Jane's Best Fitness

Fitness tips for working women and BUSY moms

essential oils for bruises

Essential Oils for Bruises: Unlocking Natural Healing Power

When I finally got out of the endless working hours in my soul-crushing corporate job, with my tail between my legs, I knew I didn’t have a choice but to prioritize my mental, physical and spiritual health. Due to my hectic lifestyle, I used to inevitably get bruises – dark patches on my skin would form blue and black to yellow and green colors. Very quickly, I got tired of waiting several weeks at times for my injuries to heal. So, I resorted to natural home remedies like essential oils for bruising. 

Luckily, essential oils have been well-known since time immemorial to treat a vast range of infections. If the injury is minor like a strained ankle or a workout injury, treat it with essential oils for bruises, a simple remedy at home. However, in cases of serious problems like blood disorders, I always recommend visiting a healthcare professional right away.

strained ankle or a workout injury, essential oils for injury, simple remedy at home

Understanding Why We Bruise

What exactly happens when people bruise? The pressure on their muscles after experiencing a collision ruptures the capillaries or subdermal blood vessels under the skin. Instead of breaking open into a fresh cut, the bleeding occurs beneath the skin, causing the telltale discoloration. 

Now, if it’s a minor injury and it is not treated immediately, the body heals the bruise naturally by reabsorbing the blood. This takes several weeks to a full month at times. The wonderful thing about essential oils for injury is that they help ease the swelling, pain and discoloration within days!

Essential oils for bruises typically have anti-inflammatory properties. They not only reduce our injuries and swelling but also enhance how the skin looks. 

injury, swelling, pain and discoloration, use essential oils for bruising

The Power of Essential Oils for Bruises

Did you know that many of the popular essential oils for bruising used today were first used by the Egyptians, Romans and Greeks in 4,500 BC? These aromatic oils have been used for centuries by many cultures internationally for healing the sick, cosmetics, mummification and many other purposes. 

According to a 2011 article published in the Molecules journal, bioactive compounds displaying analgesic properties in essential oils for injury act like local anesthetics, preventing painful muscle spasms, reducing inflation and providing pain relief. 

From traditional medicinal treatments to holistic integrative modalities, essential oils fundamentally are used for their diverse health benefits. 

Top 5 Essential Oils for Bruising

A working woman on the brink of her next burnout cannot afford to disregard her health and wellness routines. Dig into the properties and effects of essential oils with the help of this specially curated list of the top 5 essential oils for bruising. 

1. Lavender Oil

Research shows that lavender essential oil was used by the Romans for purifying the air, cooking and bathing. Take a look at a few lavender oil benefits below:

  • The calming properties of lavender oil help in healing sore skin.
  • It also helps to subdue Rosacea-induced itches. 
  • The anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oils for bruises are great for treating any patch of sore skin, including but not limited to bed sores, burns, and minor wounds. It also helps moderate itching during the healing stages.

2. Helichrysum Oil

Unlike other essential oils with a short shelf life, Helichrysum oil can be stored for a very long duration. Some of its vast range of remarkable medicinal properties are:

  • Relieving spasms: Spasms are excessive, unbalanced and unwanted contractions in the body causing severe abdominal pains, convulsions, cramps, breathlessness, and severe coughs. The antispasmodic properties of Helichrysum oil offer quick relief. 
  • Preventing allergies: Keep this essential oil handy to prevent allergies in respiratory tracts, lungs, intensities, heart, etc.
  • Dissolving blood clots: As discussed earlier, injuries and bruises result in blood clots. This essential oil is extremely beneficial in terms of ‘melting’ the accumulated blood. 
  • Promoting skin regeneration: Helichrysum oil quickly heals bruises and wounds to effectively prevent any scar marks, promoting skin regeneration. 
  • Reducing swelling: The oil not only provides relief to inflammation but also reduces swellings on the skin. 

3. Arnica Oil

Arnica is a flowering perennial herb found in the mountains. The essential oil extracted from this plant is called Arnica Oil. Use this oil to:

  • Reduce inflammation
  • Improve circulation
  • Relieve pain
  • Reduce bruising

Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties protect the skin against infection, helping relieve pain and reduce swelling. 

