Trochanteric Bursitis Natural Remedies – Why They Work

Trochanteric bursitis is a lot like other types of bursitis in that there’s an inflammation of the bursa that is causing all the havoc in the body. In the case of trochanteric bursitis, the bursa is in the trochanter of the femur bone. The bursitis comes and goes (called self-limiting)

One of the causes of trochanteric bursitis is arthritis. Arthritis in the hip can occur from overuse of the hip, from an injury of the hip, or from degeneration that results in the joints due to poor nutrition.

Natural Remedies for Bursitis

Dr. Andrew Weil recommends these natural remedies for bursitis:

1. DMSO gel at a concentration level of 70%. DMSO stands for dimethylsulfoxide and was found by accident to have very anti-inflammatory effects on joints riddled by arthritis. DMSO gel may be applied via a cotton ball to the area of the trochanteric bursitis pain in the morning, noon and night. After three days, you may notice a big enough difference to decrease the number of applications to two, then one. DMSO gel is available at health food stores or online.

2. Acupuncture. This Chinese method of natural healing has already been proven to be excellent for cases of bursitis. The World Health Organization lists arthritis of the shoulder and rheumatoid arthritis as two conditions that can be treated successfully with acupuncture, according to results in controlled clinical trials. Osteoarthritis, which may be a cause of trochanteric bursitis, according to the WHO is a condition that may benefit therapeutically from acupuncture; however, more clinical trials need to prove its efficacy.

3. The anti-inflammatory herb ginger. Two capsules of powdered ginger, each usually 500 mg, may be taken up to twice a day.

My natural healing remedies that have worked for my patients over the years are different than Dr. Weil’s natural remedies. Here’s a list of what I’d recommend for bursitis:

1. First, determine if there are ergonomic reasons for the bursitis to worsen. Do you have a leg-length discrepancy? High arch in the foot? (If so, orthotics are needed.) Are you suffering from a lumbar disk herniation that is putting more pressure on the trochanteric bursa? Do you have iliotibial band syndrome? Are muscle imbalances contributing to the condition? Once these are ‘fixed’, there would be a natural progression of healing of trochanteric bursitis – as long as there are enough nutrients going into the body to stimulate healing.

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