Wouldn’t it be nice if we could reduce the severity and speed up the disappearance of bruises? Can you imagine not having to wait weeks for the nasty discoloration to dissipate?
There may be hope for us yet in the form of essential oils.
The discoloration we see with a bruise is actually the blood escaping from the broken blood vessel and building up in the tissue underneath our skin. Such a pleasant thought, isn’t it?
The bruise is initially a dark red/purple color because the blood is fresh and oxygenated. As our body reabsorbs the pooled blood, the bruise heals and the color lightens to a greenish yellow then disappears altogether.
Best Essential Oils For Bruises
1. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
Once the internal bleeding has stopped, the only way for the bruise to disappear is for our body to reabsorb the pooled blood.
Geranium is an efficient little helper in this respect. It increases blood flow and promotes new tissue growth. Both of these actions help to speed our recovery.
Add a couple drops of geranium essential oil to a carrier oil like coconut and gently apply directly to bruised area.
2. Helichrysum (Helichrysum angustifolium)
Geranium’s partner in healing is helichrysum. This lovely oil also works by encouraging blood flow. As a bonus, helichrysum is very adept at promoting overall skin health.
This is a perfect oil to provide loving support to the areas of our bodies (like shins, knees, and elbows) that take more abuse and are more prone to skin injuries.
About 8 hours after a bruise appears, add a couple drops of helichrysum oil to a carrier oil like olive or walnut and gently apply to the bruised area. Add a few drops of helichrysum oil to your lotions or body oils as part of a healthy skincare routine, do not use in a greater concentration than 0.5%.
3. Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Once a bruise fully develops, it may take a while to begin to dissipate. Sweet marjoram is a perfect oil for speeding that dissipation.
This oil works by gently warming and stimulating our bodies to improve blood flow and carry away the discolored pooled blood. It works gently and effectively while also gifting us some pain relief and muscle relaxation.
Add sweet marjoram to your favorite massage oil and use it on old, no longer tender bruises.
4. Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
True to the chamomile family’s calming roots, roman chamomile works to soothe pain and reduce inflammation.
Roman chamomile is the most anti-inflammatory oil of the chamomile family. That said, if you are looking for a chamomile to keep you company after the first 16 weeks of your pregnancy, try roman chamomile’s sister, chamomile matricaria (Chamomilla matricaria). It provides similar soothing qualities.
For quick and easy use, dilute roman chamomile oil with a carrier and apply directly to bruises.
5. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary essential oil employs a very take charge attitude regarding its therapeutic approach. This oil is packed with all sorts of potent healing constituents.
use rosemary to help with your bruises to help regulate your body’s reaction to the bruise. Rosemary eases the stress of the injury and when applied promptly can also help to reduce inflammation.
For multiple bruises try adding a few drops of rosemary oil to a tablespoon if milk, and use this blend in a warm bath.
6. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Frankincense is a gentle, soothing oil that loves to care for our damaged skin. This oil aids in reducing inflammation and pain in the bruised area.
If you have a special knack for banging already bruised areas into any and every hard surface you come across, you will appreciate frankincense. It is also gentle enough for your children to use.
Add a few drops of frankincense oil to a carrier oil and gently apply to bruises.
7. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender treats us like our mothers did when we were young. When we get hurt it soothes the hurt and calms us.
If we happen to have access to essential oils right when we get a potentially bruise-causing injury, lavender can do its best work. By applying lavender right away, we can help our body get a jump start on healing.
Apply diluted lavender oil as soon as possible after a potentially bruise-causing injury.
8. Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
Cypress is an essential oil that specializes in all things skin-related. Cypress helps control bruising by optimizing blood flow to reduce the amount of pooled blood which forms the bruise. Think of cypress as a heavy duty spill cleanup agent. It makes the mess smaller and easier to deal with than it would otherwise have been.
Use cypress oil along with ice packs in a cold compress immediately following an injury to reduce the size and severity of the resulting bruise.
9. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
The pressure of all that pooled blood built up in a tender area causes pain and discomfort for quite a while after injury..
Lemongrass offers a natural way to ease the discomfort of a bruise. Her analgesic properties soothe pain and she can also aid in decreasing swelling.
Use lemongrass mixed with carrier oil as you would a mild topical analgesic ointment.
How To Use Essential Oils For Bruises
Since bruises are an injury that appears on our skin, it makes sense to use topical applications for our essential oils. There are a couple different types of topical applications we can use.
Oil blends can be gently massaged into the bruised skin or added to baths. Compresses of a water and oil blend on a cloth may be applied either warm for old bruises or cold for fresh bruises. Compresses are a particularly good choice for fresh, very tender bruises.
Cold Compress Recipe For Fresh Bruises
Swelling reduction
- 3 drops roman chamomile
- 2 drops rosemary
Minimize size & severity
- 3 drops cypress
- 2 drops rosemary
Pain Reduction
- 3 drops lavender
- 2 drops lemongrass
Fill a medium size mixing bowl with cold water. Add any of the blends above. Dip a cloth in the water and gently wring it out.
Apply the cloth to the bruise for 20-30 minutes, re-soaking as needed.
Warm Compress Recipe For Old Bruises
Fill a medium size mixing bowl with warm water.
- 2 tablespoons Epsom salt
- 3 drops sweet marjoram
- 2 drops lavender
Add the salt, then the oils to the water. Dip a cloth in the water and gently wring it out.
Apply the cloth to the bruise for 20-30 minutes, re-soaking as needed.
Topical Bruise Oil For Children Recipe
- 3 tablespoons arnica infused carrier oil
- 1 tablespoon witch hazel
- 2 drops geranium
- 1 drop frankincense
Combine carrier oil, witch hazel, and essential oils in a glass jar or bottle. Gently apply blend to bruises. This dilution may be used for children age 2 and older.
Topical Bruise Oil For Adults Recipes
Speed healing of old bruises
- 4 teaspoons fractionated coconut carrier oil
- 6 drops geranium
- 2 drops helichrysum
- 6 drops sweet marjoram
Decrease pain & inflammation
- 4 teaspoons apricot kernel carrier oil
- 4 drops roman chamomile
- 5 drops frankincense
- 6 drops lemongrass
Support skin health
- 4 teaspoons calendula carrier oil
- 2 drops helichrysum
- 4 drops lavender
- 6 drops cypress
Minimize size & severity of new bruises
- 4 teaspoons arnica infused carrier oil
- 7 drops rosemary
- 8 drops cypress
All-purpose
- 4 teaspoons arnica infused carrier oil
- 5 drops sweet marjoram
- 5 drops roman chamomile
- 5 drops cypress
Combine carrier oil and essential oils in a glass jar or bottle. Apply and massage to bruising as soon as possible after injury.
To Summarize
- The discoloration of a bruise is caused by blood escaping from our damaged blood vessels and becoming trapped in the tissue beneath our skin.
- Certain plants have developed biological means of counteracting the discoloration, pain, and swelling associated with bruises. The essential oils pressed from these plants have the same beneficial properties.
- Essential oils may be applied to bruises in several ways. Topically in an oil blend, by adding an oil blend to a warm bath or even by using cold or warm compresses
Read more:
- Essential Oils For Inflammation [Top 10] & Methods Of Use
- Lemongrass Essential Oil Benefits – Amazing For Face, Skin Hair & Digestion!
