-based diet, herbs, essential oils, and numerous nutritional supplements can quell the fires of inflammation and re-establish normal immune function.