| How to Care for a Bruise Naturally Posted: 03 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT Bruises form on your body as a response to an injury or blow. Most bruises aren't serious, so don't worry! However, the associated pain and swelling might be uncomfortable for a few days. If you want to get rid of your bruise naturally, there are several easy treatments you can try at home to reduce swelling and speed up healing time. If your bruise covers a significant portion of a limb or doesn't fade on its own within 2 weeks, it's best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure everything is okay. [Edit]Using Natural Remedies - Apply topical arnica to the bruise 2-3 times daily for possible relief. Arnica is commonly used in homeopathic medicine and some scientific evidence supports claims that it can reduce pain and swelling.[1] If you're interested in homeopathic remedies, you can try using an arnica gel or ointment on the affected area a few times every day. You should only apply arnica topically if the skin isn't broken—it can be toxic if too much is absorbed.[2] Arnica should be avoided if you are:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Taking blood-thinning medication
- Allergic to sunflowers, marigolds, or ragweed
- Getting surgery in the next 2 weeks[3]
- Add more vitamin C to your diet or try a supplement to heal faster. A diet that is high in vitamin C may help your body absorb iron better and speed up the healing process.[4] Eat plenty of foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, red peppers, or broccoli. You can also take vitamin C oral supplements, which are available at most grocery and health stores.
- The recommended dose of vitamin C is 65-90 mg a day.
- Do not exceed 2,000 mg a day or you may experience side effects like vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps.[5]
- Apply vitamin K cream to the bruise twice daily to speed up healing. Scientific studies show that vitamin K cream can be effective in accelerating the healing process for bruises. Gently rub the cream into the bruised area twice daily for 2 weeks or until the bruise disappears.[6]
- Use a cream with a low concentration of vitamin K, like 0.1%, to prevent any side effects.[7]
- Use vitamin K with caution if you take blood-thinning medications like Warfarin.
- You can also try consuming more vitamin K by eating foods like spinach, kale, broccoli, lettuce, blueberries, and figs.[8]
- Spread aloe vera gel on the affected area to ease pain and swelling. Studies show that aloe vera gel can reduce pain and swelling associated with bruises. It may also speed up healing. You can apply the aloe vera gel generously to the affected area throughout the day, as needed, for relief.[9]
- Aloe vera gel helps with swelling and healing by improving blood circulation. The cool and soothing feeling of the gel on the skin can ease pain. Also, it's easy to make.[10]
[Edit]Easing Pain and Swelling - Rest the injured area as much as possible to control swelling. Small bruises aren't usually a big deal, but if your bruise is large or hurting a lot, it's best to avoid putting any pressure or weight on it. Avoid exercising or playing sports for a few days until the pain and swelling subside.[11]
- If the bruise is on a leg and you can't avoid moving around, consider getting a pair of crutches.
- If you can't move a bruised and swollen joint at all, it's best to head to the emergency room to make sure you don't have a broken bone.[12]
- Elevate your injury to reduce swelling and prevent blood from pooling. Use a few soft pillows to prop up your injured area. Try to keep the bruised area elevated higher than chest level to control the amount of blood that pools in the bruised tissue. The more blood that pools, the darker the bruise will be and the more the area will swell up.[13]
- For example, if you bruised your shin, lie down and place a few pillows under the lower part of your leg so that your shin is elevated above chest level.
- Apply an ice pack in 15-minute intervals to ease pain and swelling. Try to get some ice on your bruise as soon as possible to control swelling and help with the pain. Wrap the ice pack in a clean cloth hold and it over the injured area for 15 minutes at a time. You can do this as often as once per hour for the first 48 hours after the injury.[14]
- Avoiding placing ice directly against your skin to prevent ice burns and skin irritation.
- You can also use a bag of frozen vegetables if you don't have access to an ice pack![15]
- Switch to a heating pad after 48 hours or when the swelling reduces. Heat can increase swelling, so don't apply a heating pad until your swelling goes down. You can apply a heating pad or a cloth soaked with warm water for 10-15 minutes at a time. It's safe to do this several times per day for pain relief and to help with flexibility.[16]
- For example, place a cloth soaked in warm water over your bruised knee for pain relief.
