| This article is about a frustrating bout I had with | | | | technique when I dislocated my right knee in a |
| Bursitis on both of my elbows. The inflammation | | | | karate accident and I also used it on my low back |
| was easy for me to solve as you will see below | | | | when I had taken a fall from a roof years ago. |
| but the swelling was a whole other matter. It | | | | Both injuries had developed into arthritis and were |
| took a technique I invented a long time ago to | | | | preventing me from working. So I developed this |
| solve the swelling problem which worked | | | | herbal technique to focus the herbs into the |
| excellently. Herbs will always work, you just need | | | | arthritic areas of my knee and back which gave |
| to find the right combination and technique for the | | | | me relief and completely eliminated my arthritis |
| problem you have and apply it consistently. | | | | (see my article, "Arthritis Formula to Reduce Pain, |
| Webster's New World Medical Dictionary (bursitis | | | | Swelling and Increase Movement"). |
| definition) | | | | My Bursitis Herbal Remedy Technique |
| Bursitis, elbow: Inflammation of the olecranon | | | | First I brought out the salve I mentioned above, |
| bursa, the bursa at the tip of the elbow is called | | | | that has the cayenne in the formula. This salve is |
| the olecranon bursitis. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac | | | | a combination of deep heat herbs for pain and |
| that functions as a gliding surface to reduce | | | | inflammation relief and also tissue repair herbs to |
| friction between moving tissues of the body. | | | | encourage healing of the afflicted area. I rub it |
| Bursitis is usually not infectious, but the bursa can | | | | directly into the muscles or joints that suffer |
| become infected. Treatment of non-infectious | | | | from injury or the pain of arthritis for relief. |
| bursitis includes rest, ice, and medications for | | | | This is what I did for my arthritis in the past, and |
| inflammation and pain. Infectious bursitis is treated | | | | I was now going to apply it to my bursitis swelling. |
| with antibiotics, aspiration, and surgery. | | | | I decided to apply it to just the left elbow first to |
| There are 160 bursae in the body. The major | | | | see if it would work. If I was doing this for the |
| bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near | | | | first time I would try just the ointment and then |
| the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, | | | | add some more cayenne if needed. So I took |
| hips, and knees. | | | | some of the ointment which I am very familiar |
| What I did to Treat My Bursa | | | | with and added more cayenne to it and took |
| I am going to keep this article simple and to the | | | | photos for before and after. I made a paste using |
| point. What I did to solve the bursitis swelling on | | | | both powdered cayenne and the ointment |
| both of my elbows. | | | | together and I wanted it just hot enough that I |
| I am still not exactly sure what caused the | | | | could tolerate it. The cayenne will not hurt you but |
| bursitis I had in the first place. There were a | | | | you will feel like it is if you add too much. I |
| number of things going on at the same time and | | | | wanted it hot enough so that it would bring on a |
| anyone of them could have caused the problem. I | | | | healing while moving that fluid out of the bursa |
| was exercising using some pretty heavy weights | | | | and I took more photos of this process. |
| and that may have led to the problem. I was | | | | I got this paste nicely mixed up and then |
| using a chair that was too low at my computer | | | | completely covered the bursa on my left elbow. |
| station and that may have led to the problem. I | | | | Now like I said, I wanted to concentrate the |
| was also resting my elbows at that time on the | | | | healing bower of the herbs in this mix. So I |
| sharp edge of the retractable computer keyboard | | | | wrapped the bursa and elbow in saran wrap then |
| table. And I was staying at my computer desk | | | | wrapped the elbow with an ace bandage. This will |
| much too long and not getting enough sunshine | | | | hold the dressing in place and as I said |
| which can cause a shortage of vitamin D and can | | | | concentrate the healing power of these herbs. |
| lead to bone and joint problems plus I am 65 | | | | And of course I took photos of this process. |
| years old. So one of the first things I did was to | | | | I could feel the heat within about 5 minutes and it |
| remove and change all of the things I was and | | | | climbed till it was nice and hot so I knew it was |
| was not doing so I could take the stress away | | | | working. Then I left the dressing with the herbs |
| from the elbows, rest them and get back into the | | | | on the left elbow for three and a half hours while |
| sunshine. | | | | I attended to other things It was late afternoon |
| Then I went to those things that I know have a | | | | so when the time was up I removed the dressing |
| reputation of reducing inflammation and swelling | | | | and washed off the paste with soap and water. |
| and preventing infection. I went to alternating ice | | | | Even after the paste was washed off I could still |
| and heat 3 times a day to reduce the swelling and | | | | feel the heat, but after 30 minutes it was gone |
| inflammation. I started taking extra doses of a | | | | and I took a shower. |
| food form of the mineral magnesium to help with | | | | Warning: You do not want to put any hot water |
| the inflammation. A food form of vitamins and | | | | on that area until the paste is washed off with |
| minerals are important because you body cannot | | | | soap and water and you allow a half hour to go |
