Essential Oils For Bruises
From banging your knee against the kitchen table, elbows against doorways or even the occasional sports injury, bruises are our bodies’ way of showing us the damage done.
Luckily, essential oils are known to treat a versatile range of ailments in the body and in some circumstances, they have been seen to heal the occasional bruise.
What Happens When You Bruise?
Dark violet, blue, yellow, brown or even green bruises are the dark patches that form as the result of bumping, colliding, or damaging contact on the skin.
After a fall or bump the blood vessels underneath the skin rupture as a result of extreme pressure or trauma; this causes subcutaneous blood clotting. In essence, the bruise means that you’re bleeding under the skin rather than bleeding out of an open wound.
Bruises can either be mild or severe and may take anywhere from several days to several weeks to completely heal. As the bruise begins to heal the colour will begin to change, eventually getting lighter and going away completely.
Benefits Of Essential Oils For Bruises
Essential oils are a popular home remedy for a host of ailments and are known to provide some relief when it comes to nasty bruises. Some essential oils are highly valued in medicinal practices for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant properties and may help in the following ways:
- Promote wound healing
- Reduce inflammation
- Calms swelling
- Fights against infection
- Increases collagen production
- Pain relief
Best Essential Oils For Bruises
Essential oils include a versatile range of natural compounds that are known to promote the healing of bruises. Here are four of our favourite essential oils that may help treat bruises naturally:
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense Essential Oil is known to be one of the best essential oils for skincare as it has been seen to boost complexion and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars and blemishes. It is also believed to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the size of bruises and encourage healing. It’s further known to help with pain relief, making it perfect for treating bruises.
Frankincense Oil can be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil and rub it onto the affected area. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution when applying on the skin and a 1% dilution for facial application.
Moisturiser: Add a few drops to your existing moisturiser to soothe the bruised area.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
Helichrysum Essential Oil is one of the most popular essential oils for skincare as its restorative properties work to reduce the appearance of blemishes, scarring and signs of ageing.
Its healing and anti-inflammatory abilities boost cell regeneration, increase circulation and encourage the healing of minor wounds. It has also been seen to reduce the pain associated with sore muscles and bruising.
Helichrysum Oil can be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil and rub it onto the affected area. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution and a 1% dilution for facial application.
Moisturiser: Add a few drops to your existing moisturiser to soothe the bruised area.
Lavender Essential Oil
Known as one of the most versatile of its league, Lavender Essential Oil is perfect for treating bruises. It has natural cleansing properties and has been seen to reduce pain and enhance blood circulation while being great for reducing the appearance of blemishes and scars. It’s also believed to increase collagen production for tissue regeneration to speed up the healing process.
Lavender Oil can be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil and rub it onto the affected area. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution for skin application and a 1% dilution for facial application.
Moisturiser: Add a few drops to your existing moisturiser to soothe the bruised area.
Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary Essential Oil has powerful anti-inflammatory agents and is believed to inhibit pain receptors due to its high concentration of cineole. This not only works to reduce inflammation but also helps to fight against infections and enhance the healing process.
Rosemary Oil can be used in the following ways:
Diluting: Dilute with your favourite carrier oil and rub it onto the affected area. We recommend a 2 - 4% dilution when used on the skin and a 1% dilution for facial application.
Moisturiser: Add a few drops to your existing moisturiser to soothe the bruised area.
Dilution Guidelines
Due to their high concentration, we always recommend diluting essential oils with a carrier oil. Here are some of our favourite carrier oils that may assist with treating bruises:
- Coconut Oil
- Almond Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Rosehip Oil
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please consult with your doctor or healthcare professional before using essential oils for dandruff.
We recommend doing a skin patch before your first application to test for any potential allergic reactions. If you experience any reactions within 24 hours we recommend that you discontinue.
Other Tips To Treat Bruises
Bruises are often painful but do go away on their own eventually. In the meantime, to speed up the healing process, there are several home remedies to reduce pain, drain fluid away from the area, help with blood clotting and increase blood flow. Here are some other ways to treat bruises naturally:
- Ice therapy
- Heat
- Compression
- Elevation
- Arnica
- Vitamin K cream
- Vitamin C
- Aloe vera
- Comfrey cream
Where To Buy Essential Oils For Bruises
While essential oils are generally available to purchase at health, wellness and retail stores, it is important to keep in mind that the purity and quality of these essential oils will vary. That is why we recommend finding a reputable supplier.
Here at AWO, we have a wide selection of 100% pure essential oils and organic essential oils that are sold at reasonable prices. Because our stock is purchased in bulk quantities our costs are significantly less, which allows us to offer our high-quality products at affordable prices. We are also based right here in Australia!
Essential Oil Safety
Whilst essential oils are natural products, they are extremely potent and can cause serious harm if used incorrectly. For this reason, we recommend the following:
- In line with the Therapeutic Goods Act, we do not recommend ingesting essential oils without the guidance of a registered Aromatherapist or Naturopath.
- Avoid using Essential Oils during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding.
- We recommend storing your Essential Oils in a cool, dry place at room temperature, ensuring that they are not directly exposed to sunlight and are out of reach of children or pets.
- Essential Oils can be very concentrated and are likely to cause irritation or reactions if applied directly to the skin. For this reason, it is important to first dilute your essential oils before using topically (on the skin). Our recommended dilution percentages can be found under the ‘Best Essential Oils For Bruises’ section.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness.