11 Natural Remedies for Scrapes & Bruises

Scrapes and bruises are a part of everyday life - especially in the summer with all the outdoor activities going on. Some of us, it seems, whether we’re accident prone or adventurous or maybe a little bit of both, get scraped up daily.  While there are many handy over-the-counter remedies to clean cuts, reduce swelling, prevent infection and promote healing, there are twice as many natural remedies which accomplish the same thing - without all the synthetic chemicals.  Nature really does take good care of us! 

Let’s look at some natural remedies for scrapes and bruises:*

1. Witch hazel. This plant is actually a deciduous shrub and the bark and leaves are an astringent which can be used to disinfect and to clean skin.  It’s also commonly used to treat sore muscles and swollen tissue. 

Aloe vera (Photo credit: olgaberrios)

2. Aloe vera is a common treatment for sunburns and rashes. A succulent plant grown in warm, tropical climates, it protects and moisturizes the skin - and is also great for treating burns.

3. Arnica Gel, which comes from a perennial in the sunflower family, is excellent for treating muscle aches and bruising, as well as arthritis pain. 

4. Raw garlic.  Despite the very unique and strong aroma, garlic cloves can be used as an antiseptic to disinfect cuts and scrapes.

5. Comfrey, a perennial flower, is used to treat sprains, strains, bruises and broken bones.  The roots of the flower are ground into a poultice and placed on the injured area.

6. Yarrow leaves, when dried and ground into a powder, can be uses to disinfect cuts and scrapes and to stop bleeding.

7. Lavender essential oil, when combined and diluted by jojoba oil or olive oil, relieves pain, burns and bee stings. 

8. Tea tree essential oil, when diluted with jojoba or olive oil, is an antiseptic and antibiotic.  It is great for cleaning minor cuts. 

Thyme. (Photo credit: Vietnam Plants & The USA. plants)

9. Thyme essential oil, when diluted with a base oil like olive or jojoba has both antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.  Use it to clean minor cuts and scrapes and to soothe bruised and sore muscles.

10. Castor oil can be used to treat bruising and reduce swelling. 

11. Calendula oil is used to soothe rashes and minor scrapes. 

In addition to these 11 natural remedies, homeopathic remedies can be designed to treat swelling and bruising, and flower essences can be used to reduce stress and alleviate shock symptoms.  Mother Nature has provided you with a number of gentle and safe first aid remedies.  Create your natural first aid kit today and take advantage of all the healing power that nature has to offer!

* Note: Information provided above should not be considered medical advice. You should consult a qualified medical professional before using any natural remedy.

Six Natural & Safe Painkillers

Let's face it - pain is a part of your life.  We don't often think about it that way, but in actuality it’s something to be grateful for, because it is your body’s natural defense against further injury.  Imagine what would happen to a runner’s knee if they didn’t feel the pain of overuse or improper form?  They could damage it beyond repair.  It’s also normal to not want to feel this pain, and to want to reduce it or alleviate it when it occurs.

Coated 200 mg ibuprofen tablets. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Unfortunately, drugs such as NSAIDS come with a whole slew of possible harmful side effects.  That’s where natural painkillers can be a great benefit, particularly if you’re dealing with an injury or chronic pain.

Let’s take a look at six natural painkillers:

1.  Arnica is a wonderful herb that comes from a lovely yellow flower that grows in the mountains of Europe.  It has been shown to be quite effective in reducing inflammation and the pain related to inflammation.  This natural painkiller is great for treating arthritis, muscle and tendon sprains and strains and even bruising.  Arnica can be taken orally with a homeopathic remedy or applied as a topical gel.

2.  Curcumin, an ingredient in Turmeric, is a wonderful painkiller which also suppresses and reduces inflammation. Inflammation is often the cause of joint and muscle pain.  Curcumin can be taken as a capsule, and is said to be better absorbed by your body if you take it with bromelain which is an anti-inflammatory enzyme found in pineapple.

3.  Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory compounds that keep your body in a state of optimal health by blocking chemicals that cause inflammation in the body.  In a study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, daily supplementation with 2.7 grams of EPA and 1.8 grams of DHA resulted in a significant reduction in the number of tender joints.
 
Omega 3 fatty acids are found in flaxseed, hempseed, and cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel.  You can also take fish oil supplements.

4.  Boswellia, aka frankincense, is an herb that treats chronic pain.  Like many of the other herbs it decreases inflammatory compounds and thus leads to the reduction of pain for both minor injuries like sprains and strains and also chronic pain like arthritis.

Devil 's claw, Proboscidea louisianica (Photo credit: Vietnam Plants & The USA. plants)

5.  Devil’s claw is a fruit that is native to South Africa.  It has been used to reduce back pain and arthritis pain. Compounds called iridoid glycosides have pain-relieving and inflammation-fighting capabilities.  However, if you suffer from stomach issues, consult approval from your doctor before beginning to take Devil’s claw.

6.  Feverfew is a long-standing natural pain remedy and works quite well for headaches, minor pain, arthritis pain and fever.  It’s been shown to actually cease the development of headaches and to stop migraines in their tracks.  It works by relaxing blood vessels in your brain and preventing them from constricting. 

Natural painkillers can be your healthy way to mitigate or eliminate chronic pain or pain caused by minor injuries.  However, just because an herb is natural doesn't mean it doesn't have side effects so it pays to take caution when adding any herbal or natural remedy to your routine.  However, the side effects are generally significantly much less harmful than those of NSAIDS. Check with your alternative healthcare practitioner to be sure before using.