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| Bruises |
| A bruise is an area of skin discoloration caused by blood escaping from damaged underlying blood vessels following injury; the familiar multicolored healing process occurs as the hemoglobin in the escaped blood breaks down into other chemicals before being completely dispersed. |
| A tendency to bruise easily can be related to problems with the blood's ability to clot or may simply suggest that small blood vessels are comparatively thin and easily damaged. This is often the case in otherwise fit and healthy women. If you do have blood which does not clot readilyor are on blood-thinning drugsthen avoid taking herbs like feverfew that can slow down clotting even further. |
| An ice pack in the form of a package of frozen peas provides an ideal emergency treatment to relieve the pain of a new bruise; alternating that with a hot water bottle can help to encourage reabsorption of blood and bring more rapid relief. Dabbing a little distilled witch hazel on the bruise is ideal or freeze the liquid in an ice-cube tray in the freezer and then simply rub a cube on the affected area. |
| Commercially available arnica or comfrey creams applied to unbroken skin will also encourage healing (or use homemade comfrey infused oil). If the bruise is the result of some traumatic accident, give homeopathic arnica 6x internally to calm the sufferer and encourage more rapid healing. |
| Bunions |
| These painful swellings of the joint between the big toe and the adjoining bone can be caused by badly fitting shoes, although a tendency to them can be hereditary. Ensuring that shoes are large and comfortable enough is essential; wear loose slippers or sandals at home. St. John's wort oil or cream applied regularly can be helpful, or if the bunion becomes particularly blistered and infected, use marigold cream at night. Long-term comfrey cream applied night and morning can help to repair damaged tissues, although it should not be used on broken skin. |
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