Tendinitis
Tendinitis occurs when a tendon or the connective tissue around the tendon becomes inflamed. The problem is seen commonly in athletes, computer operators, people who need to reach to perform their jobs like painters and household workers and people who play sports only on the weekends. Tendinitis frequently affects men and women who are middle aged or older, but it also affects younger people if they overdo it.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include pain or tenderness at or near a joint. The pain may be sharp and may get worse if the joint is used. The affected area may be stiff, or you may feel numbness or tingling along with the pain. Swelling may also appear.
Causes
Tendinitis is usually caused by overwork or straining of the body. It can happen when the same motion is repeated over and over. It most frequently is seen affecting the back of the ankles in the Achilles tendons, the shoulders, hips, hamstrings, biceps, forearms, thumbs, elbows, knees and inside the arch of the feet.
Cautions
If the pain gets worse and interferes with normal activities, if your pain has lasted a long time or if your joints are warm, tender and red suggesting an infection, seek medical advice.
Herbal Treatments
Internal Applications
- White willow – this herb helps relieve pain and inflammation for injured areas. Take as directed on the label.
- Fenugreek – use the ground seeds of this herb mixed with milk to treat joint inflammation.
- Devil's claw – this herb helps reduce inflammation. Take it as a tincture or capsules.
- Stinging nettle – this herb strengthens the tendons and nourishes the body. Take daily as tea, capsules or as a tincture.
- Plantain – this herb helps build cells in the body, which can speed healing. Take it as a tea or tincture.
- Horsetail – the silica in this herb helps rebuild connective tissue and relieve tendinitis. Take 1 capsule per day.
External Applications
- Lavender – dilute the essential oil of this herb in cold water and apply to the sore area as a cold compress.
- Rosemary – use the essential oil for a cold compress by adding a few drops of the oil to some cold water. Take a clean cloth and soak it in the water and apply to the affected area.
- Chamomile – use the essential oil of this herb to make a compress by diluting a few drops of oil in some cold water and applying it to the area with a cloth. Other oils you can also use in this method include eucalyptus and camphor.
- St. John's wort – this natural anti-inflammatory helps reduce swelling. Use the oil on the affected area.
- Turmeric – this herb helps reduce inflammation and pain. It can be applied topically.
- Boswellia – this herb helps relieve pain in the joints from tendinitis, arthritis and other causes. Apply it topically as a cream or ointment for relief.
- Arnica – this herb can be applied topically to treat strain and injury to the tendons. Use a cream on the affected areas as needed to relieve pain and speed healing. It can also be taken homeopathically at the same time to treat both internally and externally simultaneously.