Natural Remedies for Bedsores

Bedsores occur when prolonged pressure occurs on the skin usually over bony areas. They are basically ulcers, skin ulcers, where blood vessels are constantly compressed and break. This causes cells and tissue not to get enough oxygen and to finally die. Then, some microorganisms do the rest by invading this dead tissue and infecting it.

Bedsores occur in people who can not change position in bed or in wheelchairs. This may occur in people who is hospitalized in bed with an advanced stage of a disease or with people with advanced age that has lost mobility.

Natural remedies for bedsores

Depending with the type of bedsore they can be treated naturally. As always check with your health care provider before starting any new thing that may affect your health.

The basic thing to do to relieve and cure bedsore is to relieve the pressure that is producing the bedsore. This is done by moving the person position in bed. The affected area (wound) should be kept in an optimal cleaning state. It must be cleaned appropriately and frequently.

There are some supplements that can be taken to heal naturally bedsores. Among them:

1) Vitamin C and E which are both antioxidants,

2) Zinc for healing the wounds, and

3) Garlic, which function as a natural antibiotic

Then there are some herbs that may help cure bedsores naturally. Among them:

• A Calendula flowers concoction made by taking 1 cup of hot water an poured over 1 tablespoon of calendula flowers, covering and steeping for 15 minutes. This used for treating and healing wounds. Calendula flowers are anti-inflammatory. The concoction is applied over the wound several times a day.

• Active Manuka Honey used as anti-inflammatory and as a natural antibiotic. The way it is used is to apply it (1-2 teaspoons on a sterile gauze) over the wound, and then it is left there. After 12 hours retire the gauze, clean the wound and apply again. This is repeated every 12 hours. Here is a video on how the active manuka honey is produced

Other herbs that may be useful to apply topically and may be useful as natural remedies for bedsores are: aloe vera, echinacea, horsetail, and chamomile

Sources:

Jude C. Williams, Jude Todd 2002. Jude's Herbal Home Remedies: Natural Health, Beauty & Home-Care Secrets 2nd ed.Llewellyn Worldwide, ISBN 087542869X, 9780875428697

Prevention Health Books Staff (1999) Natural remedies: nondrug healing strategies that work best. Women's edge health enhancement guide. Health Books for Women Rodale, ISBN 1579541038.