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10 Things You Can Do To Help Ease Inflammation Right Now
While inflammation isn't inherently bad—in fact, it's an important process that helps us fight off viruses and other bacteria—it becomes a problem when it doesn't subside once the threat is gone. As a functional medicine practitioner, I see issues with chronic inflammation come up so often that it prompted me to do a full deep-dive on the subject in my book, The Inflammation Spectrum.
When inflammation is out of control, it creates a cascade of pro-inflammatory cytokines and molecules, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), Interleukin-1beta (IL-1b), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) that continue to build up and linger in our body.
Unfortunately, inflammatory triggers are abundant in our society (think: the foods we eat, the toxins in our air, and even the stress we feel), so it's important to build some inflammation-fighting activities into your daily life. Here are my favorite small, simple ways to start tackling inflammation right now:
Stimulate the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that plays a major role in communicating with and modulating function of the gut, brain, liver, heart, and lungs. Stimulating this nerve1 has been shown to lower TNF (a pro-inflammatory cytokine) in those with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as alleviate inflammation-related health issues like depression and inflammatory bowel disease2.
You can stimulate the vagus nerve through techniques like slow breathing, singing, or deep humming.
Try CBD oil.
Your endocannabinoid system, known as the ECS, contains endocannabinoid compounds. These compounds work to maintain a healthy inflammatory response by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines3. CBD oil interacts with the ECS to continue to drive down inflammation.*
CBD oil can be taken orally as a sublingual oil or as a supplement in capsule form, so it can easily be added to your anti-inflammatory daily routine.*
Meditate.
Meditation is known for its calming effect, so it's no surprise that it has some inflammation-calming effects as well. Practicing meditation can lower the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-61. Since meditation also involves slow breathing, it would be logical to conclude that its inflammation-lowering abilities could be due to stimulation of the vagus nerve.
Enjoy a glass of red wine.
Yes, you read that right. Organic red wine is rich in polyphenols like resveratrol, which has been shown to lower TNF-a and, in turn, CRP. Obviously some people, like those with alcohol addiction problems or those with histamine intolerance, should avoid alcohol. I rarely drink and prefer to take my resveratrol in supplement form.
Practice yoga.
It's no secret that yoga has a long list of benefits, including improved flexibility and reduced chronic pain4, but you can add one more to the list: anti-inflammatory. One study showed a significant decrease in both TNF-a and IL-65 levels in both men and women who regularly practiced yoga for an hour a day.
Take a nap.
By now, you probably know that poor sleep is bad for your health. It doesn't just make you tired; it can cause brain fog, weight gain, and—you guess it—inflammation.
While getting enough sleep every single night is the goal, you can mitigate the damage of that one night of poor sleep by taking a nap. A two-hour nap has been shown to significantly reduce IL-6 levels6 that were elevated from the previous night's lack of sleep.
Physical touch
Any sort of loving physical touch like hugging, cuddling, and sex releases the powerful hormone oxytocin from your brain's pituitary gland. Also referred to as the "love" hormone, oxytocin drives down7 IL-6 and boosts inflammation-fighting T-reg cells. So you can, literally, kiss some of your inflammation goodbye.
Intermittent fast.
Limiting your food intake for extended periods of time does wonders for lowering inflammation, by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines8. In fact, fasting has been linked to a decrease in inflammatory conditions such as asthma9, autoimmune conditions like lupus10, and gut disorders11 like ulcerative colitis and IBS.
Exercise.
This one might seem counterintuitive. While exercise can cause short-term inflammation12 as the body recovers, it actually decreases inflammation in the long term. In fact, just 20 minutes of exercise13 has been shown to suppress inflammatory markers. Cardio, like HIIT training, can greatly lower CRP4.
Get it checked out.
If you are concerned about inflammation at the end of the day, you also might want to talk to your doctor about running some labs. Looking at your CRP levels is the most common way to determine your overall inflammation levels. This is because, TNF-a, increases C-reactive protein (CRP) in your blood. The functional range for this is less than 1mg/L.
13 Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24799686
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5859128/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6222489/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2546477/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4525504/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16940468
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18593851
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21235381
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17291990
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3288569/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17078771
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3320801/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159116305645
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Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes
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Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins
Box Breathing
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The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
Yoga | Caley Alyssa
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
Nutrition | Rich Roll
What to Eat Before a Workout
Nutrition | Rich Roll
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Nutrition | Sahara Rose
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
Love Languages
Love & Relationships | Esther Perel
What Is Meditation?
Box Breathing
What Breathwork Can Address
The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?
Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips
How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance
What to Eat Before a Workout
How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life
Messages About Love & Relationships
Love Languages
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The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP
The Sleep Routine That Helps Me Spend Up To 25% Of The Night In REM Sleep
Jill Carnahan, MD ABIHM, ABoIM, IFMCP