The way your immune system repels infection naturally causes inflammation. In fact, inflammation is a sign your immune system is working right; it repels pesky bacterial invaders. Inflammation is also a sign that your body is working to repair itself after an injury. But not all inflammation is a sign of good health and healing. Many researchers believe a type of unhelpful inflammation occurs in some chronic diseases, including diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and depression. In the case of chronic diseases, instead of occurring briefly to deal with a one-time event, inflammation itself is believed to be chronic. It creates a cycle of damaging health cells, with that damage triggering more inflammation and more damage to cells.
Many trials of drug interventions to calm chronic inflammation have proved disappointing. Researchers theorize that the later such interventions happen, the harder it is for them to succeed. Catching chronic inflammation early, before it does significant damage, seems key to protecting the brain. For example, one study showed that taking NSAIDs with late-stage Alzheimer’s actually created greater cognitive decline, whereas taking NSAIDs before signs of serious cognitive decline occurred seemed to slow cognitive decline. Although researchers don’t have a clear understanding of the role of chronic inflammation in such diseases, reducing chronic inflammation probably helps reduce the likelihood that you’ll suffer these diseases. The same steps that help you keep your brain healthy also help protect you against chronic inflammation. These preventive measures include not smoking, not drinking excessively, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and using healthy oils when you cook. In addition, the Mayo Clinic suggests that herbal supplementation with cat’s claw, devil’s claw, mangosteen, or milk thistle may have promise in reducing chronic inflammation.