nflammatory Process and Effective anti-Inflammatories
> Thunder God Vine Extract (available in capsules)
Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases: Celastrol, a quinone-methide triterpenoid isolated from T. wilfordii, is used as a natural medicine in China for these conditions.
NCBI:
The Main Anticancer Bullets of the Chinese Medicinal Herb, Thunder God Vine – PMC
The thunder god vine or Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. is a representative Chinese medicinal herb which has been used widely and successfully for centuries in treating inflammatory diseases.
Thunder God Vine outperforms dangerous anti-inflammatory drug methotrexate (I saw my late mom take it in the ‘80’s and it was very rough) in treating pain and inflammation: (Dr. Weil writes, below;)
“Possibly. The most recent study (published in 2014) comparing an extract of thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) and the drug methotrexate for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that the plant extract worked as well as the drug, and that symptoms improved even more markedly when the extract and the drug were combined. The study, from researchers at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, included 207 RA patients who received either thunder god vine in pill form three times a day for six months, methotrexate once a week at (initially 7.5 mg, then increased over a month to 12.5 mg), or a combination of the herb and the drug. At the study’s end, 55 percent of the patients who were given the thunder god vine reported that their symptoms – painful, swollen joints – had decreased by 50 percent or more, compared to 46 percent of the patients who took the methotrexate. Among the patients who took a combination of thunder god vine and methotrexate, 77 percent reported their symptoms improved by 50 percent or more.
About half of the patients in the study reported side effects, mostly gastrointestinal problems, and side effects were more frequent in those taking the prescription drug. In addition, a few female participants developed irregular menstrual periods, more frequently in the group taking the thunder god vine extract.
Thunder god vine has been used in China for centuries to treat joint pain, local inflammation, swelling, and fever, and is approved in that country for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The new RA study has been criticized in the U.S. for being too short to determine whether the herbal preparation slowed the course of the disease, as methotrexate can. Also, the doses of methotrexate used in the study are standard in China but lower than those typically prescribed in the U.S.”
https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/herbs/thunder-god-vine-for-pain
If one looks up Celastrol separately, it has several clinical citations for anti-tumor, anti- colorectal cancer, and anti-obesity effects. I only found one extract for pure Celastrol and it is pricey:
Celastrol Supplier | CAS 34157-83-0 | Tocris Bioscience
Celastrol is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Potently inhibits lipid peroxidation in mitochondria and inhibits TNF-α-induced NFκB activation. Also shown to inhibit topoisomerase II activity in vitro (IC50 = 7.41 μM). If you were interested in it, possibly an ND or PharmD could procure it for you, if Tocris does not deal with the public. If you don’t know such a person, I can refer you to one to try this.
Price: $216.00
> The following herbs are well-documented to have wide effects against inflammation:
- Turmeric: Contains curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory compound that has been studied for its potential to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
- Ginger: Rich in anti-inflammatory compounds like gingerol and shogaol, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain and discomfort associated with arthritis, colic, and other conditions.
- Ashwagandha: A medicinal herb with anti-inflammatory properties, traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to alleviate stress, anxiety, and inflammation.
- Borage: The seeds of the borage plant contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory effects and has been studied for its potential to alleviate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis.
- Cayenne: Contains capsaicinoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and have been used to alleviate pain and discomfort associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions.
- Green Tea Extract: anti-oxidant, helps regulate blood pressure, lifts mood, may also help with systemic inflammation- this latter is my speculation on how the EGCG seems to act as an agonist in combination with the above antiinflammatories.
EGCG, Epigallocatechin gallate, if you want more on it is available in a 50% powder by Bulk Supplements.
If you prefer capsules, here is best buy I found on it on Amazon:
NOW Supplements, EGCg Green Tea Extract ,Dietary,400 mg, Free Radical Scavenger*, 180 Veg Capsules
Amazon’s Choice in Green Tea Herbal Supplements by NOW Foods
$16.75
Again, this is just anecdotal, but generally, green tea is a bit of an ennervant and I have not seen the pure extract, used for anti-oxidant value, in a decaffeinated version, so, although the caffeine is much less than coffee, I still would not take it after mid-afternoon to avoid restlessness at bedtime.
Vitamin K-2 (MK-7 variant), which is only taken once daily.
“The MK-7 treated group showed a marked decrease in RA biochemical markers compared to controls, including significantly lower CRP, ESR, and DAS28-ESR. This suggests improved disease activity in RA patients and a promising new agent for RA in combination with standard RA treatment.”
Even if you do not have an RA diagnosis, this is a great supplement to lower inflammation. While this article is based on which form of K-2 is best for lowering inflammation (“bloating”), it gives some good general information about the inflammatory process:
Gastro-intestinal bloating- https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(20)30433-X/fulltext&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiZ3PCfkfWHAxXB4ckDHSniNJQQFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0SMjkvLavAfo7lATt8BECI
Inflammation Defined by Cleveland Clinic: What Is Inflammation? Types, Causes & Treatment
Sometimes, we can maintain an inflammatory response, well after exposure to the stimulus. E.g., a patient who, exposed to a moldy car she’d rented in her job (clearly a prior renter had left windows cracked during a downpour), she continued to have generalized inflammatory response for several months. I don’t know if your stimuli, provoking the cytokine A storm that is experienced as inflammation are still present or not, so please glance over this discussion of CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome): Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome: A Possible Cause
(Epoch Times)
Suggested nutritional support supplements are offered for evaluation only. This a pastoral healing service based upon psychic and energetic approaches to healing. Use of herbal or homeopathic remedies is based upon the literature of each discipline and on anecdotal experiences of clients or practitioners who have used these over many millennia in the ancient Scandinavian tradition of Tietaja. In some modern Tietajar training, we shamanic students learn global herbalism and so suggestions may use herbs employed in diverse indigenous healing traditions. Do research the uses and applications of components yourself and discuss it with a licensed healthcare professional prior to using.