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…?
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
- Disclaimer
J. Beck
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on Optiderma.com is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.
If you are allergic to the foods, herbs, essential oils, any remedies listed here, you must of course avoid them. For example, consuming food that you’re sensitive to will only cause more (not reduce!) inflammation.
Please consult a practitioner (such as Naturopath, Homeopath, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dermatologist, ...) to follow the most appropriate treatment to heal your skin. All legal mentions »
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