What Can Be Root Causes of Bleeding?
Bleeding is also known as Khun bahana (Hindi/Urdu), Raktastrava (Marathi), Irattappokku (Tamil), Liuxue de (Chinese), sangrado (Spanish), hemorragia (Portuguese), Raktapata (Bengali), krovotecheniye (Russian). Generally, within 5 to 6 minutes after getting a cut, the bleeding will stop by itself. The blood will clot, the bleeding will stop, and the cut will be sealed. In such cases the vast majority there is nothing much to do unless the cut is severe and bleeding is excessive. Some people, however, bleed for a longer time, because the blood does not cooperate and clot quickly enough. When a person continues to bleed, it basically means that the blood is too thin. Although the problem usually has a relatively simple and benign cause, failure of the blood to clot or gums, cuts, or wounds that start to bleed – may also be an early sign of blood cancer, leukemia, or hemophilia purpura that causes profuse bleeding under the skin. However the appearance of blood in the urine or stools can be a sign of serious illness such as kidney problems or cancer, and it should be investigated more deeply in consultation with your physician.
Home Remedies to Stop Bleeding and First Aid Tips
Small Wounds
- For small cuts (lacerations) and scrapes (abrasions) basic first aid takes care. A little blood is fine. In fact, it helps clean the wound. If the wound is bleeding, your first step is stanch the flow by applying steady, firm pressure with your hand atop a piece of clean cloth or gauze. Hold for 5 minutes. You’re helping the blood clot. If you can, hold the bleeding area above the heart. Resist the temptation to keep lifting the gauze to inspect the wound. Each time you do, you’re disrupting the clotting process. If blood soaks through, pile more gauze on top (without removing the first piece) and keep pressing. Once the bleeding stops, if blood has stuck to the gauze, leave it alone.
- Apply gentle pressure. whenever you have bleeding, even if it’s under the skin, compressing the spot for at least 2 minutes helps a clot form. You can also wrap a bruised extremity – just make sure it’s loose enough to slide a finger underneath. Later, gentle massage can help relieve pain and encourage blood flow.
- Apply ice or a sandalwood paste. This helps to constrict the blood vessels and stop bleeding. A bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer will do the job in an emergency.
- Sage tea makes an excellent gargle for ulcerated throat or mouth. Stops bleeding of wounds and clean old ulcers and sores.
- If you have a puncture wound, do not apply herbs that speed wound healing. The problem with puncture wounds is that they don’t bleed much and microbes can be deposited more deeply (than with superficial cuts and scrapes). In theory, speeding the closure of the skin can trap in microbes.
- Cleansing wounds with soap and clean, cool water is sufficient for minor scrapes and cuts. Using stronger solutions, such as hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, or iodine, can actually irritate a cut, harm tissue, and slow down healing.
Nosebleed
- The same principle as mentioned above is applicable to bloody noses. Capture the fleshy part of your nose between thumb and index finger and hold firmly for 5 minutes.
- Dip a handkerchief or any clean soft cloth into cold water, and place it on the forehead and the nose. Then gently blow the nose so that the clot, if there is one, comes out.
- Lemon is a natural styptic. Place a drop in the offending nostril, on the end of a cotton bud.
- To minimize nosebleed, put a couple of drops of lukewarm ghee in each nostril. Dip a cotton swab into a jar of ghee, and apply it to the nose. Ghee is hemostatic – that is, it stops bleeding. Don’t lie down, which will encourage bleeding. Also remaining upright will minimize bleeding.
DIY Homemade First-Aid Cream
- It helps heal minor cuts and scrapes as well as chapped lips and hands. Because it does take some time to make, prepare in advance. Store in the refrigerator for up to six months.
- Mix together 6 g dried comfrey leaves, 6 g dried calendula flowers, 6 g dried St. John’s wort flowers, 6 g dried echinacea leaves and flowers.
- Put this mixture in a clean jar.
- Add extra-virgin olive oil, stir and add more till you get 1 inch of oil above the line of the herbs.
- Cap tightly. Place in a sunny window for two to four weeks.
