Castor oil has been used for centuries for several health problems and other concerns. Like many of its applications, the oil has been immensely popular among naturopaths for healing bruises and hematomas. In ancient times, people used to apply this remedy on bare skin and cover it with some medicinal leaves to accelerate healing naturally.
Because the application method was messy, a more convenient way to heal your marks and scars with the Hand of Christ is to use castor oil packs. These packs must be packed with high-quality castor oil, such as The Goodbye Company's extra virgin cold-pressed Ricinus oil, which is 100% organic, BPA, and parabens-free for the best, magical results. But “How Does a Castor Oil Help Bruising?” “How Long Does it Take for Castor Oil Packs to Remove Bruising?” To know it all, take a glance at this instructive yet insightful description.
A bruise is also known as a contusion or ecchymosis in medical terms. It forms when a part of our body is damaged, and the blood capillaries in the surrounding area rupture. Without a way to escape, the blood deteriorates in place (tissue), leaving a bluish-purple or black hue underneath the skin.
There are several types of bruises, such as hematoma, petechiae, and purpura that leave colored marks on the skin. A hematoma is a larger collection of blood, leaving a raised area on the body that aches when touched. It particularly occurs after a trauma or accident. Petechiae, on the other hand, are smaller dots of blood pooling that do not disappear when you apply pressure on them. Likewise, purpura are also the blood pooling areas larger than petechiae but smaller than contusions.
The primary causes of such bruising are accidents, medications (NSAIDs, antiplatelets), deficiency of vitamin K, and C, bleeding disorders, low platelet count, liver disease, or the risk of cancer. All you need is the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Besides conventional therapy as prescribed by doctors, you can try natural remedies, such as castor oil packs to help heal your bruises.
Here are some natural remedies you can try to reduce the appearance of your bruises.
| Natural Remedy | Properties | Usage |
| Cabbage Leaves | Cabbage leaves contain vitamins and phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are anti-inflammatory. Vitamin C and K are anti-bruising. | Cut the stems of the leaves and soften them in hot water. Then, crush them into a paste and apply it to your bruise. Secure the paste using a gauze and leave for about 30 minutes. |
| Arnica | Arnica has promising effects in reducing the pain of bruises. The extract also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. | You can use an arnica-infused lotion or topical cream on your bruises to help them heal faster. |
| Tea Bags | Tea contains tannins that help blood vessels constrict and limit blood flow. It also has bioflavonoids which are anti-inflammatory agents. So, tea bags aid in reducing inflammation of the bruises and prevent them from worsening. | Soak the tea bags in warm water for about 3 minutes. Then, apply them to your bruises until warm. Repeat the application several times a day for the best results. |
| Castor Oil | See below | See below |
| Witch Hazel | Witch hazel contains natural astringents that help constrict blood vessels. | Soak a clean cloth in witch hazel and apply it to your bruises for a few minutes. Repeat twice or thrice daily. |
| St. John’s Wort Oil | This oil contains tannins which are astringent and help contrict the capillaries. | Apply directly to your bruises and massage several times a day. |
| Vinegar | Vinegar is known to accelerate blood circulation which will help nourish and heal the damaged cells. | Dilute some vinegar in warm water. Soak it in a cloth and apply it several times a day. |
| Sunlight | UV rays in the sunlight help break bilirubin- a byproduct of Hb breakdown. Bilirubin causes yellowing of the bruises. | Exposing your bruises to sunlight helps fade the appearance of bruises. |
| Parsley | Fresh parsley is rich in vitamin K which helps heal bruises. | Apply the paste of fresh parsley to your bruises several times a day. Tip: let the paste chill in the refrigerator so it will also provide a soothing effect at the traumatic site. |
| Onion | Onion contains a compound called Allicin, which can help stimulate blood and lymphatic flow. | Cut a slice of onion, soak it in apple cider vinegar, and put it to your bruise. Wrap it with a gauze and apply for about 15 minutes. |
Castor oil packs help heal bruises due to a range of its actions in the body tissues. Here are some of the important actions it performs.
