Food, herbs, spices & supplements.

[caroli123]

If all these things have anti-inflammatory properties why don't they cure us?

In fact - do they do anything at all?

[SnazzyD]

I suspect that either the dose isn’t big enough and would cause other problems before it is, like diarrhoea. Or that because the inflammatory process is very complicated they don’t target the system at the right point. Or, their duration of action is too short.

[powerwalk]

If only! Maybe they help some people. We can only do our best - but a cure unfortunately not. If they did we wouldn't need the dreaded Pred. It can only be good to eat as healthy as possible to include these anti inflammatory foods. For me I get a boost out of trying the next new thing!

[jinasc]

No known cause or cure and as long as they do no harm and it makes you happy..........

personally I would never bother as we should get all we need from our regular diet.

If you think you are short of something, a full spectrum blood test will tell you if you need any supplements................if you don't treat yourself with the money you will have saved.

🤔

[Yellowbluebell]

I asked a similar question when after catching a serious rash from a jacuzzi and am having to use steroid cream wny wasnt the 10mg of pred i am on enough to do the job? Turns out the pred keeps my inflammation down for pmr but it wasnt enough to fight foliculitis and a fungal infection as well!! Herbs and spices probably only have the ability to remove so much inflammation on a small dose and that taking large doses of some spice etc, cause more problems than they help.

[SnazzyD in reply to Yellowbluebell]

In the case of fungal and bacterial skin infection you wouldn’t want Pred to appear to work because all it would be doing is suppressing your inflammatory response that a) is your warning sign that you have an infection and b) needed to fight the infection. These are the times when Pred is a disadvantage, unless it’s an allergy.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

And probably why it got so bad!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to SnazzyD]

Very probable. It's going now thank god but still prone to attacking myself occasionally!!

[Libra-girl]

I went to see a nutritionist thinking that anything I do is better than doing nothing. She recommended the normal things nutritionists say, ie cut gluten, and cut nightshade plants (potato, tomato, aubergine, peppers) as well as adding in lots of omega 3, turmeric, flaxseed oil, etc. I was sceptical but thought why not.

I am now 3-4 weeks in and I have noticed 2 major differences. 1 Headaches, I have had a fairly constant headache for the past 2-3 years with bouts of migraine as well. Since I've changed my diet I haven't had any. This is quite major for me! 2- bloating & wind. This only started with the preds and was quite bad when I'd never had a problem before. Again without gluten I'm fine but I had a hot cross bun last week and it was terrible. I am going to try tomato again because some say it is anti-inflammatory while other say the opposite and I love it so I am missing it.

I don't think the turmeric is doing anything and I am going to stop when the bottle of tablets is gone but I will be sticking to the no nightshade and gluten just for my own comfort. Also without bread and potato I think it will be easier to control my weight so its a win/win.

All these things need to be taken on an individual basis and with a large grain of salt. If it works do it, if not move on and try something else.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Libra-girl]

Not too large a grain of salt of course 😳 - but I know what you mean! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[SnazzyD in reply to Libra-girl]

I discovered by accident that gluten was so bad for me when I agreed to go gluten free with my daughter in solidarity when she was diagnosed aged 10 with a severe gluten intolerance. It was a total revelation. No more grumbling gut problems, sinusitis, headaches, bad skin and general blah feeling. Never looked back but will look longingly at fresh white baguette and butter.

[SnazzyD]

I’ve just thought of another thing, anti inflammatories are doing just that, they are not actually stopping your body deciding that various parts of you need to be attacked, only dealing with the product, the inflammation.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Only you can answer whether they help you. I tried not eating all the various things that get blamed for being pro-inflammatory - made not the slightest difference for me.

But nothing CURES PMR - even the pred doesn't cure it, all it does is mop up the inflammation being caused by the underlying autoimmune illness so the symptoms are reduced - like Lemsip helps the cold symptoms feel less awful.

[Hidden]

I am happy to try foods that help and that is the usual low carb etc. The vitd3 is also part of my daily intake along with calcium. I had vitd deficency and need that and calcium to replace what is leached out by pred. But beyond that i dont try and do anti inflammatory supplements nor do i take things to "support immune system". I dont have any disposable income so that makes such decisions easy 😂😂😂

[Marijo1951]

If there is any truth in what we are told about turmeric, ginger, garlic etc etc, why aren't the pharmaceutical companies doing any worthwhile research into them? I've been told it's because there's no profit to be derived from common plants that are grown in every villager's back garden in India. If so, then it's a sad reflection on how the world is run and one that I don't pretend to know how to remedy.

By the way, I read an article this morning about how mushrooms 'may' have anti-inflammatory properties. Well, I eat mushrooms several days per week and they didn't stop me getting GCA and PMR. However if some lab researched mushrooms and found an active ingredient that in controlled quantities checked inflammation in some disease or other and then manufactured pills of the stuff, I think that would on the whole be a GOOD THING.

[Hidden in reply to Marijo1951]

You probably have to eat a whole shed full at once. 🤔

[GOOD_GRIEF]

I eat everything (except liver and lima beans), and stick with Grandma's advice:

Everything in moderation including abstintence.