The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Cayenne
Posted by Jake (Chicago, Il) on 12/11/2010
★★★★★
This past summer my soon to be 94 year-old mother fell and sliced a three to four inch gash on the back of her hand just above the knuckles. The bleeding was moderate but there was about an inch distance between the two sides of the cut. Anyone would have said it cannot heal without stitches. But the skin was so fragile, I wondered too how any stitching would be able to hold together. Adding to the complexity of the moment, my mother is on blood thinning medication and I was a bit nervous to take the situation into my own hands.
I nonetheless packed the space with cayenne which in a short time stopped the bleeding. I bandaged her and each time in the days afterward - I cleaned the wound and reapplied cayenne, and I pulled the two sides of the canyon closer together in hopes that the skin would eventually reconnect. The wound oozed for weeks and almost daily my mother protested and was sure she needed to see a real doctor. She didn't see the daily progress that I noticed. When a scab finally seemed to take, I applied iodine to help the healing, and that seemed to speed the process fairly dramatically. Eventually she healed perfectly, no scarring, and I myself was amazed how clean the result turned out. I called it a work of art, and we both laughed.
Cayenne
Posted by Don (Southwest, Michigan, Usa) on 10/11/2009
★★★★★
Cayenne Pepper For Cuts
I had a piece of loose cuticle skin on the side of my left thumbnail. One evening while watching a movie I did a stupid thing and tore it off. I tore the top two or three layers of skin off the entire side of my thumbnail leaving raw skin. I cleaned it with peroxide, put on some ointment and a bandage and forgot about it. Three weeks went by and it did not heal. Usually if I keep it pulled away from the nail it will heal up ok. But three weeks went by and now my thumb was swollen and an ugly purple color and hurt bad. I had some antibiotic on hand and after taking that I began to feel better but the ulcer had formed under the cuticle. I knew the ulcer had to be removed before the skin would heal. I got a new razor blade and every thing I would new to clean it and moved to the bathroom sink to do the operation. The cuticle was still raw, ugly and painful but it had to be done. After removing the top half of the ulcer I let it bleed out to self cleanse the wound.
Before I did the operation I went to this site to see what others had used to heal cuts and I read the post by the women who was stuck on an outpost island for two days and put cayenne pepper on her husbands severe head wound. Up to this point everything I had used, ointment, iodine, peroxide, etc, had not worked. So I went to the cupboard and got the cayenne pepper and poured a generous amount over my raw and bleeding cuticle. It absorbed into the wound and stopped the bleeding immediately. I let it set for a couple minutes then shook off the excess and lightly put a bandage over it. Over the next few hours I could feel a slight stinging in the wound but I could also tell my thumb did not hurt as bad.
The next morning my thumb did not hurt at all so I removed the bandage and discovered my thumb was a nice healthy color and not swollen at all. I could not believe it!
The cayenne pepper had form a very healthy looking closure to the wound. When I washed my hands the pepper remained so I decided to let it stay a couple days to keep the wound clean. Two days later my thumb was completely healed so I washed off the pepper and everything look nice and healthy.
From now on when I get a cut or scratch I am NOT reaching for commercial ointments or salves, I am reaching for the Cayenne Pepper.
Best Wishes for a Peaceful World,
Don
Sugar
Posted by Juanita (N. O., La. USA) on 11/28/2008
★★★★★
For years I have used sugar (straight out of the sugar bowl) mixed in a bit of antibiotic ointment to make a paste and applied it on a bandage to cure cuts... The sugar will not allow bacteria to grow... and will heal the cut twice as fast! When I was a kid (40 years ago) my grandmother used to make a paste of sugar, shaved pure Octogen soap (do they still sell it?) and a few drops of Mineral Spirits and apply that mix on a bandage to treat deep cuts and it worked like a miracle!
I modified grams recipe using the antibiotic ointment and it seems to work as well...
Sugar can also be used to treat bedsores with amazing results... I used it to cure my sisters bedsore after she suffered a stroke and was bedridden for 4 months... the doctors in the hospital tried to treat it unsuccessfully for 6 weeks! They would not allow me to put the suger mix on it at all in the hospital. When she was released, I used the sugar mix and it was well in a little over a week! Her doctor was very surprised at that result!
Thanks for this lovely site and to all those who contribute to the info! God bless...
Juanita B.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by James (London, UK) on 10/13/2008
★★★★★
ACV is incredible with minor cuts/broken skin and mouth ulcers. Just soak some cotton wool or kitchen towel in it and keep it on the wound for as long as possible. It stops bleeding and starts to heal very quickly. The skin thickens slightly and turns white (almost pickled) and looks very clean, and bruising hardly even shows. Recovery time can be cut by days.
