Bursitis - Natural Remedies

Bursitis

This is the inflammation of one or more bursae (small sacs) of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless functional gliding surface making normal movement painless. When bursitis occurs, however, movement relying upon the inflamed bursa becomes difficult and painful. Movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa aggravates its inflammation, perpetuating the problem and muscles can become stiffened.

The common stinging nettle is a good remedy to prevent and relieve the symptoms of bursitis.

What is bursitis?

Bursitis is an inflammation of a bursa (singular) or bursae (plural). These are small fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones in joints and minimize friction between them. There are more than 150 bursae in the human body. Bursitis most often affects the bursa at joints in the shoulders, elbows or hips, but can occur elsewhere including the knee, heel and the base of a big toe.

What are the symptoms of bursitis?

Bursitis causes pain, usually characterized as a dull ache or stiffness around the affected area. The pain may get worse as a result of movement or pressure. Sometimes bursitis indicates the presence of an infection that will require antibiotic treatment. If the area feels swollen and is warm to the touch and you notice redness in the skin over the joint you should seek medical advice.

What are the causes of bursitis?

The inflammation that causes bursitis usually stems from an injury due to repetitive use or pressure. For example, bursitis of the shoulder is common among baseball pitchers and "housemaid's knee" is the quaint name for bursitis related to spending too much time kneeling. Repeated physical stress can cause bursitis in the following areas:

Shoulder. This typically occurs after trauma to the rotator cuff, the muscles and tendons that connect the upper arm to the shoulder blade. In addition to repetitive activities (such as throwing a ball), causes may include injuries from falling or lifting.

Elbow. This develops as a result of repetitive bending and extending of the elbow (from such activities as swinging a tennis racquet, but it also can occur from everyday activities such as pushing a vacuum cleaner back and forth). Habitually leaning on an elbow can also be to blame.

Buttocks. Typically, bursitis in the bursa over the bones in the buttocks comes from sitting on a hard surface for long periods, such as you would encounter if you ride a bike frequently.

Hip. This usually stems from osteoarthritis, a hip injury or the pressure from habitually standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.

Knee. With this type of bursitis, you may see a soft, egg-shaped bump on the front of your knee. Repetitive kneeling while scrubbing floors, gardening, laying tiles or engaging in other activities that place pressure on your knees can trigger it. In addition, a sharp blow to the knee can inflame the bursae around the kneecap. You're more susceptible to bursitis of the knee if you have osteoarthritis and are overweight.

Ankle. This usually follows from wearing improperly fitting shoes.

What is the conventional treatment of bursitis?

The first line of treatment for bursitis is to rest the affected area and apply ice to reduce any swelling. The conventional treatment also includes anti-inflammatory drugs, which can be irritating to the stomach.

In some cases, a physician will recommend physical therapy or exercises to strengthen the muscles in the affected area. Occasionally, the bursa must be surgically drained, but only rarely is surgical removal of the affected bursa necessary.

If home care doesn't work, conventional medicine treats bursitis with local injections of corticosteroids. While the shots can work very well to suppress inflammation, they do so at the expense of immune function and don't foster healing. For this reason, these drugs should be reserved only for severe problems.

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Burns and Sunburn - Natural Remedies

Burns and Sunburn

Natural remedies to use externally to treat burns are: honey, aloe vera, pot marigold, reed mace, egg white (beaten to fluffy stage), comfrey (hot fomentation compress).

Use cold water and a vinegar compress until the pain goes away then apply potato slices or chop up peeled raw potatoes and mix with tap water to make a paste.

Serious burns with large blisters need to be treated professionally because of risk of serious infection and dehydration. Consuming pineapple juice can alleviate dehydration.

                           

                         

How to Treat a Sunburn Naturally

It happens!

We can be so careful — protecting our skin and eating foods that build our resistance — but sometimes our fun in the sun leads to overexposure and we end up with a painful sunburn.

Yes prevention is the most effective cure for sunburn — but when it inevitably happens, use any number of these safe and effective homemade remedies to soothe and heal the burn:

Aloe Vera. When it comes to sunburns, most people reach for the Aloe Vera. It’s the most common natural remedy for burned skin and not to mention…a super easy to maintain house plant.

Lavender essential oil. This is my favorite remedy for burns. Lavender essential oils not only relieves sunburn, but they may also prevent peeling.

Yogurt. Spread yogurt on your burned skin to help cool and heal. Your best bet is to use full-fat, plain, unsweetened yogurt. Let the yogurt stay on the skin until it warms then rinse off.

