8 Alternative ways to reduce Inflammation without the chance of adverse effects of NSAIDs.

These are all ways of reducing inflammation without using NSAID's or other anti-inflammatory drugs. We talked about in class how COX-2 inhibitors could be linked to increased MI, and COX-1 inhibitors cause damage to you gastrointestinal system. So, why take the chance when you can just eat the right things to help you out. Omega-3 fatty acids can be consumed by taking in fish oil. There have been many studies done that show the omega-3 fatty acids make the precursors to prostaglandins, which can start or inhibit inflammation. But, remember to reduce you omega-6 fatty acid intake or you increased omega-3 fatty acid intake will not work for inflammation. The second food for you to consume is ginger. It has been proven to be a slight anti-inflammatory and helps with stomach aches and pain. The third is to take bromelain enzymes. These are seen in pineapples or you can buy them as a supplement. They are a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory. Another is Cetyl Myristoleate oil, which is seen in butter and fish. It will help with lubricating your joints and also is a natural anti-inflammatory. There was a study conducted with this oil and 63.5 % of the patients that did not respond to NSAID's for arthritic pain responded to this oil. Number five is Boswellia, which is boswellic acids that ares said to reduce inflammation. This was agreed with in a study of 175 patients with rheumatic disorders and 122 patients found reduced stiffness and inflammation in four weeks. Evening Primrose Oil was used in a study with 37 rheumatoid arthritis patients and significantly reduced tenderness swelling of the patients when only taking 1.4 g a day. Cayenne Peppers in a cream form can reduce pain by depleting a chemical component of the nerve cells that give signals to the brain about pain. The last one is White Willow Bark, in which aspirin is made out of. It gives mild pain relief and does not have the adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract as aspirin does.

So, there's eight more things you can try to reduce inflammation before jumping the list and going straight to the medicine cabinet for your NSAIDs.