How to Heal Cuts and Bruises Faster
Edited and published by Wellness Monster Dina
Cuts and Bruising
Who hasn’t had a scrape, cut, or bruise? We have all had a paper cut, knocked a shin on a table, or even cut a finger while chopping vegetables. We can agree that the injury hurts and we just want it to heal as fast as possible. So what do we do? What is the fastest and most effective way to heal a cut or bruise? Well, the answer to that is far easier than we may think, and it just might be in our kitchens.
Treatment Variations
The first and most important thing anyone should do when they get a cut is stop the bleeding and clean it. Getting the germs away from the open wound will reduce, if not negate any chances of infection. If the cut is nothing more than a shallow injury, stopping the bleeding may be as simple as washing it. It may take a compress to stop the bleeding for more serious injuries, but be sure a clean cloth or gauze is used. Wrapping the cut with the gauze and elevating it will play a large part in stopping the bleeding. Keep in mind, if the wound is very deep, it may be necessary to go to an emergency room or medical clinic, especially if stitches are needed.
Once the bleeding is under control and the wound has been cleaned, treatment may begin. There are multiple options for healing an open wound. Keeping the wound moist is important. A common way to do this is to use petroleum jelly. The jelly will create a barrier over the wound, protecting it against bacteria (positivehealthwellness.com). Another option is to use an ointment that has an antibacterial agent in it, such as Neosporin. Remember, the idea is to keep the wound moist to aid in the healing process.
Some common household items that may be used to heal a wound are not at all surprising. Honey, which is used in multiple other home remedies, helps to clean the wound. Apple cider vinegar is known to act as an anti-itching agent, and sugar works as an option of absorbing any water in the wound. Simply sprinkle a little sugar around the infected area (timesofindia.indiatimes.com). Turmeric powder is a double agent. As an antiseptic, it will not only prevent infections, it will also stop the bleeding. Many kids, at one time or another, had a grandparent with an aloe plant in their home, and anytime they would cut themselves, scrape a knee, or get a bug bite, their grandmother would snap a small piece off the plant and rub the juices from the plant on the wound. There’s a reason for that! Aloe Vera has healing agents within the leaves that help to decrease the healing time on wounds. The knee or finger will be sticky from the goo, but the itching will slow down and eventually stop, and the wound will heal much faster than if it had been allowed to heal on its own with no treatment.
With age, our bodies begin to develop illnesses or conditions that slow the effectiveness of our own healing of wounds. If a person has been diagnosed with diabetes, kidney malfunctions, rheumatoid arthritis, etc., they may find that their injuries do not heal as fast as they used to (healthyessentials.ca). As with anything, diet can certainly play a major part in how fast our bodies heal. Sugar is known to be harmful to our body if ingested in excessiveness. When dealing with an injury, it is not the time to turn to junk food for comfort. Avoid carbohydrates and foods with high sugar content. Instead, swap out the candy or sweets for fruits, and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables include many of the vitamins our bodies need to simply function. A healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables will find a person with what may seem like super healing powers. And remember, always protect the cut by keeping it bandaged.
What about bruises? If you’re a kid, a bruise may be a badge of honor. If you’re an adult, you want to get rid of that thing, and the quicker, the better! Bruises, unlike a cut may not require the same preparations. Although we always want to avoid germs, if there isn’t an open wound with the bruise, controlling the bleeding and washing it won’t be necessary. Instead, after we’ve hopped around and growled a time or two, we can turn to our refrigerator and grab a cold compress. By icing down the bruise for a few minutes every few hours for the first few days, the inflammation and swelling reduces. (wkihow.com) Just like a muscle injury, swapping out the cold compress for a warm compress will increase the blood flow, speeding up the healing process.
Once again, our diet plays a major role in healing a bruise as well. Vitamin C, found in many fruits and vegetables, has anti-inflammatory properties. A surprising solution may also be simply eating pineapple. Pineapple contains bromelain. Bromelain like Vitamin C, can reduce inflammation. (mirror.co.uk)
People Don’t Live in Bubbles
We can’t avoid injuries all the time, and we can only be so careful. An injury can happen when we least expect it. Walking down the street, we can trip and catch ourselves by grabbing a nearby fence or light pole, then end up scraping our hand on a staple from a sign, or a nail in the fence. We simply cannot avoid injuries all the time. How quickly we act once we get one will determine the swiftness of healing. If steps are taken in healing a wound, whether it’s simply placing a bandage on a cut or placing a cold compress on a bruise, healing should be swift. If that injury is not showing signs of healing after two to three weeks, or healed completely, then professional medical attention may be necessary. This may be an indication of a deeper issue, such as an infection, or something potentially more serious.
Sources:
http://www.healthyessentials.ca/lifestyle/9-ways-to-heal-cuts-and-scrapes-faster
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Bruise-Go-Away-Faster
https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/how-rid-bruises-quickly-tips-11879185
Photo Credits:
Adhesive plaster bandage over bruise on the knee. Injury, hand. [ID 55191559 © Keechuan – Dreamstime.com]
White petroleum jelly on finger in sky background. [ID 67708944 © Govindji | Dreamstime.com]
Pineapple whole and half isolated on white background. [ID 94180814 © Katerina Kovaleva | Dreamstime.com]