Bruises occur when the skin is hit hard enough to break the blood vessels below the surface of the skin. The broken blood vessels allow some blood to leak out into the tissue surrounding the area causing the discoloration of the skin. Herbal treatments may be able to speed the healing of these painful discolorations.
Comfrey
Use comfrey in a cream or lotion applied directly to the bruise to help healing. Comfrey is available as a tincture that you can add to your favorite cream or lotion. Grind the leaves and roots of the plant to make a poultice for bruising as well. Use 2 oz. of dried comfrey leaves added to a cup of lotion or olive oil. Comfrey contains allantoin, which is a skin healing ingredient that promotes new tissue growth and speeds healing on a variety of skin abrasions and wounds. Use the lotion as often as necessary to promote the healing of your bruise. This treatment may also help with a painful bruise that is sensitive to the touch.
Arnica
Arnica can be found in an herbal or natural food store. It can help with bruise healing and to relieve aches and pains. Use a tincture of arnica in cold water to treat bruising. Add a few drops of the tincture to a cup of cold water and soak a clean cloth in the mixture. Apply directly to the bruise to help speed healing. Add the arnica tincture to your lotion or cream to apply on your bruises. You may also find arnica available as a tea, which you can also use to treat bruises. Soak a cloth in the tea and apply to your bruises. Arnica may also be listed as leopard's bane or sneezewort.
Experiment
Experiment with various herbal bruising remedies. Parsley and St. John's wort are also used to treat bruises topically. Add a few drops of St. John's wort tincture to a lotion and apply liberally to the bruised area. Use fresh parsley leaves crushed and applied directly to the bruise to speed healing. Continue to add the leaves to the bruise until it has healed.
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