Effective Natural Treatments for Bursitis Relief

| Modified on Nov 14, 2024
The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Linda (Orlando, FL) on 03/05/2007
★★★★★

On the acv and baking soda page, Katie from Santa Ana was asking about her chronic shoulder pain and what to do. I had a severe rotator cuff injury about 3 years ago. I could not even lift my arm. Initially I took glucosamine and chondroitin, which helped a lot with the healing and the pain. I was taking two pills per day for about 2 years, and then 1 pill a day for the past year. If I stopped taking the glucosamine and condroitin the pain would return. I found this site a few weeks ago and have begun taking molasses with my morning coffee. I read (on a different page) that it helps with inflamation and pain. I have not needed the glucosamine and condroitin ever since!!

Magnesium Oil
Posted by Art (California) on 03/10/2023 2325 posts

Hi Kristi,

You said you are using the mag oil as I suggested for sleep. Is it helping you to get to sleep and are you applying it to the areas I mentioned?

Thank you for the feedback!

Art


Magnesium Oil
Posted by Kristi (Pittsburgh, PA) on 03/09/2023

Wow I am going to try this ASAP. I have been having MAJOR "itis" of some sort the past few months in BOTH my shoulders, my clavicles, my breastbone, etc. The reason I believe it to be BURSITIS is I read on this website that if you rub your arm and get red splotches that's a major sign. It's significantly worse on the right-hand side to the point where I get severe swelling under my arm pit. It just hurts and it's uncomfortable. I have been taking ACV, doing cold packs at night, trying to stretch it, etc and nothing seems to work so I have just been dealing with it. I have magnesium oil; I use it for Art Solbrigs solution for insomnia so I will DEFINITELY be rubbing some of this on my shoulders! I hope it works as quick and good as you say!


Blended Whole Lemon
Posted by Jon V. (Austin, Tx) on 10/20/2022
★★★★★

For the last month, I have suffered from constant chronic right shoulder pain that started about a month ago from what I believe is a sluggish gall bladder (possible gallstones) as I do have tenderness under my right ribcage when I press the gall bladder area. It has severely affected my sleep as I am a side sleeper and sleeping on my side is so painful that I am forced to sleep on my back which sets off a mild case of sleep apnea.

While searching YouTube for health videos concerning a different health issue, I came across a video titled Amazing Benefits of Eating WHOLE Lemons – Peel, White Part, and Seeds by Dr. Eric Berg DC. I remembered that the bitterness of real squeezed lemon juice is very good for a sluggish gallbladder and healing a sore gallbladder (tender to the touch) which often also results in chronic right shoulder pain as the inflamed gallbladder impinges on a nerve that runs up from the torso and into the right shoulder area that causes deep throbbing pain. Dr. Berg's simple explanation of “why you should consume the whole lemon” (video time 1:44 to 6:22 minutes) provided enough similarities with what was going on with me that I decided to give it a shot. I drove to my local supermarket that carries a small organic section (most nationwide grocery stores carry organic lemons and or limes– usually a bag of 10 for under $5) and bought organic lemons. It must be organic lemon or limes as non-organic citrus fruit is heavily sprayed with pesticides which you will consume if you eat the whole non-organic lemon. When I got home, I cut one lemon into 10 equal parts, threw the parts into a tall quart size wide mouth mason jar, filled with around 12 oz of water, and used a hand immersion blender for 3 minutes (enough time to make sure everything was really cut and blended – no big pieces especially any seeds or peel parts.

A counter blender or bullet type blender will work as well). You can watch the video to see how to blend the lemon and drink. I didn't have any liquid stevia at the time, so I just drank it straight in one go. It was bitter but not so bad where I gagged. I can see where the liquid stevia could help offset the bitterness. To be honest it wasnt bad tasting and from start (cutting lemon) to finish (cleaning the blender) was roughly 5 minutes.

