Brain insults of various forms are always followed by a complex inflammatory reaction or cascade. This cascade has stimulated much research, and may be a target for future therapeutic interventions. During the cascade, both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes are initiated, and tissue and neuronal repair mechanisms are also initiated. It is speculated that, because of the complex nature of the inflammatory reaction and its feedback loops, the future therapeutic manipulations in this area will be complex. Manipulation of inflammation may have beneficial effects in controlling the secondary inflammatory insult, but may be detrimental in blunting the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses to this inflammation, thus delaying initiation of tissue repair.