Natural Remedies for Inflammation. / Christopher Vasey, N.D.; translated by Jon E. Graham. Healing Arts Press, Inner Traditions International, 2014, c2013 Editions Jovence. 186 p., color illustrations, index.
Naturopathic Doctor Christopher Vasey describes the etiology of 50 common illnesses for which inflammation is responsible, producing damaging effects such as infection and immune compromise. Inflammation can strike any part of the body. The body’s cells’ response is swift and robust—because as Vasey explains inflammation is the result of the body’s protection mechanism which seeks to attack and break up too much toxicity, a germ or other physical invader, or the lack of the body’s own anti-inflammatory substances.
Killing germs is what the body does naturally, but when it does destroy them, debris is created. It must be removed, otherwise an acute infection could occur, which might then dissipate, or else persist, and become a chronic situation. So, it’s easy to understand that when a germ enters our system, it must be escorted out as fast as possible.
Symptoms like redness, swelling, pain and heat—usually present with inflammation, show that the body’s best defenses are at work. In order to deal with an imbalance such as an invasion, the body first attacks the invader and produces pro-inflammatory substances, and then it clears the situation with anti-inflammatory substances.
Vasey discusses the value of intervention with plant or pharmaceutical medicines, and why plant medicines are preferable. He also promotes nutrition from specific substances, and finally the use of hydrotherapy to clear heat and swelling.
Readers can acquire an understanding of the progression of illnesses and an idea of how to treat them using plants and nutrition. Vasey provides in-depth information on eighteen plant medicines that help the body increase anti-inflammatory response; first with cortisone-like action, second, with inflammatory blockers, and third with antihistamine effects.
A few examples follow. Ask your herbalist to identify the plant best suited to help you and your condition. As Vasey explains, the right dosage is important since different people react differently. Black currant (Ribies nigrum), p. 100, “stimulates cortisone production” and is helpful in treating hay fever and allergies from animal hair, also arthritic pain: its primary action is to strengthen the respiratory tract and skeletal joints. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is in the group of plants that “block the inflammatory process”, p. 105, and tops the list of anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antiviral plants as medicines. Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is said to be antihistaminic to hay fever, allergies and migraines (p. 133).
Establishing even more defense for natural, as opposed to pharmaceutical, remedies, Vasey provides an explanation for why inflammation can also be treated by Omega-3 fatty acid in the diet. Caution: too much Omega-3 can cause low blood sugar, blood thinning and “lower immune system function”, p. 148).
Vasey also suggests a focus on ingesting alkaline vegetables to help the body to decrease acid over-production, the terrain of inflammation and infection. Natural Remedies for Inflammation is a herbal handbook that can be used in tandem with the author’s “The Acid-Alkaline Diet for Optimum Health”, “Optimal Detox”, and “The Healing Power of Fever”, to name a few of his books. See Healing Arts Press for more titles.
A word on translations for herbal handbooks: I believe it’s valuable to read these handbooks written by speakers of languages other than English since it provides a more holistic view of the subject and perhaps a wider world-view. There are some drawbacks. For the text to acquire absolute fluidity, a translation might need the interpretation of an English-speaking herbalist for clarity, and flawless description.
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