Anti-inflammatory diet, foods, supplements, herbs and natural substances as alternatives to medications by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

The term anti inflammatory refers to something that reduces, or is against, inflammation.

Anti inflammatory diet and food
A diet that reduces inflammation consists mostly of vegetables and fish. Vegetables and fruits have polyphenols. Vegetables are better in this regard since they have much less sugar than fruits. In my opinion, the foods that cause the least inflammation and are the most anti-inflammatory are fish such as halibut and salmon, and all kinds of vegetables. Foods that cause it are sugar, simple carbohydrates, and certain fatty acids and oils. To reduce inflammation avoid junk foods such as donuts, pastry, and sugared drinks.

Natural anti inflammatory herbs, supplements - herbal anti inflammatory products
There are countless herbs and natural supplements that have antiinflammatory properties. I have listed only a few here and with time I will add more. Many of these can be purchased online and you can learn more about them but clicking on the provided links.
Curcumin spice could act as an anti-inflammatory supplement.
CMO stands for cetyl myristoleate and is often used for joint health.
Fish oils can help shift prostaglandins to less inflammatory types. Similar supplements include krill oil and flax seed oil.
Frankincense is an herb that has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Indigo plant is used in Chinese medicine.
Silymarin is a derivative from the milk thistle plant that has been used for centuries to treat liver ailments.
Vitamin C and flavonoids have antiinflammatory effects and is associated with improved endothelial function.

Catuaba from the Amazon forest is also used as a sexual stimulant
Serrapeptase is an enzyme available over the counter and online stores.
Zyflamend is a blend of several potent herbs.

Antioxidants and antiinflammatory dietary supplements for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2010.
To review efficacy studies of antioxidant and antiinflammatory dietary supplements used to manage osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and make conclusions about their place in therapy. Glucosamine, chondroitin, and methyl sulfonyl methane were excluded. A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (1996 through 2009), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, and Natural Standard, with bibliographic review of relevant articles. Cited studies from before our search range were included if they represented the only published human data available. Search words included "antioxidant," "antiinflammatory," "cat's claw," "ginger," "fish oil," "omega-3," "turmeric," "vitamin E," "vitamin C," "Baikal skullcap," "barberry," "Chinese goldthread," "green tea," "Indian holy basil," "hu zhang,""oregano," and"rosemary." Three studies support cat's claw alone or in combination for OA, and two studies support omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of RA. We cannot recommend use of vitamin E alone; vitamins A, C, and E in combination; ginger; turmeric; or Zyflamend (New Chapter, Brattleboro, Vermont) for the treatment of OA or RA or omega-3 fatty acids for OA. Whether any of these supplements can be effectively and safely recommended to reduce nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug or steroid usage is unclear and requires more high-quality research.

Does MSM cream work as an anti inflammatory cream?
   I have not seen studies evaluating MSM as a cream.

Can you please advise how can i reduce the CRP, sed rates and TNF naturally.
   Any changes that you make to your diet, the addition of certain herbs and spices, lifestyle changes and moderate exercise and deep sleep, will help reduce the levels of inflammation markers in the blood.

Polyphenols
There is persuasive epidemiological and experimental evidence that dietary polyphenols have anti-inflammatory activity. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have long been used to combat inflammation. Recently, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors have been developed and recommended for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). However, two COX inhibitors have been withdrawn from the market due to unexpected side effects. Because conventional therapeutic and surgical approaches have not been able to fully control the incidence and outcome of many inflammatory diseases, there is an urgent need to find safer compounds and to develop mechanism-based approaches for the management of these diseases. Polyphenols are found in many dietary plant products, including fruits, vegetables, beverages, herbs, and spices. Several of these compounds have been found to inhibit the inflammation process as well as tumorigenesis in experimental animals; they can also exhibit potent biological properties. In addition, epidemiological studies have indicated that populations who consume foods rich in specific polyphenols have lower incidences of inflammatory disease. Polyphenols have diverse biological effects, however, this review will focus on some of the pivotal molecular targets that directly affect the inflammation process.

Anti inflammatory drug  and medication
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs) are used to relieve some symptoms caused by arthritis (rheumatism), such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. Many types of over the counter anti inflammatory medicines are available including ibuprofen and aspirin. Powerful medicines that have anti inflamatory properties are the anti inflammatory steroids such as cortisol.

Erectile dysfunction
Surprisingly, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen also cause erectile dysfunction. Regardless of the reason for taking them, painkillers classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) apparently increase the likelihood that middle-aged and elderly men will develop erection difficulties. A study involved 1126 men, between 50 and 70 years of age, without erectile dysfunction in 1994 when they completed a questionnaire that included, among other things, questions about erectile function and medication usage. The questionnaire was then re-administered five years later. The investigators found that the erectile dysfunction rate was 93 cases per 1000 persons per year among Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs users compared with just 35 cases among nonusers.

Anti inflammatory drug and meds for tendon Injuries
Anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen may not be effective in many cases of tendon injury. Pain relievers known collectively as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are often used to treat sore muscles and joints because the body's inflammatory reaction to injury contributes to pain. However, there is no reason to believe that NSAIDs heal tendon injuries known as tendinopathy. Tendinopathy is a general term for disorders of the tendons, bands of fibrous tissue that connect muscle to bone. The Achilles tendon, tendons in the shoulder and the patellar tendon in the kneecap are commonly affected areas. While the initial injury that leads to these tendon problems may involve inflammation in the first several days, there is no evidence of ongoing inflammation in chronic tendinopathy. Nor is there evidence that NSAIDs are an effective therapy after the acute injury is over. In the absence of an overt inflammatory process, there is no reason to use of NSAIDs in chronic tendinopathy. NSAIDs may bring some pain relief from tendinopathy, they may, in the long run, hinder the healing process.  Lab research suggests, that while NSAIDs decrease certain inflammatory chemicals, they may increase the production of substances called leukotrienes that could actually further damage the tendon. Doctors also often use injections of cortisone, an anti-inflammatory drug. But cortisone has the same issues as NSAIDs, and there is evidence that the injections can make tendons more vulnerable to rupture. Source: Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, January/February 2006.

Use after surgery
Experiments in rats show that the antiinflammatory painkillers celecoxib (brand name, Celebrex) and indomethacin, given after repair of a rotator cuff injury, impair the healing process. Both painkillers belong to the class known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, and recent lab studies have shown that NSAIDs interfere with ligament healing. Researchers investigated the effect of NSAIDs on bone-to-tendon healing. Rotator cuff repairs were done in 180 rats. Sixty animals were then given the non-selective antiinflammatory NSAID indomethacin for 14 days, 60 were given the selective antiinflammatory  NSAID celecoxib (a so-called COX-2 inhibitor) for 14 days, and 60 were given neither antiinflammatory drug. Five tendons failed to heal -- four in the indomethacin group and one in the celecoxib group. Significantly fewer tendons in the two NSAID groups than in the control group were able bear weight normally. Even though NSAID treatment was given for only 14 days after surgery, apparently this was enough time to interfere with healing. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2006.

Topical Herbal Antiinflammatory substances
Topical anti-inflammatory activity of some Asian medicinal plants used in dermatological disorders.
Fitoterapia. 2001.
The topical anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from Cassia angustifolia, Rheum palmatum, Coptis chinensis, Phellodendron amurense and Scutellaria baicalensis, plants used in traditional East Asian medicine against different skin disorders, was studied. Though in different degree, all the extracts significantly inhibited the edema induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), in both single or multiple application, oxazolone, and arachidonic acid (AA). None of the extracts inhibited in vitro the activity of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) from Naja naja.