Suggestions for Preventing Bruises
by Wyndryn

Well all..... I emailed Barb with some "advice" about bruising. (I bruised pretty badly my first time) and she suggested I seize the next opening and pass it along to you.  Since the topic continues..... 

Several years ago, I worked with some really challenging special needs children who frequently flailed and thrashed when they were feeling overwhelmed. Consequently I was always covered in bruises to the point that the local walk-in medical clinic started running the domestic violence protocol on me one day.

 I hit up a doctor friend who works with nutritional medicine for athletes for some advice.  Lo and behold, his suggestions really worked.   Once I started getting spanked,  I started using these supplements again.

Basically.... bruising happens when the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) break and blood leaks out into the tissues. Until the body can re-absorb the blood that leaked, you have a bruise.

There are two major things you can do to minimize bruising: 

1. You can try to make it so the capillaries won't break as easily .
2. You can make the blood that's leaking seal up the break faster so that less blood leaks out.

After that, all you can do is help your body re-absorb the blood faster.   

Here are some things that will help the capillaries not to break and leak as easily:

• Vitamin C helps strengthen the integrity of blood vessel walls.  You want the kind with bioflavonoids... they're the good stuff that really helps.
• Also, grapeseed extract is a good source of bioflavonoids too.... (I take both) 
• You also can help the surrounding tissue to support and stabilize the blood vessels too. That means drinking lots of water. Well hydrated tissue makes a better "cushion" around the blood vessels.
• Vitamin E  helps out the surrounding tissue.  Not too much as it can have an effect on the blood which will work against you with the sealing up the leak part.
• Gotu kola helps to support the integrity of cellular structure including the capillary walls and the surrounding tissues (truthfully, my notes are a little sketchy on this one.... I think I was getting overwhelmed at this point)
• I also have a note about flaxseed oil.... but no note next to it as to why..... 

To help the leaks seal up more quickly (e.g. clotting) here are some things to do:

• you want to be sure you have enough vitamin K in your diet.  Apparently vitamin K is dangerous to take as a supplement. You need to get it from your food,  mostly the dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, chard, etc, which is also good for the weight loss...lol. 
• And again, the water, the water, the water (my god, this sounds like weight watchers with the water already!) 

If you're already bruised.... all you can do is help your body reabsorb the blood more quickly.  You will want to use  ice for the first 24 hours. (I sleep on an ice pack when I'm bruisy.  I have one of those ones that are supposed to wrap around a bottle or casserole or something. its flat and not too uncomfortable to sleep on.... well.... my bottom is usually uncomfortable at that point, but the icepack isn't. At school with the kids, we use frozen sponges and a bag of frozen peas. Just make sure you mark the bag of peas so no one forgets and uses them for dinner.  They won't be good after thawing and refreezing a few times.)

 After the first 24 hours  you will want heat to speed up the blood circulation in that area.  You can also try homeopathic and herbal "aids" like arnica, Solomon's seal, and Red Flower Oil.  My usual routine is arnica immediately.... that night..... then the ice.... then arnica again in the morning.... Usually that's enough. If not,  then I do Red Flower Oil (its a Chinese remedy and boy, does it work!!) with a hot compress (OUCH!!) that evening and the next morning.... and if that doesn't work (only has happened twice) then I do a poultice of Solomon's seal (messy and stinky, but it works) That always gets rid of the bruising.  I generally can get rid of any bruising within a couple of days (2-3 even if its bad). But,  I do all of the vitamin, supplement, water stuff ALL THE TIME.... you can't just start when you're feeling like you might really get a blistering. I just take them every morning with my other vitamins....

Okay,  that's it for what its worth.

 Wydryn