Table of Contents
It is important to know how to treat cuts and wounds to protect your skin. This is the list of the best natural remedies you can probably find in your home.
1. Cayenne Powder
Cayenne powder, a very hot vegetable pepper, is made from dried cayenne peppers. This strong spice is mostly used in cooking and in food, although one must be very careful when handling it. Cayenne peppers have a history in traditional medicine in Asia, usually for psoriasis.
How can you use cayenne powder as a remedy for wounds and cuts? One can apply it directly to the cuts and wounds. Additionally, one can also mix the powder with a glass of water and drink it.
How does it work? Cayenne peppers react with the body to equalize the blood pressure, and when the pressure is equalized it slows the blood flow allowing it to clot quickly.
If you apply it externally, clotting happens even faster. Cayenne can also disinfect the wounds efficiently due to the antifungal and antibacterial properties.
2. Aloe Vera
An “old-world cactus” is a plant known as a remedy for cuts and wounds, and probably is one of the oldest plants used for skin care. This plant regenerates fast, and that’s one of its best characteristics.
Due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, Aloe Vera can protect the skin effectively and accelerate the healing process. Aloe Vera gel can be used safely on cuts, scrapes and wounds of all kinds.
3. Agrimony
Agrimony is another plant known as a healing remedy. Its ability to help the formation of clots that staunch the bleeding makes this plant one of the most efficient natural remedies for scars and wounds.
Agrimony acts as an astringent on wounds, and it is effective for vulnerary for minor burns, scratches, and punctures. Crush some fresh leaves of the plant and apply them safely as a compress on the wound.
4. Calendula
How can Calendula help with cuts and wounds? This plant helps promote epithelial growth, improve proteins and collagen metabolism in tissue regeneration, improve wound contraction, and enhance the immune system.
One can apply it topically as an ointment or tea. To make tea from the tincture, add one teaspoon in ¼-cup water or one teaspoon of flowers in one cup of boiling water. Leave it to boil for 15 minutes, strain it, and cool it off.
5. Comfrey
Comfrey is a popular remedy for skin in traditional Chinese medicine. Its ability to heal cuts and wounds is due to the allantoin, a compound that can accelerate skin healing and help regeneration of the skin. This plant also shows anti-inflammatory properties. Thus it is excellent against infections.
When comfrey is used to treat cuts, minor burns, and wounds, it is applied with gauze. One needs to crush the root and use gauze to apply in on the affected area.
6. Chamomile
Ancient Greeks and Romans used a chamomile salve to expedite healing. Due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile is good protection against infections, and due to its antioxidant properties, it is excellent for the immune system and skin.
As an ointment or cream, chamomile helps heal minor burns, especially.
7. Honey
Honey is a miraculous cure for wounds, cuts and burns, and this should not come as a surprise because honey has been an ancient remedy for infections. There are several reasons for its extraordinary healing ability. It is produced from different floral sources. Thus it keeps their beneficial nutrients and properties.
Honey has phytochemical antibacterial components that protect against a vast number of bacteria and fungi. It is a potent antibiotic and can draw fluid from the underlying circulation. Thus it provides topical nutrition that enhances tissue growth.
Honey can remove dead tissue around the wound and make way for faster and healthier healing of the wound. Use the best natural honey you can find and apply it directly to the wound (you can also use a gaze).
8. Clove
Ancient Indian and Chinese civilizations used clove widely to treat numerous problems: headache, nausea, respiratory issues, immune system, dental problems, etc. This evergreen tree has innumerable benefits for our organism. One of the significant benefits is the ability to protect skin and to keep it healthy.
Clove is rich in minerals and vitamins and has excellent antimicrobial, antifungal and antiseptic properties. Therefore, clove oil, in particular, is used to treat wounds, cuts, bruises, and other types of injuries.
When applied directly, clove oil immediately alleviates pain and reduces the possibility of infections and healing time. For minor wounds and cuts, just sprinkling ground cloves will stop the bleeding and reduce the pain.
9. Essential Oils
Certain essential oils, due to its rich nutrient content and beneficial vitamins and minerals, are very helpful in treating minor wounds, cuts and scrapes. Those essential oils are lavender, tea tree and geranium oils. Lavender oil is famous in the cosmetic industry and it has been used for centuries to cleanse wounds and severe burns.
It has analgesic, antiseptic and antibiotic properties. Therefore it is also excellent for the immune system and its protection. Tea tree oil can quickly soothe the pain associated with minor burns, cuts and wounds. Native people of Australia used tea tree oil to heal wounds, abrasions and other skin problems.
Geranium oil is widely used to relieve stress and depression, balance hormones, improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, and reduce inflammation and irritation of the skin, as well as in aromatherapy. This oil is an astringent and vulnerary agent. Due to its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, it is used to prevent bacteria, microbes and infections, and for the regeneration of new cells.
For treating wounds and cuts, these oils should be diluted with warm water. Use a cotton ball to apply it to the wound. Be careful because these oils can also have side effects if your skin is susceptible.
10. Cinnamon
Cinnamon has strong antibacterial properties, and due to the natural anesthetic oil called eugenol, it can relieve the pain and treat minor cuts and scrapes. Wash the affected area, pat dry, and sprinkle powdered cinnamon over the area. You can also bind or bandage the wound.
Reference:
Alton, J., & Alton, A. (2013). The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is not on the Way. Doom and Bloom.
Solomon, B. (2013). Skin Lessons and Wounds. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Images credit: 123RF Stock Photo & Deposit.Photo.com
Last article update: 8/28/2019
