Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a musculoskeletal condition with pain around the outer part of the elbow. Tennis elbow is mainly caused due to repetitive overuse of muscles and tendons of the forearm near the elbow joint. Contrary to its name, it is not limited to just tennis players and can occur in anyone who puts repetitive stress on the elbow joint, for example carpenters, violin players and painters. Pain and weakness due to tennis elbow can hamper daily activities such as shaking hands, holding a cup turning a door knob.
Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathic medicines for tennis elbow offer very effective treatment and help manage pain and stiffness. Natural and safe, homeopathic medicines act deep and have no side effects. Unlike the conventional mode of medicine, homeopathic medicines do not supress the disease and its symptoms. In fact, they attack the disorder at the root and set off the body’s own restorative processes, making it strong enough to completely eradicate the disease. Suppressing the disease does not really help, so homeopathic medicines are a natural, healing alternative. These medicines give long-term relief in tennis elbow cases by reducing inflammation of tendons and helping in healing damage/ injury of tendons.
Homeopathic Medicines For Tennis Elbow
Among the homeopathic medicines for tennis elbow the top-grade ones are Rhus Tox, Ruta, Bryonia, Bellis Perennis and Calcarea Carb.
Elbow joint
1. Rhus Tox – Top Grade Medicine
Rhus Tox is the most frequently prescribed medicine for managing cases of tennis elbow. It is the best medicine to start treatment for conditions that arise from overstraining, overuse of muscles and tendons. It helps to effectively manage inflammation and damage to tendons. It has shown remarkable results in tennis elbow cases with tearing pain in tendons and muscles. Soreness in the condyles of the joints is also present. In cases needing it, the pain in elbow is worse when at rest and gets better with movement. Stiffness at the elbow is also marked along with pain.
Condyle of joint in fingers
When and How to use Rhus Tox?
Rhus Tox should be given in every case of tennis elbow as a first remedy as it helps in relieving pain and stiffness of elbow by reducing inflammation of tendons. It can be used in both low and high potencies among which the most preferred is 30 C potency. Initially, one may use Rhus Tox 30 C three to four times a day depending on the severity. Reduce the dose when improvement in symptoms begins.
2. Ruta – For Sore Pain And Stiffness Of Elbow
It is a herbal medicine prepared from plant ‘garden rue’. Ruta is pretty similar in its action to Rhus Tox in treating cases of tendon inflammation and injury from overuse and overstraining. It is well indicated when there occurs sore pain and stiffness in the elbow. Sore pain means pain from touching the affected area. Weakness of the arm may attend it.
When and How to use Ruta?
Ruta should be considered in tennis elbow cases to reduce tendon inflammation, soreness and also heal damaged tendons. Sore pain and stiffness of elbow is marked where this medicine is required. Ruta is most frequently used in 30C potency. Initially, it can be taken three to four times a day. Once the improvement is noticeable frequent repetition should be reduced gradually.
3. Bryonia – For Pain And Swelling Around Elbow
This natural medicine is prepared from root of plant ‘wild hops’. Bryonia is a wonderful medicine to manage tennis elbow with marked pain and swelling around the elbow. The characteristic feature to use it is worsening of pain in elbow from movement and relief from rest. At times, pain may radiate down from the elbow to the wrist.
When and How to use Bryonia?
This medicine should be used when pain in elbow is accompanied by swelling, with pain getting worse from every movement. Its 30C potency is the right choice to start with that can be used two to three times a day.
4. Bellis Perennis – For Healing Tendon Injury, Inflammation
Bellis Perennis is another medicine of natural origin to treat tennis elbow cases. It is prepared from flowering plant named ‘english daisy’. Repetitive stress injury and inflammation of tendon of elbow due to exertion or overuse of muscles is highly treatable with this medicine. The action of this medicine is similar to that of Rhus Tox and Ruta. This medicine is also indicated to help cases of direct injury to elbow. It helps to heal injured tendons and reduce its inflammation and reduce elbow pain.
When and How to use Bellis Perennis?
This medicine can be used to heal injured tendons and control tendon inflammation of elbow and provide pain relief. This medicine can be used in 30C potency twice a day.
5. Calcarea Carb – For Pain Extending From Elbow To Wrist
Calcarea Carb is very effective on pain arising on the outer side of the elbow and radiating down to the wrist. This pain occurs mostly when the sufferer tries to hold an object. The nature of pain is mostly tearing type. Besides, stiffness in elbow may be present.
When and How to use Calcarea Carb?
A person who experiences pain on the outer side of elbow extending down to wrist can find this medicine highly effective. It can be taken in 30C potency. Dose should be limited to once a day.
Symptoms Of Tennis Elbow
1. Pain: The main symptom of tennis elbow is pain on outer side of elbow where tendons (tissue band connecting muscle to bone) of muscles of forearm connects to bony bump of elbow. In some cases pain may extend down to forearm and wrist. The pain may get worse from bending arm, twisting forearm, turning door knob, writing, lifting things, griping objects. Sometimes the sufferer may experience burning in the outer side of elbow.
2. Stiffnessin elbow while extending the arm
3. Swelling of elbow and tenderness (pain on touching) of elbow
4. Weak grip on holding objects
Causes Behind Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow arises from overuse of muscles of forearm. This happens from repetitive use of forearm muscles in some activities that put stress on tendons that unite forearm muscles to bony projection of elbow. As a result, tendons get inflamed, damaged and in some cases tear as well. Tennis elbow is common in tennis players. However, it is often seen in people performing other activities involving repetitive use of wrist and arm muscles like painters, plumbers, bowlers, gardeners, carpenters, swimmers. In some cases, a direct injury to elbow may result in this condition. Though tennis elbow may affect people of any age group but people between age of 30 yrs to 50 yrs are commonly affected. In some cases, tennis elbow occurs without any reason which is called idiopathic tennis elbow.
