This article marks the fourth entry in a series I’ve written on musculoskeletal disorders and how homeopathy can help people experiencing them.  Recently, I’ve written articles on Homeopathy and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Degenerative Arthritis, and Gout.  This article will cover the topics of tendinitis and bursitis.  In it, I will define these conditions, discuss they’re etiology (where they come from), describe basic signs and symptoms of them, and then suggest homeopathic remedies that may help people experiencing these two conditions.

Bursitis is defined as inflammation of the bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs found between muscles and tendons.  A bursa sac’s function is to reduce friction between surfaces of the body, and aid in facilitating movement.  

Bursa sacs are typically found in areas of the body where large joints are located, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.  These sacs of fluid can become inflamed, infected, or traumatized from overuse of the joint, continued or excessive friction of the joint, and from having systemic diseases such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, which can lead to an infection of the bursa sac.

Tendinitis is simply defined as an inflammation of a tendon.  Tendons are connective tissues between muscles and bones in the body.  Tendons, muscles, and bones all work together to create movement in your body.  
Tendinitis usually occurs after prolonged use of using the tendon inappropriately.  Usually, tendinitis is accompanied by bursitis in the joint.  The joints typically affected by tendinitis are the shoulder, elbow (“tennis elbow”), wrist, and knee (“housemaid’s knee”), but can happen in any tendon in the body.

Tendinitis and Bursitis have similar signs and symptoms:

• Tenderness and pain when moving the affected part
• Joint movement is limited (flexion and extension)
• Fluid accumulation and swelling (edema) of the joint

Homeopathic treatment for people experiencing bursitis and tendinitis usually needs to be accompanied by changes in the exciting cause of the pain itself: incorrect training for sports movements, improper use or form during weight lifting, excessive use beyond comfort, etc.  Otherwise, homeopathic treatment will do little to relieve the pain.  In addition to proper mechanics in the body, adjunct therapies such as osteopathy, rolfing, and/or chiropractic can help aid in recovery for more chronic cases.

Homeopathy is very effective for people experiencing acute (short-term, sudden onset) tendinitis and bursitis, as well as chronic (long-standing).  There are several homeopathic remedies that may be useful for these situations.  They are listed below:

Bryonia: Pain accompanying the inflammation that is sharp or stitching, in nature.  Every slight motion causes pain.  Feels better from applying pressure to the joint and from heat.

Phytolacca: Pain and inflammation that exists at the site of attachment for the tendon to the bone.  This pain feels worse from heat, and better from cold applications.

Rhus Toxicodendron: Pain and stiffness that arises from overuse.  The pain is better from continued motion, from hot bathing, or from heat.  When the person gets moving, they feel compelled to keep moving and desire stretching the joint.  Affects the left sided joints of the body more than the right.

Please note this list is not comprehensive.  For specific and individualized care, please contact me for further information.

In this article I described the nature of bursitis and tendinitis, their etiology, their signs and symptoms, and homeopathic remedies that can help people experiencing these conditions.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Noel Peterson

Noel Peterson is classical homeopathic practitioner located in Austin, Texas.  He specializes his practice in helping men, women, and children find sustainable relief from their pains, illnesses, and conditions using a method of healing that works safely, gently, and reliably.

The Allergy Season is just under way in Austin, Texas.  Typically, the season here is from the beginning of March until mid-May.  This year, due to long droughts of previous years, heavy rains this year, and with gusty dry winds in between have led to heavy oak pollen accumulation into the air and the surrounding vegetation.  And just to give you a heads up, this season is expected to roll into June!


What can you do about it?  One option is to visit an allergy and asthma doctor and receive testing and medication that will act to suppress your symptoms.  Yet, your symptoms are your bodies signal that something is wrong.  They are meant to be worked with, not worked against.  That's where homeopathy comes in to play.


Homeopathic remedies aim to strengthen your bodies inherent and natural ability to heal itself.  The important factors during a homeopathic consultation is the detail in which you express your symptoms.  You will not get one homeopathic remedy for allergies.  Homeopathic treatment is individualized to your specific concerns and takes into consideration the sublte nuances of your symptoms and how you manage them emotionally ad mentally.  In this way, it is natural and holistic.