- Wrap the area with a compression bandage if the swelling is bad. If you're dealing with a serious bruise and a lot of swelling, try loosely wrapping your injury with a compression or elastic bandage. This limits blood leakage in the injured tissue and helps with swelling. Make sure you don't apply the pressure bandage too tightly![17]
- For example, you could wrap a bruised shin or thigh.
- Generally, you don't need to compress minor bruises.
[Edit]When to Seek Medical Treatment - See your doctor if your bruise is unusually painful or swollen. Most bruises improve quickly at home with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE). However, if your bruised area is extremely painful, very swollen, or covers a significant portion of a limb, it's best to get checked out by a doctor to make sure you're okay. These symptoms may indicate a more serious injury, such as a fractured or broken bone.[18]
- You should also call your doctor if the bruised area is still painful after 3 days, especially if the injury seemed relatively minor.
- Go in for a checkup if a lump forms over the bruise. A lump that forms over a bruise is called a hematoma. If your bruise was caused by an injury, a hematoma might not be a big deal, but your doctor still needs to check it out. If your bruise appeared without an apparent cause and then a lump developed on top of it, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to figure out the cause.[19]
- Contact your doctor if your bruise doesn't heal within 2 weeks. Most bruises heal up or improve within 1-2 weeks. If your bruise hasn't significantly improved in that time, call your doctor. They can examine the bruise and determine if there's a more serious underlying issue.[20]
- A bruise that doesn't heal may indicate a more serious problem, such as a blood clotting disorder.
- Get emergency medical attention for vision problems after a black eye. If you get a bruise around your eye, watch out for severe symptoms such as blurred or double vision or severe pain in or around your eye. Additionally, look out for bleeding in your eye or from your nose. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.[21]
- You should also see a doctor if you notice the bruising spreading to your other eye.
- Talk to your doctor if you have frequent or unexplained bruises. If you bruise easily, your bruises tend to be very large or painful, or you develop bruises for no obvious reason, it's time to get checked out by your doctor. They can determine if there is an underlying condition that may be causing the problem.[22]
- Let your doctor know about any medications or supplements you're taking, and tell them if you have a family history of blood clotting disorders or easy bruising.[23]
- Keep in mind that blood-thinning medications like Warfarin, Coumadin, aspirin, and Heparin can cause you to bruise more easily.[24]
- Always see a doctor if a bruise covers a large portion of your body or limb.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Make Disinfectant Wipes Posted: 03 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT Disposable disinfecting wipes offer a quick and convenient way to keep your home and hands clean and free of germs and viruses. However, with news of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic dominating the headlines, these basic cleaning supplies are flying off the shelves. If you go to your local grocery store or pharmacy and find that all the disinfecting wipes are out of stock, don't panic! You can easily make your own disinfecting wipes for home surfaces with a few basic household supplies. While doctors recommend washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer, you can also make disinfectant hand wipes if you don't have access to anything better. [Edit]Creating Surface Disinfecting Wipes - Make an x-shaped slit in the lid of a cylindrical plastic food-storage tub. Get a plastic food-storage tub that's the right width to hold a section of a paper towel roll. Use a box cutter, a precision knife, or another sharp blade to cut an x-shaped opening in the lid. You'll be using this opening to pull the wipes up out of the container when you're ready to use them.[1]
- Be very careful when cutting through the lid! Place it on a firm surface that won't be damaged if you scrape it with your blade, such as a workbench or cutting board, and keep your fingers out of the way.
