10 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ganglion Cysts + Causes and Medical Treatment

  • Home Remedies To Treat Ganglion Cysts
  • Prevention Tips
  • Diagnosis Of Ganglion Cysts
  • What Are The Medical Options To Treat Ganglion Cysts?
  • Signs And Symptoms Of Ganglion Cysts
  • Causes And Risk Factors For Ganglion Cysts

Home Remedies To Treat Ganglion Cysts

Note: Most of these ingredients have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that may help manage the symptoms of ganglion cysts. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove their efficacy in treating this condition.

1. Essential Oils

a. Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities (1). These may help relieve pain and speed up the healing of the cyst.

You Will Need

2-3 drops of pure frankincense oil

What You Have To Do

  1. Apply two to three drops of frankincense oil directly to the affected joint.
  2. Leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2 times daily.

b. Lemongrass Oil

Lemongrass oil has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties (2). Hence, it may help in reducing pain and draining out the fluid-filled in cyst.

You Will Need

  • 3 drops of lemongrass oil
  • 1 teaspoon of coconut oil

What You Have To Do

  1. Add three drops of lemongrass oil to a teaspoon of coconut oil.
  2. Mix well and apply this mixture to the affected joint.
  3. Leave it on for at least 20 to 30 minutes before washing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 3-4 times daily.

c. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties (3). It may help in reducing inflammation and the build-up of fluid within the cyst.

You Will Need

  • 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
  • 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
  • Band-aid

What You Have To Do

  1. Mix two to three drops of tea tree oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil.
  2. Apply it to the affected area.
  3. Cover the cyst with a band-aid and leave it on.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties (4). Hence, it may help in reducing inflammation, swelling, and pain associated with ganglion cysts. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove this effect.

You Will Need

  • 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar
  • cup of water
  • Cotton balls

What You Have To Do

  1. Add a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar to one-fourth cup of water.
  2. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and place it on the cyst.
  3. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before washing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times daily.

3. Tea Bag

Tea possesses anti-inflammatory and healing properties (5), (6). This can help in healing a ganglion cyst and alleviating the pain associated with it.

You Will Need

Used black tea bags

What You Have To Do

  1. Place a used black tea bag on the affected joint.
  2. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes.
  3. Wash the area with water.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times daily.

4. Castor Oil

Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which exhibits anti-inflammatory activity (7). Hence, castor oil may be used to treat the inflammation and swelling in the affected area.

You Will Need

100% organic castor oil

What You Have To Do

  1. Apply a thin layer of pure castor oil to the affected joint.
  2. Cover it with a bandage.
  3. Leave it on for about 20 to 30 minutes.
  4. Wash it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 1-2 times daily.

5. Warm Compress

A warm compress is an effective remedy that not only relieves inflammation but also soothes the pain associated with ganglion cysts (8).

You Will Need

A warm compress

What You Have To Do

  1. Place a warm compress or a hot water bottle on the affected area.
  2. Leave it on for about 5 to 10 minutes and remove.
  3. Repeat 2 to 3 times.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily for quick relief.

6. Epsom Salt Soak

The immunomodulatory nature of magnesium in 9027257' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' >Epsom salt helps in decreasing the production of inflammatory cytokines in your body (9). This helps alleviate pain, inflammation, swelling, and redness in the affected area.

You Will Need

  • cup of Epsom salt
  • A basin of warm water

What You Have To Do

  1. Add half a cup of Epsom salt to a basin of warm water.
  2. Soak the affected hand, wrist, or foot in this for 15 to 20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily or every alternate day.

7. K Tape

A K tape can offer support and stability to the affected joint, thereby helping in healing the ganglion cyst. It also helps relieve pain and promotes muscle strength (10).

You Will Need

A K tape

What You Have To Do

  1. Bend the affected joint of your wrist or foot.
  2. Stick the K tape along the affected area without stretching your joint.
  3. Wear it for a couple of days.
  4. Read the instructions on the pack for further guidance.

How Often You Should Do This

You must keep this tape on the affected joint for 2-4 days.

8. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera has natural healing properties (11). It can also help reduce the swelling and inflammation in the affected area (12).

