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Folk treatment for bursitis
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025

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Traditional treatment of bursitis includes various compresses, massage, tinctures, rubbing with medicinal herbs, and acupuncture.
Traditional methods can significantly improve the condition, reduce pain, relieve swelling, but in the acute stage of the disease it is recommended to combine traditional methods with drug treatment, physiotherapy, etc.
A swelling above the joint is one of the signs of developing bursitis. With this disease, the synovial bag in which the joint is located becomes inflamed, and fluid begins to accumulate in it. The swelling can reach 10 cm, it is dense to the touch, and sometimes pain occurs when pressing. In the early stages of the disease, joint movement is not limited, but as the disease progresses, motor functions are impaired, and quite severe pain sensations appear.
The disease can develop in almost any joint due to excessive stress or frequent injuries.
The human body has more than a hundred joints, most often the inflammatory process begins in the elbow, knee or shoulder joints, less often in the heel and hip joints.
Treatment of elbow bursitis with folk remedies
It is worth noting that folk remedies for treating bursitis include various recipes, each of which has its own contraindications, so before starting treatment, you need to consult a specialist about the advisability of using a particular remedy.
To treat bursitis, you can use the following compress of dried and powdered chicken eggshells and sour milk (1:1). Put the mixture on the site of inflammation and wrap it with a warm shawl or scarf. It is recommended to do the compress at night, the course of treatment is 5 days, then take a five-day break and, if necessary, repeat the course.
The second quite effective compress should also be done before bed for five days: aloe juice (1 tsp), honey (2 tsp), vodka (3 tsp).
Another effective compress is made from cabbage leaves, which are beaten with a rolling pin to make them soft. Apply the leaves to the inflamed area, previously lubricated with vegetable oil, and secure with an elastic bandage; the joint must be insulated on top. This compress should be worn for a day, then immediately put on a fresh one.
A decoction of fresh lilac leaves or hay dust is used as a warm compress. The leaves should be boiled for about half an hour and applied warm to the affected area.
A mixture of butter (200g) and propolis (30g) helps well with bursitis. This remedy should be taken orally three times a day, one teaspoon at a time.
For purulent bursitis, a mixture of honey, grated laundry soap, and onion (1 tablespoon each) helps. The mixture is applied to the affected elbow and well insulated; the course of treatment is 7 days.
A coniferous bath helps well; for this you will need a decoction of fresh pine or spruce small branches, needles, and cones.
All ingredients are poured into a bucket of water and boiled for several minutes over medium heat, then the container is well wrapped and left to infuse for 12 hours.
Strain the decoction into a bath of warm water, take this health bath for at least a quarter of an hour. During the procedure, the entire body should be well warmed up.
This treatment should be used at least 2-3 times a week. By the way, such a bath helps not only with elbow bursitis, but also with other types of the disease.
Traditional medicine recipes for elbow bursitis
If the disease is diagnosed in a timely manner, then the treatment of elbow bursitis with folk remedies is usually quite successful. There are many time-tested remedies for treating bursitis at home.
- Take 14 lower leaves of Kalanchoe, put them in the freezer for about 7 days. Every day we take out 2 leaves, beat them a little with a rolling pin and put them on the affected joint, warming them with a scarf or woolen shawl. Within seven days the disease usually goes away.
- Take a tablespoon of burdock root, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, boil for 6 minutes. Turn off the burner, leave for 20 minutes. Next, make a compress: soak gauze or cotton fabric in the infusion, apply to the elbow joint, cover with cling film and wrap with a woolen scarf. Leave for 2 hours. This procedure should be carried out daily for 20 days.
- Mix 40 g of propolis with 250 g of quality butter (homemade is fine). Put the mixture in the refrigerator and take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day, 1-1.5 hours before meals. The course lasts 14 days.