- Cut a paper towel roll into sections that will fit in your plastic tub. Lay a sturdy roll of paper towels down on its side and slice through it width-wise with a sharp knife. Make a section that will fit into your plastic storage tub standing upright.[2]
- It can be very difficult to cut through a paper towel roll with an ordinary serrated kitchen knife. To make an easier, cleaner cut, try using a band saw if you have one.[3]
- Place one of the paper towel sections inside the plastic container. Set the cut section of the paper towel roll upright in the container. Try putting the lid on to make sure that the roll is short enough to fit with the container closed.[4]
- You'll need to be able to close the container tightly to prevent the wipes from drying out once you add your disinfectant.
- Pour of an EPA-approved disinfecting solution over the paper towels. In order for your wipes to actually disinfect the surfaces you want to use them on, you'll need to use a solution that can effectively kill germs and bacteria.[5] Use a product such as 60-90% isopropyl alcohol, Lysol Multi-Surface Cleaner, or Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner.[6]
- Allow the paper towels to soak in the solution overnight. Put the lid on the container and set it aside. Let the paper towels sit for 12 hours, or overnight, so that the cleaning solution can soak into the paper thoroughly.[7]
- The wipes need to be thoroughly saturated in order to disinfect properly, since you'll need to apply a fairly heavy layer of the cleaning solution to the surface you're cleaning.
- Pull the cardboard tube out of the center of the roll. Once the paper towels have soaked up all the cleaning solution, the cardboard tube in the center will become damp and soft. Grab the end of the tube and carefully slide it out of the roll, then throw it away.[8]
- This will make it easier to access the end of the roll so that you can pull the paper towels through the hole in the lid.
- Thread the inner end of the paper towel roll through the slit in the lid. When you pull the cardboard tube out of the roll, the middle part of the paper towel roll will likely come up along with it. Grab the end of the center part of the roll and carefully pull it through the x-shaped slit you cut in the lid of your plastic tub. Then, close the lid tightly with the end of the roll sticking out.[9]
- Now you can easily pull your paper towel wipes out a few at a time whenever you need them! At the same time, the rest of the paper towels should stay moist inside the container.
- Use enough wipes so that the surface remains wet for 3-5 minutes. In order to use disinfecting wipes properly, you need to get the surface you're disinfecting nice and wet. Wipe down the surface until it's visibly wet, then let the disinfecting solution stand for 3-5 minutes before wiping or rinsing it away. This will allow it plenty of time to kill any viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms on the surface.[10]
- Some disinfectants take longer to work than others. Read the information on the original bottle carefully to ensure that you're letting it sit for the correct amount of time.
- Discard any wipes immediately after using them. Reusing a wipe can spread germs and viruses around to other surfaces instead of killing them. As soon as you're done using a wipe on one surface, throw it away in a lined trash can. Grab another wipe if you still need to do more cleaning.[11]
- If you're wearing gloves, throw them away when you're done (or disinfect them, if they're reusable).
[Edit]Making DIY Hand Wipes - Use soap and water or commercial hand sanitizer if you can. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to clean your hands is to wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you don't have soap and water, using a gel hand sanitizer that's at least 60% alcohol is your best bet.[12] Don't try to make your own hand sanitizer unless you have absolutely no choice, since it's very difficult to create a product that's both effective against germs and safe for your skin.[13]
- Most alcohol that you can buy in a drug store or department store will probably not be concentrated enough to easily make a 60% alcohol solution when you mix it with other ingredients, such as aloe gel.
- Be aware that regularly using highly concentrated alcohol can eventually damage your skin and make it easier to absorb toxins and other contaminants through the damaged skin barrier.[14]
- Combine of 99% rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel. Aside from soap and warm water, hand sanitizers that are at least 60% alcohol are your best option for killing germs and viruses on your hands.[15] Add a little pure aloe vera gel to the mix to make the combination less drying on your skin. A combination of 2 parts 99% isopropyl alcohol and 1 part aloe gel will give you an effective concentration of alcohol.[16]
- You can buy isopropyl alcohol in most drug stores or grocery stores, but you may have trouble finding the concentration you need. If you can't find 99% alcohol in stores near you, you can purchase it online.[17]
- Aloe vera gel is available from most drug stores or grocery stores. You can also squeeze it directly out of an aloe leaf.