Cayenne
Posted by Sal DeFrancesco (East Haven, CT) on 07/10/2008
★★★★★
While mountain biking, I encountered hidden a rusty wire fence in which I ended and nearly got shreaded. After noticing a massive amount of blood on the seat of my bike, I discovered a severe laceration on my right elbow. I wrapped it up with handkerchief and the ride was over. Still bleeding, deciding whether to go to the clinic I recalled an Earth Clinic article about cayenne pepper so I poured some on the cut, it pretty much stopped the bleeding. I latter cleaned the cut and put a second application and bandaged it. The next day I was amazed that it was healed.
Honey
Posted by Linda (New Port Richey, FL) on 06/27/2008
★★★★★
Manuka Honey from New Zealand. My son, Brad, had a lymph node removed from behind his heart. There was a tube inserted in his lung so it wouldn't collapse. When the tube was removed the would care team at the childrens hospital was he was being treated for Hodgkins tried everything to close the hole where the tube came out. One day a young doctor which was not part of the wound team told us that Manuka Honey was used at this hospital but because it was termed alternative they discontinued using it. At that time I had to order it from England. It comes in the kind you eat and the medicinal kind. I applied it to Brad's wound and the next day it had closed up by 50%. In a week it was completely. Just any honey will not work. If you investigate Manuka Honey you will find that honey is rated by a IMP factor and Manuka is the highest. Try it, it works. Linda Brads Ma and Champion
Sugar
Posted by Sandi (Oroville, CA) on 05/17/2008
★★★★★
Have you ever heard of using "sugar" to heal wounds? When I was young, our dog opened a large area near his scrotum that would not heal..My father suggested we pour sugar on it. The wound healed in less than one week. Has anyone else heard of this?
Coconut Oil
Posted by Sandy (Bangalore, India) on 03/05/2008
★★★★★
For overnight miraculous healing of wounds, apply coconut oil to it. This will also ensure that no scar is left behind.
Epsom Salt
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn.) on 11/09/2007
★★★★★
Epsom salts will pull out infection from wounds. I mixed it about 1/2 cup to 1 quart of hot water. Submerge infected area in solution 4 times a day. If unable to submerge area, just use washcloth to dip in solution and apply over infected are (hot compress method) 4 times a day. I have seen this cure infection after red streak was running up arm (indicative of blood poisoning). No antibiotics were needed. I have many times bathed in 1-2 cups epsom salts in hot bath when muscles or nerves said "help". You really feel relaxed. I have used a saturated solution of ACV - epsom salts to clear up deep infected ulcers in scalp. No antibiotics were needed. Swab ulcers.
Cayenne
Posted by Lily (NorCal, California ) on 04/01/2025
★★★★★
Have used Cayenne Pepper to heal cuts that would not stop bleeding. First one healed so well it's hard to find the scar. Cut my finger around the holidays 1/4 inch deep, 1/2 inch wide and didn't want stitches as my hand would be useless for holiday season of cooking. The blood mixed with the CP as I dunked my finger into a pile of CP to get everything coated and it formed a hard shell. It came off when I carefully washed my hand a few days later and then I reapplied it the same way and the hard shell formed again. It fell off on its own when it fully healed a week or two later. In the mean time, my hand was fully functional. To keep using it, all I had to do was add a bandage the CP application and wear a glove to cook and it was good as new. Currently my finger is cut. Same finger different spot. CP again as it would not stop bleeding. 1/4 inch deep, 1/4 inch wide on an angle. Put a bandage on over the applied CP then wrapped some tape around for compression to seal the wound. It stings a few minutes then nothing. Can use my hand otherwise. Super thankful for CP!
Flour Poultice
Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 10/04/2024
★★★★★
Flour and Salt: To Stop Bleeding from Wounds. – Bleeding from a wound on or beast may be stopped by a mixture of wheat flour and common salt in equal parts, bound on with cloth. If the bleeding be profuse, use a large quantity-say from 1 to 3 pints. It may be left on for hours, or even days, if necessary. In this manner the life of a horse was saved which was bleeding from a wounded artery. The bleeding ceased in 5 minutes after the application. It was left on for three days, when it worked loose, and was easily removed from the wound, which very soon healed.
From the Book - Dr. Chase's New Receipt Book and Medical Advisor or Information for Everybody page 234, by A.W. Chase M.D. 192
Zinc Wrap
Posted by Barbara B. (Denver, CO USA) on 08/03/2021
★★★★★
I had something similar that wouldn't heal. After a few months of visits to dermatologists to find an answer, I finally went to a sports doctor. She applied a zinc wrap around the affected area, and it healed it quickly and easily. Within two weeks it finally started to make new tissue. And it was painless and not expensive. I think they can be purchased online through amazon, and possibly other sites. The bandage comes with the sink ointment already in it. Hope this helps! Good luck
Cayenne
Posted by Deirdre (Earth Clinic) on 11/07/2015
Dear Dale,
Wow, your post brings back memories! A long time ago I added a post to Earth Clinic warning about using cayenne for deep cuts. I just hunted for my post and found that I had posted it as a WARNING! back in 2009 instead of a NAY.
