Natural Anti-Inflammatories

Natural Anti-inflammatories

Controlling joint inflammation generally targets the inhibition of prostaglandin production (via the COX enzyme) and leukotrienes (via the enzyme 5-LO). Many health professionals are not aware that there are safe, natural and effective nutritional and herbal approaches to promote bone and joint health. Some effective anti-inflammatory natural herbs include:

Boswellia serratea - (Frankincense)

• Indian plant - gummy resin found under the bark which contains active ingredients (boswellic acids).
• Blocks leukotriene biosynthesis by inhibiting 5-LO.
• May exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects.
• Safety - not associated with gastro-intestinal side effects.

Scutellaria baicalensi - (Chinese Skullcap- Common Chinese herb used for centuries)

• Anti-Inflammatory properties
• Cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) inhibition & 5- LO Inhibition
• Anti-oxidant

Oleanolic acid

• Found in numerous botanicals
• Animal models demonstrate:
  • Cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) inhibition
  • Important to the maintenance of normal anti-inflammatory mechanisms
  • Supports healthy GI tissues (gastroprotective)
  • Promotes healthy liver function (hepatoprotective)

These natural anti-inflammatories are synergistic with glucosamine and do not carry side effects such as GI bleeding, interference with cartilage repair, acceleration of cartilage destruction or degradation of the bone matrix. Glucosamine is an amino-monosaccharide produced naturally in humans and needed for normal building and repairing cartilage.

To learn more about a product with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients please visit here..

References

• Reginster JY, et al. Glucosamine sulfate significally reduces progression of knee osteoarthritis over 3 years: A large, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, prospective trial. American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting, Boston MA, 1999.
• Zerkak D, et al. The use of glucosamine therapy in osteoarthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 6:41-5, 2004.
• Matheson AJ, et al. Glucosamine: a review of its use in the management of osteoarthritis. Drugs Aging: 20:1041-60, 2003.
• Holick M, et al. Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. Am J Clin Nutr 79: 362-71, 2004.
• Van Etten E, et al. 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol: endocrinology meets the immune system. Proc Nutrition Society 61:375-80, 2002.
• Bowman BA and Russell RM. Present Knowledge in Nutrition, International Life Sciences Institute, 2001.
• Hawk C. Manganese Deficiency and its Role in Structural Balance. The American Chiropractor, March/April, 1982.
• Ammon HP. Salai Guggal - Boswellia serrata: from a herbal medicine to a non-redox inhibitor of leukotriene biosynthesis. Eur J Med Res 1:369-70, 1996.
• Majeed, M. Boswellin: The Anti-inflammatory Phytonutrient. Piscataway, NJ: Nutriscience Publishers, Inc. 1996.
• Anonymous. Boswellia serrata. Alternative Medicine Review 3:306-7, 1998.
• Chi YS, et al. Effects of wogonin, a plant flavone from Scutellaria radix, on skin inflammation: in vivo regulation of inflammation-associated gene expression. Biochem Pharmacol. 2003 Oct 1;66(7): 127-8.
• Giner-Larza EM, et al. Oleanolic acid, a 3-oxotriterpene from Pistacia, inhibits leukotriene synthesis and has anti-inflammatory activity. Eur J Pharmacol 428: 137-43, 2001.
• Shimamura M, et al. Inhibition of angiogenesis by humulone, a bitter acid from beer hop. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 289:220-4, 2001.
• Lemay M, Murray MA, et al. In vitro and ex vivo cyclooxygenase inhibition by a hops extract. Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr 13 (Suppl): S110, 2004.
• Ricciardelli C, et al. Elevated stromal chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan predicts progression in early-stage prostate cancer. Clin Cancer Res 3:983-92, 1997.