- If you absolutely can't find isopropyl alcohol, ethanol (the kind of alcohol that's in alcoholic beverages) will also work. However, you'll need to find alcohol that's 180 proof or higher—your average vodka won't be strong enough.
- Pour the mixture into a clean plastic container. Put your DIY hand sanitizer in an empty soap dispenser or another plastic container. Close the lid tightly to prevent it from evaporating.[18]
- If the container has been used before, wash it thoroughly with soap and hot water before adding the disinfectant.
- Squeeze the mixture onto a paper towel or tissue. When you're ready to use your sanitizer to disinfect your hands or another surface, simply squeeze or pump a little of it onto a clean piece of paper towel, tissue, or gauze. Use enough to thoroughly dampen your wipe.[19]
- Wipe your hands thoroughly and discard the wipe. Wipe all surfaces of your hands, including the backs of your hands, your wrists, and the spaces between your fingers. Inspect your hands to make sure they're visibly clean. Allow your hands to air dry instead of wiping or rinsing them off.[20]
- Rinsing your hands or wiping away the hand sanitizer too soon may prevent it from completely disinfecting your hands.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Creating Disinfecting Surface Wipes - Cylindrical plastic food-storage tub with a lid
- Box cutter or precision knife
- Roll of paper towels
- Sharp kitchen knife or band saw
- EPA-approved disinfectant solution, such as isopropyl alcohol, Lysol, or Clorox
[Edit]Making DIY Hand Wipes - 99% isopropyl alcohol
- 100% aloe vera gel
- Clean plastic container, such as an empty soap dispenser
- Paper towels or tissue
- Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the CDC has recommended that people frequently clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, light switches, tables, and chairs, to prevent the virus from spreading.[21]
- The best way to clean your hands is by washing them in warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, especially if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. If you don't have access to soap and water, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipe is a good alternative.[22]
[Edit]Warnings - Don't try to make your own hand sanitizer unless you don't have access to soap and water or commercial hand sanitizer! It's very difficult to create a product that will kill germs and viruses effectively without hurting your skin.[23]
- Baby wipes, anti-bacterial wipes that aren't alcohol-based, and botanical or essential-oil based wipes are not effective for killing the coronavirus.[24] Stick to alcohol-based sanitizers for cleaning your skin, or use one of the other cleansers on the EPA's list of approved disinfectants for the coronavirus.[25]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Prepare Your Yard for Summer Posted: 03 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT The secret to keeping your yard thriving throughout the summer lies in the lawn care techniques you implement during the spring. By getting started early in the year, you'll develop a resilient lawn that's resistant to the effects of the sun, weeds, pests and heavy foot traffic. Follow these guidelines to prepare your yard to grow nice and green for the summer. [Edit]Getting Your Lawn Ready for Summer - Aerate your lawn to promote the healthy formation of the root system. Aeration allows the grass to breathe, and also enables water and nutrients reach the root system more efficiently. Failure to aerate your lawn sufficiently will make it much more difficult for grass and plants to survive during the hottest part of the season.[1]
- Perform the process in the autumn if your lawn is a cool-season grass, like bluegrass or ryegrass. If you live in a climate where warm-season grasses thrive, aerate in early spring.
- Many experts suggest aerating your lawn every 1 to 3 years, but high-traffic areas may require more frequent attention.
- Rake your lawn to remove thatch and other debris. Go over your lawn from end to end with a rake to clear it of thatch, or decaying plant material, that has accumulated on the ground. A thick layer of thatch can block sunlight and prevent water from reaching deep down to the roots of the grass. Dethatch in late autumn while you're raking leaves to prepare your yard for the summer.[2]
- Consider raking again in spring, particularly if your lawn shows evidence of compaction.
