Mix of mint, eucalyptus and chili helps to eliminate inflammation

Since ancient times, people have used mixtures of herbs and spices not only for flavor, but also for healing. However, modern science has long been skeptical about anti-inflammatory products. The fact is that in the laboratory, individual plant substances worked only in huge dosages, which cannot be obtained from ordinary food. The new discovery explained why we were wrong: nature relies not on quantity, but on the teamwork of molecules.

The focus was on macrophages, special cells of the immune system that are the first to react to infection and trigger inflammation. During the experiments, the experts exposed these cells to bacterial toxins, and then treated them with menthol from mint, cineole from eucalyptus and capsaicin from hot pepper. The results exceeded all expectations.

When the components were used one at a time, the effect was noticeable, but modest. But it was worth adding a little menthol or eucalyptus oil to capsaicin from chili, as the anti-inflammatory effect increased several hundred times. This made it possible to achieve a powerful response even at very low concentrations of substances that are quite realistic to obtain during a regular lunch.

The secret of this effectiveness lies in the different ways it affects the cell. Menthol and eucalyptus activate special channels in the membrane that control calcium flows, while hot pepper blocks alarm signals through its channels. When these mechanisms are activated simultaneously, the immune cell calms down much faster, preventing inflammation from getting out of control.

The discovery provides a molecular rationale for why diets with an abundance of different spices and vegetables are considered healthy. Health lies in the proper interaction of many plant components. Such data will help in the future to create new functional additives and seasonings that will fight chronic problems naturally.

Thus, a regular spice blend can become an important element of long-term health support, helping the body cope with internal stress.