Bumps and Bruises
When your body suffers an impact, it can leave a contusion or hematoma (also known as a plain old bruise), which involves localized discoloration, swelling, and inflammation. If you take a fall or bump into something hard enough, the tiny blood vessels just under the skin will rupture, and your skin will develop the telltale black-and-blue color as blood leaks into the surrounding tissues and gets trapped there.
In most cases, bruises are not a big deal and will clear up within a couple weeks. However, if you experience severe pain and swelling, see a health care provider, as this may be a sign of a more serious injury. You also should see a doctor if you sustain a black eye that's accompanied by bleeding within the eye, which can cause serious damage to your cornea (the transparent outer surface of your eye).
Conventional and Herbal Answers
Conventional medicine typically treats bruises, bumps, and other injuries that don't break the skin with OTC meds: oral analgesics and NSAIDs, which can cause gastrointestinal problems, and topical painkillers, which can cause skin irritation and other side effects. Several herbs have been used traditionally, both internally and topically, to treat bruises:
• Arnica (Arnica montana) |
Arnica is the classic European herb for bruises and muscle aches and is used as a conventional herbal treatment (for topical application only) as well as a homeopathic remedy, which is extremely dilute (homeopathic preparations are the only safe way to use arnica internally). Studies show it has anti-inflammatory and anticlotting effects, meaning it can reduce swelling and speed the body's efforts to clear away trapped blood. |
• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) |
Comfrey is a time-honored topical treatment for bruises (especially the deeper ones that affect muscle fibers). Modern research shows it can improve the pain and tenderness of contusions and muscle injuries. |
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa) |
Turmeric relieves inflammation-and the pain and swelling that goes with it-thanks to its chemical constituent curcumin. It's used externally to treat bruises and other skin and muscle injuries. |
