Herbal Remedies for Bruises

03 Jul

Posted by Dr John Anne as herbal remedies

Bruises, or ecchymoses, are a discoloration and tenderness of the skin or mucous membranes due to the leakage of blood from an injured blood vessel into the tissues. Pupura refers to bruising as the result of a disease condition. A very small bruise is called a petechia. These often appear as many tiny red dots clustered together, and could indicate a serious problem.

Herbal Remedies for Bruises

This can often be remedied with an increase in some important nutrients, such as vitamin E and vitamin C. Herbs that are rich in bioflavonoids are also helpful. Horse chestnut, which has a tonifying effect on the venous system, is also effective. Ginkgo is especially useful, and studies show that it can help prevent abnormal or excessive leaking from the vessels. Herbs such as nettle herb that contain choline can help enhance vessel tone.

In the treatment of bruises, nothing is more efficacious than the application to the injured parts of cloths (linen is to be preferred), dipped in cold water, and the internal administration of Arnica. A lotion of Arnica tincture, made of the root, in the proportion of half a teaspoonful to a tumbler of water, may also be used. If a limb is crushed and flattened, or otherwise disfigured, it should be pressed -by the hand from time to time, until it returns to its proper form; or it may, if necessary, be straightened and kept in its natural position by means of a piece of pasteboard, wet with hot water and so softened that it can be molded to the limb; or thick gutta percha, treated in the same way so as to render it flexible, and capable of being adapted to the shape of the limb; a bandage must be placed over all to keep it in place.

Grate a piece of turnip or a piece of daikon Oapanese radish). Apply the grated root to the bruise and leave it there for 15 to 30 minutes. These two roots have been known to help clean up the internal bleeding of the bruise, preventing it from turning black and blue.

Apply a sliced, raw onion over the bruise, but not if the skin is broken.

Spread a thin layer of blackstrap molasses on a piece of brown paper (grocery bag) and apply the molasses side to the bruise. Bind it in place and leave it there for a few hours.

The active ingredients of rosemary (ledum) include mono-, di- and triterpenes and also the ubiquitous flavonoids and camphor and linalool. If you wash down burns, grazes and cuts with a wash of ledum extract, then you will protect the patient from infection at the time when they are most vulnerable to infectious agents.

Hypericum has uses as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, and is therefore useful for exactly the same conditions as all of the above. It also has astringent properties, so that like Calendula, Hypericum can be used to prevent the capillary seepage that frequently leads to infections. The active ingredients here are apparently flavonoids again, with their antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Arnica Two isomeric alcohols contained in the herb, called arnidol and foradiol, have proven counterirritant properties, while the compound helenalin reduces inflammation and swelling. For bruises, mix 1 part commercial tincture with 3 to 10 parts water and use in a compress. Internal use of arnica is toxic, and prolonged external use can cause dermatitis.

Yarrow The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of yarrow are due to chamazulene (a protein-carbohydrate complex) and sesquiterpene lactones in the volatile oil. To use in a bruise compress, pour 1 cup hot water over 2 teaspoons dried yarrow leaves, available commercially. Steep for 10 minutes, strain, then dampen a clean cloth with the liquid and apply to a bruise. Itching and inflammation signal yarrow dermatitis; if these symptoms occur, discontinue use of yarrow immediately.