Inflammation gets a bad rap, but it is actually an entirely necessary process for your body. The problem comes in when your body is constantly inflamed, which can lead to chronic – and sometimes deadly – diseases.
Good versus bad inflammation
As noted on WebMD.com: ‘inflammation is a process by which your body’s white blood cells and the things they make, protect you from infection from outside invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. But in some diseases, like arthritis, your body’s defence system – your immune system – triggers inflammation when there are no invaders to fight off. In these autoimmune diseases, your immune system acts as if regular tissues are infected or somehow unusual, causing damage’.
‘Good’ inflammation (acute) is short-lived and typically lasts a couple of days whereas ‘bad’ inflammation (chronic) affects your body for months or years, meaning it is constantly under attack.
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What are the effects of chronic inflammation?
Chronic inflammation can lead to a range of awful diseases including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
An article for Harvard Health notes that, ‘[with chronic inflammation] white blood cells may end up attacking nearby healthy tissues and organs. For example, if you are overweight and have more visceral fat cells – the deep type of fat that surrounds your organs – the immune system may see those cells as a threat and attack them with white blood cells. The longer you are overweight, the longer your body can remain in a state of inflammation’.
What causes inflammation?
The causes of chronic inflammation vary, but the predominant culprits are:
- An infection or injury that is left untreated
- Autoimmune disorders, like Type 1 diabetes, Rheumatoid arthriti and Addison’s disease
- Refined and processed diets
- Prolonged exposure to chemicals or pollution
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- Chronic stress
- Obesity
- Too much (excessive) or too little exercise
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What are the symptoms of chronic inflammation?
According to Healthline.com, many individuals don’t know they have chronic inflammation until they’re diagnosed with another condition. ‘If you feel like you’re experiencing some of the common symptoms of chronic inflammation, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor. They’ll know the first steps to take when it comes to a diagnosis.’
Those common signs include:
- Chronic fatigue and insomnia
- Significant weight gain or weight loss
- Frequent infections or illnesses
- Depression, anxiety and other related mood conditions
- Constant or recurring body pain
- Regular constipation, diarrhoea and acid reflux
- Chest pain
- Joint pain
- Fever
How do you treat it?*
For acute inflammation, getting enough rest is very important. If it’s caused by a wound or injury, icing the area and keeping it clean is paramount. Castor oil packs are also great for speeding up recovery. Using a castor oil pack on painful joints will help to ease and reduce inflammation and pain while simultaneously draining blocked fluids, thanks to its ricinoleic acid. A castor oil pack is also beneficial for acute or chronic skin conditions like rashes or psoriasis.
For chronic inflammation, besides following a healthy lifestyle and limiting your intake of toxic substances (smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, a processed and refined diet), you should also seek medical treatment for any continued pain or other prolonged ailments.
Again, castor oil packs are very beneficial in the treatment of conditions related to chronic inflammation. America’s Advanced Naturopathic Medical Centre condones the use of castor oil packs for the treatment of chronic inflammation that could be linked to lifestyle choices - smoking, excessive drinking and bowel conditions – all connected to the lymphatic system – as well as for joint pain. ‘The lymphatic system is like the sewer system of the body. Toxins, infections, metals, dead cells and debris from all over the body are collected and cleaned up by the lymphatic system then brought to the liver for filtering and emptied out the colon. When our lymphatic system is not working effectively, waste and toxins can build up, this can lead to a depressed immune system, inefficient bowel movements and worsening food sensitivities, which ultimately lead to inflammation and disease. Therefore, castor oil packs can increase lymphatic drainage, detoxify the body, strengthen the immune system, improve bowel movements, reduce food sensitivities, decrease inflammation, prevent disease and enhance overall health.’
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Want to learn more about castor oil packs and their benefits? Click here.
*Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider before embarking on drastic lifestyle changes or taking medication. The information in this article is in no way intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical treatment.
