Inflammation when controlled and in balance is good, because without it we would struggle to heal. Inflammation that goes on longer than necessary or happens when it is not supposed to is bad – that is when the inflammation itself starts to damage tissues in your body. Chronic inflammation (persisting for a long time or constantly recurring) can lead to conditions such as eczema, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and even autoimmune conditions. Natural medicines can help us balance our inflammatory response without stopping it completely and without the unwanted side effects of many pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories (e.g: digestive problems including stomach upset, heartburn, and ulcers).