Bursitis is a painful inflammation of a bursa typically caused by repetitive movement. There are more than 150 bursae throughout your body. These sacs of fluid cushion the movement between the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints."Miner's elbow" results from swinging a pick. But you can get a similar inflammation by pushing a vacuum back and forth. Bursitis can also stem from prolonged or excessive pressure. A "weaver's bottom" described an inflamed bursa over the bone in your buttocks. It was caused by sitting on a hard surface and swaying back and forth with the loom. Even today, you might get "housemaid's knee"--a soft, egg-shaped bump on the front of your knee--from kneeling while scrubbing a floor. In some cases, you may not be able to pinpoint a specific incident that led to bursitis. In others, the inflammation may stem from a staphylococcal infection or, rarely, tuberculosis. Bursitis can also occur along with other common joint conditions such as arthritis or gout. The most common site of bursitis is the shoulder. But bursitis can also affect your hip, knee, elbow, heel--even the base of your big toe.

Nutrition
Include in your diet anti-inflammatory oils such as those found in cold-water fish, nuts, and seeds.

Vitamins and Minerals
· Glucosamine Sulfate (500 mg two or three times a day): for connective tissue support
· Omega-3 oils (1,000 mg two or three times a day), such as flax seed oil, as an anti-inflammatory agent
· Vitamin C with bioflavanoids (1,000 mg three times a day): for connective tissue repair
· Proteolytic enzymes: Bromelain (250 mg twice a day): to reduce inflammation
· Bioflavanoids and oral digestive enzymes for inflammation.

Herbs
Herbs that reduce swelling include:
· White willow (Salix alba)
· Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
A tincture of one, or a combination of these, may be taken at 15 drops every 15 minutes up to four doses for acute pain relief, or 30 drops four times per day for general pain relief. Turmeric increases the effects of bromelain.
· For bursitis with muscle spasm, add valerian (Valeriana officinalis).
· For chronic bursitis, add hawthorn (Crataegus oxyanthoides).