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Rooted

Musculoskeletal

Lateral epicondylitis

4 plants

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Tennis elbow is a tendon-loading problem. Eccentric load and waiting beat most bottles. Topical capsaicin and arnica are local adjuncts on intact skin. Comfrey is a PA plant: external, brief, unbroken skin. Night pain with fever or a sudden pop is not epicondylitis.

Primary plants

  1. Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)
    1
    CayenneHuman data

    Capsicum annuum

    Topical capsaicin for chronic enthesopathy-type pain on intact lateral elbow.

    Typical. Low-strength cream to intact skin.

    Safety. Burns. Not on broken skin.

  2. Arnica (Arnica montana)
    2
    ArnicaHuman data

    Arnica montana

    Topical gel. Internal arnica is toxic.

    Typical. Gel as labeled, intact skin.

    Safety. Never internal. Asteraceae.

Supportive plants2
  • Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
    ComfreyHuman data
    Symphytum officinale

    Topical PA plant, short course, intact skin only.

    Typical. Cream as labeled, limited duration.

    Safety. Never internal. Pregnancy/children: no.

  • Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens)
    Devil's clawHuman data
    Harpagophytum procumbens

    Oral MSK adjunct if they want a systemic plant. File is OA/back more than elbow.

    Typical. Harpagoside extract short course.

    Safety. PUD, gallstones.

When this is not enough

  • Inability to extend the wrist against gravity after trauma, fever, inflammatory polyarthritis not examined

Rooted is a private clinical reference for licensed practitioners. It is educational, not a treatment protocol, and not a substitute for the chart, the exam, or pharmacy review. Plant medicines interact with drugs and can harm liver, kidney, heart, pregnancy, and children.

All musculoskeletal diagnoses