It is very difficult to make a recommendation on an anti-inflamatory since you have a complication with nsaids. Depending on what the medication you are taking is and why it interferes it could lead to several different possibilities.

There are not many topical anti-inflamatories, since fluid has to be removed internally to reduce the inflamation. One thing I do include in my own arthritis creams is some sort of rubefacient. This is a skin irritant that brings blood to the surface, hence causing increased circulation and hopefully moving fluids away from the site while bringing in more oxygen and white cells to help repair any damage and pain. For many people this is usually capsaicin in the form of hot peppers of some sort. I am allergic to capsaicin so I like to use wintergreen, garlic, peppermint and/or ginger. However, I do not have osteoarthritis. It is my understanding that this method of rubefacient pain relief does not work in this case, and can actually be damaging in some instances.

All herbs that will be classed as anti-inflamatories for muscle and bone pain will contain salicylate, which is what we have derived salicylic acid (aspirin) from. These herbs include birch, meadowsweet, white poplar, black cohosh, bogbean, devil’s claw, feverfew, wild yam, and willow.

I hope that was helpful, and not just discouraging. :)

I thought that if left untreated tendinitis can be quite wicked, and that if treated it goes away? When did you find out that you had that?

“So if I rub some hot peppers on my elbow, my tendinitis will go away? :)”

Not exactly. First, as with all natural medicines and remedies, time and whole body support are extremely important. It takes 2-3 weeks at least to start seeing results from faithful use of most natural remedies. This is because they are focused at healing the problem, and not easing the symptoms of the problem. To use capsaicin as a treatment for anything, it has to be combined with something that will flush the resulting infected fluid out of the body. This may be a higher water intake and lots of fruit juice, or it may be an herbal tea, it may be a change in daily diet, or an exercise change. Capsaicin must be diluted to the correct strength and emulsified with a proper emolient to ensure it actually works. Otherwise (by just rubbing hot peppers on the skin) you can cause burns and lesions and make the problem worse.

I know you were probably joking or being cheeky in your reply, but you never know what people think. I would hate for anyone to get hurt or cause more problems in their life due to misinformation. And there is a lot of misinformation out there concerning natural medicine and remedies.

Thanks you two – for the insight and the funnies!