Inflammation and pain are intertwined. They often go hand in hand and in cases of chronic pain, inflammation is often the main cause.
There are two ways in which inflammation is related to pain - specifically the pain that comes results from sore and malfunctioning joints.
Why Does Inflammation Cause Pain?
One way in which inflammation promotes sore and stiff joints is that the inflammatory process itself is painful. Your body produces a cascade of compounds when the inflammatory response is activated. Some of these compounds actually trigger pain - like the group of proteins called bradykinins.
Another way by which inflammation messes up your joints is that this process causes damage to tissues, including joints. Inflammation triggers your immune cells to produce oxidative stress which causes damage to the proteins like collagen which make up your joints. So tissue like cartilage starts to break down when inflammation is chronic.
These are the reasons why blocking pain and inflammation can substantially improve the functioning of your joints and your quality of life.
So what herbs can best block the pain and inflammation that hurts your joints? Here they are.
Nutrients That Block Pain and Inflammation
1. Serrapeptase (For Pain & Inflammation)
Serrapeptase is a therapeutic enzyme that reduces inflammation and pain†. It’s been used in Europe for decades.
Serrapeptase reduces pain-producing compounds called bradykinins 1†. In one study examining the effect of serrapeptase on dental surgery patients, the enzyme caused a “significant reduction” in “pain intensity” 2†.
Serrapeptase has also been shown in numerous human studies to fight inflammation and the effects of inflammatory disorders - acting “rapidly localized inflammation” and reducing swelling (a sign of inflammation) 8,9†.
Serrapeptase earns high praise from researchers, who say that the enzyme “possesses tremendous scope in combating inflammation” 10†. A big reason why the enzyme is so successful at preventing inflammation is that it breaks down cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes which are responsible for producing a numerous inflammation-causing compounds 10†.
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2. Bacillus subtilis
The immune system is where inflammation is generated. So to curb inflammation, it’s a good idea to balance your immune system so that it’s not overactive and overflowing your body with inflammatory signals.
Bacillus subtilis is a type of probiotic that calms down immune cells (T cells in this case) so that they don’t overproduce inflammation 3†. In various animal studies, this probiotic has been shown to significantly reduce inflammation 4,5†.
3. White Willow
This is a herb in the willow family that is native to Europe.
White willow can inhibit production of at least two powerful inflammation-inducing signals in the body - tumor necrosis factor-α and nuclear factor-kappa B 6†. These are big fancy names for proteins that can activate inflammation and all the of the negative effects that go along with it - pain and damage to your joints.
White willow also fights pain - research in humans “support[s] the use of willow bark” against “chronic lower back and joint pain” 7†.
4. Devil’s Claw
This is an African herb that has shown impressive anti-inflammatory effects. This herb has been shown to reduce major inflammatory enzymes - COX-1 and COX-2 by between 29.5 and 32.7% 11†. Impressive!
What’s also impressive is that ““devil's claw significantly reduced pain” in people with joint problems (pain, stiffness, and joint cartilage degradation) 12†.
5. Ginger
A classic anti-inflammatory and a pain-reducing herb†. One large study on ginger’s effect on knee joint pain concluded that ginger relieved pain upon standing or walking 13†.
Various studies show that ginger helps in reducing pain - even causing “moderate-to-large reductions” in pain 14†. And the herb’s anti-inflammatory abilities are well documented in humans and animals 15†.
6. Papain
Papain is an anti-inflammatory enzyme naturally found in papaya†.
Papain (along with other enzymes) has been tested specifically against inflammation in those that experience chronic joint pain and the papain enzyme mixture “significantly reduced TGF-β1, a major inflammation signal in the body” 16†.
7. Bromelain
This powerfully anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapple have been proven in clinical trials 17†. Researchers even describe bromelain and a possible “alternative” to NSAID anti inflammatory drugs like Advil or aspirin 18†.
In one study, “bromelain administration resulted in significant decrease in pain and stiffness in patients with” knee cartilage damage 17†.
8. Fungal Proteases
Proteolytic enzymes (like bromelain, papain, and serrapeptase mentioned above) are consistently anti-inflammatory†. It may sound gross, but enzymes isolated from fungus have been shown in humans to reduce levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein 18†.
Having trouble getting around because of painful, swollen joints?
Inflammation could be to blame for your symptoms. As we age, sometimes our immune systems go haywire and start attacking the harmless cartilage between our joints.
And while inflammation is normally necessary to help the immune system fight off invaders like viruses and bacteria -- it’s definitely NOT needed in places like your knees, shoulders, hands, wrists and back!
If occasional joint pain and stiffness is affecting your mobility at the worst possible times, and you’re looking for a natural way to help lessen the inflammation, give Nutracraft’s FlexiAid a try†.
FlexiAid is formulated with all-natural ingredients that have been clinically shown to help reduce inflammation† and ease pain†, including all the ingredients mentioned above like Serrapeptase, Papain, white willow bark, bromelain, ginger root extract and moreƗ.
If you’re worried about dependence or addiction to prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers for joint pain, give FlexiAid a try. Use it for 60 days risk-free. If for any reason you don’t enjoy greater freedom and mobility in your jointsƗ, with less painƗ, simply send us the empty bottle back for a refund of your purchase price
