The Best Natural Anti-Inflammatories

With more people steering away from mainstream medication for a variety of conditions, herbs and natural remedies are making a very welcome come back. For centuries Mother Nature has been able to provide some of the best natural cures for almost anything, and one of these is inflammation. So what are the best or most common natural anti-inflammatories?

Here are 7 you may want to consider

Turmeric

Turmeric is found in many kitchens all over the world. Best known for giving some spice to a curry or stew the medicinal properties of this amazing spice are generally overlooked. Known to herbalists as an almost miracle product, scientific studies have shown Turmeric to be a powerful anti-inflammatory. Curcumin is the magic ingredient in Turmeric that makes it such a good anti-inflammatory and a pinch of turmeric is a glass of water is generally enough to ease a lot of pain and inflammation.

Ginger

One of the most recognised medicinal spices found in many kitchens, Ginger is a superb anti-inflammatory. The best way to get ginger into your system and benefit from its powerful antioxidant, as well as anti-inflammatory properties, is to eat the raw root. Found in most grocery stores ginger is readily available and much cheaper than many conventional medications.
Cayenne Pepper
Known to many for hot, spicy burn the Capsaicin in Cayenne Peppers that gives the burn is also a highly effective anti-inflammatory. Such is the capability of Capsaicin that many topical pain relieving creams contain it.

Cloves

The old wives tale about cloves for toothache is actually very true. Cloves contain Eugenol, and this has anti-inflammatory properties, hence chewing on a clove eases toothache. For areas on the body that are inflamed, such as muscles, clove oil can be used as a topical ointment to great effect.

CBD Oil

A lot has been said about CBD oil, and it’s amazing medicinal properties. Derived from Cannabis, CBD oil is still undergoing scientific tests, and the results are becoming more and more conclusive. CBD Oil has many relaxing and soothing properties, and one of these is its anti-inflammatory properties. Available in a number of formats from oil to tablets and a spray that is great for sore throats, CBD oil is becoming a popular natural remedy for many people worldwide.

Astaxanthin

Often called “the king of the carotenoids” Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidant properties. Further to this, this powerful natural medication is fast becoming well known for its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties. Available in many natural medicine health stores as well as pharmacists; Astaxanthin has proven to work where mainstream pain relief and anti-inflammatory products do not.

Green Tea

The Chinese have known about the many medicinal benefits of green tea for thousands of years. For people living with arthritis the Chine herbalists have been proven right by science and green tea does have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

There are many natural anti-inflammatories, and nearly every household in the modern world will have at least one natural anti-inflammatory in a cupboard somewhere. It seems those herbs and spices you don’t always use do have a use after all, not only in cooking.

Ron Goedeke

Dr Ron Goedeke, specialises in alternative and functional medicine. He is a foundation member of the New Zealand college of Appearance medicine and has been a member of the American Academy of Anti-aging medicine since 1999. With over 20 years of experience in the anti-aging field, Dr Ron Goedeke is recognized as one of New Zealand’s leaders in this new and growing field of medicine. Read more