- Fertilize the yard according to the type of grass you have. Fertilizers supplement the nutrients found in your lawn's soil and keeps grass growing thick and lush. Apply fertilizer at least twice a year during the peak growing seasons of your lawn. Scale back fertilizing about 30 days before the highest summer temperatures hit.[3]
- Cool-season grasses: lawns comprised of these types of grasses should be fertilized during early spring and at the onset of fall. Use fertilizer with higher nitrogen concentrations when fertilizing in autumn to ensure the survival of the grass.
- Warm-season grasses: these varieties flourish during the summer months. A nitrogen-rich fertilizer should be spread in the spring, when the lawn shows its first signs of vibrancy. Fertilize again in late summer.
- Reseed bare patches. This should be done prior to your grass's peak growing season, preferably in the fall. Till the soil and spread the seed evenly across the bare spot to fill in gaps in the lawn growth. Use a standard fertilizer and water the area as you normally would.[4]
- Add nitrogen-rich fertilizer after the seeds have germinated to ensure robust growth.[5]
[Edit]Maintaining Your Yard - Mow the grass regularly. Mowing should be done roughly once a week, though how fast your grass will grow will depend on climate conditions. Keep grass cut to a height of about 2.5 to 3", except in the hottest part of the summer, when you should let it grow about half an inch longer. Mowing keeps grass growing at a healthy rate and makes your lawn look neat and manicured.[6]
- Grass needs to grow slightly longer in the hottest summer months to provide shade for its roots and conserve moisture in the soil. Be careful not to cut more than about 1/3 of the blade at a time, as this can cause structural damage to the grass that inhibits growth.[7]
- Make sure you give your lawn mower a checkup before bringing it out of winter hibernation. Dull blades should be sharpened, tires should be inflated and there should be a sufficient amount of oil in the motor.
- Prune trees and shrubs. Trim dead and excess growth off of trees and shrubs in your yard. Pruning promotes healthy growth by eliminating parts of the shrub that are dead, infested with harmful insects or damaged by weather. It also allows you to shape the growth of the tree or shrub, resulting in a more aesthetic appearance.
- Look for dead and damaged limbs to prune first. These will usually be identifiable by their colorless appearance and lack of living thriving foliage. At best, dead limbs are an eyesore; at worst, disease can spread to the rest of the shrub.
- Always remove any tree limbs that extend precariously over driveways, walkways or any place in that yard where people tend to gather. These can be become a hazard if they fall.
- Set up a sprinkler system for consistent watering. Your grass and plants need copious amounts of water to survive in the dry summer heat. Even in areas that receive a lot of rainfall, natural moisture might not be enough to keep your greenery healthy on its own. Set up a sprinkler system to run every 24 hours to ensure that your lawn and surrounding plants are being effectively irrigated.[8]
- It's best to water slowly and gradually to allow water to penetrate to the root level and avoid runoff. Having your sprinkler system set to a timer and moving in smooth, sweeping motions can accomplish this.[9]
- Water your yard at night or in the cool early morning hours so that the moisture is going straight to the grass rather than being evaporated by heat.
- Keep pests under control. Inspect flower bushes, shrubs and fruit trees periodically for garden pests like aphids, grasshoppers, slugs and snails. These little critters like to make a meal out of the leaves of flowering plants, which can compromise the health of the plant. Remove larger offenders by hand or with a water hose and treat plants with natural pesticides to keep pests away from the plant in the future.[10][11]
- Plants are natural habitats to many different kinds of animals and insects, and some are more destructive than others. It might be a good idea to do some research on the kind of pests that populate your area so that you can tell a harmless bug from an unwelcome one.[12]
- If you grow fruits or vegetables, watch out for larger grazing animals like rabbits and deer. If left unchecked, they can ruin weeks of hard gardening work in a matter of days.
- Use mulch to keep plants growing. Spread a thin layer of mulch over the base of plants during the height of the summer heat. Mulch is full of beneficial soil nutrients and is dense enough to protect a plant's roots and stalk from the sun. Mulching in conjunction with frequent watering will ensure that your plants never go thirsty.[13]
- Mulch can be bought cheap at any gardening center, or you can easily make your own from the brush in your yard using a wood chipper or shredder.
