Minor wounds, scrapes, and cuts are common. They happen sometimes no matter how careful you are to avoid them. Maybe your child falls down or you accidentally cut yourself with a knife while cooking. They are a part of life. Firstly, most minor wounds can be attended to at home without the help of emergency medical care. However, when a wound is significantly large or deep, please seek the help of a medical professional or emergency personnel. Deep cuts can be serious and often need stitches to heal properly. But minor or small open wounds are not serious. It is still important to wash them thoroughly with clean water and mild soap. There are several essential oils that are good to use for small, open wounds.
How does essential oil help open wounds?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts from plants. These have potent therapeutic and medicinal properties. There are several studies that have concluded essential oils to have exceptional antimicrobial, disinfectant, germicide, and antiseptic properties. They can be useful for helping protect a wound and speeding its healing. Some of the benefits of using essential oils on open wounds include:
- Disinfecting the wound
- Slowing down the bleeding
- Speed up the healing process
- Helping reduce inflammation
- Alleviate pain and/or stinging on the wound
- Minimizing scarring
- Preventing infection
Preparing to Use Essential Oils to Treat Minor Open Wounds
Check the wound to determine how serious it is before starting any home treatment. If the wound is deeper than 1/2-inch or if it is bleeding profusely seek medical assistance right away. If the wound is too deep, it may need to be stitched so the torn tissue can heal normally. If the open wound is not deep or too serious, then follow these steps.
- Stop bleeding and reduce swelling by applying direct pressure on the wound and elevating the affected body part.
- Wash your hands before touching the area around the wound or scrape. If you can, wear disposable gloves.
- Run clean water over the wound to remove any dirt or debris.
- Use a dry, soft, lint-free cloth to gently dry the area. A towel or other cloth works well. Do not use something that will stick to the wound.
- It is not recommended to use alcohol on a wound as it kills bacteria but can also damage tissues. This can make the healing period much longer. Essential oils have naturally occurring alcohol, so they are safer to use once the wound has begun to heal. However, lavender essential oil is an exception to the rule.
- Use the carrier oil of your choice to dilute antiseptic essential oils and then apply it to the wound, scrape or sore. Carefully and gently massage the oils into the scrape or wound.
- Use a sterile dressing or bandage to protect the wound.
- Change the dressing and reapply the oils twice a day.
- After the wound has healed, you can use essential oils to help minimize the scar.
Which essential oils are good for treating open wounds and scrapes?
Essential oils have antiseptic properties which make them useful for preventing the growth of microorganisms. They are beneficial for disinfecting wounds and can help aid in healing by reducing pain and inflammation and slowing down bleeding. EOs are also great for helping counteract scarring. Once you have cleansed the wound or scrape, you are ready to apply oils. Here are the top 5 essential oils for open wounds.
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Lavender Essential Oil:No surprise Lavender EO is on this list – it’s an essential oil powerhouse good for so many things. It is useful for helping speed up the healing of cuts, scrapes and wounds. Its disinfecting properties help prevent infection and it can help calm and sooth pain or stinging. Lavender is also one of the gentler oils and can be used without diluting it with a carrier oil. However, it’s best to dilute it with a carrier oil. Mixing a little bit of lavender EO with water is a great way to disinfect your hands before touching the wound. Combining lavender EO with tea tree or clove essential oil enhances the antimicrobial properties of lavender EO.
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Tea Tree Essential Oil:Melaleuca or tea tree oil is an ancient remedy everyone needs in their survival kits. It has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties which make it a great choice for treating a wide variety of injuries and skin conditions. When tea tree essential oil is applied topically to a wound it prevents harmful pathogens from reaching the blood stream and causing an infection. You can mix this oil with aloe vera gel and apply it to the wound to aid in the healing process.
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Rosemary Essential Oil: Rosemary essential oil shares several properties and traits with lavender EO. Rosemary EO is a regenerative oil and can help prevent infection in the wound or cut. It also contains a number of chemotypes with ct. camphor being the most common. This means it is beneficial for reducing swelling and improving circulation. Rosemary oil is very uplifting so try not to use it in the evening.
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Helichrysum Essential Oil: Helichrysum EO has a ton of beneficial properties making it a great choice for treating a wide variety of minor injuries. It has disinfectant and antiseptic properties that aids in healing wounds that are swelling or bruised. Jojoba is a common choice of carrier oil to use with Helichrysum EO.
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Myrrh Essential Oil: Myrrh EO is taken from the resin of the tree and can be a bit thicker than other oils. However, it has been used for many years and history tells us that Greek soldiers even used it to stop bleeding and disinfect their wounds on the battlefield. Some people don’t prefer this oil’s scent, but it mixes well with lavender, peppermint and lemon essential oils. All of which can be beneficial for treating wounds.
