Survival on the Fly: Natural Antiseptics for Treating Wounds & Cuts
The first step of treating a wound or cut is to stop the bleeding, usually by applying pressure to the injury with a clean cloth. Once the bleeding has stopped, the next and most important part of treatment is cleaning and disinfecting the area. One of the most widely used natural antiseptics is garlic, and its use has been documented across many cultures. There is evidence that fresh garlic has both antibacterial and antiviral properties, though the anti-vampire effect has yet to be proven (much to the chagrin of Team Jacob boosters).
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Garlic’s effectiveness diminishes with age, so fresh garlic should be used on wounds rather than older bulbs that have been lying around. The active chemical in garlic is allicin, which is formed when fresh garlic is chopped or crushed. Allicin, which gives garlic that distinct aroma, is very unstable, and thus it is essential to apply the bulb immediately to the wound after you cut it.
Drilling For Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has been gaining popularity as an antiseptic. The oil is extracted from the leaves of a tea tree — a native of Australia — and can be applied topically on a cut to prevent microbial infections. The oil is composed of 98 different compounds, but the active ingredient is still unknown. Applying the oil around cuts and wounds before dressing them can prevent harmful unwanted infections. One caveat: This oil is toxic to humans when taken orally, so be careful not to ingest it.
Honey For Boo-Boos
Of all the natural antiseptics, the most tested and proven medicine is honey. The sweet liquid produced by bees has been used throughout history to treat wounds. Honey exhibits antiseptic activity on a wide spectrum of bacteria. Its effectiveness can be traced to many factors, including its acidity and high osmolarity, and the presence of hydrogen peroxide. If you are storing honey, make sure to keep it in a cool environment, because heat can break down the hydrogen peroxide.
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Honey can also be used on a wound to help it heal faster. We all know that honey is sticky, and this property can help form a protective barrier around a wound while maintaining a moist environment. The anti-inflammatory aspect of honey has been well documented and can be useful for reducing pain and soreness around wounds. With all its benefits, it seems like honey and wounds were made for each other. If you do apply honey to a wound, be sure to wrap the area with cloth or medical wrap to keep any dirt and particles from latching on. Keep in mind that honey has a high sugar content, so ants, dogs and hungry bears will be attracted to the wound.
Pour Some Sugar On It
Speaking of that sweet carbohydrate, sugar itself has been used for centuries to promote faster wound healing. It is believed that a sugar dressing will absorb any moisture from tissue around the wound, and it will dehydrate bacteria as well, preventing any microbial propagation. Keeping the wound clean, sterile, and free of microbes reduces inflammation and speeds up the healing process. If you apply sugar to a wound, be sure to cover it with a dry dressing and monitor for any moisture collection. If the dressing becomes too moist, replace both the sugar and dressing, because sugar on a wound is most beneficial when it remains dry. Stockpiling sugar is a no brainer, since it’s also useful in the kitchen. Make sure you store your sugar in a dry environment and inside a sealed, hard container to prevent any critters and bugs from getting into your stash.
Aloe Vera Juiced
The rate of wound healing depends on many variables, and many natural medicines have been used to accelerate this process. Aloe vera is used for many dermatological purposes, and its boost for speeding skin healing is popular. When cut, the spiny leaves of the aloe plant excrete a gel that can be applied directly onto wounds. The gel exhibits a soothing anti-inflammatory effect.
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Many still question the effectiveness of aloe vera due to the lack of concrete scientific evidence, and though there have been studies that have shown it to reduce healing time, further studies on aloe are needed. The aloe vera plant grows readily in many different climates, does not require much water, and is resistant to pests; therefore, growing one in your house would not be a bad idea. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant forms of bacteria, alternative options in treating infections have become ever more important. As the field of alternative medicine continues to grow and more research is being done to fully understand the vast range of options, our medicine stockpiles can be expanded to include so many plants and trees that grow right outside our windows.
This article was originally published in the Fall 2015 issue of BALLISTIC™ magazine. Print Subscriptions are available here.
How to Easily Make a Natural Homemade Antiseptic Soap
I like to make my own soaps and in the past I already wrote about how to make your own fragrant homemade lavender soap. Due to the popularity of my other post I decided to write another post about how to make your own antiseptic soap.