Common homeopathic remedies that help people experiencing allergy symptoms include the following:
Allium Cepa: Acrid (burning, caustic) nasal discharge, which may even burn the nose or upper lip.  Profuse watery discharge from the nose, like a "dripping faucet."  Usually effects the left nostril more.  You feel better in the open air, rather than indoors.
Euphrasia: Eyes feel inflamed, extremely irritated, with burning and itching.  Bland nasal discharge, but with profuse acrid lacrimation (secretion of tears from eyes).  Greatly indicated for Hay Asthma.
Nux Vomica: Terrible sneezing, especially in the morning on rising from bed.  Stuffed, irritated nose that becomes fluent in a warm room - this generally relieves the stuffed nose.  Nasal discharge may be very fluent in the morning and daytime, but horribly dry with raw obstruction at night and in bed.
Pulsatilla: Awful itching and lacrimation of eyes which feels better from a cold application.  Hay fever especially in the spring or in the heat of the summer and autumn.  Everything is worse by being over-heated by the sun, hot foods, heat of the bed, etc.  Much worse in the open air.  Much better in air conditioning (no exposure to pollens).
Sabadilla: Tremendous paroxysms (spasmodic) of sneezing; debilitating sneezing.  


This list is not comprehensive and it's best to contact me for further questions and to find out where you can locate these homeopathic remedies.


Many thanks for reading and I hope you feel better soon!
Noel

I live in Austin, Texas.  Environmental allergens are a huge issue here!  I wrote an article about this topic not long ago, but it warrants another take because of its severity.


Allergies are defined as a disorder of the immune system, specifically, an over-reaction of your body to certain substances (pollen, food products, insect bites, etc.).  This physiologic over-reaction results in an inflammatory process.  The results of the internal inflammation then result in the common symptoms of itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, hives, lethargy, etc.  It is your body doing its best to rid the toxic substance from within you.  


Such symptoms are not meant to be suppressed.  Conventional and more common treatments involve anti-histamines, cortisone (a steroid), or adrenaline (for severe anaphylaxis).  Common medications you may have heard of include Nasonex, Flonase, Singulair, or Zyrtec.  If you experience allergic reactions and have taken these medicines you are probably aware of the multitude of side effects that happen from usage.  Additionally, your allergies keep coming back - sometimes with a stronger vengeance than before!  That's because the symptoms are not meant to be suppressed.  You may experience relief for the time being, as long as you can stand the side effects, but the illness remains.  What is one to do?


Homeopathy is an alternative that seeks to work with your bodies healing intelligence and strengthen your immune system so you are less and less susceptible to the allergens.  This process is accomplished over time, but spells overall relief from your allergic symptoms, which may never come back.  There is help out there without the dependency on expensive medicines or the side effects from conventional treatments.


During homeopathic treatment it will be important to describe in detail the nature of your symptoms.  There is not one homeopathic remedy for allergies.  Rather, there are homeopathic remedies for YOU and your unique expression of all of your physical symptoms, as well as how it impacts you mentally and emotionally.  For example, some people experience great eye itchiness with agglutination (crusty eyes) in the morning, whereas some may have burning nasal discharge.  Others may have profuse nasal discharge with no burning or eye irritation at all.  It all depends on your unique symptoms.


To begin your healing journey, please contact me.  For research articles on this topic, please click here.


Many thanks for reading!
Noel

There are few things worse than not being able to catch your breath.  Even worse is the fear that accompanies an asthma attack.  Will you be able to breath again?!  It's a scary event!  For those who suffer from these scary situations, immediate relief is sought.


The New England Journal of Medicine reported in June of 2009 that there are 300 million people worldwide who suffer from asthma.  What if you knew there were treatments available without the side effects from medicine, and that with treatment over-time, you would be less and less susceptible to suffering this condition?


Homeopathic treatment can offer such relief!  There is not one homeopathic remedy to take for asthma.  Rather, there are homeopathic remedies that treat YOU.  Homeopathic treatment will not suppress symptoms, but rather is aimed at strengthening your system and rendering you less and less dependent on medications and less and less susceptible to ever having symptoms related to asthma.  It's true healing! 


For research studies on this topic, please click here.  To get started now on your healing journey, please contact me.


Thanks for reading and be well,
Noel

This Thursday evening I will be holding a class on Homeopathy for Sports and Fitness related purposes.  (Please visit my website to learn more).  All too often we can become discouraged when a nagging sprain or recurring injury sidelines us from doing what we love doing, or desire doing for a sense of balance in life.  Being able to remain physically active is of paramount importance to sustaining a healthy lifestyle and leading the life we want for ourselves.


How often have you had to live in pain from an injury you sustained awhile back that continues to prevent you from staying in the action?  If you're like me, physical activity is one of the staples of living the kind of healthy life I like to live.  Without it, and with recurring pains, I feel I'm at a loss!  


Yet, homeopathy can help!  Homeopathy is safe and heals in a gentle and rapid way.  There are no side effects from homeopathic treatment and you'll be on your road to recovery in a fairly short amount of time.  Ideally, you may never need to have to take a homeopathic remedy again after you recover from your injury or pain from homeopathy the first time.  Who wouldn't like that?!


Homeopathy is also affordable and can help alleviate dependence on expensive meds for your current pain management.  Please contact me to learn more and I'll see you in class this Thursday night!