[Edit]Turning Your Yard Into a Summer Haven - Keep a flower bed. Designate a small corner of your yard to use to grow flowers. Plant a variety of seasonals and perennials to suit your own preferences. The delightful colors and fragrances of a flower bed can add an idyllic beauty to your home.[14]
- Consult with a gardening expert to see what types of flowers grow best in your region's particular climate.
- Don't overwater flowers. Unlike fast-growing plants like grass and shrubs, flowers don't require as much moisture on average, and watering too often may cause them to wither.
- Plant a vegetable garden. Many people have begun sewing small patches of crops right in their own backyards. Decide what you'd like to grow—beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, squash; your options are nearly limitless—and make sure the soil is thoroughly aerated and suitable to grow vegetables in. Raising your own small batches of vegetables will give your yard a utilitarian appeal while providing you and your family with fresh, homegrown food to enjoy all summer long.[15]
- Use organic compost to help vegetable crops absorb vital nutrients.
- If yard space is an issue, considering planting your vegetables on a vertical trellis, or even in a compact grower that you can keep inside your own house![16]
- Pick ripe vegetables immediately to keep pests from feeding on them.
- Put up a fence. Build a simple wooden fence to mark your property and give your yard a sense of peaceful containment. Fences can be useful for offering a little privacy if you live in a crowded neighborhood, as well as keeping out animals that may trample and devour plants.[17]
- If you contract with a handyman, ask them about the materials and expenses needed to put a fence around your yard.
- Build a rustic footpath. If you have an especially large yard, or one that is divided up with shrubs, flower beds or amenities like a pool or fire pit, you might construct a simple stepping stone path out of flagstones or wooden planks. A footpath can give you an expedient way to traverse your yard or garden without wearing down the grass, is easy to build and has a pleasant, quaint aesthetic.[18]
- Take a look at these resources for simple plans to lay down a footpath: [19][20]
- Invest in some outdoor furniture. You'll be spending a lot of time outside this summer, so make sure you do it in leisure. Purchase some nice, sturdy lawn chairs to give you a place to sit and sip lemonade on a hot day. If space permits, you could even set up an entire dining set to host picnics. Study the layout of plants, trees and shrubs to decide on the best way to arrange the furniture, and turn your yard into a relaxing outdoor lounge. [21][22]
- Be sure that you're buying furniture with water-resistant cushions and surfaces. This way, you won't have to worry about bringing it in every time it rains. Water-resistant outdoor furniture is often cleaned easily, as well.
- Place a small bench within a garden for a nice seating area, or lay out some reclining chairs somewhere unshaded for sunbathing.
- If local restrictions limit the amount of watering you can do, target areas of your lawn that get the most foot traffic. These areas need strong root systems to withstand the constant wear.
- Take care of big yard projects, like planting new grass, before the onset of summer to make sure that grass and plants are growing properly. High temperatures and lack of moisture in the summer will make it difficult for newly-planted seed to flourish.
- Get friends and family to pitch in on lawn and garden care for a fun, productive activity to do together outside.
[Edit]Warnings - Exercise caution when using dangerous lawn care tools, such lawn mowers, weed eaters and pruning shears. Accidents happen.
- Fertilizer contains potentially dangerous chemicals. Avoid breathing or ingesting fertilizer when applying it to your lawn. Always wash your hands thoroughly and immediately after working with fertilizer, and rinse your eyes and mouth if they happen to come into contact with fertilizer.
- Overwatering plants is likely to kill them. Know how much water your grass needs as opposed to shrubs, flowers and fruits and vegetables. Irrigating your lawn can be done automatically through the use of a sprinkler system, but most other plants will require you to water manually and keep up with the amount of water that the plant is getting regularly.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Lawn aerator
- Fertilizer
- Grass seed
- Lawn mower
- Sprinkler system
- Gardening shears
- Seeds for planting flowers or fruits/vegetables (optional)
- Stones or planks for footpath (optional)
- Outdoor furniture (optional)
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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