| absorb synthetic forms properly (see my article, | | | | by. Because the hot water will magnify the heat |
| "The Truth About Vitamins"). I started taking | | | | on your skin. |
| anti-inflammatory enzymes that I use to do the | | | | When I woke up the next day I noticed that the |
| same thing reduce inflammation and swelling. The | | | | skin around the bursa on the left arm was loose |
| Yoga arm and shoulder stretches which I was | | | | and the size had gone down a little. I reapplied the |
| doing I increased. I also went to see a massage | | | | paste again for the second time, same amount of |
| therapist to get full body massage with extra | | | | cayenne to the ointment with the same dressing |
| attention to the neck, shoulder and arm areas. I | | | | to concentrate it and left it on all day. By the |
| started rubbing an ointment I use, which has | | | | second day the bursa on the left elbow was |
| tissue repair herbs, into my neck, shoulders and | | | | noticeably smaller and I knew I was on the right |
| elbows. I was doing all of these things together | | | | track. |
| which are known to reduce the inflammation and | | | | Once I saw how well it had worked for me I |
| swelling. | | | | knew I had to demonstrate the power of this |
| Bursitis can cause infection so I brought my | | | | herbal technique by recording this in an article with |
| vitamin C levels up to ward off infection (see | | | | photos so you can see what can be done. I |
| Orthomolecular Medicine, Dr. Klenner) and to keep | | | | searched the internet before I did this to see if |
| my immune system strong. I also added a herbal | | | | there were any other natural ways to reduce the |
| formula and also olive leaf that boosts the | | | | size of a bursa and there was only one and from |
| immune system and destroys pathogens which | | | | the blogs I was reading it was expensive and not |
| again avoids infection reduces inflammation and of | | | | very effective. |
| course swelling. | | | | Warning: I do not want anyone getting in trouble |
| Here are the results of all the above naturopathic | | | | here so remember I am not a Doctor of |
| medical treatments that I used. I had no infection | | | | Allopathic (modern) medicine I am a Naturopathic |
| at all that I am aware of and the pain became | | | | Doctor. If you are having difficulty with a painful |
| minimal and so I believe the inflammation was | | | | bursa, see your doctor and by all means follow his |
| almost completely eliminated. But the swelling | | | | advice. |
| stayed exactly the same and did not appear to | | | | If you want, show your doctor this article and get |
| have been reduced one bit. I was satisfied that I | | | | his opinion on it. I have had many doctors who |
| had solved most of my problem but frustrated | | | | have endorsed the suggestions I have made |
| and exasperated that the swelling was still there. | | | | regarding chronic illnesses like bursitis, arthritis and |
| It was wearisome and annoying to have this | | | | rheumatism. Usually they say something like this, |
| swelling as I am sure you know. I may be 65 but | | | | "I cannot see how it can hurt you so give it a |
| I am still vain about my appearance and I am also | | | | try." |
| a Naturopathic Doctor who should be able to take | | | | A Few Questions You May Have About This |
| care of problems like this. My left elbow from the | | | | Technique |
| beginning was a little smaller, about the size of a | | | | I have seen information on bursitis that said do |
| kids rubber jack ball, a little over an inch in | | | | not add heat to bursitis. I sometimes agree with |
| diameter while the right elbow was bigger, the | | | | that but this is not real heat. The capsicum in the |
| size of a ping pong ball more then 2 inches in | | | | cayenne is fooling your nerves, making them think |
| diameter (I took photos). I continued the use of | | | | there is heat being applied but in reality there is no |
| the above program another 2 weeks but I saw | | | | heat. |
| no reduction in size of the swelling at all, zip. This | | | | Will the cayenne injure the tissues and cause |
| was completely cramping my life and it was a | | | | further damage? No, even police departments are |
| challenge to my skill as a Naturopathic Doctor. | | | | not afraid to allow their policemen to spray a |
| Into the 3rd week I was considering seeing a | | | | very strong pepper spray directly into the eyes |
| doctor to get the fluid removed by syringe or | | | | of someone who is resisting arrest. They know |
| operation. And if you know me that is not an | | | | that cayenne does not damage even the delicate |
| option I want anything to do with as I believe in | | | | tissues of the eyes. |
| "Physician heal thyself" in all its meanings. I have | | | | If you have any further questions email me at |
| not used modern medicine in any form in 20 | | | | my website: Important Note: |
| years and I did not want to start now plus the | | | | The information presented herein by The Natural |
| cost. | | | | Path Botanicals is intended for educational |
| The Light Goes on in My Head | | | | purposes only. These statements have not been |
| That same week I was preparing some organic | | | | evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to |
| cayenne pepper for a tincture I was making. It | | | | diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual |
| struck me that this herb increases circulation to | | | | results may vary, and before using any |
| any area it is applied to. Well there is a powerful | | | | supplements, it is always advisable to consult with |
| technique I developed to intensify this herb and | | | | your own health care provider. |
| any herb with it to speed up healing. I used this | | | | |