Index of Herbs

Concern guide

Herbs for Inflammation

Herbs that may help calm chronic inflammation, from boswellia to turmeric and ginger, with what the research shows.

8 herbs reviewed

Updated October 7, 2026

Inflammation is the body’s built-in repair response. When you sprain an ankle or pick up an infection, extra blood flow and immune cells rush to the area, bringing the familiar redness, heat, swelling and pain, which settle as healing finishes. That short-lived, acute inflammation is helpful. Chronic inflammation is different: a lingering, often low-grade activity that can come with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, or with repeated irritation such as smoking, and often causes no obvious symptoms. Doctors can check for it with a blood test for C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein the liver makes when inflammation is present. A raised CRP shows that inflammation is there, but not what is causing it or where it is.

People often search for anti-inflammatory herbs, and several have earned real scientific interest. The foundations still do much of the work: not smoking, staying active, sleeping well, keeping to a healthy weight and a Mediterranean-style eating pattern built on vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts and olive oil, and smoking, obesity and insomnia are all linked to higher CRP. Herbs can sit comfortably alongside those habits. It helps to know how the research is built: most herbs here calm inflammatory pathways in a test tube, but laboratory results do not always carry over to people, so this guide focuses on human trials. Joint pain and arthritis have their own guide, so this one takes the broader view.

The herbs below are ordered by strength of evidence in people, then by how commonly they are used. Ratings run from good clinical evidence to long traditional use, and for inflammation the best-supported herb currently sits at promising: boswellia, for knee osteoarthritis. Much of the human research measures joint pain or blood markers such as CRP rather than long-term health, trials tend to be small and short, and results depend on the extract used, so each entry notes what was studied. The full monographs cover doses, side effects and interactions.

02 The shortlist

The herbs, from best studied to time-honored

How to read the ratings

  • Good clinical evidence
  • Promising clinical evidence
  • Early or mixed evidence
  • Long traditional use

Ratings show how much research backs each herb for this particular concern. Every herb links to its full monograph, with preparations, safety notes, and sources.

  1. 01 Boswellia

    Promising clinical evidence

    Boswellia serrata

    Boswellia, the gum resin of Indian frankincense, has a long Ayurvedic history for inflammation and joint complaints, and its boswellic acids block 5-lipoxygenase, a different inflammatory enzyme from the one ibuprofen targets. A Cochrane review found high-quality evidence from two small trials that an enriched extract eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function over 90 days. Trials are still small and often company-funded, and a year-long Crohn’s disease trial found no benefit. Side effects are usually mild digestive upsets; check first if you take blood thinners.

    Read the boswellia monograph →

  2. 02 Turmeric

    Early or mixed evidence

    Curcuma longa

    Turmeric is the herb most people picture when they hear “anti-inflammatory,” and its curcuminoids calm inflammatory signaling in laboratory studies. In people, the most encouraging results are for knee osteoarthritis, where meta-analyses report modest relief of pain and stiffness and NCCIH calls the initial evidence positive. Human results are still mixed overall, partly because curcumin is poorly absorbed and products vary. Avoid extracts with gallstone complications or bile-duct problems, and note that liver injury has been reported, especially with enhanced-absorption formulas.

    Read the turmeric monograph →

  3. 03 Ginger

    Early or mixed evidence

    Zingiber officinale

    Ginger is best known for nausea, but it is also a warming traditional remedy for aches, and EMA lists it as a traditional remedy for minor joint pain. Its gingerols and shogaols damp inflammatory messengers in laboratory studies, and a 2015 meta-analysis of five trials with 593 people with osteoarthritis found a modest reduction in pain compared with placebo. Larger trials would help. Concentrated ginger commonly causes heartburn, and high-dose extracts deserve a check with a pharmacist if you take blood thinners.

    Read the ginger monograph →

  4. 04 Black Seed

    Early or mixed evidence

    Nigella sativa

    Black seed (Nigella sativa) is a revered remedy in Islamic and South Asian traditional medicine, used for many inflammatory conditions. In an 80-person placebo-controlled trial, black seed oil added to usual asthma treatment for four weeks modestly improved asthma control and lowered blood eosinophils, a marker of allergic inflammation, and MSKCC lists small trials in rheumatoid arthritis. Trials are still small and short. Black seed oil on the skin can cause severe allergic rashes, and capsules can interact with diabetes drugs, warfarin and cyclosporine.

    Read the black seed monograph →

  5. 05 White Willow

    Early or mixed evidence

    Salix alba

    Willow bark has been used for centuries for pain, fever and inflammatory complaints such as bursitis and tendinitis, and EMA lists it as a traditional remedy for minor joint pain in adults. Its salicin is converted in the body to salicylates, relatives of aspirin. A Cochrane review found moderate-quality evidence that daily extracts may ease short-term low back pain, though osteoarthritis results vary and trials are small. It carries aspirin-type risks: avoid it with aspirin or NSAID allergy or blood thinners, and in children and teenagers.

