Bathing in Herbs for Bruises

The hot water of a bath is healing in and of itself because moist heat penetrates and helps to relax muscles, reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Healing additives added to your bath water is an ideal way to improve your healing time and discomfort. Many herbs commonly found in the kitchen cupboard are known to treat injuries, including bruises and sprains. The application of these natural treatments through an infusion, gel or oil will aid in the healing process.

Water

• Add tincture and oils instead of dried herbs for a faster infusion.

  Create an infusion with your bath water by adding dried herb sachets or drops of tincture to it. An infusion refers to any herb steeped in water; it is a tea. Comfrey is an herb that has been known to help heal bruises when infused with water. According to Natural Remedies Best, comfrey contains allantoin, which helps to heal injured bones, cartilage and muscles. 15 drops of comfrey tincture added to a bath is said to help heal bruising, according to Herbs 2000.

Oils

• Essential oils are additional ways you can add herbs to your bath water. Vitamin E capsules can be broken and released into bath water to provide a soothing, healing effect on the skin. Olive Oil is a Vitamin E alternative that is also healing on the skin. The essential oil of Tea Tree is a natural anti-inflammatory and will help reduce swelling when added to a bath. If your bruises are accompanied by wounds, tea tree will help to disinfect the bathwater and discourage infection.

Arnica

• Arnica has been used and sold for years as a natural pain reliever.

  The oil of the arnica herb has been used for years as a homeopathic treatment for bruises, sprains, broken bones and muscle aches. Adding the oil of arnica to your bath water will certainly help relieve pain and heal bruising. Additionally, arnica gel is available for purchase at most pharmacies. This gel can be rubbed directly onto a problem area for immediate pain relief. The combination of a bath infusion, essential oil additives and arnica application will be even more beneficial than any one treatment alone.

Compresses

• Steep tea and soak a cloth in it to create an herbal compress.

  Compresses refer to rags or cloths soaked in herbal infusions. They are more concentrated than bath water because you are infusing the herb into less water. Compresses can be applied to a specific area for immediate absorption into the bruised tissue. Common herbs used to create healing compresses for bruising include thyme, St. John's wort, fennel, chamomile, calendula and peppermint, according to Herbs 2000. Bathe in an infused bath water with added soothing oil, then follow the bath with herbal compresses. After the compresses have cooled, set them aside and apply arnica gel. This combination treats a variety of symptoms including pain, discoloration, inflammation, internal bleeding and capillary damage.