You Will Need

Freshly extracted aloe gel

What You Have To Do

  1. Apply freshly extracted aloe gel directly to the affected area.
  2. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing it off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times daily.

9. Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, which helps combat inflammation, swelling, and pain (13). This can be used to get rid of ganglion cysts.

You Will Need

  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
  • Water (as required)

What You Have To Do

  1. Add a few drops of water to a teaspoon of turmeric powder to make a thick paste.
  2. Apply this directly to the affected area.
  3. Leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse off.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 1-2 times daily.

10. Vitamin B-Complex

Vitamin B-complex is a group of water-soluble vitamins that help with cell metabolism (14). It can also help heal ganglion cysts.

Foods rich in vitamin B-complex include berries, legumes, lean meat, eggs, tuna, avocado, and spinach. You can consume foods rich in these vitamins or take supplements after consulting your doctor.

It is wise to make a few changes to your lifestyle if you have a ganglion cyst. Follow the prevention tips listed below in conjunction with these home remedies to prevent the recurrence of the cysts.

Prevention Tips

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These tips might seem very basic, but they can help a great deal when it comes to curing a ganglion cyst.

If you doubt that you have developed a ganglion cyst, you can visit a doctor to confirm it via a test or diagnosis.

Diagnosis Of Ganglion Cysts

Your doctor may conduct a diagnosis for a ganglion cyst through the following methods:

  • A physical examination
  • Imaging tests like X-rays, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. An MRI or ultrasound can also locate hidden cysts.

Besides home remedies, there are medical ways to treat this condition. The following are some medical options that you can opt for to treat ganglion cysts.

What Are The Medical Options To Treat Ganglion Cysts?

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Your doctor may initially ask you to wait a bit to check if the ganglion cyst heals on its own. However, if it doesnt heal or begins to pain and interferes with joint movement, your doctor may suggest:

  • Temporary immobilization of the affected joint with a brace or splint
  • Aspiration to drain the fluid from the cyst
  • Surgery (Surgery may be required only if the other approaches havent worked.)

These cysts are usually accompanied by a series of signs and symptoms.

Signs And Symptoms Of Ganglion Cysts

Some ganglion cysts may also become bigger or smaller with time. Are you wondering what causes this unpredictable condition? Lets find out.

Causes And Risk Factors For Ganglion Cysts

As we have already discussed, ganglion cysts usually occur when there is fluid accumulation in the joint or around the tendons in your hands, wrists, ankles, or feet. This accumulation of fluid may be due to an injury, trauma, or even overuse of the body part.

Some factors can also increase your risk of developing ganglion cysts. They are:

  • Sex and age Ganglion cysts are more common in women aged between 20 and 40.
  • Medical conditions like osteoarthritis
  • Injured tendons or joints

There are various medical options to treat ganglion cysts. Home remedies for ganglion cysts work effectively by alleviating the pain and other related symptoms. Essential oils like frankincense oil, lemongrass oil, and tea tree oil effectively manage ganglion cysts. In addition, apple cider vinegar, tea bags, castor oil, warm compress, Epsom salt soak, K tape, aloe vera, turmeric, and vitamin B complex alleviate ganglion cyst pain. You can also possibly prevent ganglion cysts by following a nutritious diet, hydrating adequately, and exercising regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a ganglion cyst to go away?

Most of the time, a ganglion cyst may disappear in a couple of weeks, only to reappear months or even years later. But this may not be the case with all, and some may achieve complete recovery from these cysts in due course of time.

Can a ganglion cyst turn out to be cancerous?

Unlike tumors and other forms of cysts, ganglion cysts are non-cancerous. You may sometimes notice them growing in size, but that is completely natural.

What is the difference between a ganglion cyst and a synovial cyst?

A ganglion cyst is just a fluid-filled sac that may develop in the joints of your ankles or wrists. On the other hand, a synovial cyst has a thin layer of tissue surrounding it. This tissue layer is absent in a ganglion cyst.

What happens if a ganglion cyst is left untreated?

Leaving a ganglion cyst untreated will hardly cause any problems unless it pains or interrupts your joint movement. However, if you are suffering from other forms of cysts, it is wise to avail treatment immediately as there is a risk of them turning cancerous in the long run.

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