What is inflammation? according to the American heritage dictionary the scientific definition is “The reaction of a part of the body to injury or infection, characterized by swelling, heat, redness, and pain. The process includes increased blood flow with an influx of white blood cells and other chemical substances that facilitate healing”.This means that inflammation is part of the healing process and it is actually tied to removing noxious chemicals that are created when cells are injured. So the real questions are is inflammation good or bad and why is it important..

lets answer tha last question first.  inflammation is “a local response to cellular injury that is marked by capillary dilatation, leukocytic infiltration, redness, heat, pain, swelling, and often loss of function and that serves as a mechanism initiating the elimination of noxious agents and of damaged tissue” according to Merriam-Webster’s Medical Dictionary. So as we can see from both of these definitions inflammation is a critical component to healing. Without the inflammatory process the body would not heal. This is a critical component in the understanding of many of the conditions treated by chiropractic.

Lets answer the rest of the questions. Is inflammation bad? inflammation has certainly gotten a bad reputation and tis is manly due to the fact that inflammation has been linked to practically every disease process.  It is also linked to chronic pain syndromes.  Inflammation occurs in the body due to chemical imbalances, over consumption of sugar, inadequate intake of omega 3 fatty acids, nutritional deficiencies, and other such problems.  So it is not inflammation that is bad but the things we do in our daily lives that cause inflammation to cascade out of control.

Should all inflammation be indiscriminately stamped out? It is obvious that we need inflammation the problem is that most conventional treatment for inflammation such as ibuprofen and steroids attach inflammation throughout the entire body. The primary way we address inflammation is by helping you to modify your diet and also by prescribing specific nutritional supplements that help “put the fire out” and get things calmed down. Ice is also a great way to control inflammation locally, like in a shoulder, foot or back. Be warned heat may feel great but it increases inflammation Ice is often the safer choice.  You’re going to love the way you feel afterward! So contact your chiropractor and find out how to control your chronic inflammation.