Scrapes

What are different home remedies for cuts and scrapes – a summer problem?

INITIAL STEPS

Stop the bleeding:
- The first thing to do (after admonishing yourself for being so clumsy) is to stop the bleeding.
- Apply pressure to the area with a clean cloth or tissue.
- Elevate the wound above the heart to slow the blood flow.
- Don’t use a tourniquet as it cuts off circulation.

Wash up:
- Clean it thoroughly with soap and water or an over-the-counter cleanser.
- Hibiclens is one of them and that doesn’t sting.
- Pour hydrogen peroxide onto the wound, if it is very dirty.
- As it bubbles, it will lift out debris.
- Apply it carefully, because hydrogen peroxide can damage surrounding skin.

Bring on the antibacterial ointment:
- Antibacterial ointments and solutions are helpful.
- Polysporin, Neosporin, and Bactine are examples.

Clean with iodine:
- Use a tincture of iodine or povidone-iodine for minor cuts and bruises.
- Iodine kills bacteria and viruses effectively.

Close the skin:
- Properly closing the skin is important.
- Closing makes the cut heal faster.
- It also reduces the chances of scarring.
- Apply butterfly strips or a standard adhesive bandage to keep the cut closed.

Cover it:
- Use Telfa, a coated, gauze-type bandage instead of a guage that tends to stick to the wound.
- Don’t cover it too tightly.
- A bit of air circulation actually facilitates healing.

Keep it clean:
- Remove the bandage and wash the wound every day with soap and water.
- This will prevent infection.
- Then apply a clean bandage.

Don’t let it dry out:
- Keep the wound moist.
- This will help prevent cracking, speed healing, and reduce the chance of scarring.

If a scab forms, don’t pick at it:
- This disrupts the skin and can introduce bacteria.
- Soak crusty scabs with a solution of one tablespoon white vinegar to one pint of water.
- The mildly acidic solution is soothing and helps kill bacteria.

At night, keep the wound moist with a water/petrolatum regimen
Cover the wound with a little petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to seal in the moisture.

Don’t get locked up:
- Consider having a tetanus shot within 72 hours.

Protect it from sunlight:
- Avoid sun exposure during the healing process.
- Apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone to the wound.

The following vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended to aid in rapid healing:
- Beta-carotene. Take 25,000 international units a day.
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Take 50 milligrams a day
- Vitamin C. Take 3,000 to 5,000 milligrams a day.
- Vitamin E. Take 400 international units a day
- Zinc. Take 50 to 100 milligrams a day.

Different Home Remedies
- Cover the cut with a mixture of zinc oxide cream and vitamin-E oil.
- Calendula gel or ointment stimulates fast healing at the skin’s surface.
- Clove oil is high in eugenol, a compound that is both an antiseptic and a painkiller.
- You can sprinkle powdered cloves on a cut to prevent infection.
- Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, which stimulates cell division and speeds wound healing.
- It also avoids scar formation.
- Echinacea is also Commission E-approved as a topical treatment for superficial cuts.
- This herb has powerful immune-stimulating properties.
- Drink a cup of echinacea tea three to four times a day to strengthen your immune system to speed healing.
- Goldenseal contains several antiseptic compounds.
- Apply a poultice of crushed goldenseal root to any minor cuts.
- Yarrow is excellent for stopping bleeding.
- Sprinkle powdered yarrow extract onto the cut.
- A great home remedy for cuts is turmeric powder.
- This can be applied to a cut to promote healing and prevent infection.
- Wash the cut thoroughly and then put garlic oil or crushed garlic on a band aid.
- Washing the cut or scrape with soap, dose it with vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel or cod liver oil.
- Use cayenne pepper to stop the bleeding of cuts and scratches.
- Wash the wound with a good soap. Then apply a thick layer of Vaseline.
- Yarrow leaves and flowers have been used for their blood-clotting, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving qualities.

There are a number of herbal first-aid creams available:
- Calendula in echinacea-and-comfrey combinations
- Calendula blended with white sage
- Elder flower, and chickweed;
- Calendula mixed with goldenseal propolis and myrrh.

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