Looking for a natural and potent anti-inflammatory herb? Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, ND, PhD talks about the benefits of Frankincense, Turmeric and other natural anti-inflammatories. 

Traditional use of the herb Boswellia (serrata) or Frankincense has been celebrated for thousands of years and was considered valuable and brought by the wise men to the infant Jesus in Biblical Times. Its anti-inflammatory effects can benefit many chronic illnesses such as arthritis, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. 

There is even data to suggest that Boswellia can modify inflammation seen with swelling that comes with cancer of the brain. Boswellia may have the ability to fight different types of cancer including brain cancer cells.

Additional Herbs and Minerals for Inflammation

Another powerful herb to fight inflammation is turmeric. Curcumin which has powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties is the most active constituent of turmeric. I believe whole turmeric is better than just taking curcumin in isolation. 

In my office, I carry a product called Boswellia Complex, it is a pharmaceutical grade combination of boswellia and turmeric along with the anti-inflammatory herb ginger. It is an amazing product in regards to inflammation. 

One of the cheapest pain-relieving substances available is Vitamin D3. Sometimes you need as much as 10,000 IU daily to get the desired effect.  It is recommended to have your dosage monitored by a healthcare practitioner. High dosage of a good quality Omega 3 is also a good anti-inflammatory measure.

Turmeric also supports the liver function, which is part of the eliminatory system. Initially, when working with the eliminatory system, it is important to ensure the colon and kidneys are moving efficiently. 

Important steps to reduce inflammation include:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Supplementing with a quality probiotic
• Getting plenty of fiber – which will happen naturally if you consume 85% raw produce (fruits and vegetables) – which have a tremendous amount of fiber. Also consider your daily participation in regular exercise.
• Herbs that assist the kidney include goldenrod, cornsilk and horsetail also known as shavegrass.

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