You probably know what is a bruise, but you don’t know what causes bruising and how to make a bruise go away.
A bruise is a black-blue or red spot that appears on our skin and it is caused by an injury. Actually, a bruise appears when blood vessels are damaged by a blow, which causes the blood to leak into surrounding tissues. The blood that is trapped will appear as a blue-black mark on your skin. It takes only a couple of minutes for your skin to turn dark after the injury.
Bruises may be very painful. The bruise will probably fade on its own after a couple of days or weeks, but there are some methods and home remedies that may help you speed up the healing process of a bruise. It is important to use these home remedies before the bruise turns into a major scar.
In this article we will tell you something more about the bruises and their treatment. Actually, we will give you a list of the best home remedies that can help you get rid of bruises more quickly.
Natural Ways to Get Rid Of a Bruise Fast and Easily at Home
Ice Therapy. The best method that will help your bruise heal more quickly is putting something cold on the bruise. The ice will cool down the damaged blood vessels and it will control the blood that leaks into surrounding tissues. This will reduce swelling of the bruise and the bruise will disappear soon. There are many different ways how to use ice in order to speed up the healing process of the bruise.
You can simply use a bag of frozen vegetables and to wrap it in a towel. Put the frozen bag onto your bruise and keep it on the bruise for about 10-20 minutes every day. If you apply frozen bags regularly on your bruise, you will see the results for a very short time.
Another method to apply ice on your bruise is to soak a cotton cloth in water that is ice cold and to place the cloth on the bruise. You should repeat this process several times during the day and your bruise will start to fade very soon.
Also, you can take two tablespoons made from stainless steel and to put them in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes. After that, you should place the frozen spoons on the affected area. Not only will these spoons reduce the inflammation and swelling of your bruise, but they will also reduce blood clots.
There are also gel-filled ice packs that are designed for injuries. You can find them in sports shops and most athletes use them.
You can also use pure ice and put it on the bruise. It is recommended to change the ice every hour and to let it stay for about 15 minutes.
Use Elastic Bandage. If you want to stop the bruise spreading and to speed up the healing process of the bruise, you can also use an elastic bandage. It is proved that elastic bandage can control the blood that leaks into surrounding tissues. Because of that, it is recommended to wrap a plastic bandage whenever you notice a bruise on your body.
Elevate the Bruised Area. It is very important to lift the bruised area above your heart. This will reduce blood flow to the bruised area and it will also reduce discoloration of the area. It will be easy to elevate the bruised area if you have bruises on legs, on arms or if you have a bruised finger. But, if there is a bruise on your torso, then it would be better to use ice, as we have explained above.
Take Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. If the bruise is very painful, it will be necessary to use some painkillers. They will give you relief and you can buy them without a prescription. However, it is important to read the label before you start using these painkillers.
We recommend you to use ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You should avoid taking aspirin because this painkiller is known as a blood-thinner. It means that aspirin could make your bruise even worse.
Have a Rest. Another important step that will help you speed up the healing process of your bruise is to rest the bruised area. If you are walking or running, it will increase blood flow to the bruised area and it will make the condition worse.
If your muscles are active, the bruise will develop more, so we recommend you to read a book or to watch a movie. If you have a bruise and if it is painful, you should avoid any physical activity during the period of recovery.
It is also important to sleep enough because your body will repair itself that way. You should try to go to bed earlier and to sleep at least 8 hours during the night. A quality sleep will also speed up the healing process of your bruise.
Massage the Bruise. Another thing that you can do at home is to massage the bruise and the area around the bruise. It is recommended to massage it several times a day. But, if you notice that your bruise is too painful to touch, you should ask your doctor for advice.
Get some sun. Did you know that sunlight can also help in bruise healing? Well, if your bruise is exposed to sunlight, it can be very beneficial for the bruise. It is recommended to expose the bruise 10-15 minutes to direct sunlight every day.
Use vinegar. One of the most effective home remedies for your bruise is vinegar. You just need to mix vinegar with warm water and to rub it on the bruised area. Vinegar will certainly increase the blood flow near the surface of the skin, which means that it will dissipate the blood in the bruised area.
Use Parsley. Many studies have shown that parsley can decrease inflammation and reduce pain. Parsley is rich in vitamin K which is necessary for bruise healing.
Also, parsley will speed up the fading of a bruise. You just need to take parsley leaves and to crush them. After that, you need to spread these leaves all over the bruise. Due to its healing properties, parsley will help the bruise to fade more quickly.
Eat Pineapple. If you have a bruise on your body, it is also recommended to eat pineapples. A pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that can be very beneficial for damaged blood vessels and it can reduce inflammation. Experts recommend taking about 500 mg of this enzyme every day in order to speed up the fading process of the bruise.
