Introduction
Inflammation is just a word to describe a dysfunctional response in the body. Instead of getting on with their normal job, cells and organs can be stuck in a poorly functioning state; this can lead to pain for no reason, fatigue for no reason and an organ not functioning well. This can occur to our brain, gut, lungs etc. in fact any part of the body. When it becomes chronic, this can even lead to the organ being damaged over time.
What are diseases of chronic inflammation?
In many ways, most diseases are related to inflammation. When a part of the body doesn’t function, it ultimately leads to cellular stress. However, some disease states involve a broad distribution of inflammatory processes and are thus body wide. An example of such conditions includes:
- Chronic fatigue
- Arthritis
- Lupus,
- Multiple myeloma
- Allergies
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Asthma
- Atherosclerosis
- Cancer
- Depression
The above diseases are particularly associated with inflammatory messengers called (Hormones of the immune system), such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Tumour Necrosis Factor and Interleukin 1 beta or IL-1b.
How does inflammation cause these diseases?
Inflammation describes a cellular defensive response that is activated in times of stress to protect itself. In the short term, it aids survival; however in the long term it leads to the ageing of cells. If the underlying cause of the stress is not resolved or the body is unable to coordinate a regulation of inflammation, then it can spread around the body and disrupt the normal function of cells.
Features of inflammation include pain, swelling, redness, aches, fevers etc. but at the cellular level it leads to our body trying to hang on to calories (insulin resistance, diabetes) and reduce our hormone output (low testosterone, low thyroid) similar to hibernation. This itself ages cells quicker, and it can lead to fatty liver, insulin resistance etc. In short, we age.
What are some of the treatments for inflammation?
Either to prevent or treat these diseases of excess inflammation, we should aim to relieve stress on our cells. This is in domains such as good foods, regular fasting, exercise, high-quality sleep, minimising toxins etc. to take the pressure off our cells.
At the cell level this means optimising :
- Mold rel
- Oxidative stress,
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Metabolic derangements
- Toxicity
- Balanced hormones: testosterone, thyroid, growth hormone, estrogen and progesterone
- Methylation disorders, and is inherently linked to
- Mitochondrial function
What is the role of the gut?
Dysbiosis is integral to the pathogenesis of these conditions
Diseases associated with raised zonulin IBD, Crohn’s disease, UC, SIBO, T2DM, Obesity, NASH, cirrhosis, RA, schizophrenia, psychosis, ASD, MS, Parkinson’s, AD, Atopy, eczema, mast cell activation, psoriasis, acne rosacea, interstitial cystitis.
In general, some supplements all candidates at risk of the above states should consider include:
- Fish Oil
- Andrographis (potent IL-6 inhibitor)
- Mitochondrial support (NAD+ boosters)
- Annatto E Synergy (IL-6 inhibitor)
- Artemisinin 100mg (NFkappaB)
