Bumps, Bruises, Cuts and Grazes, how CBD can help.

Most parents over the summer holidays will have at some point found themselves dealing with their children's bumps, bruises, cuts and grazes, what nobody tells you is the majority of parents will have had to play nurse on more than one occasion. A study commissioned by Dr. Zoe Williams the TV Medic discovered that our kids are constantly in the wars. This shouldn't be any surprise until you hear that the average child has approx 104 knocks and tumbles each year. Their most popular ailments are grazed and bruised knees closely followed by bumps to the head and cut fingers with most experiencing common things like bruises, split lips and scratches a couple of times a week. I have an adventurous 8-year-old daughter so I can relate to this...

What's the best way to deal with everyday cuts and grazes?

I suspect the mandatory counting to 10, hugs and even a kiss to the injury to make it better are the first go-to for a lot of us, coupled with some distant relative's advice to let the wound dry and heal in the fresh air being one of the best wound care myths of all time when in fact the opposite is true, wounds that our cleaned, treated and covered heal faster with less chance of infection and scarring.

So at Healing Alternatives we would recommend the following

• Clean the wound from dirt and bacteria to avoid infection with an alcohol swab or cold water, once clean, dab dry with a clean gauze pad or tea towel.
• Apply a thin layer of our Healing Alternatives First Aid Balm to the cut or graze. The First Aid CBD-based balm has been specially created to treat cuts and grazes. The balm is blended with all-natural products, Sea Buckthorn, Pomegranate, Tea Tree and Lavender oil.

CBD is renowned for reducing inflammation and helping skin to heal. Sea Buckthorn hydrates the skin and promotes the formation of collagen. Pomegranate is full of antimicrobials and antioxidants, while Tea Tree oil is known the world over for its antiseptic properties and Lavender soothes and calms irritated skin. A moist healing environment aids the natural speed the wound heals and helps with any potential scarring.

• Apply a biodegradable plastic-free plaster to the injured area.
• Repeat 2 & 3 on a daily basis until the wound has healed.

Over 60% of parents use an average of 99 plasters per year. That adds up to a lot of plasters every year being discarded in the UK alone. I found this company called Patch that makes plastic-free plasters that will biodegrade in just six weeks. They are completely natural, and made from bamboo fibres. 

 What's the best way to deal with everyday bumps and bruises?

Ice, a cold pack, or a handy bag of frozen peas is your best friend when it comes to treating bumps and bruises. Wrap any of the above in a clean towel and apply to the area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, never put the ice directly onto the skin. The ice will help to decrease the immediate inflammation from the injury.

In order to bring the swelling and bruising down even further, I recommend using our Healing Alternative Arnica Spray with CBD. This is our go-to for the whole family. Test on a small area of skin before full application and then apply generously to the injured area massaging into the skin and watch these natural ingredients work their incredible healing powers.

The CBD Arnica Spray combines CBD, Arnica and Sweet Almond oils to treat aches and pains bumps and bruises. Both CBD oils and Arnica have properties that reduce the swelling associated with injury and bruising. It also has Black Pepper and Eucalyptus oils that help to reduce swelling and inflammation by stimulating circulation.

Plastic ice packs you can throw in the freezer are great and we have a few but we are always looking for ways to cut down on our plastic use and so if you're looking for another alternative to these then check out these Adorfine reusable cool bags.