Essential Oils for Bruises – 14 That WORK!

Having essential oils for bruises on hand has been a must for my husband and me in recent years since buying our first home. While we’re thrilled to be homeowners, ours is a definite fixer-upper with an overgrown yard to boot, and it has left us both a bit worse for wear in the bruise department.

If you have ever bumped into a hard object, then you know the signs of a bruise. The pain and swelling followed by the development of a yellowish green-purple hue that can take weeks to fade.

So, how do you get bruises to heal faster? Which natural remedies  for bruises actually work?

While there are many natural remedies like arnica montana gel (a homeopathic remedy for bruising) and massage, I prefer to use an essential oil roller for bruises or a gel blend as a quick yet effective way to get them to fade fast (recipes below!).

They contain some of the best essential oils for bruising I have ever used, and I’ve had a lot of bruises to test them out on.

Before we dive into the recipe, let’s learn about which essential oils work best for contusions and why.

The 14 Best Essential Oils for Bruises

Essential oils have been used for centuries to help soothe minor injuries like bruises and speed up the healing process.

Research suggests that certain essential oils may be able to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and provide anti-bacterial benefits. By understanding the various types of essential oils available, you can find the right one for your bruise needs.

1. Black Pepper

Black pepper essential oil (Piper nigrum) is warming and pain relieving making it a wonderful oil to apply to soft tissue injuries like ecchymosis (aka bruising) and areas where edema is present. Followed by a cold compress allows the broken capillaries to release stagnant fluid which helps accelerate healing.

2. Cypress

Cypress essential oil (Cupressus sempervirens), in my opinion, is one of the best oils for moving stagnant fluids in the body. Not only is it great for diminishing premenstrual bloating, it’s also an amazing remedy for swollen, painful joints, poor circulation, varicose veins, and of course, bruises!

Cypress is an amazing oil for any traumatic soft tissue injury because it moves and disperses fluid quickly and effectively. After just one application before bedtime, your bruise will be much better if not gone altogether!

3. Frankincense

Frankincense essential oil (particularly boswellia serrata) has been found to be just as effective as over-the-counter bruise sprays you can find at the pharmacy.

Its potent anti-inflammatory properties help alleviate pain, stagnant blood flow, and general discomfort associated with bruising.

Studies suggest that it has excellent healing qualities for bruising.

4. Geranium

Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium x asperum) is well known for its skin-healing benefits.

Applying geranium oil to a bruise will speed up recovery, decrease swelling, and alleviate pain due to its anti-inflammatory compounds. It is slightly warming, making it perfect for dispersing fluid.

5. Helichrysum

Helichrysum essential oil (helichrysum italicum) is one of the most potent healing oils for injuries. If I have any on hand, I always reach for it first because of how quickly it works for stubbed toes, cuts, scrapes, abrasions, and bruises. It’s a wonderful oil for repairing damaged cells and speeding up healing.

6. Hyssop

Hyssop essential oil (Hyssopus officinalis var. decumbens) is a favorite of mine. It’s warming, pain relieving, and helps move stagnant fluid away from swollen injuries. I have healed a bruise in just a couple of days using hyssop essential oil.

7. Lavender

Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) has an amazing affinity for healing the skin. It encourages cells to repair and regenerate themselves and supports deep healing in soft tissues. It reduces inflammation and helps swollen injuries release stuck fluids making lavender great for treating bruising.

8. Lemongrass

Lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon flexuosus) is one of my absolute favorites for promoting and increasing healthy circulation.

When we get bruised, blood circulation in that area gets compromised, which is why the blood pools beneath the skin. Using an EO like lemongrass oil is a great way to help drain a bruise.

9. Myrrh

Myrrh essential oil (Commiphora myrrha) is a potent regenerative oil for the skin and its surrounding soft tissue cells. Not only does it accelerate healing, it also helps cells regenerate correctly which helps prevent scarring. It’s warming qualities help bruises drain while gently alleviating pain.

10. Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil (Mentha x piperita) can also be used to treat bruises.

It has anti-inflammatory, cooling, and pain-relieving properties and can help to reduce swelling and improve the healing process.

11. Rosemary

Rosemary essential oil (rosmarinus officinalis) is highly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which helps it heal broken blood vessels and the discoloration of bruises quickly and effectively.

12. Tea Tree

Tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) is a fantastic all-purpose option to have on hand due to its potent wound-healing properties.

13. Turmeric

Turmeric essential oil (curcuma longa) has potent anti-inflammatory compounds that effectively heal soft tissue injuries, minor strains and sprains, contusions, and small tears in the muscles, ligaments, or tendons.

Turmeric oil is especially beneficial when mixed with frankincense essential oil.

