Minor
Wounds and Scrapes
These are injuries where the skin is broken, scratched, cut, or
scraped, but where there is no bleeding or bleeding stops within
a few minutes of elevating the wound and applying light pressure.
Treatment Goal(s):
· Allay bleeding, prevent infection, and speed the regeneration
of skin tissue.
Primary Treatment:
· Wash the wound gently with warm water to remove debris
and foreign matter, if there is any.
· Disinfect the wound, using antiseptic and astringent herbs
(mentioned below under “differential diagnoses” depending
on the wound).
· Dress the wound using a clean bandage and a salve containing
vulnerary herbs (such as Symphytum officinale [Comfrey], Hypericum
perforatum [St. John’s Wort] for example).
· Remove the dressing after 12-24 hours, examine the wound
for redness or swelling (if there is any, refer to the protocol
for infected wounds), and begin applying salves, compresses and/or
poultices of Symphytum officinale (Comfrey) to speed the healing
of the skin tissue. Apply a fresh dressing only if the wound is
still open or bleeding, otherwise allow to dry.
Supportive Treatment:
· Homeopathic Symphytum can be taken in low potencies (6X-12X)
to prevent scarring.
· Vitamin E oil can be applied externally to prevent scarring.
· Keeping the wound elevated helps with painful throbbing.
Differential
diagnoses, cautions, and other considerations:
· If there is bleeding, immediately apply Achillea millefolium
(Yarrow) as a poultice or tincture. Apply pressure to the wound,
and keep it above the patient’s heart to reduce blood flow.
After a few minutes, check for bleeding and apply powdered Hydrastis
canadensis (Goldenseal) to prevent infection.
· If there is no bleeding, or if the bleeding stops immediately,
tincture of Echinacea serves as an excellent disinfectant for most
cuts and scrapes. Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort) works
very well for puncture wounds, injected into the wound using a dropper.
· If, in the case of a cut, the lips of the wound do not
pull together after bleeding stops, or there is a piece of disconnected
tissue, or bleeding doesn’t stop, refer to emergency treatment
for stitches.
· Monitor the wound carefully for 48 hours. If redness, swelling,
or red streaking occur and pain increases, immediately begin treating
the wound as infected.
