This article is about a frustrating bout I had with Bursitis on both of my elbows. The inflammation was easy for me to solve as you will see below but the swelling was a whole other matter. It took a technique I invented a long time ago to solve the swelling problem which worked excellently. Herbs will always work, you just need to find the right combination and technique for the problem you have and apply it consistently.

Webster's New World Medical Dictionary (Bursitis Definition)

Bursitis, elbow: Inflammation of the olecranon bursa, the bursa at the tip of the elbow is called the olecranon bursitis. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between moving tissues of the body. Bursitis is usually not infectious, but the bursa can become infected. Treatment of non- infectious bursitis includes rest, ice, and medications for inflammation and pain. Infectious bursitis is treated with antibiotics, aspiration, and surgery.

There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.

What I did to Treat My Bursa?

I am going to keep this article simple and to the point. What I did to solve the bursitis swelling on both of my elbows.

I am still not exactly sure what caused the bursitis I had in the first place. There were a number of things going on at the same time and anyone of them could have caused the problem. I was exercising using some pretty heavy weights and that may have led to the problem. I was using a chair that was too low at my computer station and that may have led to the problem. I was also resting my elbows at that time on the sharp edge of the retractable computer keyboard table. And I was staying at my computer desk much too long and not getting enough sunshine which can cause a shortage of vitamin D and can lead to bone and joint problems plus I am 65 years old. So one of the first things I did was to remove and change all of the things I was and was not doing so I could take the stress away from the elbows, rest them and get back into the sunshine.

Then I went to those things that I know have a reputation of reducing inflammation and swelling and preventing infection. I went to alternating ice and heat 3 times a day to reduce the swelling and inflammation. I started taking extra doses of a food form of the mineral magnesium to help with the inflammation. A food form of vitamins and minerals are important because you body cannot absorb synthetic forms properly (see my article "The Truth About Vitamins"). I started taking anti-inflammatory enzymes that I use to do the same thing reduce inflammation and swelling. The Yoga arm and shoulder stretches which I was doing I increased. I also went to see a massage therapist to get full body massage with extra attention to the neck, shoulder and arm areas. I started rubbing an ointment I use, which has tissue repair herbs, into my neck, shoulders and elbows. I was doing all of these things together which are known to reduce the inflammation and swelling.

Bursitis can cause infection so I brought my vitamin C levels up to ward off infection (see Orthomolecular Medicine, Dr. Klenner) and to keep my immune system strong. I also added a herbal formula and also olive leaf that boosts the immune system and destroys pathogens which again avoids infection reduces inflammation and of course swelling.

Here are the results of all the above naturopathic medical treatments that I used. I had no infection at all that I am aware of and the pain became minimal and so I believe the inflammation was almost completely eliminated. But the swelling stayed exactly the same and did not appear to have been reduced one bit. I was satisfied that I had solved most of my problem but frustrated and exasperated that the swelling was still there.

It was wearisome and annoying to have this swelling as I am sure you know. I may be 65 but I am still vain about my appearance and I am also a Naturopathic Doctor who should be able to take care of problems like this. My left elbow from the beginning was a little smaller, about the size of a kids rubber jack ball, a little over an inch in diameter while the right elbow was bigger, the size of a ping pong ball more then 2 inches in diameter (I took photos). I continued the use of the above program another 2 weeks but I saw no reduction in size of the swelling at all, zip. This was completely cramping my life and it was a challenge to my skill as a Naturopathic Doctor.

Into the 3rd week I was considering seeing a doctor to get the fluid removed by syringe or operation. And if you know me that is not an option I want anything to do with as I believe in "Physician heal thyself" in all its meanings. I have not used modern medicine in any form in 20 years and I did not want to start now plus the cost.

The Light Goes on in My Head

That same week I was preparing some organic cayenne pepper for a tincture I was making. It struck me that this herb increases circulation to any area it is applied to. Well there is a powerful technique I developed to intensify this herb and any herb with it to speed up healing. I used this technique when I dislocated my right knee in a karate accident and I also used it on my low back when I had taken a fall from a roof years ago. Both injuries had developed into arthritis and were preventing me from working. So I developed this herbal technique to focus the herbs into the arthritic areas of my knee and back which gave me relief and completely eliminated my arthritis (see my article, "Arthritis Formula to Reduce Pain, Swelling and Increase Movement").

My Bursitis Herbal Remedy Technique

First I brought out the salve I mentioned above, that has the cayenne in the formula. This salve is a combination of deep heat herbs for pain and inflammation relief and also tissue repair herbs to encourage healing of the afflicted area. I rub it directly into the muscles or joints that suffer from injury or the pain of arthritis for relief.

This is what I did for my arthritis in the past, and I was now going to apply it to my bursitis swelling. I decided to apply it to just the left elbow first to see if it would work. If I was doing this for the first time I would try just the ointment and then add some more cayenne if needed. So I took some of the ointment which I am very familiar with and added more cayenne to it and took photos for before and after. I made a paste using both powdered cayenne and the ointment together and I wanted it just hot enough that I could tolerate it. The cayenne will not hurt you but you will feel like it is if you add too much. I wanted it hot enough so that it would bring on a healing while moving that fluid out of the bursa and I took more photos of this process.

I got this paste nicely mixed up and then completely covered the bursa on my left elbow. Now like I said, I wanted to concentrate the healing bower of the herbs in this mix. So I wrapped the bursa and elbow in saran wrap then wrapped the elbow with an ace bandage. This will hold the dressing in place and as I said concentrate the healing power of these herbs. And of course I took photos of this process.

I could feel the heat within about 5 minutes and it climbed till it was nice and hot so I knew it was working. Then I left the dressing with the herbs on the left elbow for three and a half hours while I attended to other things It was late afternoon so when the time was up I removed the dressing and washed off the paste with soap and water. Even after the paste was washed off I could still feel the heat, but after 30 minutes it was gone and I took a shower.

Warning: You do not want to put any hot water on that area until the paste is washed off with soap and water and you allow a half hour to go by. Because the hot water will magnify the heat on your skin.

When I woke up the next day I noticed that the skin around the bursa on the left arm was loose and the size had gone down a little. I reapplied the paste again for the second time, same amount of cayenne to the ointment with the same dressing to concentrate it and left it on all day. By the second day the bursa on the left elbow was noticeably smaller and I knew I was on the right track.

Once I saw how well it had worked for me I knew I had to demonstrate the power of this herbal technique by recording this in an article with photos so you can see what can be done. I searched the internet before I did this to see if there were any other natural ways to reduce the size of a bursa and there was only one and from the blogs I was reading it was expensive and not very effective.

Warning: I do not want anyone getting in trouble here so remember I am not a Doctor of Allopathic (modern) medicine I am a Naturopathic Doctor. If you are having difficulty with a painful bursa, see your doctor and by all means follow his advice.

If you want, show your doctor this article and get his opinion on it. I have had many doctors who have endorsed the suggestions I have made regarding chronic illnesses like bursitis, arthritis and rheumatism. Usually they say something like this, "I cannot see how it can hurt you so give it a try."

A Few Questions You May Have About This Technique

I have seen information on bursitis that said do not add heat to bursitis. I sometimes agree with that but this is not real heat. The capsicum in the cayenne is fooling your nerves, making them think there is heat being applied but in reality there is no heat.

Won't the cayenne injure the tissues and cause further damage? No, even police departments are not afraid to allow their policemen to spray a very strong pepper spray directly into the eyes of someone who is resisting arrest. They know that cayenne does not damage even the delicate tissues of the eyes.

If you have any further questions email me at my website: [email protected]

Important Note:

The information presented herein by The Natural Path Botanicals is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider