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INFLAMMATION
Page Content:
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Chronic inflammation and risk factors
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Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
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Coping with chronic inflammation - Keto Diet
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Vitamin D for inflammation
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Oregano oil to combat inflammation
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Oregano Oil Oral Intake Practice
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Cinnamon oil for chronic inflammation
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INFECTIONS - Viral infection and why use Oregano oil
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Oxidative stress (free radicals) and why oregano oil
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Fungus infection and why Oregano oil
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Bacterial infection and why Oregano oil
Chronic inflammation and risk factors
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND RISK FACTORS
How does systemic chronic inflammation (SCI) - impact the body?
There are multi-level mechanisms underlying SCI and several RISK FACTORS that promote this health-damaging phenotype, including infections, physical inactivity, poor diet, environmental and industrial toxicants and psychological stress. First and foremost, try to reduce (preferably - eliminate) these risk factors! (REF)
Chronic inflammation can start damaging healthy cells, tissues, and organs. Over time, this can lead to damage of healthy tissues and organs, contributing to the development of various diseases, including arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain cancers damage, tissue death, and internal scarring.
One of the most important medical discoveries of the past two decades has been that the immune system and inflammatory processes are involved in not just a few select disorders, but a wide variety of mental and physical health problems that dominate present-day morbidity and mortality worldwide. "Indeed, chronic inflammatory diseases have been recognized as the most significant cause of death in the world today, with more than 50% of all deaths being attributable to inflammation-related diseases such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and autoimmune and neurodegenerative conditions".
Chronic inflammation could also be related to a number of “age related” conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and cognitive decline and dementia.
“The importance of chronic low-grade inflammation in the pathology of numerous age-related chronic conditions is now clear”.
Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Oxidative stress is a phenomenon caused by an imbalance between production and accumulation of oxygen reactive species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the ability of a biological system to detoxify these reactive products.Oxidative stress and inflammation are closely related pathophysiological processes, one of which can be easily induced by another.
Oxidative Stress Reduction:
The modern lifestyle associated with processed food, exposure to a wide range of chemicals and lack of exercise plays an important role in oxidative stress induction.
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Use of medicinal plants with antioxidant properties has been exploited for their ability to treat or prevent several human pathologies in which oxidative stress seems to be one of the causes.[REF1]
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Earthing - Earthing, or grounding, has been studied for its potential benefits in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation by neutralizing free radicals through the transfer of electrons from the Earth's surface to the body. Direct contact with the Earth via stepping on wet ground/grass, (even hugging a tree), or using a grounding mat, allows the body to absorb negatively charged electrons, which act as natural antioxidants. These electrons neutralize positively charged free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, a mechanism similar to consuming antioxidant-rich foods. [REF2]
Read more here on AGE RELATED CHRONIC INFLAMMATION
Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Coping with chronic inflammation - Keto Diet
COOPING WITH CHRONIC INFLAMMATION - Keto (ketogenic) Diet
First and foremost, start the keto diet, take care of your microbiome, and exercise (Read more on this page). Note, there is a "UNANIMOUS" AGREEMENT among practitioners and "experts" that diet is the underlying cause for chronic inflammation, and therefore a diet change is the first and most important element in the recovery process. Give up smoking, keep healthy weight and exercise and your health restoration will follow!
Vitamin D for inflammation
Vitamin D for Inflammation
Read what this 2020 study has to say about the importance of vitamin D to fight inflammation: "Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone development. However, recent studies are beginning to uncover its role as a modulator of the immune system (1). Several reports have shown associations between vitamin D deficiency (2) and the incidence as well as the severity of chronic inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease (3, 4), inflammatory bowel disease (5), asthma (6), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (7). Consistent with this, vitamin D supplementations have been shown to reduce the severity of and inflammation markers in chronic inflammatory diseases (8)".
This study claims that "Beyond its critical function in calcium homeostasis, vitamin D has recently been found to play an important role in the modulation of the immune/inflammation system via regulating the production of inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting the proliferation of proinflammatory cells, both of which are crucial for the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases".
Notice: The dose is always crucial and the vitamin D is no exception. Listen to what Dr. Berg, a highly respected professional recommends - 10,000 IU and above daily oral dose (min. 2:19 How much vitamin D is enough?). This is another video produced by Dr. Berg, reviewing the link between vitamin D and many chronic inflammatory conditions.