The only side effect was I had diarrhea that night and I could see bits of the lemon pulp floating in the water. Other than that, no problems. I drank a blended lemon for the next 3 days and by the fourth day I noticed that my shoulder pain was lessening. It wasn't the constant throbbing pain anymore. In fact, it felt like it had reduced in pain by 60% and now really only hurt when I moved my arm back or above my head. That night I was able to sleep on my left side for the full night and actually got restive sleep. By day six, all pain was gone from my right shoulder; I could now sleep on either side; and the tenderness under my right ribcage at where my gall bladder is located had vanished. It's now been 12 days of consuming a whole blended lemon and I really feel good. I have tons of energy, my outlook on life is good, and I am pain free throughout my entire body. I no longer have to take any kind of pain medication. I cant tell you how awesome that is. So give it a shot. You will be pleasantly surprised. I have gotten so many additional benefits that I am beginning to wonder if drinking a blended lemon a day, might not be just the panacea we are all looking for in this day and age.

Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Carla (Houston Texas) on 04/19/2022

I'm glad you mentioned sulfates, sulfur got rid of a ganglia cyst I had. Same as bursitis, just on my wrist. I'm glad you mentioned it, because I have some in my medicine cabinet :) thanks


Borax Poultice, Avoid Dairy
Posted by CJG (Ohio) on 11/21/2021
★★★★★

I had very bad bursitis in my shoulder. I used a solution of borax and water (1 tsp / 1 liter) and soaked a cotton cloth and applied it to my shoulder several times a day.

I was hesitant to drink the solution, so decided applying it topically would be OK (not sure why I thought that, the skin is a huge organ which absorbs all kinds of things, including Epsom salts and baking soda in a bath) The application at room temperature felt so good and relieving. After about a week, the swelling in my shoulder had diminished and pain was greatly relieved. I kept it up for weeks, and the bursitis went away. My orthopedist wanted to inject cortisone. I said I would consider it if taking glucosamine and condroitin didn't help and that I would let him know. He actually told me that some of his patients had good results from quitting dairy consumption since dairy is an inflammatory...so I did that, also.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brett (Hawaii) on 08/05/2021

No, in fact, vinegar is acidic, but metabolizes down to base compounds/elements. The reason vinegar helps with acid indigestion is because heartburn is often caused by too LOW of acid in the stomach (which inhibits gastric emptying)...by adding acid (vinegar, lemon juice, etc) the Ph of the stomach becomes more acidic and the pyloric valve can open and allow stomach to empty. Food too long in the stomach starts to become gaseous and puts pressure on the cardiac sphincter to the esophagus causing it to open and allow acidic fluid into the throat causing heartburn symptoms...basic A&P.


Alternating Heat/Ice Therapy
Posted by Kristi (Pittsburgh, PA) on 07/19/2021

I don't even know if this is what I have, this is the 4th thing I found that it could be, I just know the pain is God awful and when I stand for longer (or walk) than 30 seconds I get this almost BONE BREAKING pain from my ankle, up the side of my leg, my thigh to my hip.

It quite literally hurts so bad that I've imagined not being able to sit down in a chair and every bone in my leg breaking because it hurts so bad. Never had this before but have had Sciatica issues.

What is "MOM" treatment?

Also, I heard that potatoes had a lot of acids and therefore were bad during inflammatory episodes (no matter the issue) so how does potato steeping work?

- I don't think it's a hip alignment, self-tested, my iliac crest is not "crooked" and seems to be aligned.

- This does not feel like any Sciatica I have ever had and I once was unable to WALK due to it.

- I don't think it's dislocated hip I think I wouldn't be able to walk at all if that were the case. I've had dislocated knees and wanted to pass out from the pain.

IDK what else it could be.


Popcorn Elbow Remedies
Posted by mmsg (somewhere, europe) on 05/11/2020

Cheryl, in my experience, what works for swelling is Clay poultices. It takes time, but has always worked. Read up on Clay.


