Herbal Treatments
To improve circulation:
Ginkgo - take up to 3 times a day as advised by a herbalist. Improving circulation may help prevent bedsores.
To prevent infection and promote health skin:
Echinacea - take 3 times a day to prevent infection.
Garlic – supplements can be taken as a natural antibiotic to help fight the infection.
Flax – adding flax seeds to the diet adds fiber, which absorbs extra fluid in the body and aids in easy stool passage. This can help keep the system clear and help prevent bedsores.
External Applications
Myrrh – a commercial tincture can be applied to bedsores that have not broken open. Do a test patch on healthy skin first to make sure there is no sensitivity to myrrh.
Aloe vera – the gel can be found commercially or can be used directly from the leaf of the plant.
Arnica – this herb is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Apply with a cloth or add it to a poultice. Watch for signs of dermatitis with long term use.
Calendula – make a tea with 1 to 2 teaspoons of flowers in 1 cup of boiling water and allow it to steep for at least ten minutes. Use the tea as a wash or apply as a compress. The ointment or tincture can also be used.
Comfrey – mix powdered leaves with slippery elm to form a paste. Rub the paste on a piece of cloth and secure it to the affected area overnight for the best results.
Goldenseal – sprinkle the powder over the area to disinfect it and then cover with cotton. Echinacea can be used exactly the same way.
Chamomile – this herb is an anti-inflammatory and can be used as a wash for the bedsores. Calendula and horsetail can be added to this wash to help strengthen and nourish the skin.
Manuka Honey - apply honey on a dressing to affected area. Change regularly.
Aromatherapy
The following essential oils may be used individually or in a blend to reduce inflammation and therefore promote healing to sores on the skin:
Myrrh
Sandalwood
Tea tree oil - add 4 drops of tea tree oil to 1 cup of water and apply it over the bedsores.
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