Oregano oil to combat inflammation
Oregano oil to combat inflammation
Numerous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of oregano oil in combating a wide range of diseases. This 2015 study "Supplemental carvacrol can reduce the severity of inflammation by influencing the production of mediators of inflammation", presents the effectiveness of oregano oil's - carvacrol (its main "component") in inflammation mediation, in addition to the other well established oregano oil benefits that are elaborated on this page
Oregano oil effectiveness to combat inflammation
Many scientific studies corroborate the effectiveness of Oregano oil in combating inflammation; be it low-grade inflammation, or other types of chronic body inflammatory processes. Included below are links to a few of these studies:
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Diabetes Mellitus: This study reviewed the results of a long list of surveys emphasizing the therapeutic effects of carvacrol on diabetes mellitus (type 2). The study concludes: "it is obvious that carvacrol have beneficial properties in the investigated pathologies, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies".
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Antidiabetic and cancer suppressor agents: Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties
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Articular cartilage degeneration: Carvacrol ameliorates inflammatory response in interleukin 1β-stimulated human chondrocytes,
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Cancer: Anti-inflammatory, tissue remodelling, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activities of oregano,
In conclusion, OREGANO OIL, is a good anti inflammatory “agent”.
Oregano Oil Oral Intake Practice to cope with inflammations:
Make sure that the oil that you use is PURE, organic, wild oregano oil with no less than 70% carvacrol (not "standardized" - added artificially), collected from high mountain regions.
Mix the oil with high quality organic, cold pressed, virgin olive oil at a ratio of 1:3 (one part of oregano oil to three parts of olive oil). Get ready with coconut oil to soften the stinging effect.
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Take the oil mixture on an empty stomach, try at least 30 min before meal.
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Rub a little bit of the coconut oil to your leaps (to avoid the stinging of the oregano oil),
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Follow the oil intake immoderately by swallowing a teaspoon of the coconut oil and some warm water, if you still feel the need for it.
Dosage: Adults and children over 12 years:
Days 1 to 3: Take 10-15 drops (body weight dependent: below 120 lb - 10, above 15) 2 times daily on empty stomach,
Days 4 to 10: Take 10-15 drops one time daily on empty stomach.
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Avoid carbohydrates as long as the infection is still in progress.
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Do not take more than the recommended dose.
Cinnamon oil for chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseasesThis article brings a broad review of cinnamon benefits in combating chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseased and concludes:"Cinnamon, a natural herb commonly used to spice up the delicacy of different cuisine, has a long track record of human use without any toxic incidence. It can be taken orally, the least painful route, and after oral intake, it is metabolized into NaB (Sodium Benzoate) , the active compound and the FDA-approved drug for UCD (Urea Cycle Disorders) and NKH (nonketotic hyperglycinemia). Similar to cinnamon, NaB can be also taken through food and drinking water or milk. Since cinnamon and its metabolite NaB upregulate anti-autoimmune Tregs and Th2, suppress autoimmune Th17 and Th1, inhibit inflammatory infiltration, and reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, cinnamon and NaB may have therapeutic importance in different autoimmune disorders (Fig. 1).
Cinnamon oil for chronic inflammation Practice
Use 1-3 drops of ceylon cinnamon bark oil per 1/2-1 tablespoon of coconut or olive oil For daily oral intake, once or twice a day. (read on this page more on cinnamon oil).
Oregano Oil Oral Intake Practice
Cinnamon oil for chronic inflammation
INFECTIONS - Viral infection and why use Oregano oil
Oxidative stress (free radicals) and why oregano oil
INFECTIONS
Viral infections:
Common infections such as, flu, sore throat, sinus, skin conditions like genital herpes, and numerous others are infections mostly associated and caused by viral pathogens.
Obviously, some of these infections should be treated by ingestion and some (most of the skin types) by topical application.
Antiviral oregano oil properties:
This 2020 study - "Antiviral Effects of Plant-Derived Essential Oils and Their Components: An Updated Review" concludes: "The oregano EO and its primary component carvacrol were able to strongly inhibit human rotavirus and murine norovirus [21,33]".
Additionally, This study - "Antiviral activity of the Lippia graveolens (Mexican oregano) essential oil and its main compound carvacrol against human and animal viruses" concludes: "Nevertheless, independently of the mechanisms of action, the activity of carvacrol on rotavirus is very promising".
Antiviral infection by antioxidant activity
Antioxidant enzymes (produced by our body and "external sources") are capable of stabilising, or deactivating free radicals before they attack cellular components. As long as there is sufficient digestion of enzymes through the daily diet,
Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase are the key enzymatic antioxidants of this defence system by which the free radicals that are produced during metabolic reactions are removed.
As long as there is no health condition that involves pathogens that make use of these free radicals before they are removed by the enzymes, there is sort of a balanced level of these molecules.
Oxidative Stress - Free-radical induced pathogenicity in virus infections. (pathogenicity - the quality or state of being pathogenic). There are many evidences to suggest that nitrogen oxide (NO) and oxygen radicals such as superoxide are key molecules in the pathogenesis (Pathogenesis - the process by which a viral disease or disorder develops) of various infectious diseases.
