6 Incredible Herbs for Inflammation (And How to Use Them)

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These days, everyone seems to be concerned about inflammation. And for good reasons.

When inflammation gets out of hand, it can lead to chronic inflammation. This has been associated with deadly diseases like cancer and diabetes.

A little bit of inflammation is good, however. Inflammation is actually how the body combats infections and heals itself. However, if you’re worried about the effects of chronic inflammation, we’re here to help.

There are several natural herbs and spices that are not only delicious but excellent at fighting inflammation. So keep on reading and we’ll take you through the best herbs for inflammation that you need to know about!

1. Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that is popular in Indian food and has been used for thousands of years. It is also what gives mustard its yellow color.

This spice is paced with hundreds of active compounds. The main compound is curcumin, an antioxidant that has strong anti-inflammatory properties. 

Curcumin has the ability to prevent the activation of NF-κB. This is a molecule that activates genes that encourage inflammation. 

Taking curcumin can greatly reduce inflammation in the body. Turmeric can even provide pain relief to people who suffer from arthritis. In fact, the pain relief is similar to that of popular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diclofenac and ibuprofen.

Unfortunately, turmeric is only made up of about three percent curcumin. And the human body doesn’t absorb it well. You can take curcumin if you’re really looking to up the anti-inflammation. 

With that said, it’s a good idea to know about the best uses for turmeric powder so that you can make the most of this spice. 

2. Ginger

Ginger is a tasty spice that has a sweet yet peppery flavor. You can use this spice in all kinds of ways, including powdered, dried, or fresh. 

Outside of the culinary uses for ginger, people have also used the spice for thousands of years in traditional medicine to heal various problems. These issues include high blood pressure, arthritis, nausea, migraines, and colds. 

Ginger has more than 100 active compounds. These include zingerone, zingiberene, shogaol, and gingerol to name a few. These are probably responsible for ginger’s health benefits, which include reducing the amount and severity of inflammation in the body. 

Taking ginger daily can greatly reduce the amount of inflammation in the body. 

Ginger is also very versatile and it’s easy to use in many different kinds of meals. You can use ginger in salads, stews, and teas. You can also buy ginger supplements. 

3. Garlic

Garlic is a popular spice that has a strong taste and smell. It has been used by people for thousands of years in traditional medicine. It’s able to treat toothaches, infections, constipation, coughs, and arthritis. 

A lot of the health benefits of garlic come from its sulfur compounds, such as S-allyl cysteine, diallyl disulfide, and allicin. These appear to have properties that are anti-inflammatory.

It should be noted that aged garlic extract is likely to be more effective at reducing levels of inflammation as opposed to fresh garlic. Garlic can also raise antioxidants in the body, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH).

It’s also able to regulate markers that promote inflammation, such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin 10 (IL-10).

Garlic is very versatile and easy to incorporate in daily meals. You can also buy aged garlic extract and concentrated garlic supplements on the internet and in health food shops. 

4. Cardamom

Cardamom is a spice that comes from Southeast Asia. It has a complex spicey and sweet taste. Taking cardamom supplements can reduce inflammation in the body. 

The complex and rich flavor of cardamom makes it easy to add to stews and curries. The spice can also be found in capsule form and powder form. 

5. Black pepper

Sometimes referred to as the king of spices, black pepper is one of the most popular spices in human history. Traditionally, individuals would use black pepper to treat certain health problems, such as diarrhea, asthma, and various gastric conditions.

Black pepper’s main active compound is piperine. This compound likely plays a role in helping to reduce the amount of inflammation in the body. 

Black pepper can help to reduce inflammation and swelling in the joints. It can also reduce the frequency of sneezing and redness in people who have seasonal allergies and asthma. 

You can find black pepper pretty much anywhere and add it to practically any dish. You can add pasta to your pasta, chicken, fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. 

6. Green Tea

A popular herbal tea is green tea. People love it for its mild taste and various health benefits. This plant has healthy compounds known as polyphenols. These compounds can benefit the brain and heart and help people reduce inflammation and body fat. 

Green tea can be used to treat gum diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

You can drink green tea hot or cold or take green tea supplements.  

The Importance of Knowing About These Incredible Herbs for Inflammation

Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now have a better idea of what some of the best herbs for inflammation are. As we can see, there are easy and delicious ways to stay healthy and reduce the amount of inflammation in your body at the same time.

Are you looking for other helpful health articles like this one? If you are, then make sure to check out the rest of our site today for more!