Popcorn Elbow Remedies
Posted by Tom (Calgary) on 05/10/2020
★★★★★

Hello. hey in my discoveries joints are a lot alike. My daughter had a so called emergency according to her doctor and wanted to operate right away. I found some marawana oil applied it and in two days it was 90% gone. I also had an injury this winter and used DMSO on a puffed up joint. After applying it for 1 minute my joint drained and the skin outside it puffed up. Amazing stuff.


Popcorn Elbow Remedies
Posted by epeach (United States) on 05/10/2020
★★★★★

Topical DMSO is what I recommend. Apply it with clean hands and elbow with a sterile cotton ball or gauze. You can purchase it at a feed store or Tractor Supply. It draws fluid away. They use it on million dollar race horses and NFL players.


Popcorn Elbow Remedies
Posted by Cheryl A. (93306) on 05/10/2020

Hello, my question is: Do you know how to help something called " Popcorn elbow "? My friend's elbow is extremely swollen and needs to be drained..

Magnesium Oil
Posted by Vanessa (Las Cruces, NM) on 12/05/2019
★★★★★

Thank you, Rose!

After two weeks of pain I tried this tonight and my pain is almost gone! I plan on doing it again in the morning.


Magnesium Oil
Posted by Rose (Oregon) on 03/08/2019
★★★★★

Bursitis Pain:

Magnesium Oil (Magnesium Chloride Brine) rubbed deeply into my increasingly painful shoulder & upper arm for about 5-10 minutes, reduced incapacitating pain 90%! Thanks to all who posted your experiences with bursitis improving with magnesium!

I had no Milk of Magnesia, but realized the Magnesium Oil in my cupboard massaged directly where it hurt might work even quicker. Almost immediately I began to get pain relief, so I just kept spraying on more, and massaging it in (including under the arm) until the pain largely disappeared. I plan to keep doing this daily. (Had it not worked, I would have added a little DMSO, but that was not necessary.) Recent slight Charlie Horses should have been my wake up call that I needed Magnesium.

I'm thanking God, Earthclinic, and all of you who share your knowledge! I trust this works for others!

Cold Laser Therapy
Posted by Colleen (Toronto, Canada) on 07/28/2020
★★★★★

I tried 3 sessions of the cold laser therapy on my hyperextended knee problem and it was cured from over 20 years of pain... they called it Theralase cold laser therapy and it worked for me...


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Boxcar (Midwest Usa) on 06/26/2020

Nope, vinegar has acetic acid. It is an acid.

It helps with acid stomach because the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is activated by acid in the stomach: higher acid -> tighter seal on LES which blocks the acid from rising into the esophagus.

Some people claim that it is metabolised as a base during digestion. I have absolutely no idea whether that is factual or not.


Cayenne
Posted by Jillery (Rawlly, Nc) on 08/19/2018 86 posts

You can get bee wax pellets via Amazon. :-)


Manganese
Posted by Anon (Usa) on 07/22/2018

A Tablespoon of ground cloves has 2 milligrams of manganese (98%DV). Cloves will make you very thirsty which orange juice is an excellent remedy for. Water just doesn't seem sufficient.

Damaged my knees with too much jogging years ago. Gelatin did not fix them. Whey powder? Nope. Calcium/magnesium/d3 pills gave severe lower back pain (an earlier post elsewhere) and did not help.

Kefir seems to be working finally! The knees used to make a frightening scraping feeling. Now it is more smooth, and a quiter crunchyness when I take the stairs. My lower back and hips are feeling improved, too.

I soaked in the tub with several drops (really too many, I was FREEZING! In a tub of hot water! ) of peppermint essential oil and baking soda/borax/epsom salt the other day, and after I got out I had no pain in my hips.

I'm thinking the pain is from poor diet and an abdominal infection/toxins, bv or an std. Oregano oil is antibacterial and milk of magnesia may be if it contains sodium hypochlorite (bleach). These have both relieved hip pain for people.

