What is an Herbal Treatment for Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, afflicts people in three distinct stages, each lasting weeks or months. The first stage, "freezing," consists of the onset of pain and gradual loss of motion in the arm and shoulder. During the second period, the "frozen" stage, pain recedes but stiffness becomes pronounced. In the final weeks or months, "thawing" finally sets in. Herbal therapy can be effective part of managing the initial pain and even bringing about returned mobility.

Herbal Ointment

To combat the inflammation of the connective tissue surrounding your shoulder joints and muscles, make the massage cream developed by herbalist Jeanne Rose.

In a double boiler, bring to a gentle bubble one quart olive oil, 8 ounces fresh cayenne or habenero chili peppers, 3 ounces fresh (or 4 ounces dried) rosemary and 2 ounces dried comfrey root that has been soaked in boiling water for 20 minutes. Simmer the mixture for four hours, cool for four hours, and repeat the heating and cooling process at least three times. Blend contents for 20 seconds, and heat and cool one more time. Strain the mixture, add 6 to 8 ounces beeswax or cocoa butter, and 20 drops each of the following essential oils: lavender, marjoram, frankincense and eucalyptus. Pour into several small jars and allow to solidify before use.

Massage this ointment into your shoulder as often as you'd like. Its anti- inflammatory properties should provide pain relief during the "freezing" stage and may even hasten the "thawing" stage.

Relief From the East

Consider seeing an acupuncturist who, along with or instead of needle-based treatment, will likely prescribe Chinese herbal tablets for your frozen shoulder. Unless you are extremely familiar with Asian botanicals, concocting ancient Eastern herbal tonics at home may feel less comfortable than making the salve mentioned above. Indeed, while some of the complex mixtures feature familiar ingredients such as turmeric, cinnamon, ginger and licorice, they are mingled with the more mysterious-sounding tang-kuei, chin-chiu and tu-huo.

Herbalists base one particular combination of Chinese herbs, Juanbi Tang, or Juan Bi Tang, on the assumption that upper body conditions relate to wind invasion, while range of motion problems lie under the "cold" category. Therefore, this "wind-cold" malady calls for a careful blending of dried Chinese herbs treating both maladies. While you can easily buy Juanbi Tang online, a knowledgeable professional will be able to steer you to the most reputable formulas, or even blend them herself.

Strengthen Connective Tissue

To bring the tissue around your shoulder's joints and muscles back to its optimum elastic state, take extracts or infusions of herbs high in silica content, a naturally occurring mineral found in horsetail. Horsetail tea, which can be found at your health food store or made by scavenging boggy areas in your neighborhood and drying the collected herb, can deliver silica to your system quickly. You can deliver horsetail to your system in a more concentrated dose through the ingestion of the herb as an extract, available online or at health food stores.

Tissue salts represent another homeopathic method of adding silica and other strengthening minerals to your system. These tablets, also known as 'Cell Salts' or as "Biochemic Salts," contain silica. The tablets also include fluoride of lime and phosphate of iron, used, respectively, for strengthening tissue and as an anti-inflammatory.