The signs of acute inflammation may vary, depending on what kind of tissues are affected and the intensity of the underlying cause.

However, the most common symptoms include pain, fatigue, fever, digestive issues (such as diarrhea or constipation), joint and muscle pains, skin irritation and rashes, headaches or migraines, dizziness, etc.

Acute inflammation is generally considered a healthy response of the immune system as long as the inflammation is controlled. If acute inflammation becomes excessive, it may even lead to life-threatening conditions.

If it turns chronic instead, the symptoms are often similar to those in acute inflammation and depend on the main organ or tissues affected. The main difference is that the symptoms persist for months or longer and are less intense.

Chronic inflammation may also lead to additional complaints which decrease the quality of your life, such as chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, or turn into a debilitating disease.

What conditions are associated with chronic inflammation?

It’s important to differentiate whether a medical problem is a condition that leads to chronic inflammation or an inflammatory disease that is actually caused by it.

The most common conditions which contribute to the occurrence of chronic inflammation and inflammatory disease are:

• recurring or persisting injury
• inability to eliminate a pathogen or a foreign object
• excess fatty tissue, metabolic stress, and dysregulation
• compromised microbiome and intestinal barrier
• repeated, long-term exposure to toxins (alcohol, tobacco smoke, etc.)
• autoimmunity

All of these can lead to chronic inflammation, which in turn is associated with a wide array of diseases. 

Depending on the affected organs or tissues, the diseases can include metabolic syndrome, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and many others.

For instance, a repetitive injury to a joint can cause it to be chronically inflamed, leading to arthritis [2]. The symptoms may include joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, swelling, and weakness within the joint.

People with obesity often have excessive visceral fat, which can cause general chronic inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and even cancer [3].

Sometimes your immune system may become dysregulated and attack your own tissues and organs. This leads to autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Healthy lifestyle habits such as regular exercise can help you prevent or lower the risk of chronic inflammation.

For example, exercising regularly can help you reduce your body fat percentage. Having excess body fat contributes to chronic systemic inflammation.

Exercise can also help reduce chronic local inflammation, such as the one caused by osteoarthritis. That’s likely because it helps promote joint mobility and improves strength in the muscles that support them.

In one study, overweight individuals with knee osteoarthritis experienced a significant reduction in pain after performing weight-bearing treadmill walking for 12 weeks [5]. 

Exercising regularly can also help you lose weight, reducing the stress of your body weight on your joints [6].

Losing 10% of your body weight or more can help improve joint pain, mobility, and quality of life in osteoarthritis patients.

If you are suffering from inflammation or want to prevent it from occurring in the first place, it is important to focus primarily on avoiding pro-inflammatory foods and replacing them with healthy options.

These include ultra-processed foods, hydrogenated fats, sugar-containing beverages, and alcohol.

Ultra-processed foods are all junk foods, including fried foods, ice cream, ham, sausages, chips, mass-produced bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, sugar-flavored yogurts, instant soups, and many others.

Studies show that consuming ultra-processed foods correlates with significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP} [7]. CRP is one of the main markers for accessing inflammation in clinical practice.

One common ingredient in ultra-processed foods and soft margarine is trans fats, also known as hydrogenated oils. These are industrially manufactured fats that have strong pro-inflammatory effects.

According to one trial, the participants with the highest consumption of trans fats had 73% higher CRP levels than those consuming the least amount [8]. 

Consuming trans fats elevates another inflammatory marker, TNF-α [9]. According to the research, TNF-α increased by 12% due to trans-fat consumption.

Sugar is another food ingredient that is often labeled as pro-inflammatory. However, studies show that only sugar-containing beverages and not sugar-containing solids increase CRP [10]. Interestingly even 100% juice was found to be pro=inflammatory due to the high sugar content. 

Furthermore, alcohol is also a pro-inflammatory beverage, and it can lead to a significant increase in levels of CRP, even in cases of moderate consumption [11].

Which herbs help reduce inflammation?

When it comes to chronic inflammation, certain natural remedies, such as anti-inflammatory herbs and spices, can also help alleviate the symptoms.

Moreover, their long-term use may be tolerated quite well and with few side effects.

Some of the most effective natural secrets to alleviate pain & inflammation include the following herbs:

• Curcuma Longa (turmeric)
• Zingiber officinale (ginger)
• Boswellia Serrata (frankincense)
• Stinging Nettle
• Japanese Knotweed

Currently, turmeric is one of the most-well studied anti-inflammatory herbs. A huge amount of research reveals that turmeric and its main active ingredients are highly effective in reducing local chronic inflammation, such as in osteoarthritis.

According to one study, turmeric supplementation led to a whopping 58% reduction of inflammatory symptoms, including pain and stiffness, in adults with arthritis [14].

Another trial even reported effectiveness that was comparable to NSAIDs [15]. And on top of that, turmeric supplementation had a 12% lower risk of side effects.

Ginger is another promising herb that, apart from its anti-inflammatory properties, also has potent analgesic effects. 

In one trial, a herbal mixture containing ginger and applied topically was able to reduce the sensation of pain associated with arthritis [16]. Moreover, the effectiveness was comparable to topical aspirin.

Furthermore, another trial revealed that combining curcumin and ginger extract has even more potent anti-inflammatory properties [17]. Together they were effective at improving the overall healing processes in the body after traumas and injuries. 

You can find our best-selling Turmeric with Ginger supplement here, which has been standardized to 95% curcuminoids - the bioactive compound which provides turmeric with its potent anti-inflammatory benefits. 

Boswellia is another herb you can add to the mixture for anti-inflammatory effects. In one trial. 6g of Boswellia Serrata was able to significantly attenuate joint pain and symptoms in persons with osteoarthritis [18]. Boswellia can be found in our Glucosamine Chondroitin supplement, alongside seven other research-backed ingredients specifically formulated to support joint health and provide relief for occasional pain. 

Therefore, all these herbal extracts are most effective when combined rather than used separately. Moreover, remember that natural remedies should be used alongside your medical treatment if you need one; they are not meant to replace it!