natural remedy...

[quietann]

If you were battered and bruised from a fight, what would you add to your bath to help ease the pain and heal the skin?

(This is for something I am writing. I'm looking for names of plant oils, preferably sweet-smelling, or other "natural" remedies, not "brand name" products.)

Comments

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Arnica is the standard, I believe.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

The one I know is arnica.

[cultivate-peace.livejournal.com]

You could and lavender and sage to that as they are purifiers (hence smudging).

Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy might help too, depends on your character.

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

Epsom salts seem plenty natural to me. I'd use them plus the plant oils.

[jostajam.livejournal.com]

Witch hazel and willow bark. I remember my Grandma swabbing the giant bruise I got in the door of a NY subway car with witch hazel and it certainly was aromatic.

[whuffle.livejournal.com]

There is a chinese herbal remedy for treating bruises that smells like soy sauce. Its not something to add to baths, its something you rub into the bruises.

[goddessfarmer.livejournal.com]

Arnica, eucalyptus, tee tree oil, epsom salts or other mineral salt. Those are what comes to mind.

[(Anonymous)]

Be careful not to get the arnica tincture that is a homeopathic remedy -- there isn't much arnica in it, since homeopathy works on the principle that diluting the active ingredient makes it more potent, which is largely disproven. And epsom salts apparently only keep your skin from pruning as fast in the bath, despite a traditional idea that they help draw out infections. Which doesn't make them a bad thing, just not actually particularly healing. The bath -- a soak in hot water -- itself is the main thing that will do your bruises and cuts and muscles good. Lavender oil (or any aromatic oil that pleases you) smells good in a bath if it doesn't trigger your allergies. Any oil you like can help combat the skin-drying action of the hot water -- almond oil is particularly glamorous but in fact olive or canola from the kitchen will do. Oatmeal preparations are also soothing to the skin, though not so relevant to bruises and aching muscles -- here is a link to directions for an oatmeal bath made from ordinary oatmeal: http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/oatmealbath.htm