Inflammation

I'm reading "Anti-cancer" by David Servan-Schreiber, he's a doctor that got a brain tumor and starting researching natural ways to stave off cancer...I'm also studying "The science and practice of Iridology" by Dr. Bernard Jensen, it's funny how similar they are.

One thing I didn't realize is that our bodies actually create inflammation in order to heal wounds. And sometimes, when our fight-or-flight response is activated, our bodies send out messengers that create inflammation before a wound occurs so that it will heal faster.

Unfortunately for us, that fight-or-flight response (the sympathetic nervous system), which is normally a very good thing, can be activated by stress, anxiety, fear, etc...and can remain constantly "on" in our lives if we don't find a way to cope, and relax. Also a big problem: Cancer needs this inflammation to grow and flourish. So do a lot of other chronic diseases and disorders.

There are plenty of foods widely available that are anti-inflammation, (Nordic Naturals fish oil being a very good one that comes to mind) but it still surprised how much emphasis both authors (writing over 50 years apart) put on the mind, and finding emotional balance. Maybe because it's easily overlooked, maybe because it's a such hard thing to do...