Ginger root is wonderful.
Many of us know it as a spice in everything from gingerbread to gingerale to curries. Its properties as a stomach settler are also well-known.
But how many of us know it is good for clearing bruises?
And in addition, I think it may even help prevent them. My reason for thinking this is anecdotal, but it is still a reason.
Here's my thinking on the matter:
A few months ago I was bitten by a Rottweiler and it made one hell of a bruise on my thigh. From mid-point to the edge in any direction the purple and red stretched for at least two inches.
From lifelong experience I knew it would be a long lasting decoration. In Australia in 1999 I rode a camel for an hour and it left bruise on my leg from knee to upper thigh that lasted three months. I figured the dog bite was good for several weeks.
But my husband suggested rubbing essential oil of ginger on it twice daily. He'd used it on a bruise and spoke from experience.
So I did.
Within 24 hours it had faded substantially.
In less than three days it was gone.
I am most grateful for it.
As to prevention, I add a chunk of fresh ginger root to my morning smoothie and have done so for several months.
While I am klutzy as ever --I can trip over air-- I do not have any bruises.
This is new as until a few months ago I could find at least one bruise on a leg no matter when I looked.
I noticed when I was seven that I bruised easily and it seemed I always had a bruise. So I kept track. I can tell you, no exaggeration, that from the time I started keeping track in the late spring of the year I was seven I have always had a bruise on a leg.
Now I don't.
I take daily low dose ASA. I should bruise even easier.
It's not happening, and for that I am grateful.
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NB I haven't found any supporting evidence for this anywhere. It's based on my own experience and will not necessarily yield the same result for anyone else.
But what the hell. Try it if you like. And if it doesn't work for you, then you still get to eat ginger.
*
ETA: I know all my readers are smart, discerning people, but just for clarity's sake, do not ingest the essential oil.
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10 comments:
OH! Im in in in ... all based on your experience :-)
Thanks, Carla. Best of luck. I'm curious as to how it works for you.
How curious! I love ginger in all its forms, but I've never used the essential oil before. Now I will... topically. Thanks, Leah. :-)
DJan, I hope it works.
You need to run a control study of just massaging your bruise without the oil for a time and see if it is the rubbing that helps break down the blood clotting and reduces the bruising.
Good point, Tabor. But I have no bruise to work with.
Also, I didn't do much rubbing when I put the oil on.
I'm intrigued! Though I'd prefer to ingest massive quantities of ginger cookies, ginger ale, Chinese food etc...
Thanks for the tip!
Since i end up with bruises and can't even remember how, i'll get some essential oil of ginger, and see what happens. As with all things even remotely medicinal, it works for some and not for others because every body is different.
Good to know. I sprained my ankle really badly a few years ago and it was several weeks before the bruising was gone and longer for the swelling. A full year to stop feeling it. And I don't generally bruise easily. That would have come in handy. Thanks for this tasty tidbit.
Crabby, you never know. Eating enough ginger that way may just do the trick for you.
Messymimi, rub it over lightly at least twice a day. Please let me know how it worked for you.
Hilary, my pleasure. I hope you never get to try it.
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