Be well,
Noel

Tis' the season!  No, not that season.  I'm refering to allergy season. 


It can be a tough go for people who suffer from this condition.  Relegated to moments and/or continuous weeks of feeling miserable, we seek solutions.  Homeopathy might just be the one!


Homeopathy is aimed at treating people, not their illnesses.  However, what homeopathic treatment can do is offer relief from your ailments and will not foster any dependence on medications, nor offer any side effects, along the way.  Your journey to better health and relief from your sufferings of this season is paved through homeopathic treatment.


That said, it's important to understand the specifics of your symptoms.  Whether it be itchy eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, lethargy, or some variation of one or many of these symptoms, a homeopathic remedy will seek to address all the symptoms and initiate your inherent healing response.  Over time, through constitutional homeopathic care, you will become less and less susceptible to suffering during the allergy season.  
A few homeopathic remedies that typically help include the following with brief indications:
Allium Cepa: profuse, burning nasal discharge, usually from the left side.  Better from open air.
Arsenicum Album: acrid, watery coryza; dripping from the nose which is totally obstructed; generally right-sided.
Euphrasia: Eyes inflamed; extremely irritated, burning, and itching.  Bland nasal discharge, but profuse.  Watery eyes burn.
Nux-Vomica: Terrible sneezing in the morning upon rising.  Stuffed, irritated nose becomes fluent when in warm rooms.  
Sabadilla: Tremendous sneezing fits.  Worse in the open air.  Better from warm rooms and/or warm drinks.


These are just a few of my favorite homeopathic remedies that may help you feel better during this time.  Please contact me for any further information.


Be well,
Noel

"No pain, no gain!"

Is that really true?  Does progess and growth really have to hurt?  In my prior career experience as a personal fitness trainer and health coach, I frequently found that to be the case.  Unless we struggled with dragging ourselves to the gym, or restricted our diet in some way, we thought we weren't doing something good for us.

In homeopathy, though, I find the gentle and rapid healing that occurs is just that - gentle and rapid.  Pain and struggle don't have to be a part of the equation.  Additionally, it may be surprising to know that homeopathy can help with weight management!

No, it won't give you muscles like the magazine cover models (who are also airbrushed tremendously), nor does it involve a diet plan.  Homeopathy is aimed at treating people.  If you desire managing your weight more effectively,  a homeopathic remedy will aid you in opening up channels previously unknown and uncover the path to eating well, exercising frequently, and managing stress more effectively.  

Despite that, there is no healing for those who continue participating in unhealthy lifestyle habits.  If one continues to eat fast food everyday, no homeopathic remedy will make a difference.  If one does no form of simple movement or exercises, no homeopathic remedy will increase the strength of your muscles.  You still have to be a part of the equation.  There is no substitute for your own free will to decide.

There are several homeopathic remedies aimed at strengthening the body to heal itself in the direction of alleviating obesity.  A few of them include: Antimonium Crudum, Calcarea-Carbonica, Capsicum, Graphites, Lycopodium, and Staphysagria.  There are many, many more but a simple list is offered here.  Please contact me for further information about them.

Homeopathic remedies are safe and gentle, and offer no side effects or dangerous dependencies.  They don't counteract any other medicine you may be on, but work with you and will eventually help relieve any dependencies you may have upon medicines used for weight management.

In my practice, with homeopathic treatment, I also apply my skills in personal fitness training and health coaching to help you with your weight management goals.  Please contact me for further information!  I look forward to working with you soon.

Be well,
Noel

You may be asking, "What does homeopathy have to do with being grateful?"  Quite a bit, actually.

Developing a mindset of gratitude is a cultivated behavior.  One can become quite skilled at seeing opportunites in challenging circumstances and being grateful for, yet another, learning experience.  I would say it's a continuous work in progress to sustain mine!  

During homeopathic treatment, your healing journey offers many opportunities to see life's difficulties in new lights and experience them in different, more integrated ways.  Frequently, past traumas or hurtful situations are cast in new light, offering a chance to, literally, see the past change.  Perhaps you can attest, like me, to feeling embarrassed or upset as children in grade school, for example.  Yet, our incapacity to answer that question when we were called upon, or when we couldn't catch the ball in gym class don't impact us now to the extent as they did back then.

In a sense, then, we can be grateful for the chance to learn and grow in this world.  The example above is one small indication that we naturally grow, mature, and become more resourceful in the world.  Homeopathic treatment offers you the opportunity set a more wholesome course for the future - beginning right now.  I am truly grateful to help offer you this opportunity through homeopathic treatment, and provide a safe space to cultivate your own mindset of gratitude.

Please contact me for further questions and I look forward to working with you soon!

Be well,
Noel