How to Treat Tennis Elbow Pain Using Ginger
Tennis elbow is a chronic pain condition in the outside upper elbow. It's an overuse injury that causes tears in the muscles and tendons as well as swelling. Alternative medicine remedies claim that the analgesic qualities of the ginger plant can reduce the pain of tennis elbow. Furthermore, these alternative theories say that ginger can help to reduce swelling and provide anti-bacterial qualities that promote faster healing. You can use ginger either topically or orally to help your tennis elbow.
Things You'll Need
- Ginger oil
- Towel
- Mortar and pestle
- Ginger root
- Ginger tea
- Steeping ball
- Water
- Coffee cup
- Microwave
Instructions
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How to Treat Tennis Elbow Pain Using Ginger Topically
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1
Apply ginger oil to a towel. You can use ginger essential oil or you can make your own ginger paste by crushing ginger root in the mortar with the pestle which would be placed on the towel instead of the oil.
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2
Heat the towel up in the microwave. You don't need this to be hot, just warm; 15 seconds should suffice.
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3
Wrap the towel around your elbow, making sure the oil or ginger is touching the skin.
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4
Repeat this as needed, which may be as often as every six hours.
How to Treat Tennis Elbow Pain Using Ginger - Orally
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5
Add water to a coffee cup and boil it in the microwave. It should take approximately 90 seconds to boil depending on your microwave. (A microwave is listed for convenience, but you can use any method of boiling water such as a tea pot or pot on the stove.)
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6
Add the ginger tea to the water to steep for one minute. You can use a pre-packaged ginger tea or make your own with ground ginger and cinnamon.
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7
Drink the tea.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Home remedies such as using ginger to treat tennis elbow have not be substantiated by clinical research studies. Talk to your doctor about medical treatment programs if your ginger remedy does not alleviate symptoms.
