Bleeding and Cuts - Treatment

Cayenne Pepper :Cayenne pepper has surprising and immediate internal and external styptic action. A tiny bit of the powder can stop bleeding from a cut, and a really small amount (1/8 of a teaspoon in a large glass of water) has been known to have a profound effect on internal bleeding.

Juniper :Berries While outdoors, pack mashed green juniper berries on a bleeding wound.

Lemon: Although lemon juice will sting, it has an immediate styptic effect, even when ice and other herbs have failed. Midwives once used diluted lemon juice to stem uterine hemorrhage after delivery.

Marigold :Calendula officinalis flowers are very useful in all bleeding conditions. Use a few drops of the tincture in clear, cool, boiled water, and wash the wound. The expressed juice may be safely used directly on the wound. Keep the perishable fresh juice of the flowers (Succus calendula) in your refrigerator.

Puff Ball One mushroom, the Lycoperdon giganteum bovista, is a successful styptic. When the mushroom is ripe, rub it into a fine powder to stop bleeding of slight wounds and cuts; for larger wounds, bind the puff ball over the wound and leave it until healing takes place. Up to the early part of this century, English villagers kept dried puff ball pieces for wound emergencies.

Red Raspberry Drink red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy and during delivery.

Sanicle "He who has sanicle, or prunella, or bugle plants need have no dealings with a doctor," notes an old English saying. Use any of these bruised wild plants for wound poultice while outdoors. To make up the poultice in advance, steep Prunella vulgaris in wine, or collect the expressed juice in small jars, and seal the container with paraffin. Use bugle as a tea, an ointment, or use it crushed and wet as a poultice.

Shepherd's Purse Even city dwellers can find this common weed in parks. (Plantain is another commonly found weed.) This plant has been used for centuries as an exceptional styptic. Make a tea of the whole plant (a handful to a pint of water) for drinking purposes; use it directly on the wound as a poultice, or add it to bathwater if this is feasible.