Hip Pain: Top 5 Natural Homeopathic Medicines that Work

Hip pain is a commonly prevalent medical condition that can affect any age group. Hip pain can arise from problems in the hip joint or the structures surrounding it.  The hip is made up of the hip joint and the different structures surrounding it. The hip joint is an important and one of the most flexible joints in the body. It is a ball and socket joint. The head of the femur (bone in the thigh) fits in the acetabulum (socket) of the hip bone (which is a part of the pelvis) to form the hip joint. The structures that surround the hip joint include muscles, ligaments (bands that connect two bones together), tendons (bands connecting bones and muscles), a tough fibrous capsule lined by synovial fluid, and the bursa (small fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, muscles and tendons near the joints). The hip joint bears our body weight and helps us walk, jump and run.

Homeopathy is highly proficient in managing cases of hip pain. Homeopathic medicines help to reduce pain in the hip and the related stiffness, swelling, and tenderness magnificently. They offer long-term relief rather than temporary alleviation of the complaint. Homeopathy is helpful in both acute and chronic cases of hip pain. Homeopathy boosts the body’s self-healing forces to overcome hip pain naturally. With regular use of homeopathic medicines the dependency on conventional medicines like pain killers can be reduced to a great extent.

Homeopathic medicines for hip pain are natural medicines. These are prepared from naturally occurring substances that do not contain any harmful chemicals. So these are very safe to use with zero side effects.

As hip pain can arise from different reasons, so that cause needs to be treated for proper cure. Here homeopathic medicines work in a manner that aims to treat hip pain by targeting the root cause behind it. This leads to initial relief in pain followed by cure.

Homeopathic medicines are suitable for treating hip pain in persons of all age groups. These medicines are recommended after taking into consideration the characteristic symptoms in every individual case. Hence one should always get the case of hip pain evaluated by a homeopathic doctor for correct homeopathic prescription and avoid self – medication.

Top Five Homeopathic Medicines for Hip Pain

The top five homeopathic medicines for hip pain are Bryonia Alba, Rhus Tox, Colocynthis, Ruta Graveolens and Aesculus Hippocastanum.

1. Bryonia Alba – For Hip Pain On Movement

Bryonia Alba is a natural remedy sourced from the root of plant wild hops. It is highly effective for hip pain that gets bad with the slightest motion. One gets relief by taking rest, and also by warm applications (like hot water bottles, electric blanket, etc). The pain may be a cramping, bruised, knife-like stitching/ stabbing type. Cracking sound in the hip joint emanates on walking. In some cases, pain from the hip may extend down to the knee.

When to use Bryonia Alba?

It can be used as a first remedy when hip pain worsens from the slightest motion and gets better by taking rest.

How to use Bryonia Alba?

The most common dose indicated for this medicine use is Bryonia 30C two to three times a day according to the severity of pain.

2. Rhus Tox – For Hip Pain At Rest

Rhus Tox is a leading medicine for hip pain where the pain worsens at rest and gets better by continued motion. Additionally, the pain may increase from lying on the sides, and while rising after prolonged sitting. The pain from the hip may extend down the back of the thigh. Pain is accompanied by stiffness in the hip joint. Use of Rhus Tox is also highly recommended for hip pain arising from overstraining or overstretching of muscles, tendons or ligaments, and also from injury.

When to use Rhus Tox?

This medicine is applicable when hip pain worsens at rest and improves with continuous motion. Someone who is suffering hip pain due to overuse of hip joint, as from prolonged running, can also use this medicine.

How to use Rhus Tox?

Though it can be used in different potencies like 30C, 200C, 1M, but the most frequently used dosage is 30C power. One may take Rhus Tox 30 C twice or thrice a day for good results.

3. Colocynthis – For Hip Pain Which Gets Better By Lying On The Affected Side

It is a natural remedy sourced from the pulp of fruit of bitter cucumber. Colocynthis is highly beneficial for hip pain that gets better by lying on the affected side. In most cases, the pain from the hip radiates down the leg. The nature of pain can be crampy, constricting/ shooting type. It is also very helpful when the hip pain arises from pinched nerves,  like sciatica, and the hip pain goes down the lower limbs. Walking worsens the pain while taking rest brings relief. Applying pressure also brings relief from hip pain in cases requiring Colocynthis.

