Inflammation is a complex response to harmful stimuli in the body. It's an attempt to protect itself and remove the stimuli and initiate the healing process.

Inflammation can be caused by infection but doesn't go hand in hand with it. Infections are causes by a harmful pathogen entering the body where as the inflammation is a response by the body to the pathogen.

If the body did not enflame, it would not heal itself and the body would continue to destroy itself with no regard for the survival of the organism. Inflammation can be described as acute or chronic.

Acute inflammation is short term and usually occurs within minutes and only ceases once the stimulus is removed. Signs of inflammation are, redness, heat, swelling, pain and loss of function

With acute inflammation the body initially responds with increase blood flow to the affected area and movement of plasma and leukocytes from the blood to the tissue

Leukocytes are recruited to the infected area to and are involved with the initiation and mediation of the inflammation. There are a few types of leukocytes some ingest bacteria, viruses and cellular debris and others release emzymic granules to damage and destroy pathogenic invaders.

Plasma is a liquid in which blood cells are normally suspended. It's about 90% water, yellow in colour and makes up about 55% of the blood volume. It contains carbon dioxide, hormones, mineral iron, glucose, dissolved proteins and clotting factors. Plasma is also the main medium for excretory product transportation.

Chronic inflammation is long term and often due to persistent foreign bodies, non-degradable pathogens and auto immune reactions. In such cases it can last for months or even years.

An anti-inflammatory is a substance that can remedy pain by reducing inflammation. Many steroids can reduce inflammation by binding cortical receptors.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the ones readily available from your local pharmacy work by counteracting the COX enzyme. The COX enzyme creates the inflammation

Anti inflammatories are not to be confused with analgesics. Analgesics relieve pain, they don't reduce inflammation.

As well as over the counter drugs many herbs have anti-inflammatory effects including resveratrol. If taken as a supplement it can help with chronic inflammation. This is a natural approach to relieving the pain without the use of pharmaceuticals.