Antioxidants fight viruses by removing free radicals:
Antioxidants are elements that lessen or prevent the effects of free radicals. They donate an electron to free radicals, thereby reducing their reactivity. What makes antioxidants unique is that they can donate an electron without becoming reactive free radicals themselves.
Oregano oil antioxidant properties:There are many studies to evaluate the effectiveness of various PLANT DERIVED antioxidants to combat viral infections. Most (if not all) point to THYME AND OREGANO OILS (steam extracted) as the most effective. This study concludes: “... the OEO (Oregano Essential Oil) has antioxidant properties effective in retarding the process of lipid peroxidation in fatty foods, and scavenging free radicals". This study "Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Carvacrol (the dominant oregano oil "active" element) as a Prospective Replacement for Crude Essential Oils" concludes: "The in vitro studies revealed that the monoterpenoid antioxidant compound carvacrol exhibits an appreciable antioxidant capacity compared to the seed essential oil". In conclusion, many studied have proved that high quality oregano oil with high carvacrol content, is a powerful antioxidant oil!
Fungal infections:
In this study, forty-six out of 289 psoriatic (psoriasis) patients had fungal infections (15.9%). Dermatophytes (54.3%), Candida spp. (19.5%), Malassezia spp. (15.2%), Aspergillus spp. (6.5%), and Fusarium spp. (4.3%) were the causative agents of fungal infections. Fungal acne (there is also bacterial related acne), candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast, various types of skin rashes (athlete foot, ringworm of the body, Jock itch…),
forty-six out of 289 psoriatic (psoriasis) patients had fungal infections (15.9%). Dermatophytes (54.3%), Candida spp. (19.5%), Malassezia spp. (15.2%), Aspergillus spp. (6.5%), and Fusarium spp. (4.3%) were the causative agents of fungal infections. Fungal acne (there is also bacterial related acne), candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by a yeast, various types of skin rashes (athlete foot, ringworm of the body, Jock itch…),
Antifungal oregano oil properties:
This study found, that carvacrol which is the main active ingredient in Oregano Oil (~20% - 75%) “...shows strong antifungal activity (more studies that coraborate this conclusion), It is possible that carvacrol is capable to bind to the sterols of the fungal membrane, a fact that results in damage and, consequently, death of the fungus”.
Bacterial infections:
Earache (could also be the result of a pathogenic infection), toothache, bacterial acne, many skin infections as a result of a skin injuries, mouth sores are mostly bacterial related (oral lesions could be caused by a virus), urinary tract infection (UTI) or cystitis, tuberculosis and more.
Anti bacterial oregano oil properties:
The chart below (Source) shows the effectiveness of the best herbal plants and their derivatives in assisting our immune system to combat with each of the investigated bacterial groups:
Fungus infection and why Oregano oil
Bacterial infection and why Oregano oil
"The above chart shows the antimicrobial potential of Essential Oils (EO). Results for the agar diffusion assay performed on the six clinical bacterial strains and three environmental bacterial strains are shown. Chloramphenicol (30 μg/disc) was used as a positive control. Each bar of the chart shows the mean of the inhibitory zone obtained for each EO analyzed (1) Staphyloccocus aureus, (2) Listeria monocytogenes, (3) Enterococcus fecalis, (4) Escherichia coli, (5) Salmonella typhimurium, (6) Yersinia enterolitica, (7) Bacillus cereus, (8) Arthrobacter protophormiae, (9) Pseudomonas fragi. Data are represented by means ± 1 SD of 3 independent experiments. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 indicate statistically significant differences compared to the control (Student’s t-test).""The OR (Oregano) and TY (Thyme) used in this study were even more effective than the antibiotic chloramphenicol. Our results are in accordance with a previous study showing that the inhibitory halos produced by the EOs of Eugenia caryophyllata, Origanum vulgare and Thymus vulgaris were larger than those produced by ciprofloxacin".
IN CONCLUSION OF THE ABOVE DISCUSSION - OREGANO ESSENTIAL OIL STEAM EXTRACT FROM WILD ORGANIC PLANTS WITH HIGH CARVACROL CONTENT (above 75%), IS THE THE BEST COMBATANT FOR THESE THREE - VIRAL, FUNGAL AND BACTERIAL RELATED INFLAMMATIONS.
Scientific studies have shown that oregano oil, not only that it is a powerful anti-pathogen, anti-inflammation agent when taken orally or applied topically, but it has no side effects, provided that it is taken/applied diluted with a carrier oil to the right ratio (excluding rare instances of allergic reaction).
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