- Grind the pine branches (it is possible with small young cones). Fill a half-liter jar of chopped branches with five liters of water. Boil for about 15 minutes, then leave to infuse overnight. The infusion after preliminary heating can be used for elbow baths. The duration of the procedure is 45 minutes, the course lasts until complete recovery.
- A well-known and no less effective remedy is a white cabbage leaf. Cut off the central vein from the cabbage leaf, beat the leaf with a rolling pin (so that the juice comes out). Apply to the affected joint and tie with a scarf. It is desirable that the compress be present on the joint constantly, for 7 days. Every 3-4 hours the leaf should be changed for a fresher one.
It is not difficult to effectively treat elbow bursitis using folk remedies. It is important to start treatment on time, and then the disease will disappear without problems.
- In addition to cabbage leaves, use other raw vegetables (for example, beets, potatoes, carrots). Make a vegetable compress (from one type of vegetable, without mixing). Vegetables can be cut into circles, laid out on a cloth and applied to the sore joint, wrapping a warm scarf over the compress. The duration of such treatment is until the tissue edema is eliminated.
- treatment with sugar. Take 150 g of sugar and heat it in a non-dry frying pan, without allowing it to melt. Pour the heated sugar into a tight knot or bag, apply to the affected joint. Wrap the top with film and a woolen scarf. The ideal option is to apply such a compress overnight. The course duration is until the joint is normalized.
- Celery infusion. Steam 1 tbsp of celery seed in a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 ½ hours and filter. Drink the infusion morning and evening for 14 days.
- An effective remedy is massage. It is performed immediately before bedtime, using eucalyptus, lavender or mint oil, or a mixture of them. After the procedure, we tie the elbow with a woolen cloth and go to bed.
Often, treatment of elbow bursitis with folk remedies takes 1-2 weeks, but you should be patient and relentlessly pursue the result.
Treatment of foot bursitis with folk remedies
Folk remedies for treating foot bursitis are usually used for at least three weeks. During this period, tissue scarring occurs, which can be accompanied by severe pain. After the inflammation has subsided, a course of restorative therapy will be required to help restore the mobility of the joint, adjacent tendons, and muscles.
Foot bursitis usually develops due to injuries or prolonged physical activity, sometimes the cause of the disease is bacteria. Most often, the disease affects the toes, inflammation can occur in any of the toes, but bursitis usually occurs on the big toe or little toe.
The basis of folk treatment is rest for the affected joint and the use of compresses (warm and cold).
Herbal compress: yarrow, St. John's wort or burdock roots (200 ml boiling water, 1 tbsp herbs, leave for 30 minutes). Apply a bandage (gauze) soaked in warm infusion to the sore joint at night.
Ice compress: apply a plastic bag of ice to the resulting bump for several minutes (make sure that the joint does not become too cold).
Compress with honey and vinegar: 1 tbsp. vinegar, 1 tbsp. honey – mix thoroughly, place on gauze (bandage), apply to the affected area overnight.
Treatment with compresses is recommended to be continued until complete recovery.
Traditional medicine recipes for the treatment of foot bursitis
Initial treatment of foot bursitis with folk remedies consists of the following actions:
- provide rest to the affected joint;
- make cold and heat lotions and compresses.
We will present to your attention the most popular and effective recipes.
- Place some crushed ice in a plastic bag and apply it to the affected area of the foot for 4-5 minutes, avoiding excessive hypothermia of the tissue.
- Take dry raw materials of yarrow, burdock root and St. John's wort. Prepare herbal tea: 1 tbsp. of the mixture per 200 ml of boiling water. Soak cotton or linen fabric in the infusion and apply to the affected area. Put cling film on top and wrap in woolen fabric, preferably overnight.
- Vinegar-honey compress. Take equal amounts of vinegar (you can use regular table or apple cider vinegar) and natural honey, mix and distribute evenly over a gauze napkin. Apply to the desired area of the foot overnight.
All the listed methods should be carried out until you feel a positive effect from the treatment. Don't get sick!