Did you know studies say applying arnica oil twice a day for six weeks to affected knees shows remarkable improvement in stiffness and pain? 

4. Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil smells like a combination of woody, lemon and pine scents. Sourced from roots, stems and leaves, these essential oils are popular for their healing properties. 

Here’s a list of some of its well-known properties:

  • It is commonly used in aromatherapy for its diverse health benefits, including boosting immunity, reducing inflammation and pain, relieving chronic anxiety and stress, etc.
  • Frankincense essential oils for bruising stimulate relaxation by minimizing inflammation. 
  • The anti-anxiety properties (incensole acetate and incensole) of Frankincense oil alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  • The oil’s antiseptic qualities help prevent oral health problems like mouth sores, toothaches, cavities, bad breath, gingivitis, etc. 
oil benefits, 5 top essential oils for bruising

5. Chamomile Oil

  • The soothing properties of Chamomile oil are especially beneficial for people with dry skin dealing with irksome rashes. 
  • Research studies have demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Chamomile oil, and its ability to reach deeper layers beneath the surface of the skin to heal the bruise. 

How to Use Essential Oils for Bruises

A few ways to use essential oils are:

  1. Apply these home remedies directly to the skin if there is no infected or broken skin on the injured area.
  2. Blend the essential oils with carrier oils (such as jojoba oil or coconut oil) and gently massage the targeted areas. 
  3. Essential oils can also be used through smell by diffusing it. 
  4. Specific essential oils that are safe for internal use (like Young Living essential oils) can be ingested with water or in a veggie capsule. 

Topical Application Methods

I recommend the second option in case of using the oil to treat bruises and injuries. For this method, add around 10 drops of the mixture of essential oil and carrier oil to a cotton pad. Then use the cotton pad to tap around the injured area on the skin. One can also use clean hands to massage around the bruised area. 

Dilution guidelines for different oils:

  • Lavender: Mix 4-5 drops of essential oil with half a teaspoon of carrier oil, and massage 3-4 times a day around the injured area.
  • Chamomile: Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to a warm bath or compressor for quick relief. 
  • Geranium: Mix ½ teaspoon of aloe vera gel and 2-3 drops of essential oil. Add this mixture to a cotton pad and massage the injured area twice a day. 
  • Frankincense: Create a mixture of ½ teaspoon argan oil, 1-2 drops of turmeric oil and 1-2 drops of frankincense essential oil. Gently massage this mixture on the bruise 3-4 times a day. 
Guidelines on applying essential oils for bruises and injuries, Dilution guidelines for different oils

Considerations for Sensitive Skin

It is essential to talk to healthcare professionals before applying these home remedies for those who take regular medication. Note that essential oils can have adverse effects when interacting with specific medications. 

Moreover, some people may be sensitive or allergic to certain essential oils. If you are someone like that, consult your dermatologist for patch testing before applying these home remedies.

Final Words on Essential Oils for Bruises

Essential oils for bruises are extremely effective in treating discoloration, swelling, soreness and sensitivity. Unless you’re suffering from a major injury, it is recommended to apply the necessary home remedy, avoid activities leading to extreme fatigue and take proper rest when healing from bruises and injuries. 

Evidence-based arguments by herbalists support the use of essential oils as a natural remedy to treat bruises at home. Essential oils like Arnica, Frankincense, Chamomile, Lavender and Helichrysum speed up the process of healing wounds, minimize inflammation and help fight against infections.

Profile picture of Jane Hart

About the Author: Jane Hart

Working crazy hours in a high-stress work environment resulted in my body one day telling me, “Enough is enough!”

Navigating this serious health journey was both mentally and physically exhausting. But through some serious mindset work and instilling healthy habits, I was able to rebuild my life one day at a time and come out stronger on the other side!

Now my mission is to empower women like me to prioritize their fitness and well-being in a healthy, sustainable way and build a community of strong, happy and healthy women!

Jane's Signature