In a nutshell 
those suffering with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis experienced a substantial improvement in their conditions when they switched to a raw, vegan diet. Specifically, they experienced a decrease in pain and stiffness and self-perception of their health was improved.
The problem, of course, is that this diet represents a substantial and some would say extreme departure from our ‘normal’ diet. A vegan diet includes no animal products whatsoever – no milk, eggs, butter. The “living food” diet studied here included only raw foods – no cooking whatsoever.
The obvious reality is that very few people will ever attempt such an extreme dietary modification, and fewer still will adhere to it. Nonetheless, it is one option, and might result in general improvement in conditions related to inflammation other than those specifically studied.
As an alternative, one might want to add more fruits and vegetables to the diet, especially fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. Supplements might be considered as well.
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Two studies are consistent with the theory that excess inflammation often results from the body’s inability to shut down NF-kB – the Master Switch of inflammation.
Turning on NF-kB results in inflammation. If NF-kB cannot be turned off, chronic inflammation results.
One of many ways the body turns off NF-kB is with a protein messenger known as “CARD8.” Normally, CARD8 is made when NF-kB is activated. The negative feedback loop (the result of turning on NF-kB is a product that feeds back and turns off NF-kB) is one reason inflammation does not normally get out of hand.
A genetic defect has been identified that results in less effective CARD8. Less effective CARD8 means the normal, negative feedback loop that helps keep inflammation in check is missing – so inflammation continues.
This defect in CARD8 has been identified as a contributor to Alzheimer’s and rheumatoid arthritis. Some studies have suggested that defective CARD8 might also be associated with Crohn’s disease.
What seems clear is that CARD8 is only one of many ways the body keeps inflammation in control. To the extent that this and other defects result in deficient NF-kB inhibitors, supplementing NF-kB inhibitors, as suggested on this site, might be helpful.
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The abstract below does not say much. It merely suggests the central importance of NF-kB and then provides a very partial list of the autoimmune conditions for which NF-kB activation is central.
However, the full text article is a good overview, and is available free online.
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Curcumin, or turmeric, is believed to have many beneficial effects relative to inflammation and disease. It is an inhibitor of NF-kB, but also affects other pathways and mediators of inflammation.
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Efficacy of curcumin demonstrated in rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory eye diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic pancreatitis, psoriasis, hyperlipidemia, and cancers. Patients taking up to 8 grams of pure curcumin daily for 4 months reported no significant side effects.
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In rheumatoid arthritis the synovium becomes thickened and develops finger-like projections extending out into the joint space. This thickening process is called “hyperplasia,”and typically leads to pannus formation. Pannus means “flap” – and the pannus in rhuematoid arthritis contributes to the joint destruction characteristic of that disease.
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Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound isolated from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa (turmeric) that has traditionally been used for pain and wound-healing. Recent studies have shown that curcumin ameliorates (improves, helps with) multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease in human or animal models.
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Osteoclasts (OCs) are involved in several pathologies associated with bone loss, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, bone metastasis of myeloma, osteosarcoma, and breast cancer.
In this review we determined the effects of natural compounds, including extracts from medicinal plants, on differentiation and survival of human primary osteoclasts.
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Postmenopausal osteoporosis and rheumatoid joint destruction result from increased osteoclast formation and bone resorption that is under the control of NF-kB.
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Bone undergoes continuous remodeling through bone formation and resorption, and maintaining the balance for skeletal rigidity. Bone resorption and loss are generally attributed to osteoclasts. Osteoclast activity is inhibited by turmeric and dandelion, probably by means of NF-kB.
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At first it’s hard to believe that any one thing could effectively treat so many ailments. But since NF-kB inhibitors fight inflammation, it makes sense. If inflammation contributes to the cause of many conditions (and it does) then whatever relieves inflammation (actually treating the cause, not just masking the symptoms) should be effective in treating many ailments.
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