When to use Colocynthis?

Persons who have hip pain that gets better by lying on the affected side of pain can take this medicine.

How to use Colocynthis?

Initially, it is advised to start Colocynthis 30C one to three times a day based on the intensity of pain.

4. Ruta Graveolens – For Hip Pain From Inflamed Tendons Or Ligaments

Ruta Graveolens has marked action on tendons and ligaments. It is the first choice of medicine to treat hip pain from inflamed, strained tendons (bind muscle to bone) or ligaments (bind bone to bone). Those needing it feel soreness (pain felt on touching) in the hip, and pain worsens if the leg is stretched. Ruta reduces the inflammation of tendons/ligaments as well as the effects of strained tendons/ligaments, and relieves soreness and pain in the hip.

When use Ruta Graveolens?

This medicine is recommended for cases where hip pain is a result of overstraining (arising due to overuse of hip joint like in running, jumping), or inflamed tendons or ligaments.

How to use Ruta Graveolens?

It is advised to take this medicine in 30 C power twice or thrice a day.

5. Aesculus Hippocastanum – For Hip Pain While Walking Or Stooping

It is an effective medicine for hip pain that increases by walking or stooping (bending the upper half of the body forward and down). Along with hip pain, a person complains of lower back pain and stiffness. It is the top medicine for hip pain that arises from arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or damage to the hip joint.

When to use Aesculus Hippocastanum?

Those who have worsening in hip pain from walking and stooping can use this medicine.

How to use Aesculus Hippocastanum?

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

Note One may take the above-mentioned medicines for one or two months in the recommended potency and dose. To continue further, or to increase the dose, it is advisable to consult a homeopathic practitioner.

Causes of Hip Pain

The causes of hip pain are wide and variable. It can simply arise from overuse of a joint or due to some heavy exercise that causes the straining of muscles, tendons or ligaments. It tends to resolve in a few days. Inflamed tendons (tendonitis) can also lead to hip pain which gets better in a few days. Long-term hip pain can arise from several underlying medical conditions as follows:

1. Hip arthritis (arthritis here means Inflammation): Various types of arthritis can cause hip pain. These mainly include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and infective arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritisis an autoimmune joint disorder in which the immune cells start to inflame and damage joints due to a misdirected response. Usually, it begins with small joints (especially finger joints) but afterwards hip joints can be affected too. Osteoarthritisrefers to age-related wear and tear of the cartilage (that acts as a cushion between two bones of the joint) of a joint. Frequently, it occurs as a part of age-related degeneration but can arise from injury as well. Ankylosing spondylitis (affects the joints of the spine especially sacroiliac joint, a joint between the base of spine and pelvis). Infective arthritis which damages the joint cartilage can also cause hip pain.

2. Injury to hip: It includes any trauma or injury due to overuse. Trauma to the hip may lead to hip fracture, sprains, dislocated hip or damage to cartilage. Injury may be due to overuse caused by repetitive strain on hip muscle, tendons, ligaments or bones.

3. Bursitis: It refers to inflamed bursa i.e. small fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, muscles and tendons near joints.

4. Pinched nerves like sciatica(pain along the path of sciatic nerve originating in the lower back and radiating down to the hip, then thighs, legs up to the feet).

5. Multiple causeslike osteomyelitis (bone infection), osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones prone to easy fracture), avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue resulting from lack of blood supply) and bone cancer.

What are the Symptoms that can accompany Hip Pain?

Apart from pain, there is stiffness in the hip, movement of the hip reduces, there is tenderness and a warm feeling across the hip. In some cases, there may be pain in the groin. Hip pain may make a person limp while walking. The pain from the hip may radiate down the lower limb. Sometimes, the hip pain may be transferred down to the knee (also known as referred pain).