- Keep adding oil if needed. Strain the oil and throw away the spent herbs.
- Now measure the oil and take 1/4 times of beeswax.
- Take a double boiler. Add water to bottom part. Heat to boiling, and then lower the heat to a simmer.
- Pour the oil into the top of double boiler and add the beeswax.
- Stir until the beeswax melts, and immediately transfer it to the clean jar and cap tightly. The salve will soon start to set.
- Apply as needed.
Minor Cuts
- Putting toothpaste on small cuts instantly stops the bleeding.
- The black ash of a burned cotton ball may also be applied to the site of external bleeding. The ash will stick to the bleeding point and stop the bleeding instantaneously. Within a couple of days a scab will form, and the wound will completely heal. Don’t remove the ash; leave it on the wound to form a scab. Otherwise you will open the cut again.
- Another effective approach is to apply some aloe. A pinch of aloe powder mixed into a paste with a pinch of turmeric powder will immediately stop most bleeding.
- Aloe vera gel will also be effective. Wash the cut. Blend the 1 tablespoon fresh aloe gel and 1 tablespoon honey. Apply the mix to the wound. Store the remainder in a jar in the refrigerator. Aloe and honey both are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and enhance wound healing.
- If the wound is superficial, pour running water over it. Wash with mild soap and rinse again. Make sure to remove foreign matter, which may infect the wound and, in the case of bits of asphalt, create a sort of tattoo. If the area is likely to come in contact with dirt or may stain your clothes with blood, cover with sterile gauze and tape down the edges. Change the bandage daily or if it gets wet.
Bleeding Gums
- Chewing unripe guava is an excellent tonic for teeth and gums. It stops the bleeding from gums due its styptic effect and richness in vitamin C.
- Chewing its tender leaves also helps in curing bleeding from gums and keeps the teeth healthy.
- Drink a sherry glass of blueberry juice daily to ease bleeding gums. Bleeding gums can be treated by rubbing teeth and gums with fresh or dried sage leaves.
- Triphala tea is effective for gingivitis and bleeding gums. Triphala has astringent qualities, and it is a hemostatic, that is, it stops bleeding. Gargling and swishing the mouth with triphala tea are helpful for both gingivitis and bleeding gums. Also massaging the gums with coconut oil can also help heal gingivitis and bleeding gums.
Heavy Menstrual Periods
- Raspberry leaf can help control heavy menstrual bleeding, combining well with yarrow (Achillea millefolium) to reduce blood loss. It is sometimes taken to relieve premenstrual symptoms and period pains. To make raspberry leaf tea, add 8-10 raspberry leaves in 4 cups of boiling water and let it simmer. After 5 minutes strain the leaves. Do not overheat as tea may reduce its nutritional value. You may add honey to taste.
- Yarrow helps to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and aids menstrual regularity. Try drinking yarrow tea 3-4 cups a day. To make this tea combine together 1 small cup dried yarrow, 1 cup shepherd’s purse, 1/2 cup nettle leaf and 1/4 cup Hibiscus flower. Store this mixture in clean jar. In another jar filled with boiling hot water and add handful mixture in this jar. Put the lid tightly. Steep for 30-40 minutes.
Internal Bleeding
- When a person has been injured, the blood vessels sometimes rupture, causing a large bruise and a blood filled swelling known as a hematoma. To stop the internal bleeding and pacify the hematoma like swelling, apply a paste made of 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon sandalwood powder, and a pinch of alum powder. Mix the powders together with a little water to make a paste. When the paste is on the skin, apply some pressure on the hematoma.
- To heal internal bleeding, drink warm milk to which one half tablespoonful of saffron and turmeric powder has been added.
- Drinking cranberry or pomegranate juice is also helpful to stop internal bleeding.
Hemorrhoid / Piles Rectal Bleeding
If you have rectal bleeding from the hemorrhoid, drink a few ounces of cranberry juice and pomegranate juice (mixed half and half) between meals. That juice will act as a hemostatic, to stop the bleeding. Locally, you can apply coconut oil, which helps to control inflammation and irritation as well as bleeding.