by Vicki Phipps

Created on: November 17, 2008

When a doctor notes a discoloration of the skin where spots of red or purple indicate damaged capillaries, he or she will refer to it as a contusion, but in laymen's terms, it's a bruise. We find bumps and bruises all the time throughout our lives and sometimes they seem to show up out of nowhere. Now and then they hurt and sometimes they don't, but most of us aren't concerned enough to seek a doctor's advice. Besides, there are home made remedies for the normal bruising that comes with bumps in every day life, and since that's true, here's a list of home made tips for you. Just keep in mind that if your bruises are severe and/or widespread, it's wise to seek medical advice.

TIPS FOR TREATING BRUISES AT HOME:

1. Elevate bruised area and use a rubbing alcohol ice pack: Placing an ice pack on the bruised skin will prevent swelling and spreading the discoloration. Simply surround the ice pack with a hand towel and leave it on the skin for ten minute intervals, but don't place ice directly on the bruise. The best home made remedy for this will be to mix two parts water and one part alcohol into a zip locked bag and place in the freezer. The mix will become like a slush which is much easier to use than solid ice. Elevate the bruised area, above the heart if possible, to keep blood from pooling into the damaged area.

2. Comfrey Tea or Herbal Flowers: This perennial herb of the boraginaceae family has a black, turnip like root with large and broad leaves and bears flowers. It's known to reduce pain and skin discoloration too. Just apply the soaked tea leaves directly on the bruise or use the liquid form on a wash cloth to allow it to soak into the skin. If Comfrey tea is unavailable in your area, any herbal, mullen flower will work just as effectively.

3. Use household vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar with a bit of water and apply to the bruise, and Heinz vinegar applied to the bruise with a cotton ball will speed up healing too.

4. Eggs: Mix raw eggs with yolk and whites to apply directly to the bruise with a damp warm cloth. Allow the mix to dry on the skin and let it sit for fifteen minutes or so.

5. Vitamin K, Vitamin C and Alfalfa tablets helps blood clotting and prevents bruising by thickening the walls of blood vessels.

6. Tried and True remedy: Cut an onion in half and dice it. Put it in a zip lock bag and add at least three tablespoons of salt. Seal it shut and place it on the bruise through the use of an ace bandage for thirty minute intervals. I don't know why

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