Nutritional information fore Injuries, Inflammation, sprains

Bruising and inflammation are probably the most common of all bodily injuries. A bruise is precipitated by a blow to some part of the body which breaks small blood vessels under the skin. As the blood collects in the tissues, it causes swelling and discoloration. A bruise is a sign of brittleness and loss of elasticity in the blood vessel walls.

A different kind of swelling and discoloration is caused by inflmmation. Inflammation is a histamine reaction. This is the same reaction that causes allergic symptoms. Histamine causes the expansion of teh blood vessesl at the site of a problem. This increases the flow of warm blood to teh area. The dilation of teh blood vessels makes them more permeable so that blood plasma - this is blood without red or white cells can seep through carrying another defense substance called complement (Complement is necessary to the function of the antibodies. )

Inflammation always indicates that the body is not producing enough cortisone. Extreme cases of this deficiency include arthritis, rheumatism, eczema, poison oak reactions, severe asthma attacks, and colitis. Synthetic cortisone (or hydroxycortisone) is often prescribed in these cases for the reduction of inflammation.

The importance of vitamin C to direct physical stress - surgery, accidental wounds and burns - is apparent. Also in relation to stress, vitamin C is required by those great anti-stressors, the adrenal glands. Vitamin C increases the production and utilization of cortisone as well as prolonging its effection and utilization of cortisone as well as prolonging its effectiveness. It activates the healing enzymes, speeds the formation of new proteins and helps to prevent hemorrhaging.

Bioflavinoids are the complex which accompanies C in nature. Bioflavinoids are not vitamins but are biologically active substances. The word bioflavinoid is actually a catch-all term used to describe these substances which are different form one another in both molecular structure and biological activity. They relieve aches, pains, bumps, bruises, and 'stitches." Combined with vitamin C they guard the capillaries, acting to prevent bleeding and providing a safe anti-coagulant that cannot be obtained by using C alone.

Rutin, often lumped together with the bioflavinoids, is likewise included for the proper function and absorption of vitamin C. Rutin also has a complementary function of strengthening against capillary fragility.

Pantothenic acid strengthens white blood cells, promoting healing and resistance to infection. In fact, low resistance to infection is the first sign of a pantothenic acid deficiency.

PABA influences intestinal bacteria to produce folic acid which in turn aids in the assimilation of the pantothenic acid. PABA is reported to have a "softening" effect on tissues, especially glandular and organ tissues. This causes them to act more normally and to improve hormone output.

Patients who are deficient in zinc have body swelling which even extends to the face to involve the hollow sinuses and tubes. In relation to inflammation, people with arthritis showed significant improvement in inflammation of the joings as well as with walking and stiffness with zinc.

Both bromelain and papain are protein digestive enzymes, from the pineapple and papaya respectively . They tend to break up congestion found in the walls of the blood vessels. This can restore permeability and drain toxic wastes that otherwise impair circulation, leading to a swelling process.