    Read the white willow monograph →

  6. 06 Cinnamon

    Early or mixed evidence

    Cinnamomum verum

    Cinnamon is a much-loved spice studied mostly for blood sugar, and MSKCC notes meta-analyses suggesting it may lower C-reactive protein (CRP), the blood marker of inflammation, along with triglycerides and cholesterol. These are early signals that still need better trials, and NCCIH says research does not yet clearly support cinnamon for any condition. Most trials used cassia, whose coumarin has harmed the liver in sensitive people: about 2 g of cassia a day reaches the tolerable limit for a 60 kg adult, so Ceylon cinnamon is the lower-coumarin choice.

    Read the cinnamon monograph →

  7. 07 Burdock

    Early or mixed evidence

    Arctium lappa

    Burdock root is eaten as a vegetable in Japan, where it is called gobo, and is a traditional European herbal medicine. In a small trial of 36 people with knee osteoarthritis, three cups of burdock root tea a day for six weeks lowered the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity CRP compared with plain hot water. That is an interesting early marker result rather than proof of less pain, and larger trials would help. Avoid it with daisy-family allergy, and choose identity-tested products, because one contaminated “burdock” tea caused atropine poisoning.

    Read the burdock monograph →

  8. 08 Devil’s Claw

    Long traditional use

    Harpagophytum procumbens

    Devil’s claw is a Kalahari root that EMA recognizes as a traditional herbal medicine for minor joint pain in adults, and a favorite in Germany for aching joints. In the laboratory, an extract reduced inflammatory messengers such as TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 from human white blood cells, and a Cochrane review found low-quality evidence for short-term relief of low back pain; for inflammation in general, clinical research is still to come. Diarrhea and stomach upset are the usual side effects. Avoid it with stomach ulcers, and check first if you take warfarin.

    Read the devil’s claw monograph →

03 Caution

Using these herbs safely

Most of these herbs are well tolerated in short courses, and a few sensible precautions help keep it that way. Some signs of inflammation need a doctor rather than a herb. Get prompt medical care for a fever you cannot explain, especially with night sweats or weight loss; a single hot, red, swollen joint, which can mean infection or gout; swelling of a joint, limb or the abdomen that does not settle within a few days; or redness of the skin that spreads, especially with fever. A painful, swollen calf can be a blood clot and needs same-day care. Symptoms that may point to an autoimmune disease, such as several swollen or stiff joints with long-lasting morning stiffness, a new rash with joint pain or exhaustion, or ongoing diarrhea with blood or mucus, deserve an assessment, because early treatment protects joints and organs. Anyone on prescribed anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive treatment, including steroids, methotrexate or biologic drugs, should never stop or reduce it in favor of a herb without the prescriber.

Bleeding is the most common interaction concern, so it is worth checking combinations with a pharmacist. High-dose turmeric, ginger extracts, boswellia, devil’s claw, black seed and willow bark may each add to the bleeding risk of anticoagulants such as warfarin, antiplatelet drugs such as aspirin and clopidogrel, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, and stacking several “natural anti-inflammatories” on top of a painkiller adds to both bleeding and stomach risks. Devil’s claw has a case report of bleeding with warfarin, laboratory data suggest black seed could raise warfarin levels, and willow bark should never be added to daily aspirin or other salicylates. Many turmeric capsules contain piperine from black pepper to raise curcumin absorption; piperine also affects the enzymes that clear many medicines and can change their blood levels. Turmeric, black seed and cinnamon may add to the effect of diabetes medicines, and black seed slowed drug-metabolizing enzymes in a small human study and lowered cyclosporine levels in animals. Let your surgical team know about all of these herbs before an operation.

A few herbs have specific cautions worth knowing. Liver injury has been reported in some people taking turmeric or curcumin supplements, especially enhanced-absorption formulas, so stop and contact a doctor for fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes; turmeric in cooking is a different, much smaller exposure. Turmeric extracts should also be avoided with gallstone complications or bile-duct obstruction. Willow bark is a salicylate, so anyone allergic to aspirin or other NSAIDs, or with aspirin-sensitive asthma, a stomach ulcer, a bleeding disorder or G6PD deficiency, should avoid it. Children and teenagers should never take willow bark, because salicylates are linked to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness affecting the brain and liver after a viral infection. Devil’s claw is not for people with stomach or duodenal ulcers, black seed oil on the skin can cause severe allergic reactions, cassia cinnamon supplements carry coumarin, which can harm the liver, and burdock can trigger allergy in people sensitive to ragweed or other daisy-family plants.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: medicinal doses of turmeric, boswellia, black seed and burdock are best avoided because safety has not been established; EMA does not recommend devil’s claw or medicinal cinnamon in pregnancy or breastfeeding, prefers to avoid licensed ginger medicines in pregnancy, and contraindicates willow bark in the third trimester. These spices in ordinary food amounts are a different matter. Children should not be given these herbs as anti-inflammatory supplements, and EMA does not recommend devil’s claw, willow bark, burdock or medicinal cinnamon under 18. Product quality varies widely: boswellic acid and curcumin content differ between brands, many joint and inflammation products combine several herbs, which makes side effects hard to trace, and one commercial “burdock” tea caused atropine poisoning, probably from contamination with belladonna. A single-herb product that names the plant, the part used and its standardized content, ideally matching an extract studied in trials, is the safest place to start.

