Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises and Sprains

Everyday bumps and scrapes usually heal well at home. Good basic first aid comes first, and gentle natural remedies can then play a supporting role.

Cuts and scrapes

1. Wash your hands, then apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth to stop any bleeding.
2. Rinse the wound under clean running water and wash around it with mild soap. Remove any visible dirt.
3. Cover with a clean dressing and change it daily.

Traditionally, calendula (marigold) salve and a very dilute tea tree or lavender preparation have been used on minor, clean scrapes once the area is cleaned. Use essential oils only on small areas of unbroken or lightly scraped skin, at 1% or less, and stop if the skin becomes irritated. Never put undiluted essential oil in a wound.

Get medical help for deep or gaping wounds, bites from animals, wounds that will not stop bleeding, anything contaminated with soil or rust (you may need a tetanus booster), or signs of infection such as spreading redness, warmth, pus or fever.

Bruises

• Apply a cold pack wrapped in a cloth for 10 minutes at a time during the first day.
• Arnica gel or ointment is a widely used traditional remedy, but never on broken skin.
• A lavender or helichrysum blend at 1% to 2% in a carrier oil is sometimes used on unbroken skin around a bruise.

Sprains and strains

Remember rest, ice, compression and elevation. After the first day or two, a gentle massage oil with marjoram, lavender or ginger (2% in a carrier oil, applied around, not on, the injured area) may ease muscle tension. If you cannot bear weight, the joint looks deformed, or swelling and pain are severe, see a doctor to rule out a fracture.

Related: Building an Essential Oil First Aid Kit and the Essential Oil Dilution Guide.

This article is for general information and education only. It is not medical advice. See our Health Disclaimer and consult a qualified health professional for any medical concern.