How Naturopathic Care Can Help Relieve Inflammation In The Body

Inflammation is part of the natural defence system in our bodies. It’s also an essential part of our bodies’ healing process after we get sick or hurt.

In most cases, inflammation is something our bodies do regularly to keep us well. Our immune system identifies an illness or injury and works to get rid of whatever the threat might be.

However, inflammation can go beyond these healthy responses and create serious health issues that require treatment to protect your body from damage. When this happens, inflammation can be a significant contributor to disease and dysfunction in your body.

Let’s look at common signs of inflammation in the body and how naturopathic care can help support your health when it becomes a chronic issue.

Signs of inflammation in the body

Some of the signs and symptoms associated with inflammation include:

• Body aches or painful joints
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue or low energy levels
• Insomnia or disrupted sleep
• Memory loss or trouble concentrating
• Bloating or changes to bowel movements
• Anxiety or depression
• Weight gain or weight loss
• Frequent illness or infection
• Acne, eczema, psoriasis

What causes inflammation, and why is it a problem?

Inflammation isn’t harmful at its core. It’s part of how your immune system keeps you healthy. Your body has a natural response to injury or infection and will both attack whatever is affecting your body and try to begin the healing process.

Sometimes this process is healthy and can be left to run its course, but in some cases, it can cause other problems and requires care and treatment.

Chronic inflammation refers to persistent inflammation that doesn’t run an ordinary course but lasts for more prolonged periods. When inflammation lingers, it can begin to damage healthy parts of your body. As a result, chronic inflammation can be a serious health concern.

When inflammation becomes chronic, it can contribute to many diseases and ailments including, but not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and bowel diseases.

How do naturopathic doctors help treat inflammation?

Naturopathic treatment for inflammation could include laboratory testing to identify inflammatory conditions, reducing pain and other symptoms by reducing whole body inflammation, and helping to create a sustainable care plan that will prevent and protect you from inflammation long-term.

Naturopathic doctors can also help identify risk factors that could contribute to inflammation levels in your body, which could, in turn, create or exacerbate a variety of conditions caused by chronic inflammation.

When should people seek help?

It’s a good idea to connect with a care provider anytime you feel unwell or notice lingering symptoms that could indicate concerning levels of inflammation in your body. Naturopathic medicine can complement conventional care to help restore and maintain your overall health and well-being.

What are the benefits of naturopathic care?

Naturopathic doctors blend natural and conventional care to keep you as healthy as possible through a wide variety of treatment options and therapies. We can connect what seem to be unrelated symptoms to get to the underlying cause of your concern. Naturopaths can do complete physical exams and can work as primary care providers.

What can I expect from my first visit?

Your first appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors will typically be 60 to 90 minutes long. We’ll take you through a detailed intake process and review your physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as your family history.

We’ll do a physical examination and chat with you about your lifestyle habits, stress levels, and other factors that may be affecting how you feel. In addition, we’ll discuss digestive or hormonal issues that may be bothering you and order any necessary lab tests as part of our assessment.

 NOTE:  As always, our licensed practitioners at Action Health are your best source of up-to-date and accurate information regarding this and any other treatment plan we recommend.

Please call our front desk at (403) 243-8114 to book a consultation with one of our naturopathic doctors to see if naturopathic treatment is appropriate for you.