The hematoma, more commonly called "bruise" is nothing more than a collection of blood, more or less abundant, inside an organ or tissue. Let's find out better.
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Symptoms and causes of hematoma
It is often sufficient to bump into an object to break the capillaries and cause a hematoma ; in other situations the trauma causes deeper damage and the bleeding becomes significant. The site and volume of a hematoma depend on the type and extent of the trauma, the size of the injured vessel and the characteristics of the tissue in which the hematoma is formed.
The blood collected below the skin is slowly "degraded" by specific cells and the color of the hematoma changes over the course of the day ( from dark purple to green blue ) due to the changes that the colored substances contained in the red blood cells undergo.
The hematoma of small dimensions is therefore spontaneously reabsorbed, but if the due precautions are not respected, it tends to "organize itself", that is it turns into a liquid collection enclosed in a fibrous shell: in this case one must act surgically .
In addition to cases of trauma, defects in blood coagulation or fragility of the structure of the vessels, the hematoma can also emerge in tumor forms, such as leukemia, which affect the bone marrow and interfere with normal coagulation processes.
NATURAL CARE AGAINST THE HEMATOMA
Feeding in case of hematoma
Integrate the usual diet with foods rich in iron, such as oysters, pork and beef liver, meat, fish, eggs, legumes, cereals (especially oat flakes).
Increase the consumption of foods that contain bioflavonoids, such as lemon, grapes, plums, grapefruit. Zinc is also important and is found in walnuts, brewer's yeast, sesame and sunflower seeds. Add kefir and natural yogurt enriched with probiotic bacteria to the diet.
Natural zinc supplements, such as pumpkin seeds, among the remedies for hematoma
Phytotherapeutic remedies for hematoma
In phytotherapy, Arnica montana flowers are used, with anti-inflammatory power. The extracts, in the form of gel or cream, are sold in pharmacies and herbal medicine to treat hematomas and sprains even in children (as well as in adults). The mother tincture of arnica, an alcohol extract of dried flowers that is obtained by maceration in water and alcohol, is also used against hematomas.
Another important phytotherapeutic remedy: Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) from whose seed the dry extract is sprayed and titrated in escin (minimum 3%, according to the Italian Pharmacopoeia). Instead, a dry extract titrated in Esculoside is extracted from the bark. Initially, in the case of a hematoma it is advisable to administer 250 mg of dry extract 3 times a day (equal to 40 mg of escin three times a day) on a full stomach. Halve the maintenance dose.
This is because the horse chestnut greatly helps blood circulation, an action that is due to the two active ingredients that are extracted from the horse chestnut. The esculoside favors the physiological reabsorption of excess fluids that come out of the little elastic capillaries, while the escin contrasts this phenomenon to the origin reinforcing the capillary walls and improving the elasticity of the venous vessels.
Vaccinum myrtillus, black bilberry, rich in anthocyanosides, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, tannins and vitamin C is very useful for strengthening the capillary walls.
Properties, use and contraindications of escin
Bach flowers
Edward Bach developed the Rescue Remedy, a preparation with 5 Bach flowers: Clematis, Cherry plum, Impatiens, Rock Rose, Star of Bethlehem. It is a means of therapeutic first aid in the case of physical and mental pain, mourning, separation, loss, abandonment. This complex preparation is also available in the form of ointment, to be applied with a light massage in case of hematomas, wounds, insect bites, scratches, sprains, burns, traumas.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
The treatment of hematoma in traditional Chinese medicine is related to the symptom and the treatment of the points aims to mobilize blood stasis . Important points are therefore:
GE SHU (1.5 cun to the side of the spinous apophysis of the VII thoracic vertebra), regulates blood, removes obstructions;
QI MEN (on the vertical of the nipple, in the VI intercostal space), tones the qi of the Liver;
TAI CHONG (on the back of the foot, between the II and III metatarsus), regulates the Liver, cools the Blood;
ZHI GOU (3 cun above the fold of the wrist, between the radius and ulna), eliminates stasis and obstructions.
Essential oils in case of hematoma
Among the essential oils, it is useful to use the essential oil of horsetail in case of hematoma, which improves the circulation and absorbs water from the tissues. Soak a linen cloth in it and apply it on the affected part; band all with a dry cloth and leave on for 15 minutes. Alternatively, mix 3 drops of pine oil , eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary or camphor with a tablespoon of oil and massage gently.
Homeopathic remedies for hematoma
The homeopathic treatment to prevent or contain the formation of blood collection on the surface or on a muscular level is based on a systematic prescription of Arnica montana, associated with other remedies to be chosen depending on the region of the body affected by the trauma.
Other useful homeopathic remedies:
Ledum palustre 5 CH (5 granules, 3 times a day), in the case of hemorrhagic extravasation at the level of the soft parts, first of a bluish color, then greenish-yellow, slow resolution;
Millefolium 5 CH (5 granules initially also every 10 minutes and thinning based on improvement), used in the treatment of both spontaneous and traumatic bleeding;
Phosphorus 9 CH (5 granules, initially every 6 hours, thinning out based on improvement), indicated in repeated, frequent, abundant bleeding phenomena.
Exercises
Carefully avoid any abrupt or violent movement during physical practice. In fact, one of the most frequent causes of traumatic hematoma is the lesion of muscle fibers. The blood that comes out comes from the lesion of the dense network of vessels present in the muscle, caused by the violent distension of the muscle fibers that is at the origin of the trauma itself; the blood is deposited in the space formed by the torn muscle fibers.
Muscular injury usually occurs when the muscle structure is inelastic or when the movement is abrupt and fast. In this sense the body must be more or less always ready for action and a body ready for action is gained by practicing a lot of stretching, which is very important for stretching the muscle fibers. The injured area must absolutely be kept at rest, immediately applying ice to reduce pain and edema and above all, to limit post-traumatic bleeding. Rest serves to prevent the organization of the hematoma with all the negative consequences that could derive from it.
Massages are not recommended, unless they are targeted and performed by expert hands, because the muscle must "reconstitute" and must not therefore be unnecessarily solicited; the massage could then cause a resumption of bleeding from the lesion itself, with an increase in the severity of the hematoma. If the bruise is of a modest degree, it is sufficient to apply ice: the cold has an anesthetic effect (reduces pain) and causes vasoconstriction, which limits the leakage of blood. It usually heals in a few days, even if, in the most serious cases, it can be useful to associate a pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory treatment.
It is very wrong to wet the affected part with hot water, because, even if immediately a sensation of relief can be perceived, in reality the heat will do nothing but dilate the blood vessels, with a consequent greater recall of blood in the affected part and further hematoma expansion. When the trauma affects delicate areas (head, chest, abdomen ...) it is advisable to consult a doctor: in these cases the hematoma may not be visible, but may involve an internal organ.