You are right about the extreme pain lingering from the use of cayenne. Makes me shudder to remember how painful it was for many hours after I washed the cayenne off.
I should have gone for stitches that day instead of sprinkling cayenne all over the deep cut I got from a glass bottle that had fallen out of the fridge and onto my foot. Because it didn't heal properly, anytime I touch the scar on the bottom of my foot, I still get a mild shooting pain.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Miracles (Santa Monica, Ca, United States) on 07/11/2013
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
So I've used Earth Clinic for a few cures since I discovered it and loved it! I even turned on my clients to this wonderful site - as I totally believe in holistic healing & alternative medicine - and would prefer to do something natural than put chemicals into my body!
But something happened this past week that made me think, I must first listen to and follow my intuition! In my excitement to "test out a remedy" from EarthClinic, I ignored my intuition and pain - I have a high tolerance for pain!
One week ago, I was not paying attention to where I was going (another message to pay attention and stay in the moment! ) - and I slipped on asphalt while wearing my barefoot tennis shoes. I scraped both knees and they were bleeding profusely. I cleaned it up with apple cider vinegar (or so I thought! ). And put comfrey and calendula on the wounds. Then I went about my merry day working out and having fun! I wasn't sure whether to keep the wound dry or wet so I kept a bandage on it and then, removed it to let it air out!
A week later --- one of the knees healed beautifully and started scabbing. The other knee, however, got infected and it was hurting even more. I was tempted to not go see a Western medicine doctor - but when I visited a homeopathy pharmacy, both technicians there recommended I go see one as it looked infected. I immediately went to Urgent Care!
The Urgent Care doctor said I must keep my knee wet at all times - covered by a bandage - and clean it with just water and soap three times a week - then, apply the antibiotic ointment he prescribed (stronger than Neosporin which I had been using as well).
In short, all is great and healing - but I just wanted to let everybody know - first and foremost, run every remedy by your intuition - and don't risk your health or anybody else's. Each person must listen to his/her intuition when it comes to his/her body's wisdom.
Thank you so much to Earth Clinic and everybody who writes in with their remedies/cures!
Cayenne
Posted by Rick G (Woodridge, Il) on 03/28/2013
Update: I waited about 48 hours to change dressing so as not to disturb the cayenne pepper cauterization. Last night I took the bandage off and there was still no bleeding. I re-applied a heavy sprinkling of cayenne pepper onto the affected area as a precaution. I will keep this dressing on for 24 hours and then return to regular dressing changes.
This is the same general technique that several other Earth Clinic members have used successfully.
Thanks to all for your replies. As far as my cancer goes, I appreciate the suggestions, but it is beyond that.
Tea Tree and Lavender Oils
Posted by Regulator555 (Grand Rapids, Mi, Usa) on 06/02/2010
★★★★★
In my house, essential oils are a must for their medicinal uses. The staple two are tea tree and lavender. Best healing tale: My husband caught his finger in the band saw at his work. As you can imagine, his finger was a mangled mass of meat. There was nothing to stitch together. Gross. Anyway, he applied a drop of tea tree and a drop of lavender, neat, to the wound twice daily and kept it clean, dry, and bandaged. He would air it out a bit once a day for a few minutes. It never became infected - never. It healed well with virtually no scarring.
Cayenne
Posted by Rocky (Hayden Lake, Idaho) on 10/06/2008
★★★★★
A horse pushed me against my horse trailer a few years back & the aluminium sticking out cut me to the bone over the eye. I put cayenne in the wound & wraped a battle dressing around my head to keep it from dripping into my eye. From that moment there was no pain nor was there pain again through the healing...6 to 10 days.
As a point, a friend came to me with a cut deep into her knuckle. I have her cayenne & told her to change it every 3 days. Her pain went away during the healing (6 to 10 days) also there is no scar. The 1st year when her hand got cold you could see a blue mark. Now nothing. Rocky
Cayenne
Posted by Alice (New Fairfield, Connecticut) on 09/11/2008
★★★★★
Cayenne pepper really does work for sore throats! I have been using this remedy for quite a few months now and it works everytime. It does require doses throughout the day but stick with it. My suggestion is to put 1/8 teaspoon of it into a shot glass (2tbsp) of water and down the hatch...it is not going to taste great so get it down as quickly as possible and be done with it is my motto. My 8 year old daughter can down it like a pro and after a few times could even gargle a little in the throat. Have a glass of something (gingerale takes the heat right off for us) to chase it with and be amazed.
Cayenne is also a miracle for cuts that won't stop bleeding. It had worked several times for us. Just wash the cut out in water and put a thick paste of it over the wound and cover with a bandage. It does not burn the cut!!! In fact the first time I tried it the wound hurt after I washed it off too soon. Back to sore throats... Apple Cider vinegar works also but my daughter can't tolerate that so we stick to this one...I do both for good meaasure.
