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Sprain Remedies

| Modified on Sep 29, 2024
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A sprain is one of the most common sports-related injuries diagnosed. An injury to the ligaments surrounding a joint, a sprain is often painful but recovers fairly quickly. Natural treatment options for sprains can speed recovery time and relieve pain in the process. Apple cider vinegar, ribwort plantain and arnica are three such effective treatments.

What is a Sprain?

A sprain is an injury that involves damage to the ligaments surrounding a joint. The ligaments are strong, flexible fibers that connect the bones; however, when one is stretched too far or even tears, the joint aches and swells. Such an injury occurs when a joint is forced into an unnatural position, such as when one twists an ankle. Symptoms include joint and muscle pain, swelling, joint stiffness and bruising.

Natural Remedies Ligament Injuries

A sprain should be iced as soon after the injury occurs as possible. Elevating the affected limb and wrapping it to limit movement is also important to prevent further damage and promote healing. Additionally, natural remedies including apple cider vinegar, arnica gel and ribwort plantain also speed healing and eliminate inflammation.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar offers a number of medicinal properties including the reduction of inflammation. When applied to a sprain or taken as a tonic, apple cider vinegar delivers concentrated amounts of important vitamins and minerals to the body that fight inflammation and relieve pain. The substance also flushes toxins from the body, offering relief in this way as well.

Arnica Gel

A relative of the sunflower, arnica is a flowering plant with a variety of healing attributes. The compound is an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial and is capable of removing excess fluids from the joints and muscles. As such, when applied to a sprain, the gel relieves pain and eliminates excess fluid that may be contributing to swelling, cutting healing time in the process.

Ribwort Plantain

Ribwort plantain is a perennial plant grown primarily for medicinal purposes. The extract is known as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agent with the capability of treating a variety of other conditions as well. The compound also possesses epidermal growth factor, so it is capable of stimulating the repair and regrowth of damaged tissue.

While most sprains heal within 7 to 10 days, some may take as long as several weeks. Natural treatment options can shorten the duration of healing and eliminate the pain involved in the process.

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.
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Apple Cider Vinegar

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Posted by Ondra (Vietnam) on 10/26/2021
 ★★★★★

I fell on my wrist while roller skating and it felt like the TFCC tear from what Mr. Google was able to tell. There was no bruising or heavy swelling so I decided not to go to the doctor. There seems to be no major issues regarding the mobility of the joint but it was quite painful. ACV is basically my go-to remedy for everything so I tried the trick with the sock dipped in ACV and a plastic wrap over night. It definitely decreased the pain and increased joint mobility by at least 50%. I strongly recommend this. Just be careful with applying the ACV on your palm as you can damage the skin like I did - it is now dry and itchy but still worth it. However, you could surely protect it somehow... the back of the hand was fine...

Replied by Jerry
(Long Beach, CA)
06/30/2023
★★★★★

Tried the sock mentioned above for sprained wrist and it worked. I got a lot of movement back and a lot of pain gone. I rubbed olive oil on my palm and that kept it from getting really wrinkly or itchy. I used a sock that I cut holes in for each finger and my thumb and I wrapped enough plastic wrap around my wrist and hand to cover the entire sock it was a cast but in the morning it felt a lot better.

Art
(California)
06/30/2023
2319 posts

Jerry,

When going out in public where vinegar may not be the most attractive option to have on, odorless mag oil can reduce swelling, inflammation of a sprain of the wrist or ankle. Just spray it on. Here is a typical product which is also useful for other types of joint pain and muscle cramps :

https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Oil-Spray-STRENGTH-Essential/dp/B01N0KQ9QJ/ref=sr_1_11?crid=2HPAR63AHVSIJ&keywords=mag+oil&qid=1688168012&sprefix=mag+oil,aps,232&sr=8-11

Art

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Amanda (Ashland, Oregon) on 12/10/2020
 ★★★★★

@SJ (2018 post below),

Thank you for sharing your experience. yesterday evening I took a hard tumble walking to the grocery store. Fell on concrete and must have taken all my weight with my right hand. Seemed to only affect my pinkie to hand knuckle, but by night time the whole back of my hand hurt and my wrist. The pain kept me awake.

Came here and discovered your story about ACV. I tried it and the coolness felt great. I applied fresh ACV (to a sock) an hour after the first application and the pain definitely went down. I finally found a comfortable position for my wrist and hand, and slept like a baby. It's painful to use today, so must not use it! Tough, cause I am right handed. Anyway, thank you everyone who shares their experiences here.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sj_4162 (Wa) on 01/07/2018
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Yesterday I fell and sprained my wrist in the morning. Come that evening became very painful and was throbbing. I iced it and it felt better for a short time. I looked on EC and found the apple cider vinegar remedy. I cut the toe out of an old sock, saturated it with AC and put it on my wrist. Wrapped it with Saran Wrap. Excruciating pain for 2 hours. Pain stopped and I fell asleep for the night. Woke up this morning with swelling mostly gone and no pain. I was amazed! Thx EC.