The ricinoleic acid in castor oil is a potent anti-inflammatory. It inhibits the production of prostaglandins which are the principal signaling molecules in the inflammatory cascade. The acid also activates EP3 receptors, leading to anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, some reports have also shown that ricinoleic acid modulates the functioning of neutrophils thereby reducing their contribution to inflammation.
Furthermore, a few pieces of clinical evidence suggest ricinoleic acids' potential to inhibit the nuclear-factor-kappa B pathway since NF-kB is a potent regulator of inflammation. Ricinoleic acid also has antioxidant properties that allow scavenging ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) which causes oxidative stress and contributes to inflammation.
Ricinoleic acid is also an analgesic. Therefore, the application of castor oil packs helps heal bruises.
Ricinleic acid has also been shown to improve blood and lymphatic circulation. Improvement in the blood flow helps accelerate the circulation of nutrients and oxygen which are required by the damaged cells in the healing phase. Moreover, the promotion of lymphatic flow helps resolve congestion in the lymph nodes and capillaries that may delay the healing process. In short, for the repair and rejuvenation of any cell in the body, there must be enough blood and active lymphatic filtering.
Castor oil in the packs also contains omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids and vitamin E. All these essential ingredients are crucial to maintaining the hydration and integrity of tissues and skin.
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The healing time of bruises following castor oil pack application varies from person to person, depending on their overall health and the severity of the bruises. Generally, you will start noticing improvement within a few days or weeks of consistent application. Mild bruises usually take 2-3 weeks to heal and regain tissue integrity completely. However, the severe and larger bruises may take months to eradicate. The only thing you should follow is consistency which is the key to gaining the goal. Moreover, it is recommended to apply castor oil packs for about 30-60 minutes each time.
Castor oil in the packs is an all-in-one magic. The oil has numerous benefits that altogether contribute to the healing of bruises. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of ricinoleic acid (the principal constituent of castor oil) help reduce swelling, redness, pain, and irritation at the site of injury or trauma. Moreover, the goodness of omega fatty acids in the oil aids in lightning, firming, and toning of the skin as it was before the purple scar.
For centuries, people have been using castor oil packs for hematomas. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects and ability to promote blood circulation and accelerate healing. Nevertheless, this resolution is slow yet noticeable, so you should use castor oil packs regularly with proper care and monitoring.
Though castor oil is safe on sensitive skin areas, some people are allergic to it due to the principal constituent, ricinoleic acid. If such a hypersensitive rash appears, discontinue use and seek medical assistance immediately.
Castor oil contains ricinoleic acid, which is a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Therefore, these packs help repair damaged muscles by reducing inflammation, promoting circulation, and providing a soothing effect. Even though it's an excellent natural remedy to accelerate the healing process in the human body, you must always consult a healthcare provider for professional advice after injury or trauma.
The topical application of castor oil does not make you bleed; only excessive application may make your skin irritated. However, if you are excessively using castor oil for constipation and piles, it may cause your rectum to bleed due to severe irritation in the delicate area.
Bluish-purple scars on the body don't seem good, and everyone wishes to get rid of them in any way. For this, modern aestheticians have stolen a secret hack of our old naturopaths and decided to utilize it in a modern and more convenient way. It's the old but gold “Castor oil” that our naturopathic physicians put into contemporary devices named castor oil packs.
Since ancient times, castor oil has been a great way to eliminate superficial bruises, unappealing marks, and scars. All this magic is due to the principal constituent of the Ricinus oil called the ricinoleic acid. Ricinoleic acid is a potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Moreover, this acid promotes blood and lymphatic circulation, which in turn accelerates, favors, and supports wound healing. In a nutshell, the quicker the cells repair and get their required oxygen and nutrients, the faster the bruises disappear.
Nevertheless, regular application together with careful monitoring is crucial to get the best results. All you need is to grab your pack and soak it with the best-quality The Goodbye Company extra-virgin castor oil and apply it to your bruises. Leave the pack for 30-60 minutes and get healthy-looking, blemish-free skin.
