A lot of attention has been paid recently to inflammation and anti-inflammatories like Tylenol, Advil, aspirin, etc. I won’t go into the politics, but the Harvard research study that is being quoted did prove the need to use caution while considering taking acetaminophen during pregnancy, especially long term. By the end of this article, you will know a number of safe and natural alternatives. Your response to inflammation and pain can be a safe and natural one that actually leaves you healthier.

Let’s start by talking about inflammation in general. It hurts, it makes your joints swell, it aches, and makes us feel old. It often makes us reach for the pain pills in our medicine cabinets. The obvious antidote for inflammation seems to be anti-inflammatories like Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, and aspirin. They make the pain go away and we feel normal again. But the important thing to remember is that those pain pills didn’t actually fix whatever was causing the pain, they just blocked the pain signals to your brain. It’s not fun to think about, but the inflammation you’re experiencing is there for a reason. The pain is telling you something is wrong, and you should be listening to it.

What is inflammation?

Let’s start simple here: why would your body become inflamed? Quite often, inflammation is a signal that your body is trying to tell you something. Here’s an analogy: if you play football with your friends for the first time in 10 years without warming up, you’re not going to feel great afterwards. You may still have the moves, but your body is not the same. Tight muscles, out of shape from no exercise and sitting too much, you’re going to ache. That is actually a good ache, and it stimulates your body to come back stronger.

What causes inflammation?

If you’re experiencing inflammation, there are several other things your body could be trying to tell you as well. Too many processed foods? Your gut will become inflamed. Taking certain medications can cause inflammation. Statins are a big one, as they are well known for causing muscle and joint pain. Certain antibiotics and even acne medications can cause joint pain. But here’s a shocker – a number of anti-inflammatories can help inflammation in one part of your body (a joint ache or headache) but cause gut inflammation at the same time! Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve, even aspirin can actually cause more inflammation than they create, especially if taken in doses higher than recommended or for an extended period. Omeprazole is another one, causing muscle pain and cramps by lowering magnesium when taken for months at a time. That’s why the box says do not take for more than 14 days at a time!

How can you get rid of inflammation?

So, what is a person to do? The first thing is to recognize that it is a signal from your body that something isn’t right. Figure out the reason you hurt and change that as a first step. If you’re eating too many processed foods, change your diet. If you’re not getting enough sleep, get into a better nighttime routine to help you sleep better and longer. If you aren’t getting enough movement in, start an exercise program. Choose healthy pain approaches like chiropractic, natural anti-inflammatories, and lower your stress. These have all been shown to alleviate pain and inflammation.

Take supplements, not medications

If you need an anti-inflammatory, realize that there are some potent natural supplements that function as natural anti-inflammatories to give you the relief while you change the factors that led to your current state. Curcumin is a potent natural anti-inflammatory. Please note that sprinkling turmeric on a salad is not the same. And the more cost-effective curcumin like curcumin-95 is okay, but the really good stuff is liposomal curcumin, which is about 400 times more potent than turmeric. Fish oil is also quite effective, with pro-resolving mediators (PRM) being a version of fish oil that is the best. The best part? Both of these natural anti-inflammatories also have a number of other benefits. In other words, they are good for you, while Tylenol, Advil, and the like are bad for you.

Finally, realize that over-the-counter anti-inflammatories are not without risks. Tylenol actually causes about 500 deaths a year (mostly due to liver failure). Even plain old aspirin can cause intestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. So, reach for the fish oil and curcumin first when you’re looking to fight inflammation. You will feel better and be healthier!

Dr. Burtis, D.C., M.S., CFMP, DACBN, has been providing natural healthcare to the Fairmont area at Burtis Chiropractic Center for over 35 years. He uses a combination of chiropractic, nutrition, and functional medicine to help individuals restore and maintain health and healing through individualized care plans. The mission of Burtis Chiropractic Center is to provide transformational healthcare that takes an individual’s life to the next level. We strive to be a solution for families to experience transformational healthcare and help create vibrant and resilient lifestyles that can be passed to future generations.