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The inflammatory response is typically initiated by infection or cellular injury, and provides host protection aimed at clearing the initial triggering event, as well as providing long-term protective immunity. When properly functioning, the inflammatory process is a mediator of acute injury to restore tissue health and is characteristically self-limiting once tissue repair and homeostasis have been restored. If tissue health is not restored, such as if the tissue harbors a continuous low grade inflammatory stimulant, then the inflammatory process becomes a chronic response that continuously damages the surrounding tissue in its attempt to provide repair. Left unchecked, long-term inflammation can result in diseases of chronic inflammation, such as autoimmunity or age-related diseases. Choice of current anti-inflammatory therapies is often limited by patient risk-benefit considerations. Traditional approaches to manage chronic inflammation include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids which provide short-term benefits, but are often plagued with significant side effects that preclude their use for long-term therapy. The newest classes of anti-inflammatory therapeutics, biologics, are engineered monoclonal antibodies that bind pro-inflammatory mediators and neutralize their effects by preventing pro-inflammatory signaling. Unfortunately, biologic therapies are often prohibitively expensive and have serious, sometimes life-threatening side effects. In lieu of biologics or chemically synthesized small molecules, natural products have provided a rich source of small molecule effectors. One particular natural product, 1,8-cineole, also called eucalyptol, is reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant activity. Several clinical trials have established potent anti-inflammatory activity for 1,8-cineole, which may suggest its use as a primary treatment, or at the very least, an adjunct therapy for current anti-inflammatory agents. We argue that use of 1,8-cineole as an anti-inflammatory agent needs greater study in other diseases with a chronic inflammatory component, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and arthritic complications.

In our present era of widespread obesity, it is without doubt we are all well acquainted with dietary struggles faced by our patients, friends, and family members as they follow the latest commercialized trend trying earnestly to shed those extra pounds. To state the obvious, dieting to achieve permanent weight loss is hard, requiring diligence, a sound plan, and proper support to succeed. But is this all it takes? We hear many stories expressing long-term commitment to well-planned diets that have been assembled by trained nutritionists and dieticians. And of course, encouragement is readily offered by family and friends. Yet, in spite of these well intentioned pursuits, dieting largely fails, often with the added consequence of rebounding to an even greater weight than pre-diet measures. This leads to expressions of anger, frustration, resignation, and confusion. Besides the physical toll, the effect on emotional well-being is inevitable and very often poorly addressed. Perhaps we need to look at this problem from a different perspective; as Albert Einstein taught us, we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them.