Vitamin C. You probably know a lot about the benefits of vitamin C for our health, but you don’t know that vitamin C is also useful if you have bruises. Actually, vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties and it can be used in the treatment of tissue inflammation, tissue healing or hyper pigmentation. If you have a bruise, we recommend you to eat more foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as broccoli, sweet potatoes, oranges and mangoes.
Vitamin K. If you are wondering how to heal a bruise, it is also recommended to eat foods that are rich in vitamin K. It is proved that vitamin K is very effective in treating tissue damage and blood clotting in the body. So, if you also have a bruise on your body, it is recommended to eat broccoli, leafy greens and Brussels sprouts.
Also, you can use vitamin K topically. You can simply buy the cream that contains vitamin K and to apply it on your bruise. Vitamin K will help your bruise fade more quickly.
Eat Chocolate. Did you know that chocolate can also be very beneficial in the treatment of bruises? Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, chocolate can be very beneficial for skin care and skin health.
You just need to melt some chocolate and to keep it on your bruise while the chocolate is still warm. You can also use a bandage and to cover the chocolate, so the chocolate will dry over the bruised area. It is proved that warm chocolate can control blood flow to the affected tissues. If you apply warm chocolate on the bruise and if you cover it with a bandage, you will see the results for a very short time.
If it is necessary, you can repeat this process every day. But, you should be careful and not let the chocolate be too hot. If you use chocolate pack that is too hot, it can worsen the condition of a bruise. To avoid any complications and to speed up the healing process, it is best to use warm chocolate.
Papaya. Papaya is another food that may help you get rid of bruises much faster. Papaya is a fruit that contains Papain, an enzyme that is very effective in the treatment of skin problems.
Lemon. As we have already mentioned, vitamin C is very beneficial for treating many skin conditions, so it can also help if you have bruises. You just need to extract the lemon juice and to apply it on the bruise. Rub the lemon juice on the bruised area and let it stay for about 5 minutes. After a couple of days you will see the results.
Grape Seeds. Studies have shown that grape seeds can speed up the wound healing, so these seeds may also help you if you have a bruise. You just need to crush a couple of grape seeds and to extract the juice.
You can simply drink this juice twice a day, but you can also apply it topically on the bruised area. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, grape seed juice will help your bruise fade much faster.
Onion. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, onion can help in the treatment of damaged skin cells. It can be also very effective if you have bruises. You just need to extract onion juice and to apply it on the bruised area. The skin will absorb the onion juice and the juice will treat damaged blood vessels and blood clots.
Cayenne. Cayenne may also be very beneficial for healing bruises because it can relieve pain. You can apply cayenne directly on the skin. It is best to mix cayenne, black pepper and Vaseline, if you want to get the best results for a very short time.
Ginger. Due to its antioxidant properties, ginger is also very beneficial for skin health. You just need to slice some ginger and to soak the slices in hot water. Let them stay in hot water for about 10-15 minutes and then strain the water. After that you can simply drink the ginger juice.
There’s also another way to use ginger for bruises. You can simply crush the ginger and rub it directly on the bruised area.
Sugar Syrup. Due to its antibacterial properties, sugar can help in wound healing. Also, it is proved that sugar can inhibit the bacteria growth in the bruise. Because of that it is recommended to apply sugar syrup on the bruised area.
It is best to apply hot sugar syrup on your bruise and to tie the bruise with a bandage. Another option is to apply thick sugar syrup on the bruised area and then to put ice pack on it. You should let the sugar dry and very soon you will see that your bruise is starting to fade.
Honey. Also, honey is known to have antibacterial and healing properties, so it can help in bruise healing.
Butter. Butter is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help in treating many skin problems. It is recommended to rub fresh butter on the bruised area and then to massage your skin gently.
Black Coffee. One of the best home remedies for bruises is also black coffee. All you need to do is to grind some black coffee and to put it on the bruise. You can also cover it with a bandage and within a few days your bruise will go away.
Arnica. You may have heard that arnica has been used since ancient times for treating bruises. This herb contains anti-inflammatory properties, so it will reduce inflammation and swelling in your bruise.
You just need to apply arnica ointment or gel once or two times a day and very soon you will see the results. Arnica will reduce the pain and it will speed up the healing process of your bruise. Another option is to consume arnica orally.
Mix Arnica, Yarrow and Chamomile. It is also recommended to mix arnica, yarrow and chamomile. As we have already said, arnica is very effective in treating bruises. Chamomile is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, so it is usually used for treating many skin conditions. Yarrow is also known as a great home remedy for wounds. Because of that we recommend you to mix these three herbs and you will get a great herbal infusion. This infusion will help your bruise fade much faster.
