Home Remedies for Bruises

A bruise is an injury to the blood vessels beneath the skin's surface that causes blood to seep in to the skin and cause a discoloration.

A bruise can be cause by a hard impact to the skin, such as a fall, being hit or bumping into a hard object. However, other conditions can also cause a person to be more prone to bruising than others or can be signs of a more serious matter. Some of these causes include:

• Physical abuse
• Tissue thinning due to aging
• A lack of vitamin C
• Menstruation
• Diabetes
• Antidepressant medications
• Penicillin
• Cortisone drugs
• Aspirin
• Some anesthetics
• Immune disorders
• Anemia
• Hemophilia
• Leukemia

A bruise is characterized by a discoloration of the skin in an injured area. At different stages of bruising, the bruise may be:

• Red (during the initial stage)
• Black, purple or various shades of blue (mid-stage)
• Yellow or green (healing stage)

Using one of a variety of home remedies for bruises can lessen the amount of time that a bruise is present on the body, as well as reduce the pain that is associated with it. The following home remedies for bruises are among the best in alternative treatments:

• Applying an ice pack immediately after injury reduces tissue swelling and can decrease a bruise's severity

• Vaseline that is melted, mixed with cayenne pepper and allowed to cool can be applied daily until bruising diminishes

• Witch Hazel applied to the bruise helps in stimulating circulation in the area and reduces healing time

• Applying Arnica to the injured sight immediately after injury to reduce swelling and the severity of a bruise

• Buchu or comfrey root can be used to make a tea, poured over a cloth and applied to the affected area for faster healing

• St. John's Wort has astringent properties that make it a great choice to apply to bruises for rapid healing

• Crushed parsley is rich with vitamins and can also be applied to a bruise for fast healing

• Increasing vitamin C through diet or supplementation

• Alfalfa and vitamin K are effective in increasing blood clotting

• The vitamin P found in lemons, rose hips, broccoli and green peppers acts as a bioflavonoid that protects blood capillaries

Home remedies for bruises are completely safe to use and they are very effective in helping a bruise heal fast. By using home remedies and natural cures for healing, a person becomes empowered with knowledge about how the body works and what is needed to restore it when good health is threatened.