WHAT ARE THE NATURAL WAYS OF WOUND TREATMENT?

What is a Wound? What are the Types of Wounds?

A wound can be defined as any damage or break on the surface of the skin.

Wounds can be open or closed. The main cause of these wounds  is trauma  or skin deterioration.

If the wounds are newly formed, they are defined as acute wounds. When it lasts longer than three or four weeks, it is called a chronic wound.

First aid to wounds is very important. When proper wound care and effective natural remedies are used, healing time is shortened.

At the same time, when the wound is repaired quickly, side effects such as infection or scar formation can generally be avoided.

Commonly known wound types are listed as follows;

• cuts
• burns
• abrasions
• puncture wounds
• pressure sores

Minor cuts, such as paper cuts, heal within a few days. However, the healing time for deep wounds varies.

For example, large and deep wounds from surgical incisions can take between 6-8 weeks to heal.

The healing time of wounds may vary depending on various factors. It may take days, weeks, months, or even years for wounds to heal completely.

What are the factors that hinder wound treatment?

There are some conditions or conditions that prolong the duration of wound treatment. The following factors prevent or slow down the healing of wounds:

• Infection
• Diabetesmellitus _ _
• slow blood flow
• Obesityor being overweight: Increases the risk of infection after surgery.
• Age range: Older adults generally heal more slowly than younger people.
• Excessive alcohol use: It slows down healing and increases the risk of infection.
• Smoking: It increases the risk of problems such as infection and wound opening, which delays healing.
• Stress: It can lead to lack of sleep, unhealthy diet, and increased smoking, which can slow down healing.
• Regularly used heavy medications (such as chemotherapy drugs)

The use of Vaseline and jelly oil is not a proven solution to heal or prevent wounds. Because it can cause clogging of the skin pores.

Some people use it to provide moisture, but it is recommended to use oils that are natural moisturizers ( such as coconut oil  ).

What are the Stages of Wound Treatment?

It is known that wounds have healing stages. There is a general process from the moment the wound occurs to the moment it is completely healed.

The four-stage wound healing schedule consists of the following stages:

• Hemostasis Phase (Bleeding Stops)– Proteins in the blood concentrate in the wound area, forming a clot. Body compounds stick to the opening in the blood vessel.
• Defensive/Inflammatory Phase – Components in the blood release special chemicals that cause inflammation. This causes swelling and redness in the wound area.
• Chronic inflammatory conditions are dangerous, but in these cases, infection-fighting  white blood cellsmove more quickly to the wound site to get rid of bacteria.
• The second stage usually lasts between 4-6 days.
• Proliferative Phase (Skin Rebuilding)– Known as the time when new skin cells begin to form. This phase involves providing the wound with the oxygen and nutrients needed to heal properly. Chemical messengers signal skin cells to repair and rebuild the damaged area. At this point, a red scar may form.
• The scar disappears over time, but it is still recommended to apply natural scar treatment. The third stage can last between 3-24 days.
• Maturation Phase– Recognized as the final phase of recovery. It is the phase where the new skin strengthens and the new skin tissue merges with the body without shrinkage or stretching. The final stage can last between 21 days and 2 years.

What are the Natural Ways of Wound Treatment? What are the 7 Most Effective Ways?

There are various ways to heal wounds.

For minor wounds, it is recommended to clean the wound with water and mild soap, dry it and cover the wound with a sterile bandage. For more serious wounds, it is recommended that you see a healthcare professional.

There are some natural ways to heal wounds faster. These roads are listed as follows;

Eat the Best Foods to Heal Wounds

There are healing foods that will help wounds heal faster.

• Green leafy vegetables: Cabbage, broccoli, spinach and other greens are valuable vegetables in terms of vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting.
• Clean and lean protein: Protein helps the rapid formation of new tissue. It is recommended to consume organic and lean proteins (wild caught fish or grass-fed beef) at meals.
• Natural beneficial oils: Essential fatty acids found in wild-caught foods such as fish, walnuts, flaxseeds and chia seeds are necessary for rapid healing of wounds.

Avoid Foods That Slow Healing

There are some foods that inhibit healing and increase inflammation. It is very important not to consume these foods for the wound to heal.

