What Are the Benefits of Liniment on Broken Limbs?

Liquid liniments are made by steeping medicinal herbs and essential oils in a base of water, oil or alcohol. These topical treatments have been used throughout history to relieve and heal ailments ranging from rashes and sports injuries to chronic muscle pain and broken bones. Because they are created from an abundance of medicinal herbs and oils, liniments can be tailored to offer a variety of benefits.

Kills Pain

• Liniments can provide natural pain relief for broken bones without the side effects or potential for dependency of pharmaceuticals. Ingredients such as eucalyptus and mint increase circulation to injured areas while drawing out heat and creating a cooling sensation that helps to dull pain. Other pain relieving herbs that may be found in liniments include comfrey, cayenne and ginger.

Speeds Healing

• In addition to killing pain, many of the medicinal ingredients in liniments help the body speed up the healing process. They do this by reducing swelling and dispersing accumulated masses of blood and fluids; this helps the body increase circulation to the injured area. Liniments that are reapplied frequently have the benefit of constantly supplying medicinal ingredients to the body.

Customizable

• Liniments can draw from the vast wealth of the herbal world to target each patients specific complaints. Some liniments, for example, may include lavender essential oil to relieve skin abrasions or burns. Others may include ingredients to help reduce muscle stiffness or soreness as the injury heals. Liniments are also relatively easy to make at home, ensuring that different injuries need not be treated with the same commercial product.