An inflammation is a healing process in the body. The inflammation can be caused by an infection (microorganisms have come inside the body by a wound or by any mucous membrane) or by an uninfectious injury, like a smash, a monoton wear, overload and so on. The immune system works actively to process foreign microbs or to heal an injury. The five signs of inflammation are heat, pain, redness, edema, and loss of function.
Pain is also a signal that the body part is overstretched and needs rest to heal. Inflammation is a natural and important process for healing.
Something that is not as positive is autoimmune conditions. Then, the immune system is overactive, and inflammations are triggered in multiple random places. This is often an inherited tendency to inflammation or related to lifestyle. Some diet provides an overactive immune system and then the body will look for something to attack. A common problem is sugar which activates inflammation.
Protein in milk and gluten (from wheat, corn, oats and rye) can leak into the body through the intestine and cause the immune system to start a general inflammation. There are theories about gluten causing autoimmune hypothyroidism, since the tissue of the thyroid gland is reminiscent of the gluten protein. If the body has been “trained” to react to gluten, it could very well start attacking the thyroid gland.
Fatty acids from Omega 3 suppresses the inflammation and fatty acids from Omega 6 triggers it.
We get Omega 6 from grains, therefore any kind of food containing wheat and grit increases the level of inflammation. Omega 3, on the other hand, is a protector but can be tricky to get enough of; this fatty acid has a tendency to go rancid.
One study showed that organic eggs contained large amounts of Omega 3, especially if the hens had been fed flaxseeds. The “factory produced” eggs contained next to no Omega 3.
An inflammation may become chronic in an area that has been injured and not have had the chance to heal properly. If for example a muscle starts cramping and the nervous system doesn’t let go, the function of that area will continue to deteriorate and healing will become more and more difficult. In such an area inflammation can lay latent for a long time. If the area is treated healing will begin, resulting in normal function and circulation.
If the inflammation is the result of an overactive immune system, caused by an autoimmune disease (e.g. Thyroid Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Diabetes), problems will most likely return within short.
Summary
We can conclude that inflammation may be difficult to understand and treat. A body with a low general inflammation level will be more resistant, and not as easily causing inflammation to joints and muscles as someone with an overactive immune system.
Some people can hurt terribly after just a walk, sensing pain and inflamation of hip joints and knees. Others can strain the body hard and only experience a mild work-out sorness of the muscles.
To be able to give advice to clients who are not easily treated, it is advicable to get familiarized with how inflammation occurs. Clients simply won’t get well if “something” constantly triggers inflammation, causing the body to react to strain.
Of course we can not rule out all sorts of strain on our bodies. In fact, bodies need to be exercised and exerted in order to build strenght and keep flexible. But with a high general inflammation level, a person will not be able to take the slightest strain without hurting.
Exercise and inflammation is not a good match; rather abstain from strain until the inflammation is gone. Pain is a helpful indicator to assess level of inflammation, as is heat and swelling.
Most often inflammation goes away when we treat it and increase mobility and circulation. With a hyper immune system the body is likely to build up new problems after a while. Please point this out to the clients in order to set their expecations right regarding the treatment.
- By Camilla Ranje Nordin, Teacher in Fascia & Fascia Treatment
