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How to Use Folk Medicine to Treat Bruises

Folk medicine has long been used to treat simple conditions like bruises and scrapes, to complex conditions like arthritis. Folk medicine is a traditional, often regionally-based form of medical care that predates modern medicine by millennia. You may successfully treat bruises at home using time-honored folk medicine techniques, many of which can be accomplished with a simple trip to the grocery store or with the help of items already available in your pantry. Follow these steps to learn how.

Things You'll Need

  • Internet access
  • Ice
  • Frozen peas
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Instructions

  1. Seek the Cause

    • 1

      Know that most bruises, or contusions, are the representation of ruptured blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin. While appearing to be only topical, bruises may be the first sign of more serious damage.

    • 2

      Check carefully with the fingers along the surface of the bruise. Press lightly to detect if any bones have been broken beneath the skin.

    • 3

      Realize that if a bruise is extremely, painfully sensitive to the touch, a bone may be broken underneath. This may also indicate that a tendon has been damaged.

    • 4

      Seek the assistance of a doctor when you think there's internal physical damage beneath a bruise. The limits of folk medicine must be respected.

    • 5

      Visit a doctor if a bruise persists for more than 3 weeks.

    Treat the Bruise

    • 6

      Elevate the affected limb to ease circulation. If a limb is not affected, immobilize the wounded body part by lying down. Continue for up to 24 hours.

    • 7

      Apply ice to bruises to fight swelling and encourage faster healing.

    • 8

      Use a frozen bag of peas or other small vegetables in lieu of an ice pack for greater surface coverage. The peas or vegetables will maintain their frozen shape longer than ice. They thaw at a slower rate. They also mold nicely to the body. Use again after re-freezing.

    • 9

      Drink herbal tea while recuperating. This folk-medicine practice may help treat a bruise by helping control your blood flow.

    • 10

      Learn more about folk medicine remedies for bruising at MedicineNet.com (see Resources below).

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