Bruises and contusions

Bruises

Skin becomes decolorized as the result of damaging trauma.   Adjacent blood vessel ruptures, leaking blood into the surrounding skin tissue

Symptoms in damaged area:

• Becomes red with a bluish hue
• Swelling/bump
• Localized pain

Home remedies are effective healing mechanisms.   Usually speeding up the healing process, but still may take months to heal bruised bones

Bruises and contusions

Bruises

Skin becomes decolorized as the result of damaging trauma.   Adjacent blood vessel ruptures, leaking blood into the surrounding skin tissue

Symptoms in damaged area:

• Becomes red with a bluish hue
• Swelling/bump
• Localized pain

Home remedies are effective healing mechanisms.   Usually speeding up the healing process, but still may take months to heal bruised bones

Contusions (Bone bruises)

A bone bruise is damage to a bone.   Usually consequential to blunt trauma or injury; similar to a fracture or soft tissue bruise;

• A bone bruise heals more slowly than a regular bruise
• Can be diagnosed by X-ray and MRI

Treatments for bruises and contusions ("Bone bruises")

Treatment choices for any type of bruise

Treatment goal is  to reduce inflammation / pain and promote healing:

• Apply cold compresses ASAP E.g. ice cubes or a package of frozen peas wrapped in a towel applied as soon as possible after injury will more quickly reduce swelling and pain
• DMSO (Topical).  Reduces inflammation
• Vitamin C (oral) Strengthens blood vessel connective tissue, treats internal hemorrhaging; Take a daily supplement of at least 500 mg. or better still include
• Arnica (oral and topical gel);

Take bromelain (an enzyme found in pineapple) for serious bruising or deeper soft-tissue injuriesSpeeds healing, possibly by assisting in clearing metabolic waste from injury. Take 200-400 mg of bromelain3 times / day 1 ½hours before or 3 hours after eating

• POULTICEMade with:

Comfrey leafKnown as "knit bone" for its ability to help fractures heal (contains anti-inflammatory substances and allantoin, which aids new cells growth). Time-tested remedy for bruises, sprains, cuts, arthitis. Poultice is made with fresh comfrey leaves, ground up to make a paste;

Calendula flower (Calendula officinalis) 40% - contains anti-inflammatory triterpenes having the ability to reduce pain and tenderness;

Arnica flower (Arnica montana) 30% - commonly used for centuries in Europe and now popularly recognized as an effective "tool"to handle pain in bruised, fractured, or broken bones, and also to heal muscle sprains;

St. John's Wort flowering tops (Hypericum perforatum) 30%Supposedly used in ancient Rome to heal soldiers'bruises and sprains;

ParsleyUsing crushed parsley leaves; reduces bruising and swelling, probably due to its rich content of healing nutrients, especially vitamin C and manganese;

• Lavender Oil (topical)For pain relief;
• Lemon slices (topical)Provide healing vitamin C;
• Raw onion slices (topical).   Only if skin is not broken!
• Witch Hazel (topical)Well-known for reducing swelling in tissue;
• Any other anti-inflammatory tactics

 Treatments for acute inflammation 

Bone bruises (Contusions)

• Apply ice pack.  To help reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels; the quicker you do this, the less swelling is likely to occur
• Manganese contained in fresh pineapple drink helps speed the healing of broken bonesManganese is a cofactor for bone-healing enzymes; additionally, pineapple is a good source of vitamin C and the natural anti-inflammatory bromelain.
• Extremely effective method for healing contusions is a comfrey leaf poultice or rub in comfrey oil
• Avoid stress on the bruised areaIf close to a joint you may need a brace.
• Take NSAID pain medication.   E.g aspirin, ibuprofen to reduce pain/inflammation/swelling
• No tobacco/nicotine.  A good blood flow is needed for healing, nicotine constricts blood vesssels

Bone bruises can take months to heal completely