OptiDerma Skin Care Guide
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Cuts

Natural remedies


Before thinking of home remedies, be sure that you do not need medical treatment! Here are a few cases for which medical assistance is needed:

  • There are still remaining debris that could infect the wound.
  • The cut doesn't stop bleeding.
  • It is deep and large (more than 1/4 inches...)
  • An infection ensues.
  • The cut is located on sensitive skin.

The first things to do before applying anything on your finger:

1. Stop the bleeding: apply pressure to the area with a clean cloth and elevate your finger above your heart to slow down the blood flow.
2. Clean the cut with soap and water to avoid infection.

If you would like to speed up the healing of your cut, here are some home remedies that can be used in case of minor cuts.

Cuts: healing nutrition

  • Vitamin rich, fresh, raw vegetables and fruits. They provide enzymes to boost your immune system.
  • Dark green and orange vegetables contain beta-carotenes, which are important to speed up healing.
Limit dairy products, sugar and white flour, since they slow down tissue regeneration.

Cuts: supplements and remedies

  • Vitamin C, Bioflavanoids, and  Vitamin A to promote healing and fight infection.
  • Vitamin E (internal and external) to help prevent scars.
Also see skin nutrients

Cuts: herbal remedies

When using herbal remedies, ensure the wound is clean before application of any external treatments. Washing the wound well with soap and water at least for several minutes.

To accelerate healing:
  • Comfrey
  • Gotu Kola
To soothe the pain:
  • Aloe Vera gel (do not use it if there is any kinds of infection)
To fight the infection:
  • Bayberry
  • Goldenseal
  • Echinacea
  • Chamomile
  • Calendula gel
  • St John's Wort Oil

Cuts: other home remedies

You could apply one of these home remedies on the wound and bandage it:
  • Garlic to help fight infection
  • Honey for its antibacterial properties
  • Turmeric to reduce bleeding
  • Apple cider vinegar

Cuts: homeopathic remedies

  • Arnica pellets
  • Calendula ointment

Cuts: other recommendations

  • Protect cuts with a bandage if there is a major risk of infection and irritation.
  • Close the skin with butterfly strips or a bandage because it is going to make the cut heal faster.
  • Keep your cut clean but don't use chemical soap because you don't want it to dry out.
  • Protect your cut from sunlight during the healing process.
  • Did you have a tetanus shot...?

Other articles on cuts, wounds and scrapes

  • What to do if a scrape oozes: Most scrapes are minor and can be taken care of at home. What should you do when a scrape oozes? Read this...
  • How to treat scrapes? Everybody tends to get scrapes occasionally, especially children. Discover how to treat scrapes using natural remedies.
  • How long for a cut to heal: healing a cut can take from several days to a few years... Read some pieces of advice to speed the healing process.
  • How to heal open wounds faster: Time may heal all wounds. But to encourage this to happen faster, there are several things that can be done.

References

  • Andrew Gaeddert, healing Skin Disorders, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 2003
  • Louise Tenney, M.H., Today's Herbal health, 6th edition, USA, 2007
  • Phyllis A. Balch, James F. Balch, Prescription for nutritional healing, United States of America, 2000
  • Siegfried Gursche, Encyclopedia of natural healing, Canada, 1997
  • Thomas Bartram, Bartram's encyclopedia of herbal medicine, The definitive guide to the herbal treatment of diseases, Grace Publishers, UK, 1995

Comments from the community (1)

"hi" on 2012-01-30 at 07:51:34
how can i close a cut in fingers?
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