Bruising

Bruising is a natural occurrence when a part of your body forcefully comes into contact with a solid object. 

Some people bruise much more easily than others, but bruising is unsightly, and fortunately can be shortened in duration, severity, and pain, in most cases.

The first and most important thing is ruling out any broken bones or trauma, such as internal bleeding in connection to your bruising. 

Signs of internal bleeding are coughing or vomiting blood, localized swelling, especially in the upper chest or abdomen, bleeding from the rectum, urethra, ears, or vagina. 

The bleeding site would be dependant on the location of the injury or bruising. Other signs of internal bleeding are hypovolemic shock (shock caused by the loss of blood) and the symptoms are a weak but rapid pulse, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, anxiousness, light-headedness, fainting, dilated pupils, cold, pale, and clammy skin. 

If any of these symptoms are present, seek medical attention immediately.

Home Remedies for Bruising:

Amica Montana:

The natural herb most commonly used to diminish or prevent bruising is arnica montana, which is normally sold in pill form in herbal or health food stores.

Propolis:

We can thank honey bees for the next natural remedy for bruising. Bees make a substance called propolis, by combining resins from conifers and poplars, beeswax, and pollen. 

Propolis is also called ‘bee glue’ and strengthens and waterproofs beehives. It is also a powerful antibiotic, antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. 

When applied to a bruising area on the body, and covered with a clean bandage, towel wrapped ice packs, frozen vegetables, or ice cubes in zipper bags can be applied to the area, and elevated.  This will cause blood vessels to constrict, and limit bruising as well as swelling. 

The general rule is cold on for 15 minutes, off for 10 minutes, and then back on again. Repeat the 15/10 minute cycle for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, heat should then be applied. When you are applying heat, a poultice of the herb, comfrey root, is beneficial in both reducing the bruising, swelling, and inflammation, and relieving the pain of the injury. 

Comfrey root should be boiled, the leaves placed on a clean cloth, and secured to the area with a bandage. Comfrey root should not be used on open wounds or consumed internally. 

Comfrey root is intended for external use only.