For bv I tried douching with plain water and putting a piece of peeled turmeric in my yoohoo after sex and so far no bv symptoms. I read douching can be bad so I was trying to find another way to control the problem while I try to persuade my man to try some remedies.

So! If you are experiencing hip pain you might try antibiotic/antifungal/antiviral measures. Or kefir :)

Keep the remedies coming!


Turmeric Tea, Stretching
Posted by Anon (Usa) on 07/20/2018

A stretch I like:

Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front. Bend the left knee up and place the left foot flat (sole side down) on the floor about 6 inches to the side of your right knee, or closer to your groin if you can. Gently lean forward and grasp the toes of your right foot. Try to keep the right leg straight and the left foot flat on the floor. Allow the left leg to fall to the left. Lean left or right to increase the effect. Then switch legs.


Turmeric Tea, Stretching
Posted by Ella (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne ) on 07/15/2018
★★★★☆

These things seem to help with my hip bursitis.

Ibuprofen in the short term.

Green tea with a quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder, ground black pepper and a teaspoon of honey added and stirred. This had a noticeable effect. One or two of these drinks per day seems to be enough.

Gentle stretching exercises and squatting on the floor in the foetus position for five minutes. This seems to help too.

The most useful piece of advice I can offer, however, is to abstain from twisting whilst bending or picking something up. Never bend and twist at the same time.

Cold Laser Therapy
Posted by Marilyn (Lakewood, Ca) on 05/22/2018

I would recommend going to your MD and having him/her put you on physical therapy. My Shoulder pain has been helped immensely by that. Others I know who had shoulder problems, went for 6months PT and are now without or mush less pain and increased mobility. All anti-inflammatory herbs, colostrum, and acupuncture have helped me.


Gelatin
Posted by Marilyn (Lakewood, Ca) on 05/22/2018

Any specific nutritional reason for the grapefruit juice or just taste preference?


White Vinegar
Posted by Sundries (Orange County, New York) on 05/22/2018
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had very bad knee bursitis. I read about the apple cider vinegar cures, but all I had was white vinegar. Finally, it hurt bad enough I was willing to try it. I put some 5% white vinegar (generic, cheap stuff) on a paper towel, on my knee for 10 minutes. I was AMAZED at how quickly it helped! I did this 2-3 times a day for a week. I also took aspirin after I read it kills fungus (candida). Aspirin really helped with the pain. I did the castor oil packs (castor oil on paper towels, wrap with plastic wrap, heating pad for 1 hour, 4x day) when it was at its worse - they did seem to really help the pain when it was swollen; once the swelling was down the castor oil packs didn't seem to have much effect, but the vinegar still did!

When I finally got to the store, I bought apple cider vinegar, but it did not seem to have as much effect as the white vinegar. The white vinegar really took the heat away, and it brought the swelling down. I used it FULL STRENGTH, 5%. I read online, all these warnings to never use it full strength, so I tried it watered down, but it did nothing at all!!!


Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lisa (Ma) on 04/13/2018
★★★★★

I got bursitis in medial inside ankle... burning crushing pain...I soaked in Epsom salts and oregano oil and cayenne pepper! ...it helps! Take it internal too a bit...also drink fire cider and my number one is chlorella - it has RNA also called chlorella growth factor.. I'm off crutches and yes as it resolves the pain lessons it is a stubborn angry swollen angry illness!


Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Alex (Latin America) on 11/12/2017

Does anybody knows what would happen if instead of taking 1 table/teaspoon of MOM twice a day, only 1 is taken for several days? Would it still work?

I took two tablespoons yesterday, and 1 tablespoon the day before, but it seemed to be too much for my stomach, plus the bursitis is not much better.


