Well after having my mishap this week of slicing off the tip of my ring finger on my left hand, I went to hospital and it is now all bandaged up and healing, I thought it would be interesting to have a look at the different wounds and how to heal them naturally.
When an internal or external break in body tissue occurs – we term it a
‘wound’. Open wounds (such as cuts from a knife) are breaks in the skin or mucous membranes. Open wounds are most commonly caused by accidents such as falls, mishandling of sharp objects, accidents with tools or machinery, and car accidents and are almost always accompanied by pain. A closed wound (a
contusion or internal bleeding) is a bruise that damages the underlying tissue
without breaking the skin (as in a black eye).
Some wounds may be accompanied by swelling and inflammation, and more
serious wounds that do not stop bleeding with applied pressure, may need
stitches or sutures. This holds the two edges of a wound together so that healing
can occur with a minimum of scarring. After an injury that causes a break in the
skin, infection is the greatest concern. Always seek medical advice if a fever
accompanies a healing wound, blood pressure drops or you experience rapid
heartbeat. As with any wound, it is important to have a physician inspect the
wound and help decide if sutures, antibiotics, tetanus therapy or other treatment
is necessary.
What Causes Wounds?
There are at least five different types of open wounds:
● Abrasions – a skin wound caused by rubbing or scraping the skin against a
hard, rough surface. Bleeding in this type of wound is usually limited, but it
is important that the skin be cleaned in order to guard against infection.
● Incisions – a cut caused by a knife, the rough edge of metal, broken glass, a
razor blade or some other sharp object. This type of wound generally bleeds
rapidly and heavily. If the cut is deep, muscles, tendons and nerves may be
damaged.
● Cuts/Lacerations – a jagged, irregular or blunt breaking or tearing of soft
tissues, often resulting from mishandling tools and machinery and other
accidents. Bleeding from a laceration may be rapid and extensive.
● Punctures – a piercing wound that causes a small hole in the tissues. Such
objects as nails, needles, ice picks and other pointed objects can produce
puncture wounds. Even if external bleeding is slight, there may be serious
internal bleeding resulting from internal damage to an organ (as in a gunshot wound). All puncture wounds require the attention of a health professional because of the danger of tetanus.
● Avulsions – An avulsion is a forcible tearing or partial tearing away of
tissues. It occurs in such accidents as gunshot wounds, explosions, animal
bites or other body-crushing injuries. Bleeding is heavy and rapid.
Natural Remedies
While natural medicines are often called ‘alternative’ or ‘complimentary’ medicines, they are, in fact, a unique and independent form of medicine in their own right, well able to treat a variety of conditions. Perhaps the term ‘holistic’ medicine is more apt, given the broad range of treatment options and approaches which are to be found within the practice of natural medicine, which encompasses many different disciplines, including herbalism, homeopathy, iridology, osteopathy, chiropractic, therapeutic massage techniques, aromatherapy, acupuncture and many, many more.
Many herbal and homeopathic remedies have been formulated with specific
ingredients to promote healing and support the body’s ability to resist
infection. Herbs such as Agrimonia eupatoria (a well-known astringent which
helps to tighten and constrict tissues) and Achillea millefolium (named after
Achilles, the Greek mythical figure, who used it to stop the bleeding wounds of his
soldiers) can help to heal wounds naturally. Calendula officianalis is an
effective first-aid solution for all minor burns and scalds, as well as any skin
abrasion or cuts. Calendula will also benefit the healing process by stimulating the
natural process of healthy skin and tissue regeneration.
