Some natural healing agents, such as honey bandages, calendula tea poultices or chamomile compresses, contain substances with anti-inflammatory, calming and/or moisturizing properties, which help reduce inflammation and stimulate skin regeneration, accelerating the healing.
These natural healing agents can be used on wounds, insect bites, eczema, psoriasis or burns, for example. However, should not be used on open wounds, those that are bleeding or that have pus, as in these cases the wound must be treated by a nurse, who will be able to clean it correctly and apply the necessary dressing. Learn how to bandage open wounds.
Natural healing agents should be used after washing and drying the skin and, although they cannot replace medical treatment, they are a great option to accelerate skin healing, complementing the treatment recommended by the doctor.
1. Bandage with honey
Honey is a great option for healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, chronic wounds or burns, because it contains a natural antibiotic that fights skin infections.
Furthermore, honey has moisturizing properties that help with tissue regeneration, reducing healing time. This bandage should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey or propolis. See other benefits of honey.
Ingredients
- Mel;
- Sterile bandages.
Preparation mode
Clean the wound and then cover it with a thin layer of honey and place a bandage on top and then apply honey again. The bandage should be changed about twice a day.
2. Calendula tea poultice
Calendula, scientifically known as Calendula officinalis, has anti-inflammatory and calming properties, making it a great natural healing option when used in the form of a poultice, prepared from the plant’s tea, as it helps reduce skin inflammation caused by wounds. burns or ulcers, accelerating healing.
Ingredients
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of calendula flowers;
- 150 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Place the marigold flowers in boiling water and let it rest for 5 minutes. Wait for it to warm, strain and soak a clean, dry compress in the calendula infusion, such as gauze or cotton, for example. Apply the compress to the affected skin area, 3 times a day, leaving it to act for 30 minutes.
3. Chamomile compresses
Chamomile is a great natural healing option, as in addition to having anti-inflammatory action, it also has substances with anti-allergic and calming properties, such as azulene, bisabolol and farnesene. These substances soothe the skin, reduce inflammation and relieve itching and redness of the skin, in situations of prickly heat, inflammation of the nail bed or chronic wounds, for example.
Ingredients
- 20 to 30 g of fresh or dried chamomile flowers;
- 500 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add fresh or dried chamomile flowers to boiling water and leave to rest for 15 minutes. Then strain, wet gauze, cotton or clean cloth and apply to the affected skin area at least twice a day, leaving it to act for 5 minutes.
4. Slug Gel
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant that helps soothe the skin because it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healing properties, helping to heal wounds and hydrate the skin.
When preparing this natural healing agent, it is important not to use the bark of the aloe leaf, which has toxic effects, but only the transparent gel inside the leaf.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Wash the aloe leaves, cut in half and remove the gel from the leaf, placing it in a clean, dry container. Then, moisten a clean towel or gauze with the gel and apply it to the affected skin areas about 3 times a day. See other benefits of aloe vera.
5. Oat poultice
The oat poultice has silicic acid with healing action, as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and calming properties, which contribute to better skin healing, and can be used in cases of urticaria, psoriasis, ulcers, wounds or blisters on the skin, for example. example.
Furthermore, oats are rich in starch, with a moisturizing action, which helps to further improve skin healing.
Ingredients
- 1 handful of fine oat straw;
Preparation mode
Add the oat straw and water to a container and boil for about 20 minutes. Strain and wait for it to cool. Then, soak a gauze pad or a clean, dry cloth in the oat infusion, and apply it to the affected area of the skin, leaving it to act for 10 to 20 minutes. After this time, rinse the skin with running water and dry with a clean, dry and soft towel.
Oatmeal poultice should not be used on open or bleeding wounds.
6. Pansy compress
Perfect love, known scientifically as Viola tricolorhas anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-allergic properties, making it a great home remedy option to apply to the skin, in order to stimulate the healing of wounds, skin allergies, psoriasis or eczema.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons of fresh or dried pansy flowers;
- 2 cups of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add the pansy flowers to the boiling water and let it rest for about 15 minutes. Wait for it to cool, strain, wet a gauze pad with the pansy infusion and apply it to the affected skin area twice a day, for up to 3 weeks.
7. Yarrow poultice
The yarrow poultice, made from the medicinal plant Achillea millefoliumis rich in flavonoids and salicylic acid with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action, in addition to having properties that improve blood circulation and skin regeneration, helping to accelerate the healing of cuts, wounds, insect bites or varicose veins.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of liquid yarrow extract;
- 125 mL of warm water.
Preparation mode
Dilute a teaspoon of yarrow extract in 125 mL of warm water and then soak a sterile gauze, compress or clean, dry cloth in this plaster and apply to the affected skin area.
8. Comfrey compress
The comfrey compress, prepared with the medicinal plant Symphytum officinale, is rich in allantoin, mucilage and tannins, which have healing, anti-inflammatory, astringent and moisturizing effects, helping to regenerate the skin and accelerating healing. It can be used on wounds, dermatitis, pimples, psoriasis or eczema, for example.
Ingredients
- 10 g of comfrey leaves;
- 500 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Place the ingredients in a pan and boil for 5 minutes. Then, cover and let it cool. When it is warm, filter and wet a sterile gauze in this infusion and apply the compress to the skin, leaving it to act for 30 minutes.
9. Essential oil blend
There are some essential oils that have properties that help skin heal. This is the case of calendula, lavender, rosemary and chamomile oils, which have healing, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, reducing inflammation and helping with tissue regeneration.
To use the essential oil blend on the skin, it is necessary to mix it with another carrier vegetable oil, such as coconut oil or sweet almond oil, for example, to allow the essential oils to be better absorbed by the skin and not cause irritation. .
Ingredients
- 1 drop of calendula essential oil;
- 1 drop of lavender essential oil;
- 1 drop of rosemary essential oil;
- 1 drop of chamomile essential oil;
- 30 mL of mineral, almond or coconut oil.
Preparation mode
Add all the ingredients and mix well until it is uniform. Wash the area of skin to be treated with water and neutral soap, then dry with a clean, dry towel. Apply a small amount of the oil mixture to the skin, massaging gently.
The essential oil mixture should be stored in a glass container, preferably dark, closed, clean and dry, and stored in a cabinet away from heat and humidity.
