There is no avoiding the inevitable, at some point in our lives; we will have the distinctive blue and yellow pattern of a bruise. For many, having bruises is almost a way of life, children for example, accrue them like medals due to excited playtimes and adults become bruised through lapses of concentration or clumsiness. The elderly often bruise more easily due to thinning of the skin and their bruises can look quite startling and dramatic.

A bruise is simply skin discolouration usually caused through impact. Small blood vessels burst and the contents leak into all the soft tissue underneath the skin.

Most bruises should not be a cause for concern and will disappear in their own time; this gradual healing should be noticeable as they begin to fade. If bruises appear in places other than the legs however and for apparently no reason, then this can be due to inherited bleeding disorders and this should be checked out by a doctor so as to eliminate this possibility.

It is worth remembering however, that quite often we bump into things and knock our bodies hard enough to cause a bruise, but not sufficiently enough to remember what we have done. Although bruises can be painful, they do not usually cause a problem, and they gradually change colour as the body breaks down and reabsorbs the blood from this area and over a period of 7-14 days, the bruise starts to fade.

Self-Help Tips

Apply a cold compress the moment you hurt yourself. Use an ice pack or a pack of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. The cold helps to slow down the rush of blood to the soft tissue.

Elevate the area

If your bruise is on your leg for example, then lie down and elevate your leg so that it is above your heart. Again this helps to slow down the rush of blood to the affected area.

Arnica

Keep a bottle of Arnica tincture in the medicine cabinet. Add a few drops of tincture to water and soak a cloth which can then be applied directly to the bruise, it has pain relieving, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities also and it disperses the blood and encourages healing of the affected area.

Onion

Apply a raw, sliced onion to the bruise, but do not apply if the skin is actually broken.

Parsley

Apply crushed parsley on the bruised area and continue to do so until the bruise is gone. Parsley has many vitamins and works well on a wound. Alternatively, mash parsley into a small amount of butter to make a salve and apply directly to the bruised area.

Positive Thinking and Visualisation

The power of the mind is phenomenal. Practise visualising the bruise fading away, do this several times a day or whenever you get a spare minute. Picture the body fighting back and dispersing the blood. This can also be used when a painful injury has occurred and it works.