Chronic inflammation is believed to be the driving force behind some of the most debilitating and deadly diseases plaguing the human race, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, according to "Time" magazine. Lifestyle factors, such as diet, are thought to play a significant role in causing inflammation. The use of herbs such as turmeric and thyme has been found to help reduce inflammation. Consult your doctor before taking turmeric or thyme for medicinal purposes.
Causes of Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural immune response and can be beneficial when used to fight off pathogens and heal the effects of injury. Inflammation that lingers over the long term can erode health and weaken your body's defenses against numerous degenerative disorders, such as those previously mentioned. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, diets high in saturated fat and trans fat, which are the Western nutritional norm, promote inflammation. Diets such as those commonly adhered to in Mediterranean countries are associated with lower inflammation risk. These diets contain higher amounts of fish, olive oil, nuts, fruits vegetables and whole grains than are normally consumed in the West.
How Inflammation Works
When an injury or infection happens in your body, your cells release histamine, a hormone that increases the porosity of the walls of your blood vessels. This allows fluids that contain white blood cells and antibodies to flood the affected area, where these immune fighters go to work at defeating the offending pathogen or healing the damaged tissues. Sometimes inflammation continues for too long a period, resulting in the breakdown of healthy tissues. According to "Time," doctors are investigating whether a single inflammation remedy may help in treating numerous types of diseases related to chronic inflammation.
Turmeric and Inflammation
Turmeric is the yellow spice that provides pigment and pungency to many East Indian dishes. Derived from the Curcuma longa plant, turmeric has been used as a traditional remedy for over 4,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant, and helps fight inflammation by lowering the levels of inflammatory enzymes in your body.
Thyme and Inflammation
Thyme is another common culinary spice that has been associated with anti-inflammatory properties. According to a study published in May 2010 in the journal "Cancer Prevention Research," a plant extract that used thyme along with a number of other dietary components reduced the expression of genes related to inflammation in laboratory mice. Another study, published in October 2007 in "Mediators of Inflammation," found that a combination of thyme oil and oregano oil reduced the production of inflammatory substances in mice with colitis. Further research needs to be conducted to assess whether thyme's anti-inflammatory influence extends to humans.
References
- "Time"; Health; The Fires Within; Christine Gorman, et al.; February 2004
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University; Nutrition and Inflammation: Victoria Drake; August 2010
- "Cancer Prevention Research"; Extract of Oregano, Coffee, Thyme, Clove, and Walnuts Inhibits Nf-Kappab in Monocytes and in Transgenic Reporter Mice; I. Paur, et al.; May 2010
- "Mediators of Inflammation"; Effects of a Combination of Thyme and Oregano Essential Oils on TNBS-Induced Colitis in Mice; Alexandra Bukovská, et al.; October 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Turmeric
