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Bruising
About
Bruises, or ecchymoses, are a discoloration and tenderness of the skin or mucous membranes due to the leakage of blood from an injured blood vessel into the tissues. Pupura refers to bruising as the result of a disease condition. A very small bruise is called a petechia. These often appear as many tiny red dots clustered together, and could indicate a serious problem.
Notes
A "black eye" can occur from a bruise to the cheek, eyebrow, and/or eyelid area. A brunt force to the eye itself may not only leave discoloring but may also damage the eye itself. Do not try to open the eye or press on it at all if the eye is swollen shut. If blurry vision or "seeing double" becomes present, it is strongly recommended that you visit an ophthalmologist who may treat you with antibiotics, as well as decide to put an eye patch on the eye.
Bruises present longer than a week may need the attention of a doctor to ascertain that there are not any more serious problems present.
Contact your doctor if you should notice bruising under the fingernails. This could be an early sign that skin melanoma may be developing.
Medications can cause side effects that cause bruising as they interfere with the normal response of the blood to clot. This can happen with local anesthetics, prescription anticoagulants, antidepressants, antihistamines, aspirin, cortisone, and penicillin. Report to your doctor and changes that indicate an increase in bruising after you start any medication.
Whenever bruising is evident and whenever it may have swollen and/or bleeding gums present, one may be able to conclude that there might be a deficiency of vitamin C, folic acid, or riboflavin, in the diet. Vitamin C deficiency may hasten discoloration but this may go away more quickly if vitamin C is introduced as a supplement.
Advice
Apply shredded raw potato to the area for an hour to lessen the soreness and discoloration.
For pain take Tylenol not Advil or Nuprin.
If you bruise easily you need to eat more uncooked foods.
If you need a moldable ice pack you can fill a plastic bag with 1 part rubbing alcohol to 2 part water and freeze.
In order to stop swelling soak a cotton ball in witch hazel and rub on affected area.
Never take anti-inflammatory drugs that are nonsteroidal.
To keep a black eye to a minimal apply an ice pack immediately, but if the color has started changing you will not be able to lighten the color.
To keep bruising to a minimal use a ice pack on the area for 20 - 30 minutes.
Vitamin C helps with bruising.
Vitamin C is good for preventing bruising eat food such as dark green leafy foods, fruits, and buck wheat.
Zinc is essential for helping blood vessels grow strong and helps in clotting. Foods with Zinc are chicken, Soybeans, eggs, and wheat germ.
Helpful nutrients for this condition.
Vitamin C
Importance:
High
Comments:
Protects against bruising. Provides needed oxygen to injured cells. Makes capillary walls stronger.
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Vitamin K or Alfalfa
Importance:
Moderate
Comments:
Promotes healing and blood clotting.
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Helpful herbs and supplements for this condition.
Alfalfa
Type:
Internal
Purposes:
The alfalfa plant are rich in minerals and nutrients, and vitamins E, K, and C which are beneficial to healing. Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting and healing.
Dosage:
Follow the directions on the label for taking Alfalfa tablets for this disorder.
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Bluebottle, Buchu, and Comfrey Root
Type:
External
Purposes:
Comfrey contains allantoin that is known to promote cell regeneration and help relieve inflammation, swelling and pain resulting from bruises. The dried leaves of the Bluebottle and Buchu has been beneficial as a poultice to those that are bruised. Make the tea from the Comfrey, Bluebottle and Buchu herbs, soak a terry cloth in the tea and lay this over the affected area for twenty minutes at a time.
Dosage:
Soak the bruised area two to three times daily
Cautions:
Oral ingestion of comfrey is now rare, due to concerns about potential liver toxicity .
Ground Cayenne Pepper
Type:
External
Purposes:
The Chinese and Taiwanese people make an ointment to treat bruises. They prepare this ointment doing the following: Place in a small bowl one part ground cayenne pepper and five parts melted Vaseline and mix well. Allow to cool and rub on the bruise area once a day for two days.
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Dandelion and Yellow Dock
Type:
External/Internal
Purposes:
Dandelion is an excellent nutritive and is rich in iron. Yellow Dock is rich in organic iron.
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Oil of Oregano
Type:
External
Purposes:
Used externally, Oil of Oregano reduces swellings and relieves pains. Some success has been noted in healing bruises using Oregano Oil topically.
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Parsley
Type:
External
Purposes:
When applying the crushed leaves topically to the bruise, it has been noted that the discoloration of the bruise fades within a day or two.
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Wild Pansy
Type:
External
Purposes:
Used topically in lotions and poultices, is said to help heal bruises.
Bilberry, Black Walnut, Garlic Extract, Horsetail, and Rose Hip
Type:
Internal
Purposes:
These herbs have shown promise in treating and decreasing the tendency to bruise.
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