How do you care for a new tattoo or piercing?  Recovering from an operation and want to minimise scaring?  Cut yourself in the garden and want to clean the wound?  All of these questions will be the focus of this article.

For hundreds of years natural therapies were the only way that people could survive and overcome illness.  Accidents happened then as they do today, and medicine was really a matter of trial and error.  Most doctors began their careers as apprentices very much in the same way as a trade’s person.  This article will explain some of the time proven natural wound therapies that are still good to this day.

First the wound needs to be examined to determine the severity and assessed for infection risk, especially if it is an open wound or bleeding profusely.  Stepping on a dirty rusty nail is allot more serious than a paper cut as we can all appreciate.  Once the wound is medically assessed and treated with stiches or antibiotics prescribed to combat infection, the on going treatment has a large impact as to the success of the bodies ability to repair; epecially from a time and scaring perspective.  Most wounds however can be safely assessed and treated at home,  but if the wound needed stitching it still needs to be cared for appropriately until completely healed.  This is especially true for intensional wounds like tattoo's and piercings.

So what are the best natural ways of dealing with wounds with natural products? 

Aloe Vera has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years and is well renound for its wound healing properties.  The  Aloe Vera Plant (Aloe Barbadensis) plant contains proteins, enzymes, and growth factors which successfully work together to reduce inflammation speeding up healing.  The plant also assists to reduce pain and improves the rate of protein formation.   

To apply aloe naturally cut a leave from the plant.  Split the leave with a sharp knife and peel the outer skin away.  Utilise the clear gel on the wound rather than the yellow liquid.  If you do not have access to live aloe plants then your local drug store or pharmacy will be able to help with processed Aloe Vera products.

Aloe Vera is particularly good to apply to recent tattoos, external skin piercings, cuts and abrasions and burns.  It is a good idea to check first though for alergic reactions to this plant by placing a small amount on the underside of your wrist - and wait an hour or so to check for any adverse reaction.

                    

Dead Sea Salt has been used for literally thousands of years to assist in the healing and cleansing of wounds.  The high mineral content of this salt is absorbed by the skin and sooths and feeds the skin as it is absorbed.  The very high salt content acts as a powerful astringent and draws out infection and has a mild antiseptic effect.  Be sure though that 100% natural Dead Sea salt is used as scents and colouring agents should not be put on open skin wounds as they too can be absorbed.  Many of the top tattoo and piercing establihments recommend Dead Sea salt for care of recently completed piercings and tattoo's.

The unique minerals in the Dead Sea salt are rapidly absorbed by the skin and have been shown in studies to positively speed up the healing of skin conditions.  The minerals are so unique that they are found only in the salts of the Dead Sea and in no other body of water.

To wash  and care for wounds like new tattoo’s and piercings, as well as cuts, abrasions, and surgical wounds the following method is best employed.  Boil a large amount of water in a kettle – make sure it comes to a complete boil.  Find a glass vessel and rinse it with boiling water insuring it is clean.  Then fill the glass vessel with boiled water and allow to cool to room temperature.  Make sure the vessel (bottle etc) has a lid to prevent the water from contaimnation.  This will insure that the water used to clean the wound is sterile. When you wish to clean a wound pour a cup of the sterile water into a clean bowl and add Dead Sea salt to the water at the rate of 3 table spoons per cup.  You can add boiling water to the cooled water to warm it if you wish to adjust the temperature.  Bathe the tattoo, cut, abrasion, piercing by dipping a cotton ball into the solution and dabbing the area. Change the cotton ball repeatedly as it becomes soiled.  For cuts to the hands or feet you can soak them in the dead sea solution.  Your skin will heal much more readily, be moisturised and have much less scarring and be less infection prone!  Even if your doctor gives you anitseptic creams to apply make sure you use this salt to bathe the cut.

Vitamin C.  Simple oranges and citrus fruits provide great levels of vitamin C.  Vitamin C promotes the formation of collagen.  Collagen is a protein that works like scaffolding to hold up and support your skin tissues.  During a trauma these collagen links are severed and the body needs to replenish the collagen to repair the skin.   If you cannot get access to fresh oranges or do not feel inclined to eat them  or other Vitamin C rich foods a vitamin supplement can be very effective.

Detailed above are just some of the ways nature can help with your wound healing.  Don’t be fooled - some of the traditional remedies work fantastically well.  If you are concerned about your wound or the wound beings to pain or weep please go and visit your doctor.

 

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