Vinegar. Load apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle, store in the fridge, then spray it on your burn. Is there anything vinegar can’t do :)

Tea. Make a pot of strong tea and then use a piece of cloth soaked in the tea by applying it to the sunburn area. You could also make a tea bath and soak in the tub. It’s actually the tannins in tea that help to soothe the burn and heal the skin.

Potato peels. An age old remedy for sunburns mentioned in tons of old writings is potato peels. They provide much needed moisture and they also have anti-bacterial properties that help in healing…who knew?

                       

Cucumber. Try applying thin slices of cold cucumbers directly, or you could puree a peeled cucumber and rub it on to the affected skin.

Vitamin E. Apply vitamin E oil and plenty of moisturizer for several days after the initial sunburn.

Burn Relief Spray. Combine 2 ounces aloe vera gel, 2 ounces cold water, ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil, 15 drops of each tea tree oil and lavender essential oils. Load into a small spray bottle and shake well prior to application. This spray can be applied to the entire burned area as often as needed. Store in the refrigerator for approximately 5-7 days.

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Bruises and Swelling- Natural Remedies

Bruises and Swelling

Externally hold under a cold tap for a few minutes, apply an ice pack or a frozen bag of peas, apple cider vinegar or tamanu oil to reduce swelling. A poultice made from chicory or lettuce and nutmeg can be applied to further reduce bruises and swelling.

Natural foods to consume to treat bruises and swelling are: asparagus, cherries, nutmeg, olives, papaya, rosehips

Increasing the recovery speed of bruising

Bruising results from the release of blood from the capillaries into the tissues under the skin.

The characteristic bluish-black mark on the skin lightens in colour and eventually fades as the blood is absorbed by the tissues and carried away. Bruising usually occurs as a result of an injury, but can occasionally be spontaneous and an indication of an allergic reaction, or more serious disease.

                                   

Eat foods high in bioflavonoids, originally called Vitamin P. A bioflavonoids primary job is to protect the capillaries, keep them strong and to prevent bleeding. Bioflavonoids are also anti-inflammatory. Lemons, green peppers, broccoli and rose hips are good sources of bioflavonoids. If taking bioflavonoid supplements, for the best absorption into the body, take with Vitamin C.

Early Greek bruise treatments

The early Greek herbalists considered St. Johns Wort an effective herb for healing wounds . It was used to dress sword cuts in the Middle Ages. Modern analysis of the plant has shown the plant to have antibacterial and astringent properties, both qualities useful in the speedy healing of cuts and wounds.

Externally, either add a few drops of tincture to an organic oil or cream and gently apply to the bruised area or apply a few drops of the tincture directly to the skin and allow to soak in. An infusion can be used to bathe wounds, skin sores and bruises. Internally, take as an infusion or tincture for anxiety, nervous tension, irritability or emotional upsets. For long-standing nervous tension, take a tincture for at least two months.

Traditional Medieval bruise remedy

Comfrey is among the oldest herbal remedies for skin problems. Poultices of the fresh leaves are a traditional home remedy for sprains, bruises and cuts. Comfrey not only promotes the healing of tissue and bone, but at the same time reduces swelling, effectively speeding up the healing process. Comfrey's healing powers have been attributed to its high content of allantoin, a substance that promotes the growth of tissue, bone and cartilage, both externally and internally. There is however some controversy over the safety of taking comfrey internally over a long period. It contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that are toxic to the liver. So use liberally in a cream or oil externally on bruised skin.

Believe it or not, cabbage may help

Cabbage has traditionally been used for medical purposes as well as for cooking. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and contains chemicals which can prevent cancer. Applied to bruises and swelling, macerated cabbage leaves will encourage healing .

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Bronchitis a Chest Infection - Natural Remedies

BRONCHITIS

Bronchitis is a chest infection of the main airways of the lungs (bronchi), which causes them to become irritated and inflamed. The main symptom is a cough which may bring up yellow-grey mucus. Bronchitis may also cause a sore throat, wheezing and a blocked nose. In most cases bronchitis will clear up by itself within a few weeks without the need for treatment. This type of bronchitis is known as acute bronchitis. While you are waiting for it to pass, you should drink lots of fluid and get plenty of rest

You only need to see your GP if your symptoms are severe or unusual – for example, if:

your cough is severe or lasts longer than three weeks

you have a constant fever for more than three days

you cough up mucus streaked with blood

you have an underlying heart or lung condition, such as asthma or heart failure

Raw Juice Therapy can successfully treat bronchitis. The best organic natural foods to juice are: apricot, carrot, daikon, lemon, peach, pineapple, onion, strawberry, spinach and tomato.

                        

                       

A tea made with daikon, shittake mushrooms and kombu seaweed can be used to lower fever and fight infection.

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