Castor Oil
Posted by Meghan (Hanover) on 09/30/2017
★★★★★

I was diagnosed with bursitis in my knee years ago. I have fluid in my knee, too. Mostly it doesn't bother me, but when it does, I massage castor oil into my knee and that always seems to help. If it is really bad I use castor oil on a cloth with plastic wrap and a heating pad at night-time and always feel better by morning.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Willie S. (Witbank Mpumalanga, South Africa) on 08/09/2017
★★★★★

I had Bursitis in my right elbow it was the size of a golf ball,

I drank 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in water.

Once in the morning and once before bedtime and in 10 days the ball under my elbow was gone. For the 10 days I was taking this mixture I did rub the ball under my elbow for 20 seconds twice a day. No oil was used.


B Complex
Posted by Michael (New Zealand) on 08/04/2017

Hello,

Would your sustained release, Super Vitamin B tablet work for Tendonitis as well as Bursitis do you think?

It would be interesting to know which of the B vitamins is responsible for doing this but I suspect that they all need to work synergistically to accomplish healing anyway.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers, Michael


B Complex
Posted by Mjve04 (Beachside, Fl) on 08/04/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I've had bursitis in my hip (occasionally knee or shoulder) since I was 11 or 12. The one thing I've seen really help is a vitamin supplement. I get a sustained release Super B and take it daily as long as I do, I have no problems with the bursitis. If I run out or forget it for a few days, pain starts. Also, if I increase my activity level significantly, I need to increase the Super B for a few days.

Let me know if this helps. It's worked well for me for 50+ years.

Sulfur Cream and Castor Oil
Posted by Jillery (Rawlly, Nc) on 04/19/2017 86 posts

There is a link to Amazon and that should take you to sulfur lotion.


Check for Infected Teeth
Posted by Jess503 (Salem, Or) on 03/31/2017
★★★★★

Many years ago my mother suddenly started having severe shoulder pain, so bad that she sad she barely felt the needle when she got a cortisone shot. The shot didn't help much and the doctor had nothing else to offer. It wasn't until my mother went to the dentist for a checkup that it was discovered she had an abscessed tooth on the same side as the bad shoulder. When she had the abcessed tooth pulled the shoulder pain went away and never came back.


Cayenne
Posted by Lisa Marshall (Fort Myers Fla) on 10/05/2016

Beeswax can be found at hobby lobby or any hobby stores, yes


Cold Laser Therapy
Posted by Julie (Ireland) on 09/27/2016
★★☆☆☆

I did 6 sessions of Cold Laser Therapy for bursitis in my shoulder and whilst I feel it did help with the pain and there was slight improvement, I am still dealing with the pain. I didn't continue further with treatment as I didn't feel like it was doing anything. I was wondering if seeing a chiropractor or acupuncturist might help. My range of motions seems to be decreasing and I'm getting more pain in my arm and bicep. I've had the bursitis for over 4 months and it mostly seems to have gotten worse. Trying to decide what my next step is. Has the chiropractor worked for you?


Cold Laser Therapy
Posted by Robyn (Perth, Western Australia) on 08/19/2016
★★★★☆

I was wondering if anyone has ever used Cold Laser Therapy or otherwise known as Low Light Laser for any sort of condition and has it made any difference? I am trying it for a bursitis in my shoulder and while there has been improvement, I have also been working with a chiropractor so it is not possible to tell how much of the improvement is coming from which therapy. I now have most of my range of movement back but still suffer daily pain (bearable) which wakes me at night every night (discomfort mostly). I would be interested to see how many others have used this non-invasive therapy and to what effect.

Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Susan (Leominster ) on 07/18/2016

Take coconut water for dehydration


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Edye (Sarasota, Fl) on 03/03/2016

How much ACV should I take per day? I have bursitis in my right hip and have had it since December. Thank you for any recommendations .


Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 03/03/2016

Dear Edye,

Milk of Magnesia does have a laxative effect and too much could cause diarrhea.