04 Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

For inflammation linked to knee osteoarthritis, boswellia has the strongest evidence so far, with a Cochrane review finding that an enriched extract eased pain and improved function over 90 days. Turmeric is the most popular choice, and NCCIH calls the early osteoarthritis evidence positive, while ginger modestly reduced osteoarthritis pain in a 2015 meta-analysis. Herbs work best as gentle helpers alongside the habits that matter most for chronic inflammation: staying active, sleeping well, eating well and not smoking.

Check with your prescriber or pharmacist first. High-dose turmeric or curcumin may add to the bleeding risk of anticoagulants such as warfarin, antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, and stacking several natural anti-inflammatories on top of a painkiller adds up. Many capsules also contain piperine from black pepper, which raises curcumin absorption but can change blood levels of other medicines by affecting the enzymes that clear them. Turmeric used in cooking is a much smaller exposure. Tell your surgical team about turmeric supplements before any operation.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is made by the liver when there is inflammation somewhere in the body. A raised result shows that inflammation is present but not its cause or location, which could be an infection, an autoimmune condition, or factors such as smoking, obesity or insomnia, so the first step is working out the cause with your doctor. A few herbs have lowered CRP in early studies, including burdock root tea in a small trial in knee osteoarthritis and cinnamon in meta-analyses noted by MSKCC. A lower marker is encouraging but not the same as better health, and larger trials would help.

Rarely, yes. Turmeric in food is generally safe, but liver damage has been reported in some people taking turmeric or curcumin supplements, and NCCIH highlights reports with formulations designed for higher absorption. Stop the supplement and contact your doctor if you notice fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes. People with liver disease, gallstone complications or bile-duct obstruction should avoid turmeric extracts unless their doctor agrees, and it is wise to tell your doctor about every supplement you take.

It is related, but not interchangeable. White willow bark contains salicin, which the body converts to salicylates, and EMA lists it as a traditional remedy for minor joint pain in adults, but it is slower and less predictable than aspirin and should never replace aspirin prescribed for heart protection. It carries the same family of risks: avoid it with an aspirin or NSAID allergy, aspirin-sensitive asthma, stomach ulcers or blood thinners, do not combine it with other NSAIDs, and never give it to children or teenagers, because salicylates are linked to Reye’s syndrome.

05 References

Sources

These references support the claims in this guide. Each herb’s monograph carries its own full source list.

  1. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test

    MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine (NIH), 2025

    Explains acute versus chronic inflammation, that CRP shows inflammation but not its cause or location, and that smoking, obesity and insomnia are linked to higher CRP.

  2. Turmeric

    National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH), 2025

    Supports the positive initial osteoarthritis evidence for turmeric, the use of piperine to raise curcumin absorption, and liver damage reported with enhanced-absorption formulations.

  3. Oral herbal therapies for treating osteoarthritis

    Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (PubMed 24848732), 2014

    Basis for the some rating for boswellia: high-quality evidence from two small trials that an enriched extract eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function over 90 days.

  4. Efficacy of curcumin and Boswellia for knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis

    Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (PubMed 29622343), 2018

    Eleven trials with 1,009 participants in which curcumin and boswellia both beat placebo for pain and function, though study quality was low and most trials were small.

  5. Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

    Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (PubMed 25300574), 2015

    Five trials with 593 people showing a modest reduction in osteoarthritis pain with oral ginger compared with placebo.

  6. Effects of Arctium lappa L. (Burdock) root tea on inflammatory status and oxidative stress in patients with knee osteoarthritis

    International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases (PubMed 25350500), 2016

    The 36-person trial in which three cups of burdock root tea a day for 42 days lowered IL-6 and high-sensitivity CRP compared with hot water.

  7. Salicis cortex (willow bark)

    European Medicines Agency, 2017

    Lists willow bark as a traditional adult remedy for minor joint pain, with salicylate contraindications including aspirin allergy, children, ulcers, G6PD deficiency and the third trimester.

  8. Reye’s Syndrome

    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH), 2026

    Explains the link between salicylates during viral illness and Reye’s syndrome, the reason children and teenagers should not take willow bark.

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