14. Yarrow

Yarrow essential oil (Achillea millefolium) is a very interesting oil indeed. It has an amazing affinity for all types of wound healing (study) and has properties on both sides of the healing spectrum. It can stop bleeding almost immediately yet can increase circulation.

It can be warming for cold pain conditions like achy joints, or it can be cooling to help drain swollen injuries.

Yarrow is a very versatile oil and is definitely worth having if you can find it.

How to Use Essential Oils for Bruises

To use essential oils for bruises, it is important to choose the right oil for your specific needs.

Some oils can help reduce inflammation, while others are better at helping relieve pain.

After choosing the appropriate oil, you can then create a blend using carrier oil such as olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or sweet almond oil.

You never want to apply an essential oil directly to the skin without diluting it first with a carrier (oil, aloe gel, lotion, water, etc.), or you can cause burning and irritation.

Once the mixture is created, apply it directly to the bruised area 2-3x daily for minor bruising and 4-5x daily for more acute bruising and massage gently.

Keep applying daily until discoloration and discomfort has subsided.

If you want to get really fancy, you can use a carrier oil that has been infused with arnica or St. John’s Wort.

Head on over to my herbalism blog to learn how to make arnica salve which you can then use as a carrier base for your essential oil bruise blend.

You can pick up my favorite already-made St. John’s Wort oil HERE.

Essential Oil Recipes for Bruising That Work

Cypress Gel

This remedy is so quick and easy to throw together, and all you need are just two ingredients!

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Arnica gel, arnica ointment, or arnica cream (I usually use the gel because it’s easiest to apply on a tender bruise)
• 1 drop of any of the above essential oils (I typically reach for cypress essential oil because I have poor circulation and need some extra help)

Instructions

I use 1 drop of your chosen essential oil for every dime size amount of arnica gel used.

To Use:

Mix together with your fingers and apply it to the bruise until well absorbed. Use twice daily for best results.

If you apply this cypress gel soon after whacking into something, your bruise has a good chance of not developing a dark coloration.

Since cypress moves lymphatic fluid, you will also notice a reduction in pain.

Within a few days of applying the gel 3-5x daily, you should notice a significant improvement in how the bruise looks and feels.

Essential Oil Roller for Bruises

This is one of my favorite blends for when you’re out and about or traveling since it’s easy to take along with you and very effective.

To make a roll-on, you will need:

• one 10ml roller bottle
• 2 drops frankincense
• 2 drops helichrysum
• 2 drops geranium
• carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, or sweet almond oil

Instructions

Add each essential oil to the roll-on bottle, then fill it to the shoulder with carrier oil.

To Use

For bumps and bruises, simply apply a thin layer of the roller blend to the bruised area (avoiding acute soft tissue injuries) 3-5x daily or as needed for pain relief.

This is another blend that works quickly as long as you can apply it to the affected area soon after whacking it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils for Bruises

Is tea tree oil good for bruises?  

Tea tree oil is a popular choice when it comes to treating bruises.

Studies suggest that it may be able to reduce inflammation and help speed up the healing process.

Tea tree oil has also been shown to possess anti-bacterial properties, which can help reduce the risk of infection.

When using tea tree oil, it is important to create a mixture with a carrier oil such as coconut or almond before applying it directly to the bruised area.

What essential oil is best for bruising?  

Cypress essential oil is one of the best oils to use for treating and healing bruises due to its potent ability to move stagnant fluids. This helps reduce inflammation and improve discoloration in bruises.

Can you put peppermint oil on a bruise?  

Yes, as long as the peppermint essential oil has been diluted properly first. Simply add one drop of peppermint oil to 1 tsp of carrier oil and apply gently to the affected area 3-5x daily.

The cooling effect will help reduce sensations of pain and discomfort.  

What gets rid of a bruise fast?

Applying a mixture of cypress essential oil and arnica gel to the bruise, allowing it to dry completely, and then alternating with a cold and hot compress (15 minutes cold, 15 minutes hot two times in a row twice daily).    

How do you get rid of a bruise in 24 hours?

You can greatly reduce the appearance of a bruise by using a blend of cypress essential oil with arnica gel and alternating a hot and cold compress.

Is tea tree oil good for bruises?

Tea tree oil can also be beneficial for treating bruises.

The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of this oil can help reduce swelling and soothe the skin, while its other healing properties help speed up the process of getting rid of a bruise.

What have been your favorite essential oils for bruises?

Be sure to check our these articles below:

Beginners Guide to Essential Oils- Part 1
Essential Oils for Sleep
How to Support the Thyroid with Essential Oils
5 DIY Essential Oil Based Remedies for Bruises

 

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