Treatment of heel bursitis with folk remedies
A folk remedy for treating heel bursitis is aimed at relieving inflammation and reducing pain.
In case of inflammation, traditional medicine recommends taking a mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey, diluted in 200 ml of warm water. This remedy should be taken twice a day (1 glass in the morning and evening). The course of treatment is 7 days.
Another good remedy is a compress of warmed flax seeds, which should be applied to the affected area in a linen cloth. The course of treatment is 10-14 days.
Freeze a Kalanchoe leaf, beat it lightly and apply it to the inflamed area. The course lasts 7 days.
A contrast compress – alternating heat and cold – works well to relieve inflammation.
When sick, it is recommended to take fresh grapefruit juice or celery tea internally.
Baths with pine needles or hay dust are good for relieving inflammation.
Traditional medicine recipes for the treatment of heel bursitis
For successful treatment of heel bursitis with folk remedies at home, it is necessary to take measures at the first signs of the disease, without waiting for the bursitis to manifest itself “in all its glory”.
We have already talked about the benefits of white cabbage leaves: this remedy can also be used for heel bursitis. Cabbage leaves are able to stabilize the composition of fluid in the bursa, and also have a beneficial effect on heel spurs.
A banal at first glance bath with hot water helps well - you need to steam your heels daily before going to bed, putting on woolen socks at night. For greater effect, you can add to the bath an extract or infusion of pine needles, dry mustard or eucalyptus oil.
A decoction of hay perfectly eliminates the inflammatory process and tissue swelling. Take hay and water in equal quantities and boil for 10 minutes. In such a hot decoction, carry out foot baths daily or every other day until the signs of bursitis disappear.
Good reviews have been received from a medicinal compress based on natural honey, high-quality vodka and aloe juice. We take the ingredients based on the proportion of 2 to 3 to 1. We put such a compress at night, every day.
It is also useful to steam your feet in a bath with strong decoctions of chamomile, sage, and St. John's wort.
Treatment of heel bursitis with folk remedies
A folk remedy for the treatment of bursitis is a good auxiliary method for the disease.
The simplest, but quite effective folk method of treating heel bursitis is warming up. It is often recommended to take a regular linen bag, pour warm salt into it (heat it in a dry frying pan) and apply it to the affected area.
Instead of salt, heated flax seeds are also used. The procedure should be carried out daily, preferably before bedtime, the course is 14 days.
Compresses also help to remove inflammation and eliminate pain. The most effective is considered to be a compress of slightly beaten cabbage leaves, smeared with honey. It is better to do the compress at night, put on a warm sock on top or wrap the leg with a scarf. Cabbage helps to remove accumulated fluid.
A mixture of honey (2 teaspoons), vodka (3 teaspoons), and aloe (1 teaspoon) has a good healing effect.
Before use, it is recommended to leave the mixture in a dark place for 24 hours.
Soak a gauze napkin with the prepared solution and apply it to the sore spot at night. The course of treatment is at least 7 days.
To achieve good results, compresses can be alternated.
Baths are used to warm up the sore joint and reduce inflammation.
The most effective is a foot bath of pine needles and cones (pour 2 liters of cold water over 500 g of pine needles and cones at night, boil on low heat for about 30 minutes in the morning, then leave for 12 hours in a warm place). Before use, the decoction must be heated to the required temperature.
Instead of a pine bath, you can use a bath with hay dust, which is prepared according to the same recipe.
Treatment of heel bursitis with folk remedies
A folk remedy for treating bursitis under the heel (heel spur) allows you to eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease (pain), but not the disease itself. Subheel bursitis is a bone growth at the site of tendon attachment, the disease causes severe discomfort when walking and pain, especially in the morning.
Currently, special insoles, heel pads, and physiotherapy are used for the disease. In severe cases, surgery is prescribed to remove the growth.
Treatment with traditional medicine methods should last at least two weeks in a row.
