Natural Home Wound Care: Do’s & Don’ts
Warmer days have arrived. For most of us, that means more time spent outdoors. However, hiking, strolling through the park, and going to the playground with the kids all present opportunities for scrapes and bruises.
While serious injuries should always be seen by a healthcare professional, minor wounds can be treated by natural remedies found in your kitchen or garden. After gently washing the skin with water to clear away dirt and residual bacteria, you can apply one of the soothing natural treatments highlighted in this article.
Raw Honey
This study found that applying raw honey improves wound healing in acute cases, relieves burn pain, and reduces inflammation, although it had little to no effect on chronic leg ulcers. Overall, studies have supported the use of honey in medicine.
Yarrow
Chamomile
To use, moisten a chamomile tea bag, apply it to your scrape or cut, and let the soothing natural plant oils heal the damaged tissue. If the injury is painful, you can moisten the tea bag with cold water to gently numb the area and provide relief.
Aloe Vera
Aloe vera (Aloe vera) is a common component in commercial wound treatment products. If you have an aloe plant in your home, you can clip off a piece, squeeze out the gel, and apply it to sunburns, scrapes, and minor cuts.
Aloe vera gel not only increases collagen in wounds but alters their composition, increases collagen cross-linking, and thus promotes wound healing. Since the gel consists of 99% water, scientific studies have shown that it can increase skin flexibility and reduce fragility.
Turmeric
To use, mix one or two teaspoons (depending on the size of the wound) of turmeric with enough water to make a paste, apply it to the skin, and cover with a clean bandage. Leave for 12 to 24 hours. Repeat treatment for up to three days.
Cayenne Pepper
If you cut yourself in the kitchen, cover the wound with kitchen-quality cayenne pepper. It will sting but can stop any bleeding quickly enough for you to determine whether further medical care will be needed.
Garlic
This study found that patients who had surgical wounds treated with garlic experienced significantly better healing. If you have a bleeding wound, apply crushed or minced garlic cloves to the site and cover with a sterile gauze dressing. Reapply the garlic remedy once or twice daily and change the covering.
Coconut Oil
Onion
To use, cut an onion in half and use a blender to crush one of the halves. Mix with honey, apply to your wound, and leave for around 20 minutes before washing it off. Apply this mixture three times a day to accelerate the healing process.
Marigold
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil can be purchased as a 100% undiluted oil. Products designed for the skin come in diluted forms, ranging from 5–50% strength, and may be used to treat minor cuts and scrapes. You can buy tea tree oil products formulated specifically for first aid purposes, so use them according to the directions on the package.
Plantain
Related: Similar to Morphine: The Best Natural Painkiller that Grows in Your Backyard (Video)
Wound care – Don’ts:
- Don’t soak or scrub the wound because the tissue might reopen
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or plain soap on your wound. They can be harmful to healing skin and can slow the healing process. Instead, only clean your wound with salt water, sterile water, or distilled water.
- Don’t put pressure on your wound. Pressure on your wound will slow healing. Limit the time you’re on your wound as much as you can.
- Don’t touch your wound with your bare hands
- Don’t use lanolin, coal tar, or petrolatum-based products if you have sensitive skin
- Don’t use abrasive or rough washcloths for skin care and wound healing.
When to See your Doctor:
Now that you know some of the do’s and don’ts of wound care at home, you should also know when to contact a primary care physician. Not all wounds can be treated at home. The list below are some indications of when you should go to a wound center, after performing first aid at home.
Go to the nearest wound care clinic when:
- Your wound comes from a rusty or dirty object
- The wound is a result of an animal bite
- Wounds are a quarter-inch deep
- The wound won’t stop bleeding even after putting direct pressure for over five minutes
- You think your wound requires stitches or skin staples
- The wound is on the face, or there is a head trauma
- The edges of the wound are jagged or can’t be brought together
- You suspect signs and symptoms of serious wound infection
Any wound that has not started to heal in two weeks or completely healed in six weeks may benefit from specialized wound care.
Although serious wounds invariably require medical care, choosing natural remedies for the smaller cuts and scrapes that can accompany summer activities makes a lot of sense. You will reduce your family’s exposure to unnecessary chemicals and support natural healing, which is always the best outcome.
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4 Comments
**Please don’t use honey if you are a diabetic. Many remedies that contain sugars will only make it worse. aloes are safe.
Almost a year now; Tripped, skidded on my hand, a fairly large nickle sized gash. We all know band aids do not stick. After 2-3 in an hour, decided to do something. I don’t think medical care, too early, don’t want stitches. Then I remembered. The inside membrane of a fresh egg. That is pure protein. I will say grocery store is old enough. Had to use a week old. Wash it gently, lay the membrane wet side down. Hurt like @*@, but it sealed the wound, and was able to carefully go about my day. Almost a year later, even the keloid has receded. Egg membrane is called natures band aid, having done it, I agree.
Will keep your info to add to my information.
You have your marigolds mixed up: not Tagetes erecta but Calendula officinalis!
They are correct in using Tagetes erecta.
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