Top 8 Effective Homeopathic Remedies for Shoulder Bursitis

An inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder is referred to as shoulder bursitis. This bursitis is also known as subacromial bursitis. A bursa is a tiny sac filled with viscous lubricating fluid that is located around a joint.  It acts as a cushion and reduces friction between the joint bones while movement. Due to the presence of bursa, rubbing of muscles, bones and tendons in a joint during movement is prevented. In case a bursa is irritated, it results in its inflammation. In cases of shoulder bursitis, the bursa that gets inflamed is the subacromial bursa at the tip of the shoulder.

Homeopathy offers a very effective treatment for cases of shoulder bursitis. The homeopathic medicines help to reduce the inflammation of the bursa. Along with this, the medicines give gradual relief in the associated symptoms to bring about recovery. The signs and symptoms that can be well managed with them include pain, stiffness, redness and swelling around the shoulder. Conventional treatment mode recommends pain killers and steroid medication to treat cases of shoulder bursitis that offers short term relief and may have some side effects as well with prolonged use. Homeopathy gives long term results with zero side effects.

Homeopathic medicines manage this condition by addressing the root cause behind it. Treating the associated cause not only provides symptomatic relief but also helps to cure the problem from its roots. It proves to be effective in cases of an injury, repetitive stress on joint and arthritis. The results vary  from case to case depending on various factors such as chronicity of complaint, intensity of symptoms, reason behind this problem and individual response of a person to the medication.

The best suitable homeopathic medicine needed for treating a case of shoulder bursitis needs to be selected from a huge list of therapeutics enlisted in homeopathic literature. Medicine prescription is based on the detailed evaluation of the characteristic symptom presentation in every case. Seeking help from a homeopathic doctor is therefore always recommended for effective treatment. A complete treatment course under guidance of a homeopath yields the best results.

Homeopathic medicines are very safe and gentle and treat this condition very effectively without any side effects. They help to fight the underlying cause by boosting the body’s natural self-healing mechanism. This way it offers recovery in the most natural and harmless way.  Besides being safe and natural, another advantage of these medicines is that they never cause dependency and can be stopped easily after recovery.

Top 8 Homeopathic Remedies for Shoulder Bursitis

The most prominently indicated medicines to treat shoulder bursitis are Ruta, Apis Mellifica, Rhus Tox, Bryonia, Sanguinaria Can, Ferrum Met, Ledum Pal and Silicea.

1. Ruta – Top Grade Medicine

Ruta is a leading medicine in homeopathy to manage complaint of shoulder bursitis. In most cases needing it, pain in the shoulder gets worse by hanging down the arm. It also gets worse when resting on the affected shoulder. The pain is mostly a wrenching type. In some cases pain can be bruised also.

When to use Ruta?

Ruta is highly beneficial to manage shoulder bursitis when shoulder pain is worse from hanging down the arm.

How to use Ruta?

Though it can be used in both low and high potencies, it is mostly used in 30C potency. Initially Ruta 30C can be taken twice or thrice a day.

 2. Apis Mellifica – For Managing Shoulder Pain Extending To Arms

It is the next well-indicated medicine for treating cases of shoulder bursitis when pain in the shoulder radiates to the arms. It helps to reduce the inflammation of the bursa and give symptom relief. For using this medicine, tensive pain is present mostly in the left sided shoulder.

When to use Apis Mellifica?

Apis Mellifica should be considered for managing pain in the shoulder radiating down the arms in cases of shoulder bursitis.

How to use Apis Mellifica?

This medicine can be used once or twice a day in 30C power.

3. Rhus Tox – For Shoulder Pain and Stiffness

It is a very effective medicine for managing shoulder pain and stiffness. It is one of the best medicines to manage complaints that arise from repetitive stress on joint, injury or overuse of a joint. Persons who need it have shoulder pain that is mainly felt at rest. The pain can be tearing or burning type. They feel a pressure on the shoulders similar to that of a heavy weight. Mostly they have pain at the top of their shoulders on the left side. They sometimes feel a stitching type of pain in the shoulders. This increases when lying. Movement helps relieve it. Pain gets worse in cold, wet weather. Lastly, one can have drawing type of pain in the shoulder that extends down the arms.

When to use Rhus Tox?

