A bursitis can be unpleasant at any time of year. But for some people the cold weather (like what we’ve experienced in the USA recently) means a marked worsening of their pain!
Many of our joints have a bursa that contains the joint lubricant. This fluid acts like a shock absorber during movement. Unfortunately, a bursa can become inflamed from an injury, repetitive strain or even from food intolerances and general gastrointestinal problems, resulting in a painful and frustrating condition.
Although the condition does not necessarily worsen every winter, cold temperatures can impair circulation in the limb where the bursitis occurs. This reduced circulation can make the pain worse. In addition, air pressure fluctuations during winter storms can affect the inflamed bursae.
Homeopathy for bursitis
But regardless of the cause, homeopathy can of course also help with bursitis!
A few years ago I wrote on my blog My Mistake! about a bursitis in the shoulder. Today I would probably use the Banerji protocol Symphytum 200 in combination with Calc phos 3* (take twice daily until a clear improvement occurs), rather than giving Symphytum alone. For more information on potency and dosage please read here.
If the person is suffering from a generalized bursitis (i.e. many joints are affected), Symphytum 200 together with Calc phos 3* will very likely help as well (take twice daily until improvement occurs; the combination can be repeated if necessary).
Individual treatment
However, the selection of the appropriate homeopathic remedy can vary from joint to joint. Even the Banerjis treated a bursitis in the right shoulder differently from a bursitis in the left shoulder, as I wrote in the blog post mentioned above.
So what if it’s a bursitis of the knee? In that case I would probably use Symphytum 200 in combination with Arnica 30 (again taken twice daily until the person feels much better).
For a bursitis of the hip I would instead combine Symphytum 200 with Rhus tox 30 (also twice daily until improvement).
And here is an excellent opportunity to learn something very important!
Pain modalities are crucial
Before we choose Rhus tox, we must examine our symptoms very closely. Rhus tox differs from other homeopathic remedies by a number of specific conditions. With complaints calling for Rhus tox, pain often worsens at the beginning of movement but improves with continued movement (just imagine a rusty gate), only to become worse again with overuse, for example after standing too long. The pain is often accompanied by stiffness.
These symptoms must be distinguished, for example, from the picture of Bryonia, where the pain is made worse by any movement (to the point that one must remain almost motionless to avoid suffering).
A joint that constantly hurts also requires a completely different view. Persistent joint pain that occurs independently of whether the joint is being used or not fits better with Arnica.
As you can see, when selecting the appropriate homeopathic remedy we must pay attention to the nuances of the pain and differentiate them. But generally the joint-specific Banerji protocols should be successful as a first line of defence against bursitis.
I should add that if the pain becomes unbearable – regardless of which joint is affected – we can similarly use Hypericum 200 until the pain subsides sufficiently.
There is no reason to suffer in silence when homeopathy offers these gentle, side-effect-free and profoundly acting remedies as a solution.
Homeopathy helps – spread the word!
*As always, we endeavour to follow the Banerji protocols to the letter. Under some circumstances it can be difficult to find the exact potency specified. If Calc phos 3 is not available, you may use Calc phos 6 instead.
Warm regards,
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