Our bodies possess many wondrous abilities, and among them is the capacity to heal itself. When we suffer an injury or infection, our bodies will respond with inflammation, a cascade of proteins that work to bring blood flow to an area to speed up the healing process and repair cellular damage. You’re undoubtedly familiar with the signs of inflammation — swelling, redness, heat, and pain — from common ailments like a bumped elbow, scraped knee, or sore throat.