How to Care for a Bruise Naturally

Bruises form on your body as a response to an injury or blow. Most bruises aren't serious, so don't worry! However, the associated pain and swelling might be uncomfortable for a few days. If you want to get rid of your bruise naturally, there are several easy treatments you can try at home to reduce swelling and speed up healing time. If your bruise covers a significant portion of a limb or doesn't fade on its own within 2 weeks, it's best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure everything is okay.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Using Natural Remedies

1. Apply topical arnica to the bruise 2-3 times daily for possible relief. Arnica is commonly used in homeopathic medicine and some scientific evidence supports claims that it can reduce pain and swelling.^[1] If you’re interested in homeopathic remedies, you can try using an arnica gel or ointment on the affected area a few times every day. You should only apply arnica topically if the skin isn’t broken—it can be toxic if too much is absorbed.^[2] Arnica should be avoided if you are:
   
   • Pregnant or breastfeeding
   • Taking blood-thinning medication
   • Allergic to sunflowers, marigolds, or ragweed
   • Getting surgery in the next 2 weeks^[3]
2. Add more vitamin C to your diet or try a supplement to heal faster. A diet that is high in vitamin C may help your body absorb iron better and speed up the healing process.^[4] Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, red peppers, or broccoli. You can also take vitamin C oral supplements, which are available at most grocery and health stores.
   
   • The recommended dose of vitamin C is 65-90 mg a day.
   • Do not exceed 2,000 mg a day or you may experience side effects like vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps.^[5]
3. Apply vitamin K cream to the bruise twice daily to speed up healing. Scientific studies show that vitamin K cream can be effective in accelerating the healing process for bruises. Gently rub the cream into the bruised area twice daily for 2 weeks or until the bruise disappears.^[6]
   
   • Use a cream with a low concentration of vitamin K, like 0.1%, to prevent any side effects.^[7]
   • Use vitamin K with caution if you take blood-thinning medications like Warfarin.
   • You can also try consuming more vitamin K by eating foods like spinach, kale, broccoli, lettuce, blueberries, and figs.^[8]
4. Spread aloe vera gel on the affected area to ease pain and swelling. Studies show that aloe vera gel can reduce pain and swelling associated with bruises. It may also speed up healing. You can apply the aloe vera gel generously to the affected area throughout the day, as needed, for relief.^[9]
   
   • Aloe vera gel helps with swelling and healing by improving blood circulation. The cool and soothing feeling of the gel on the skin can ease pain. Also, it's easy to make.^[10]

[Edit]Easing Pain and Swelling

1. Rest the injured area as much as possible to control swelling. Small bruises aren't usually a big deal, but if your bruise is large or hurting a lot, it's best to avoid putting any pressure or weight on it. Avoid exercising or playing sports for a few days until the pain and swelling subside.^[11]
   
   • If the bruise is on a leg and you can't avoid moving around, consider getting a pair of crutches.
   • If you can't move a bruised and swollen joint at all, it's best to head to the emergency room to make sure you don't have a broken bone.^[12]
2. Elevate your injury to reduce swelling and prevent blood from pooling. Use a few soft pillows to prop up your injured area. Try to keep the bruised area elevated higher than chest level to control the amount of blood that pools in the bruised tissue. The more blood that pools, the darker the bruise will be and the more the area will swell up.^[13]
   
   • For example, if you bruised your shin, lie down and place a few pillows under the lower part of your leg so that your shin is elevated above chest level.
3. Apply an ice pack in 15-minute intervals to ease pain and swelling. Try to get some ice on your bruise as soon as possible to control swelling and help with the pain. Wrap the ice pack in a clean cloth hold and it over the injured area for 15 minutes at a time. You can do this as often as once per hour for the first 48 hours after the injury.^[14]
   
   • Avoiding placing ice directly against your skin to prevent ice burns and skin irritation.
   • You can also use a bag of frozen vegetables if you don't have access to an ice pack!^[15]
4. Switch to a heating pad after 48 hours or when the swelling reduces. Heat can increase swelling, so don't apply a heating pad until your swelling goes down. You can apply a heating pad or a cloth soaked with warm water for 10-15 minutes at a time. It's safe to do this several times per day for pain relief and to help with flexibility.^[16]
   
   • For example, place a cloth soaked in warm water over your bruised knee for pain relief.
5. Wrap the area with a compression bandage if the swelling is bad. If you're dealing with a serious bruise and a lot of swelling, try loosely wrapping your injury with a compression or elastic bandage. This limits blood leakage in the injured tissue and helps with swelling. Make sure you don’t apply the pressure bandage too tightly!^[17]
   
   • For example, you could wrap a bruised shin or thigh.
   • Generally, you don't need to compress minor bruises.

[Edit]When to Seek Medical Treatment

1. See your doctor if your bruise is unusually painful or swollen. Most bruises improve quickly at home with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). However, if your bruised area is extremely painful, very swollen, or covers a significant portion of a limb, it's best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure you're okay. These symptoms may indicate a more serious injury, such as a fractured or broken bone.^[18]
   
   • You should also call your doctor if the bruised area is still painful after 3 days, especially if the injury seemed relatively minor.
2. Go in for a checkup if a lump forms over the bruise. A lump that forms over a bruise is called a hematoma. If your bruise was caused by an injury, a hematoma might not be a big deal, but your doctor still needs to check it out. If your bruise appeared without an apparent cause and then a lump developed on top of it, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to figure out the cause.^[19]
   
3. Contact your doctor if your bruise doesn’t heal within 2 weeks. Most bruises heal up or improve within 1-2 weeks. If your bruise hasn’t significantly improved in that time, call your doctor. They can examine the bruise and determine if there’s a more serious underlying issue.^[20]
   
   • A bruise that doesn’t heal may indicate a more serious problem, such as a blood clotting disorder.
4. Get emergency medical attention for vision problems after a black eye. If you get a bruise around your eye, watch out for severe symptoms such as blurred or double vision or severe pain in or around your eye. Additionally, look out for bleeding in your eye or from your nose. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.^[21]
   
   • You should also see a doctor if you notice the bruising spreading to your other eye.
5. Talk to your doctor if you have frequent or unexplained bruises. If you bruise easily, your bruises tend to be very large or painful, or you develop bruises for no obvious reason, it’s time to get checked out by your doctor. They can determine if there is an underlying condition that may be causing the problem.^[22]
   
   • Let your doctor know about any medications or supplements you’re taking, and tell them if you have a family history of blood clotting disorders or easy bruising.^[23]

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Keep in mind that blood-thinning medications like Warfarin, Coumadin, aspirin, and Heparin can cause you to bruise more easily.^[24]
• Always see a doctor if a bruise covers a large portion of your body or limb.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Get Rid of Bruises
• Reduce Bruising
• Stop a Bruise from Hurting
• Heal Bruises Fast
• Prevent Bruising

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/721.html
2. ↑ https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/arnica
3. ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/caution-when-using-arnica-products-193
4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3027858/
5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-c/faq-20058030
6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20412090?dopt=Abstract
7. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/983.html
8. ↑ https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-Consumer/
9. ↑ https://www.pihhealth.org/wellness/blog/what-you-should-know-about-bruises/
10. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3931201/
11. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007213.htm
12. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
13. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
14. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007213.htm
15. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
16. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15235-bruises/management-and-treatment
17. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-bruise/basics/art-20056663
18. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-bruise/basics/art-20056663
19. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-bruise/basics/art-20056663
20. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
21. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
22. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
23. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-bruise/basics/art-20056663
24. ↑ http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/AntiCoag/BruisesBloodThinners.pdf