Summary

The basic steps for dealing with a minor scrape or cut are:

·   Stop the bleeding, apply pressure if necessary.

·   Clean the wound, remove any foreign matter (if the wound is greater than ¼” deep or cannot be easily closed consider stitches).

·   Apply an antibiotic.

·   Protect the wound.

·   Monitor for infection.

Essential oils are ideal agents for each of these steps because they have cleansing, analgesic, antibiotic plus calming properties.

 

Oils, blends & products recommended:

Oils & Blends: frankincense, helichrysum, lavender, myrrh, OnGuard

Essential oils based products: OnGuard hand wipes

Also consider: geranium, lemon, melaleuca, Purify

Suggested protocols:

For minor superficial wounds lavender applied topically is both analgesic and antiseptic.  After a brief stinging sensation (for some) it then lessens the pain and is an effective antibiotic agent while simultaneously the odor produces a calming effect.

Stopping bleeding:  If help is needed beyond pressure helichrysum and lemon are hemostatic oils (aid in blood clotting).

Cleansing: Soap and water are excellent.  For complex scrapes and scratches using an OnGuard hand wipe or OnGuard spritz is effective.

Antibiotic: Lavender, frankincense, and myrrh plus many other essential oils are very effective antibiotics.

Pain relief, calming:  Lavender is analgesic and calming.  Apply neat (without dilution) to the wound and then rub the palms together with 2 or 3 drops of oil and let the child or person hurt inhale the calming fragrance of lavender.

Ongoing:  Repeat application of the antibiotic oil every 4 to 6 hours till possibility of infection is passed.  Helichrysum applied regularly during the healing process will reduce or eliminate scarring.

Simple home first aid by Dr. Hill

Experiences and Testimonials of others

cnrb - I've always just used store-bought Neosporin on open cuts and to prevent scabbing and scars.  But now that I'm into oils, is there something that will work well?  Is there an oil I can put on an open cut?  And what about scabs and existing scars?  Anything that will help those?

Rachel - Lavender, it disinfects, heals, and helps with scarring. Apply often.

Pat - I had a bad fall last week and scraped at least two layers of skin. I immediately sprayed the area with Purify and then lavender. I continued the lavender the rest of the day and then a couple of times after that. There is no redness or soreness and it has already scabbed over. Now I am dropping helichrysum on the wound to prevent scarring. The helichrysum is great even for existing scars and scabs.

 

Sharon - My grandson got out of the car and he slammed his hand in the door.  No bones broken apparently but cut and bruised.

Rob - Lavender is a great analgesic. Excellent for cuts and bruising.  It would provide relief to pain, and healing to tissue.  If there were more severe damage I would consider helichrysum and geranium.  Finally frankincense is also a very good for tissue damage and would be very soothing.

Protocols folks recommend for children

 

 

Diet and Nutritional complements to essential oils

 

What Science & Research are saying

Should nursing take aromatherapy more seriously?

British Journal of Nursing, 16, (2), 116-120. Buckle, J. (2007).

This article discusses the expansion of aromatherapy within the U.S. and follows 10 years of developing protocol and policies that led to pilot studies on radiation burns, chemo-induced nausea, slow-healing wounds, Alzheimers and end-of-life agitation. This article outlines pilot studies, carried out in the U.S. by nurses, that subsequently led to the integration of aromatherapy in hospitals.

 

Wound care with essential oils after enucleation of a chronic abscess

Forsch Komplementmed. 2009 Dec;16(6):400-3. Epub 2009 Nov 6.   Steflitsch W.   Osterreichische Gesellschaft für wissenschaftliche Aromatherapie und Aromapflege (OGwA), Wien, Osterreich.

 

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Advances in wound care over the past years have led to a growing number of products, techniques and interventions which are extremely costly and tend to neglect the individual patient and their specific needs.

OBJECTIVE:

The present case report describes the post-operative care of a chronically infected wound by use of essential oils.

CASE REPORT:

In October 2007, a 41- year-old woman suffered a minor, non-bleeding lesion between toes IV and V of her right foot during gardening. Within a few hours, an extensive phlegmona of the right forefoot developed extending almost up to the ankle. In April 2008, Corynebacterium diphteriae was identified in the pus. In May 2008, it was decided to enucleate the chronic abscess that had developed despite several oral antimicrobial therapies. Wound care with essential oils was started 5 days after enucleation of the chronic abscess and continued until July 2008.

RESULTS:

Granulation tissue and epithelisation were growing quickly and without complications, and scar formation was fine. The scar is bland, slim and at skin level.

CONCLUSION:

The essential oils applied were selected according to their antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antimicrobial properties as well as their capacity to promote wound healing. Applied medical aroma therapy makes use of these properties to support wound healing.