20 replies to this topic

[oracle123]

What is the best and cost-effective anti-inflammatory supplement currently available?

[curious_sle]

low dose aspirin? (enteric coated, still... you are familiar with the risks?) AFAIK the most cost effective *supplement*. Best? not shure. Others will expound but three are many many things you can do about inflamation. Fishoil (or rather cod liver oil seems to be better) in decent quantity but that alone is like 100 times more expensive then the aspirin albeit with lots of side benefits :-) if it is high quality fishoil.

[sentrysnipe]

1. flax seeds, 3-7$ at any nob hill store near you grind them at home.

2. epa/dha instead of fish oil. around 14$/month

3. nature's plus boswellin.

[hallucinogen]

what side-effects does fish oil have?

But this EPA/DHA is from fish oil centrate - http://www.1fast400....products_id=544

Should I avoid it and find an alternative EPA/DHA source???

[Pablo M]

"Anti-inflammatory" is a broad term, and depending on the condition in question there are a number of options. My personal favorite substance with general anti-inflammatory action is vitamin C, of which I take 10-20 grams per day.

[sentrysnipe]

what side-effects does fish oil have? But this EPA/DHA is from fish oil centrate - http://www.1fast400....products_id=544
Should I avoid it and find an alternative EPA/DHA source???

He was looking for a cost-effective anti-imflammatory supplement, and EPA/DHA brings that to the table. Personally, I don't have any need for fish oil, which may have Vit. D, and A other than the omega-3's, since I get my Ds and As elsewhere.

And I agree with inflammation as a broad spectrum condition. If anything, the supplements I have enumerated above will address rheumatoid arthritis, skin inflammation, afaik.

[curious_sle]

well, when cost effective is prime you can't get better then 8$ for almost two years as is the case with low dose aspirin :-)

But true, i would look to add EPA, low dose curcumin, balanced Vitamine C (no point to take tons of Vitamine C if the other links in he chain are weak, say adequate selenium for viatmine c activity?). Glutamine, Zink etc whatever a healty immune system needs to function properly and thus be able to also deescalate after a needed escalation at a site of damage or infection etc.

[xanadu]

curious, where do you get your information that cod liver oil is better than fish oil? Why do you think it's better?

[hallucinogen]

Oh man, my friend just a bought a multi-enzyme supplement, and he says its really helping him out.

Could you recommend a similar product of your choice?

[systemicanomaly]

I've been able to cut waaaayyy back on my heavy use of NSAIDs for inflammation since I've discovered that a number of herbs posses COX-2 inhibiting properties. I had mentioned a couple of great herbal products in an Ibuprofen thread some 2-3 months back. For some unknown reason my post in that thread appears to be MIA. However, I was able to find a partial QUOTE of my original post (in a posting by Pablo M). An edited version of that quote follows:

...I've been using Inflama-Rest (from Source Naturals) as well as a cheaper blend from NOW (Foods)... D-Flame. To further supplement these products I've been using additional herbs: turmeric, ginger root, holy basil, rosemary, hops and willow bark along with green tea, cherries (or cherry juice) & omega-3 fatty acids (from both flax & fish sources) .

Note that the more common sweet basil is not really the same thing as sacred or holy basil. I've found that a very cheap for turmeric, ginger root powder, & holy basil are Indian markets in the area. (Note that holy basil is known as Tulsi in those Indian markets).


For more detailed info on the herbs in the 2 herbal products I mentioned:

D-Flame
Inflama-Rest

[systemicanomaly]

...I've been using Inflama-Rest (from Source Naturals) as well as a cheaper blend from NOW (Foods)... D-Flame.  To further supplement these products I've been using additional herbs: turmeric, ginger root, holy basil, rosemary, hops and willow bark along with green tea, cherries (or cherry juice) & omega-3 fatty acids (from both flax & fish sources)... . 

For more detailed info on the herbs in the 2 herbal products I mentioned:

D-Flame
Inflama-Rest

After some days of proteolytic enzymes use I can say this stuff really works!!!
I've used this product http://www.iherb.com...s&pid=NFS-01750...

Thnx for the heads-up on protoelytic enzymes. These (protease) enzymes that function to digest proteins apparently have a decent anti-inflammatory effect as well. Zymactive looks like an interesting product. I noticed that D-Flame and Inflama-Rest, like Zymactive contains Bromelain.