Comfrey Leaves. You can also use comfrey leaves for treating bruises. You can use either fresh or dried comfrey leaves. It is best to add comfrey leaves to the boiling water and to let them boil for about 15 minutes. Strain the water and apply it on the bruised area. You can soak a towel or a cotton cloth in it and then apply it on the bruise.
You can also apply comfrey ointment directly on your bruise. This way you will relieve the pain and reduce swelling. It is also recommended to use the comfrey root extract because it has anti-inflammatory properties and it can treat skin inflammation.
Witch Hazel. Witch hazel is known for its astringent properties and it can help in curing bruises. You just need to soak a cotton ball in witch hazel and to apply it on the bruise. This way you will reduce the inflammation and you will speed up the healing process of the bruise.
Blueberry. Blueberry also has anti-inflammatory properties and it can reduce the bruises. If you apply blueberry extract on the bruised area, it will soothe the inflammation and make your bruise fade much faster. You can also drink blueberry extract, but you can take it in the form of pills as well.
Herbal Tea Compress. If you have a bruise, it is also recommended to use a herbal tea compress. You just need to mix 6 drops of essential oil and 9 ounces of ice water. It is recommended to put ice water in a bowl first and then to add essential oil. You can use lavender, eucalyptus, ginger or peppermint oil. When you mix ice water with essential oil, you just need to soak a cloth in it and to apply it on the bruised area.
Turmeric and Tamarind Paste. Turmeric is one of the best remedies to get rid of bruises. Due to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric can help in the treatment of bruises. Also, it is known that turmeric contains Curcumin, a compound that will improve healing and reduce soreness.
Tamarind is also very beneficial for bruises and other injuries. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and it can help in healing wounds. You can make a paste of turmeric and tamarind and apply it on the bruised area. It is recommended to heat the paste and to apply it on the bruise while it is still hot. You can also cover the bruise with a cotton cloth that will also help the bruise disappear much faster.
Apply Heat. As we have already said, it is recommended to apply ice on the bruise. But, you probably didn’t know that the heat may also be very beneficial for the bruise. You just need to take a bottle with hot water and to apply it on the affected area on your body. It is proved that hot water will slow down the blood flow to the surrounding tissues and it will reduce blood clots.
But, we recommend you to use heat packs only if ice method is very painful for you. If your bruise is swelling, you should apply cold compress first and after that you can apply hot compress. It is enough to apply heat for a couple of minutes several times a day.
If you want to apply heat therapy you can use hot water, hot bath or a towel soaked in hot water. Actually, it is recommended to use the water that is warm. Water applied on a bruise should never be too hot. It is also recommended to avoid using electric blankets if you want your bruise to heal more quickly.
Apply a Live Leech. This method may sound terrible, but the truth is that a live leech can help you with bruises. It is proved that a live leech can remove the blood from the bruise in a few seconds. Also, it is proved that the saliva of a leech has painkiller properties, so it is especially recommended to use a live leech if your bruise is very painful. Of course, you have to be sure that the leech doesn’t have any disease. It is also important that the leech is farm-raised.
These are some of the most effective home remedies that will help you in the treatment of the bruises. It is best to start with the treatment within the first 24 hours after the injury. We recommend you to use these remedies every day as many times as possible.
Also, when you treat the bruise with warm or cold packs, it is recommended to have a soothing massage on the bruised area. As we have already said, sometimes you can also combine hot and cold treatments for you bruise and this way you will get the best results. But, experts recommend having at least 2 hours between these hot and cold treatments.
Of course, there is a question when you should see a doctor. Well, most bruises can be treated at home and they don’t require medical attention. But, sometimes bruises may be the symptom of some more serious conditions. If you notice that there is redness or pus around your bruise or if you have high fever, it should be a warning sign for you. Also, if you feel a big pressure around the bruise, it would be necessary to see your doctor as soon as possible.
If you have a bruise and you didn’t have any injury, blow or fall, it means that something may be wrong with your health. Sometimes the bruises may be a symptom of anemia, leukemia or some other serious disease. If you have unexplained bruising, call the doctor and find out what may be the cause of your bruise.
Summary
You have seen in this article some of the most common home remedies for the bruise treatment. If you have a bruise, it is recommended to use parsley, vinegar, pineapple, lemon, onion, ginger, sugar syrup as well as chocolate. It is also important to increase your daily intake of vitamins C and K and to use the herbs that may be beneficial for skin health.
As we have already mentioned, it would be best to keep the bruised area elevated, if it is possible. Also, it is good to expose the bruised area to sunlight because it will speed up the healing process of the bruise. If you have a bruise, it is best to avoid walking or jumping because it can make the bruise even worse. Try to rest the bruised area and to sleep enough during the night.
We hope our tips have been useful for you and we are sure that you will try some of our home remedies if you have a bruise. These remedies will help you soothe the inflammation and they will help you get rid of a bruise fast and easily.