Salt foot baths are effective for heel bursitis. You will need 2-3 tablespoons of sea salt per liter of water (you can use regular salt). It is better to do the baths before going to bed, immediately after the procedure on dry feet you need to wrap your feet in a warm scarf, shawl and go to bed.
For heel spurs, you can take a tincture of lilac flowers or cedar nuts (10 g of nuts or lilac, 100 g of vodka, leave for 10 days in a closed container, strain). Drink 1 tbsp of lilac infusion 2-3 times a day (you can dilute it with water when taking it), you can also rub the sore spot with this remedy. Take 1 tbsp of cedar nut infusion 3 times a day.
Another effective compress is grated black radish. The compress should be done at night, while wearing a warm sock. In the morning, rinse the foot well with water. As a rule, 3 procedures are enough to relieve the condition.
Apply a plantain leaf (not washed!) with the back side to the affected area, after drying replace with a new one. In the first days the pain may increase, but after 10-14 days the symptoms will completely disappear.
In case of bone growth, it is recommended to knead boiled potatoes and potato peelings with your feet, knead until they cool. After that, apply an iodine mesh to the heel, put on warm socks. The course lasts 7 days.
To relieve pain, rub a mixture of triple cologne (1 vial), valerian tincture (1 vial), iodine (2 vials), hot pepper (5 pods) - mix all the ingredients in a dark glass bottle and leave for 24 hours. Rub the heel with the mixture before going to bed and put on a warm sock.
You can also make an ointment: pour vinegar over a whole raw egg, cover with a lid and put in a cool place. After the shell has dissolved (after about 10 days), carefully take the egg out, remove the film and stir. Then pour in the remaining vinegar, add 40 g of butter (unsalted). The ointment will be suitable for use for 2-3 years. This product should be applied to the heel at night, after which the foot should be wrapped.
Another ointment for calcaneal bursitis: mix a bottle of iodine, 1 teaspoon of fine salt and thoroughly soak a bandage (gauze) with the resulting mixture. Apply the bandage to the affected area, cover with cling film or a plastic bag, bandage well, put on a warm sock. In the morning, you need to walk around with the ointment for 15 minutes, then wash it off.
For heel spurs, it is recommended to put fresh knotweed grass into your shoes. The grass should be changed every morning.
Traditional medicine recipes for heel bursitis
Treatment of heel bursitis is carried out using plants that can relieve pain and inflammation, stop the reproduction and growth of bacteria, and strengthen the body's local immunity.
- Elder (flower), birch (leaves), willow bark. Prepare an infusion from the proposed mixture, take half a glass 4 times a day half an hour before meals.
- Elder (flower), nettle (leaves), parsley (root), willow bark. Make a mixture of equal amounts of raw materials, infuse in boiling water. Drink 100 ml 4 times a day before meals.
- Birch (leaf), nettle (leaves), violet (leaves). Drink tea 100 ml up to 6 times a day 30 minutes before meals.
Decoctions and teas with the addition of currant or lingonberry leaves, rose hips stimulate the anti-inflammatory effect. Such tea should be drunk at least 2 glasses a day 30 minutes before meals.
Remember that with bursitis it is advisable to move less, and even better - to stay in bed. A tight bandage made of natural fabric should be applied to the sore joint. After 10 days, the bandage can be removed: from this point on, you should try to exercise the sore joint, even if the pain in it remains.
A good effect is observed from alternating application of heat and cold. The duration of heat and cold exposure is 10 minutes each. The course duration is from 3 to 5 days.
Wet compresses and lotions are recommended for use after the acute process has been stopped.
Traditional treatment of bursitis is usually prescribed as an auxiliary method in the main treatment. Traditional methods help to relieve inflammation in bursitis, reduce pain, and restore the ability to work of damaged joints. As a rule, the course of treatment with traditional medicine is long (at least two weeks), but with proper use and daily procedures, such treatment leads to good results.
For greater effect, you can use several products, for example, use baths alternately with compresses, or combine baths with ointments.