This medicine is very suitable to manage shoulder bursitis resulting from injury, overuse of joint or repetitive stress on shoulder especially when shoulder pain is worse at rest and better from movement.

How to use Rhus Tox?

Among its various potencies, it is best to begin with 30C potency twice or thrice a day.

4. Bryonia – For Redness, Swelling and Pain over the Shoulder

This medicine is very helpful medicine for cases in which there is redness, swelling and pain over the shoulder. The pain can be tearing or stitching type. Along with this, a pressure is felt on the top of the right shoulder. It worsens from touch. A tensed sensation is also felt with this pressure feeling.

When to use Bryonia?

This medicine is prominently indicated for shoulder bursitis cases when there is pain in shoulder with marked swelling and redness over the shoulder.

How to use Bryonia?

It is safe to take this medicine in 30C power initially twice or thrice a day. Use of high potencies should be considered only with doctor’s advice.

5. Sanguinaria Can – To Manage Right Shoulder Pain

It is a suitable medicine for managing pain in the right shoulder joint. For using this medicine the pain is felt on the top of the right shoulder. The pain may extend to the upper part of the right arm in some cases. It is worse at night time also and on turning in the bed. Along with the above symptoms, there is much difficulty in raising the arm.

When to use Sanguinaria Can?

Sanguinaria Can should be selected for treating right-sided shoulder pain in shoulder bursitis cases mainly when pain is worse at night, when turning in bed and also when raising the arm.

How to use Sanguinaria Can?

This medicine is recommended mostly in 30C potency one to two times a day.

6. Ferrum Met – For Managing Left-Sided Shoulder Pain

This medicine is the best to manage shoulder pain on the left side. The pain is mainly shooting or tearing type. The pain radiates to the upper arm in cases requiring it. With this, raising the arm becomes difficult. External heat offers relief in the pain. Along with the above symptoms, one hears cracking sound in the shoulder joint.

When to use Ferrum Met?

Ferrum Met is an important medicine to deal with left-sided shoulder pain from shoulder bursitis when pain is worse from raising the arm and relief is noted from heat application.

How to use Ferrum Met?

Ferrum Met can be taken once or twice a day in 30C power.

7. Ledum Pal – For Severe Stitching Pain in Shoulder

This medicine works well in cases of severe stitching pain in the shoulder. It gets worse when raising the arm. Sometimes, sticking is felt in the shoulder when lifting arms. Another indication for using it is a throbbing type of pain in the right shoulder. Another indication is painful pressure in the shoulder joints that gets worse from motion.

When to use Ledum Pal?

This medicine is apt to manage shoulder bursitis when shoulder pain is severe, stitching type that gets worse when raising the arm.

How to use Ledum Pal?

It is advised to take Ledum Pal in 30C power one to two times a day.

8. Silicea – For Pain Worsening At Night

Silicea is another beneficial medicine for this condition. Its use is considered when pain in the shoulder worsens at night time. The pain may also radiate to the arm. There is relief from wrapping the shoulder warmly. Besides, sharp pain in the right shoulder also indicates its use.

When to use Silicea?

Silicea is a top medicine to manage shoulder pain that gets worse at night in cases of shoulder bursitis.

How to use Silicea?

It gives excellent results in 30C potency that can be used once or twice a day.

Causes

It can arise from various reasons. Firstly it can result from an injury to the joint as from a fall, trauma, or accident. Another reason is repetitive movement or overuse of the shoulder joint.
Another cause is inflammation of the joint as in case of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes joint inflammation resulting in pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. Another reason could be gout (a type of joint inflammation that results in pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in the joints which is caused by deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid in a joint).
Though shoulder bursitis can occur in anyone but the people who use their shoulders excessively are at higher risk of developing it. Gardeners, carpenters, athletes, painters,  swimmers, tennis players are at high risk. Persons who do knitting are also prone to develop it.

Signs and Symptoms 

The signs and symptoms that occur in this condition include pain around the shoulder, redness and swelling around the shoulder. The pain can be felt on the outside or top of the shoulder. The pain may be worse on raising the arm and also from keeping the shoulder at rest. Next, the affected side of the shoulder may also be tender and painful to touch. The range of shoulder joint movement may be reduced too. The pain and discomfort tend to worsen at night and on lying on the painful side. A popping sound on moving the shoulder can attend. In case of infection of the bursa (called septic bursitis) fever arises along with above symptoms.