Same goes for icebaths, they reduce inflammation, which is the whole point of working out.

The whole point of working out is to stress the organism in order to induce a physiological adaptation. Inflammation is NOT the point, but rather an unfortunate side effect.

Does the opposite hold true as well? If I taunt a wasp nest after hitting the gym will I discover the fast route to mad gains?

You'll certainly get swole.

What about ginger? Because that apparently only downregulates COX-2 without affection COX-1 (most inflammation-reducing drugs affect both)

Etoricoxib does just that and is widely available at least in the EU

Interesting, I didn't know. My original question was more about whether that affects muscle gains differently though, do you happen to have any insights into that?