Transdermal magnesium therapy - applying Magnesium Oil (which isn't really an oil) to the skin is a way to get magnesium into the body bypassing the digestive system and allowing the body to get the needed magnesium without affecting the bowels. But, some people do report diarrhea from the use of magnesium oil on the skin.

Whichever way you decide to take magnesium, start slowly and see how it affects you.

Likely it would take a lot more Magnesium Oil to cause a laxative effect than just about any other method.

~Mama to Many~


Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Edye (Sarasota, Fl) on 03/03/2016

Is this a diuretic? A laxative? I'm very sensitive to those as I'm a paraplegic and I can't take laxatives. Is there anyway to take a small dose? Sounds so promising.


Sulfur Cream and Castor Oil
Posted by Alice (Mississippi) on 11/22/2015

Where do you purchase the sulphur cream?


ACV, Molasses, Ginger, Castor Oil Packs
Posted by Sandra (Pittsburgh, Pa) on 09/23/2015
★★★★★

Hi Diane, I used 2 Tbsp. of Organic Apple cider vinegar and 1 Tbsp. of Blackstrap Molasses every morning and I felt better in 4 days. I also did a castor oil pack which I took a old face towel put castor oil on it and placed it directly on my hip and placed a plastic bag over the towel and put a heating pad on top for 40 minutes each night for a week. I cut fresh ginger root and put it in a pitcher of water in the frig and drank it a few times a days but I always did that one. I still take the ACV and Blackstrap daily and I have not had any pain. I hope this answers your questions, you can reach out to me anytime. Let me know if it works for you. God bless you as well.


ACV, Molasses, Ginger, Castor Oil Packs
Posted by Diane (Opa Locka, Fla) on 09/22/2015

Can you pls text me the exact measurement for all remedies & do you continue to feel better? God Bless.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Helena (Toronto) on 06/30/2015
★★★★★

ACV definitely worked for me. I have bursitis in my left shoulder could not sleep at nights. Tried different rubs not much relief. However started taking ACV with water in the morning and night and did see a dramatic change. Can do some yoga and the shoulder is almost back to normal. I also find that the ACV is working for weight loss as well which is an added bonus!

ACV, Molasses, Ginger, Castor Oil Packs
Posted by Sandra (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) on 06/18/2015
★★★★★

Today I went running and I'm not feeling any pain, I highly suggest this remedy to anyone who is suffering with bursitis.

Sandra


Castor Oil
Posted by Sandra (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) on 06/16/2015
★★★★★

I just used a thick paper towel and it worked great, I don't have a heating pad so I put a hot hand towel over the paper towel and then a plastic bag over that. It worked fine.


ACV, Molasses, Ginger, Castor Oil Packs
Posted by Sandra (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) on 06/16/2015
★★★★★

I've had left hip bursitis (very painful) since March 2015 and the doctors have not helped at all. 2 different doctors, 2 MRI's, 1 x-ray and a lot of another pills including pain pills that only take the edge off and it is going worse. So last night I did the castor oil pack and took the ACV with Blackstrap molasses and I also used them both today and the pain is 70% better. I also bought fresh ginger root, peeled it, cut it into chunks and put it in a gallon water jug and drink it a few times a day. I will continue this and I will definitely keep everyone undated on my progress. So far so good.

Castor Oil
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 05/26/2015

I do not know why wool flannel is required. To be honest, when I make castor oil packs, I just use old pieces of cotton flannel, and I have positive effects.

~Mama to Many~


Castor Oil
Posted by Jo (Ok) on 05/25/2015

Why is wool flannel required? Could you not just use as a regular terry washcloth or face towel from the bathroom cabinet?


Gelatin
Posted by Dennis ( Waukesha, Wisconsin) on 05/16/2015

How long did you drink gelatin before bursitis was gone?


Potato
Posted by Elaine (Edmond, Oklahoma) on 03/29/2015

Sweet Potato.



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