Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa---fluid-filled sacks that cushion the tendons. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than 150 bursae in the human body. Bursitis usually affects the shoulders, elbows and hips, but can also affect the knees and toes. Bursitis usually goes away on its own and the best way to heal bursitis is to rest and allow the inflammation to go down. If you must exercise during a bursitis flare up, it is best to apply heat before and after, to keep the tendons flexible. Use castor oil to reduce inflammation. Castor oil is available in the laxative section of most major drug stores.
Step 1
Plug in the heating pad and set the temperature to medium. Do not set the temperature too high, otherwise the castor oil may overheat and you could burn yourself. If you are using a water bottle, follow the manufacturer's instructions for heating the bottle.
Step 2
Soak the flannel fabric in castor oil. The cloth should be saturated, but not dripping. You need enough flannel to fold it three times and have it fit over the affected area. You can use an old flannel shirt or buy flannel cloth from a craft store.
Step 3
Place the castor oil cloth over the affected area and wrap or cover the cloth in plastic wrap. The plastic holds in the heat and prevents the castor oil from getting on the heating pad.
Step 4
Put a towel or another piece of flannel on top of the plastic, to prevent melting. If you are using a water bottle, you do not need the extra fabric.
Step 5
Put the heating pad or hot water bottle on top of the towel and leave it in place for 20 minutes. If you are using a hot water bottle, put it directly on top of the plastic.
Step 6
Remove the heating pad, plastic and flannel. Wipe the area with rubbing alcohol to remove any excess castor oil and store the castor-soaked flannel in a plastic bag for future use. Exercise as you normally would.
Tips and Warnings
- Store your castor oil pack in the refrigerator between uses. You can reuse the same pack up to 25 times. Be sure to let the pack warm when you take it out of the refrigerator.
- Castor oil is thick and can stain clothing and bedding. Wear clothing that you don't mind getting stained. Avoid using the pack on your bed or any other cloth surface you wish to preserve. If the pack feels too hot, reduce or remove the heat to avoid burning.
Things You'll Need
- Heating pad or hot water bottle
- Castor oil
- Cotton or wool flannel
- Plastic wrap
- Rubbing alcohol
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