• Alcohol: Impairs healing and may increase inflammation.
• Sugar and refined foods: May slow down healing and accelerate inflammation.
• Hydrogen oils: Negatively affect the body’s ability to heal.
• Processed foods: These contain additives such as hydrogen oils, chemicals and dyes that can cause wound opening.

Be Careful to Consume Collagen

Collagen, a protein found abundantly in the body that contributes to the healing of wounds, is very effective in creating new structures for your skin.

Consuming foods containing collagen is important to repair the wound area and ensure rapid crusting of the wound.

It is known that using it on the skin to scab over wounds creates new tissues more quickly.

Homemade  bone broth  soups or stews are foods rich in collagen.

Research shows that collagen consumption can treat chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers and foot ulcers caused by diabetes.

Use One Hundred Percent Natural Honey

The healing time for minor wounds, such as knee scrapes, is not the same as the healing time for deeper wounds.

 Raw honey is known as a natural remedy that helps wounds heal faster.

Honey helps clean wounds and reduce signs of infection such as pus and odors. It is also very important for pain relief and rapid recovery.

Research proves that honey acts as a wound dressing and provides healing by preventing bacteria from surviving. In addition, honey does not cause tissue damage because it has the necessary natural components.

It is known that some wounds do not heal with other wound care treatments, but they heal with the use of honey.

Using honey has been proven to help with a variety of wounds, including post-surgical cuts, chronic leg ulcers, abscesses, burns, scrapes, and all scratches.

Honey   shortens healing time by reducing odor, inflammation and pain . Honey has been used as a dressing for wounds since 1991. However, it is necessary to change the dressing after 24-48 hours.

It is possible to make a homemade natural ointment by mixing raw honey, tea tree oil and lavender oil.

Use Essential Oils

Essential oils such as tea tree and  rosemary essential oil  have impressive antibacterial properties against a variety of bacteria and fungi.

These oils, which are recommended to be diluted 1:1 with carrier oils before application, can be applied to the wound three times a day.

This application, which increases the moisture level of the wound area, accelerates the healing of wounds. Because drying the wound increases the feeling of pain. However, it is important to wrap the wound with a sterile cloth after the oil is applied to the wound area.

It is very important to stop the use of essential oils when any sensitivity develops. At the same time, it is recommended to keep essential oils away from the eyes.

Consume Foods Containing Zinc

Zinc supports the immune system and accelerates skin healing. Having a zinc deficiency can delay wound healing.

A scientific article published in 2018 by the journal Nutrients explains the importance of zinc in wound repair. Effects such as reducing stress, providing clotting, reducing inflammation, strengthening immunity, and regenerating tissue have been proven by this study.

Researchers state that zinc and the components it contains are very necessary in the treatment and care of deep wounds.

Frequent consumption of foods rich in zinc , such as lamb, grass-fed beef, cashews and pumpkin seeds, is recommended to speed up wound healing.

Speed ​​Up Treatment with Vitamin C

Vitamin C increases collagen production, which is necessary to heal damage to skin tissues and blood vessels.  This vitamin is very important in the entire wound healing process.

It is necessary to consume foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries and tomatoes, and to strengthen immunity with foods high in antioxidants.

What should be taken into consideration for wound treatment?

Correctly identifying the cause of your wound, its appearance and the symptoms it causes is very important for health. For this reason, it is recommended to get help from an expert.

In some cases, it is necessary to seek emergency medical help.

• If there is excessive bleeding and cannot be stopped for a long time
• If you have a deep wound resulting from an animal or human bite
• If the skin has split deeply and you have a wound that needs stitches
• If numbness is felt near the wound, it may be a sign of nerve damage.

Additionally, whether the wound does not heal or causes other symptoms is also a situation that should be taken into consideration.

• increased redness or swelling
• Pain that gets worse over time
• If the skin around the wound feels warm
• Unpleasant odor when cleaning the wound
• unusual or increased drainage
• Fever or chills

In such cases, it is important to be under the supervision of a doctor. Additionally, if you have a serious wound, it is recommended that you consult a specialist before using natural remedies.