Bromelain is a compound that appears to be a collection of proteolytic enzymes (with some smaller amts of other constituents). So, it appears that the 2 herbal COX-2 inhibiting products that I mentioned previously, D-Flame and Inflama-Rest also contain a generous amount of protoelytic enzymes. The latter product also contain another enzyme, nattokinase. (I'll have to research this one a bit more in-depth).

While checking out the Zymactive on the iHerb site, I noticed that they also offered Inflama-Rest at a very decent price. Also, while perusing the iHerb site, I came across across some other anti-inflammatory products. One of these was a Cherry Fruit Extract (from Enzymatic Therapy). Recall that I had mentioned cherry & cherry juice as anti-inflammatory agents in my previous post. Another very promising herb "cocktail" product on the iHerb site from New Chapter is Zyflamend.

Zyflamend, like D-Flame, appears to be quite a bit cheaper (per serving) than Inflama-Rest. However, Inflama-Rest appears to have the most impressive formulation of all the products that I've mentioned (altho' it duzn't necessarily mean that it is a cost-effectve as the other products).

[kottke]

Yea ive been taking zyflamend or about 2 days now and it has been a good seller at our store. People have come back and said its really great for pain relief which i can attest to. Zyflamend has reduced my headaches and given me a relaxing like feeling and i plan to take it long-term.I dont know if this means its an effective anti inflammitory but right now its being tested at columbia university for prostate problems in particular

heres a better link--http://newchapter.com/product/product.lasso?-Search=Action&-Table=P_Web&-Database=NewChapter&-KeyValue=108

Edited by kottke, 15 September 2006 - 03:47 PM.

[curious_sle]

curious, where do you get your information that cod liver oil is better than fish oil? Why do you think it's better?

I attribute it to the higher content in DPA. See the relevant thread under "seal oil". It is not much but it's quite a bit better then "regular" DHA/EPA optimized fish oil.

[Brainbox]

"Anti-inflammatory" is a broad term, and depending on the condition in question there are a number of options.

Agreed, especially in case auto-immune responses are involved. In that case, be very careful in observing symptoms while using supplements, since it's very easy to worsen your symptoms.
I also discovered that some herbal formulas can trigger allergic reactions over time, in my case especially formulas that contain stinging-nettle extracts. The odd thing is that you do not suspect a formula that you are taking a long time actually being the culprit.

Edited by brainbox, 17 September 2006 - 09:02 PM.

[brutale]

I have the misfortune of having an autoimmune disease, a particular kind of arthritis. I can speak about anti-inflammatories with some authority, as I've used a wide range of them: all the way from herbs to TNF blockers.

In terms of what can be bought without a prescription ... Tumeric works well in doses of 800mg twice daily. I seem to get a better response when I take it with Bioperine. I find Fish Oil (up to 6g of epa/dha) helpful, but less impressive than the tumeric. Ginger doesn't do much for me, so far as I can feel. Antioxidants don't make any difference in the pain.

With the tumeric and high-dose fish oil, I've been able to nearly eliminate NSAIDs (of the ones I have tried, I like Relafen and Ibuprofen the best). I'm not sure whether I've done a good thing in substituting tumeric for ibuprofen -- both have anti-carcinogenic properties, etc.

Eating less tends to help.

On the other side ... I've definitely found some substances and activities to be pro-inflammatory. Wellbutrin/Zyban seems to trigger flares. Korean ginseng seems to worsen pain, although the adaptogen Rhodiola does not. Higher weight levels and calorie intakes seem to promote inflammation.

... bottom line: tumeric + piperine works for me. Fish oil too, but less impressively.

Edited by brutale, 23 September 2006 - 12:52 AM.

[Athanasios]

I have the misfortune of dealing of having an autoimmune disease, a particular kind of arthritis.  I can speak about anti-inflammatories with some authority, as I've used a wide range of them: all the way from herbs to TNF blockers. 

Have you looked into benfotiamine as well? I am not for sure that it reduces inflamation, but it does reduce the pain.

[Brainbox]

My experiences are in the line of brutale. I have an equal condition, fortunately with a low intensity. Not enough to impair my social and economical life, but bad enough to being not able anymore to do long hikes and climbing. Concerning the latter, it even may have saved my life.
I have good results from ginger as well, but not in the form of capsules. I eat sugared ginger a day before I have a lot of physical activity and is helps a lot. The taste is awful though.