This is an easy to make antiseptic soap that makes a fantastic hand and body wash because it contains tea tree and thyme essential oils, that have anti fungal and anti bacterial properties.
It is also excellent to treat or prevent fungal infections like vaginal yeast infections, athlete’s foot and ringworm. If you are interested to learn more about the amazing health benefits of tea tree oil, read my other post about the top 5 medicinal uses for tea tree oil.
So why don’t you give it a try and make your own antiseptic soap? You can buy soap molds online and they come in various shapes and sizes such as this beautiful flower mold.
Homemade Antiseptic Soap Recipe
300 g olive oil based soap (Castile soap)
500 ml water
5 tbsp almond oil (or olive/jojoba/avocado oil)
2 tsp. tea tree essential oil
30 drops thyme essential oil
4 tbsp. dried marigold (calendula) flowers (optional)
Preparation
Grate the soap into a glass bowl and add the water. Place the bowl over a pan of boiling water on a low heat (bain-marie) and stir until the soap melts.
Add the almond oil, the two essential oils and the dried flowers, and mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a soap mold and leave to cool and set. Once set, wrap the soap in greaseproof paper and leave to dry in a cool place.
How to use the soap? Wash the affected skin areas with the soap once or twice a day, or as required. Rinse off well.
Storage – store in a cool dark place wrapped in greaseproof paper. Keeps for up to 1 year.
If you love using essential oils, you can find useful information in my e-book Magical Aromatherapy. This e-book will help you to discover the power of essential oils and the most effective ways to use them: Magical Aromatherapy.
How to Make a Natural Lavender Soap
This recipe includes lavender which is a calming and soothing herb that was brought to Europe by the Romans. It was one of the most favored aromatic herbs used by the Romans in their daily bathing rituals.
A lot of people like to carry a bottle of lavender essential oil with them as their personal first aid kit. And I’ve already mentioned that the many reasons why you should consider adding lavender essential oil to your daily life.
This easy lavender soap recipe has the great aroma of lavender flowers. These purple flowers have a powerful aroma which relaxes us into a state of well-being.
Lavender Soap Recipe
2 tablespoons of fresh lavender flowers, chopped
2 tablespoons of glycerine, warmed
12 tablespoons of olive oil based soap (Castile soap), grated.
1 tablespoon of clear honey
For decoration: a ribbon and extra sprigs of lavender flowers
Preparation
Place the chopped lavender flowers in the warmed glycerine and leave to infuse in a warm place for 2 hours – this softens the flowers and allows the aroma and healing properties of lavender mix into the glycerine.
Place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of boiling water and melt the grated soap. Remove from the heat and add the glycerine and lavender flowers mixture. Add the honey. Grease soap mold with glycerine and pour the soap. Leave to set and then remove from the mold.
If you want to give it as a gift, you can decorate the soap by wrapping a ribbon around the soap and tie on a sprig of lavender flowers.
How to Make an Antiseptic Castile Bar Soap
Here is a great use for Castile soap: a natural antiseptic Castile bar soap that you can easily make at home. Castile soap (often called pure Castile soap) is soap that is made purely from vegetable oil, water and lye. This recipe is taken from my article about the most ingenious uses of castile soap.
This Castile soap makes a fantastic hand and body wash because it contains tea tree and thyme essential oils. These essential oil have anti fungal and anti bacterial properties and they are also some of the best essential oils for skincare.
300 g Castile bar soap
500 ml water
5 tbsp. sweet almond oil (or olive/jojoba/avocado oil)
2 tsp. tea tree essential oil
30 drops thyme essential oil
Preparation
Grate the Castile soap into a glass bowl and add the water. Place the bowl over a pan of boiling water on a low heat (bain-marie) and stir until the soap melts. Add the almond oil, the essential oils, and mix thoroughly.
Pour the mixture into a soap mold and leave to cool and set. Once set, wrap the soap in greaseproof paper and leave to dry in a cool place.
Read these related articles:
1. How to Use Baking Soda for Gorgeous Face and Skin
2. 8 Ingenious Ways to Use Coconut Oil on Your Hair
3. How to Easily Remove Pesticides From Your Fruits and Vegetables
