Natural Remedies for Bursitis of the Hip Joints

There are more than 150 bursae in the body. An individual bursa is a sac that is filled with fluid that prevents friction between tendons and bones. The bursa is an important part of the free movement of the joints. When a bursa becomes inflamed, a condition known as bursitis is the diagnosis. This inflammation will cause pain and stiffening at the joint, which prevents free movement of the hip.

Anti-inflammatory Diet

• Inflammation is the body's response to infection or injury. Prostaglandins are hormones that the body produces to control the inflammatory part of the immune system. The oils and fats that we eat are the source of these hormones. When we choose good fats for our body, such as omega 3 fatty acids, the body will produce prostaglandins that fight inflammation instead of producing inflammation.
  Cold-water fish like salmon are a good source of omega 3 fatty acids and will work with the body to fight inflammation. Nuts and seeds are also a good source of omega 3 fatty acids. Add supplements to your diet to ensure that you are getting these important fats in the diet. Olive oil contains omega 9 essential fatty acids and work with omega 3 fatty acids to produce the prostaglandins that will reduce inflammation from bursitis.
  Polyunsaturated fats should not be a part of a healthy anti-inflammatory diet. Trans fats should be eliminated from the diet as well. These are unhealthy fats that will not aid in the treatment of bursitis and have been shown to contribute to heart disease and plaque buildup in the arteries.
  Add pineapple to your diet as an anti inflammatory agent to help with the pain of hip bursitis.

Spices and Natural Ingredients

• Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that put it in the same category as phenylbutazone and hydrocortisone. It can be used to treat bursitis as well as other inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Hip bursitis is often caused by osteoarthritis and can be treated by anti-inflammatory foods, spices and natural remedies.
  Fresh ginger is another spice that is used for arthritis and bursitis because of its ability as an anti-inflammatory. Ginger is a spice that can be added to a number of dishes to give the beneficial health effects as well as taste. Ginger can also be used in capsule form to treat hip bursitis.
  White willow is taken as a tea and has pain relieving and blood thinning properties. When white willow and turmeric are used together, swelling will be reduced. A half teaspoon in 8 oz. of boiling water is sufficient for white willow tea. Children under the age of 18 should not use white willow bark.
  Evening primrose is used in the treatment of bursitis, but it should not be used by those who are taking blood thinning medications. Evening primrose can increase the risk of bleeding.

Massage Therapy

• Bursitis that is caused by infection will not benefit from massage therapy. When the bursitis is not caused by infection, massaging the hip joint can bring about some relief of pain.