Joint Health

Inflammation is your body’s normal response to injury and infection. It becomes a problem when it stays switched on, which is the case in conditions like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and many others. Cannabinoids — compounds found in the cannabis plant and also made naturally by your body — do interact with the immune system. … Read more

Inflammation leaves the body through a coordinated cleanup process. Immune cells stop signaling, blood vessels return to normal, and specialized cells called macrophages clear away dead cells and debris. The liver and kidneys then process the leftover molecular waste, and it exits through urine, stool, sweat, and exhaled breath. That is the short answer. The … Read more

Most lower back pain gets better on its own within a few weeks, and you do not need to see a doctor for it. You should see a doctor sooner if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or genitals, or new weakness in one or both legs. These are … Read more

You can dry an avocado seed, grind it into powder, and add it to food or drinks. That is the short answer. But it is worth knowing what the research actually shows before you decide how much to rely on it. Most of what you have read about avocado seeds and inflammation is based on … Read more

Curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric, does reduce inflammation in the body. But that fact comes with a catch most supplement marketing skips over. Plain turmeric powder contains very little curcumin, and your body absorbs almost none of what it contains. The gap between “curcumin has anti-inflammatory activity” and “taking turmeric will lower your … Read more

Most bad lower back pain gets better on its own, and the things that help most are not expensive. Staying lightly active, avoiding bed rest, and using heat or over-the-counter pain relievers for a short time are the first steps that work for most people. If pain lasts longer than a few weeks or comes … Read more

Back braces are one of the most common things people buy when their back hurts. They are also one of the most misunderstood. The short answer: a brace can help some people in some situations, mostly by making movement feel safer and reminding you to move carefully. It is not a cure for most back … Read more

Lactose intolerance does not cause inflammation. The symptoms people feel after drinking milk — bloating, gas, cramps, loose stools — come from undigested lactose fermenting in the colon, not from an immune response or tissue damage. That matters because inflammation and digestive discomfort are often talked about as if they were the same thing. They … Read more

Elbow joint pain usually settles with rest, activity changes, and time. Most cases improve within weeks without surgery. The treatments with the strongest evidence are loading exercises for tendons, relative rest from the aggravating motion, and physical therapy. Injections and surgery help a smaller number of people. Supplements and braces have weak or no evidence … Read more

Grounding sheets are marketed as a way to reduce inflammation by connecting your body to the earth’s electrical charge. The idea comes from a real observation — the earth’s surface carries a negative charge, and your body does conduct electricity. But whether lying on a conductive sheet changes inflammation in any meaningful way is a … Read more