Replied by Rob
(Kentucky)
09/28/2024
★★★★★

SPRAINS AND THEIR TREATMENT. * BY A. H. TUBBY, M.S. LOND., F.R.C.S. ENG., Assistant Surgeon to Westminster Hospital ; Surgeon to Out-Patients, Evelina Hospital for Sick Children, etc.

From the Book; THE PRACTITIONER, A Journal of Practical Medicine and Surgery, by MALCOLM MORRIS, 1897 page 369.

If the symptoms of sprain has come on, and the pain, which passed off somewhat after the injury, has now become more severe, the application of cold is not of much value, since by this time the tissues have become distended with blood and with lymph, and if the parts have been kept at rest effusion will have ceased now to be poured out. The most prominent and troublesome symptom is that of pain. Nothing succeeds now so well in diminishing the pain as the frequent application of hot water, or, better still, of hot vinegar and salt-an empirical but very successful remedy. * It seems that hot applications not only diminish the pain, but also exercise a permanent effect upon the duration and upon the amount of the swelling; and it is in this way : when the vessels which have been injured have

recovered their tone, the application of hot water promotes absorption, so that the effused blood and lymph are rapidly taken back into the blood- vessels and the lymph- channels. During this time the joint should be kept at rest, and it is advisable also to maintain pressure on it by cotton wool, since well -directed pressure also promotes absorption.

This is an Edgar Cayce remedy for sprains, torn ligaments, and bruising. I sprained my foot and ankle ( graceful me climbing down the cliffs to surf, I know I balance better in the water than on the land ). I used this daily and at night I wore an extra sock to keep it in place while I slept. I also elevated my foot as often as I could. Like anything consult your Doctor to make sure you haven't fractured any bones. Cayce said " Either moisten the salt with vinegar or saturate the vinegar with salt ". I applied this often, a new batch at least 2 times a day as a rub and at night as a pack.

Directions

Combine 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup hot vinegar into a small bowel, stir til dissolved. Apply mixture to the affected body part onto the cloth ((washcloth, handtowel, socks), secure if needed with medical tape. Rinse after treatment.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jovancou (Struga) on 09/21/2016
 ★★★★★

Apple cider vinegar really helps in getting rid of the swelling from sprains. Just damp a sock in it, drain it and put it on your foot. Put a plastic wrap or a plastic bag to keep you away from the smell and to keep your sheets dry.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Diana329 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Pa Usa) on 10/13/2012
 ★★★★★

Before it got cool here I was in very tight shoes and my feet were swelling up as they do in hot days. I was taking a break outside work-we have a back yard- about the only way to get back thru the door is to sort of jump in so you do not knock over the small step ladder that serves as our steps.

Anyway the next day I awoke and I couldn't put my right foot down I was in Deep Pain!! I was praying I didn't break anything but I didn't know? For two weeks or more I had to hop on a cane. Everyone telling me to go to the doctors. I am not one who runs to doctors. Make a long story short I found this site and heard about ACV. Next day I went in I {should say hopped in} to a small fruit store near where I live and by chance I asked if they had heard of it and bam the lady said we just got in in!!! I did it twice with the saran wrap etc. It is GONE NO PAIN I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! ~! I AM BEING VERY GENTLE WITH MY ANKLE AND WILL USE THE CANE FOR A FEW DAYS. Just unbelievable!! Thanks you all for your posts!!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kiana (Chicago, Il) on 04/01/2012
 ★★★★★

I sprained my ankle badly one night and thought I would be out of commission for a while but remembered the wonderful ACV cures on this and other websites. My ankle was swollen and painful. I could barely walk. So, I took an old sock, cut the toe off and soaked it in ACV. I slipped it over my foot and positioned it on the most swollen part of my ankle. I then took a small plastic bag (Ziploc works well) and cut both ends off so it was just a plastic sleeve and slipped it over the wet sock and tucked it in around the sock so the vinegar would stay put. I took a larger plastic bag and made another sleeve and slipped it over the whole mess. I then took an ace bandage and wrapped over the plastic to keep everything in place and went to bed. The next morning I was walking without pain and as the day went on, I got better. I am shocked and cannot explain how this worked, but it did. And that is all that matters to me. Simply amazing!

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Susan (Lawrenceville, GA) on 03/05/2008
 ★★★★★

I was looking for a home remedy cure for my female dog who has a urinary tract infection for the second time. I did not want to pay the expensive vet bill again. This is how i found your web site. I hurried to the store to get some ACV, put a tps. in her food and in no time she was back to her self. Praise GOD for this miracle! The same night while i was walking her i fell off of my shoe and sprained my foot to where I could barely walk. I took 2 tbls. of ACV 2 times a day. By the end of the second day i was up and running, literally. It decreased the pain and did not even turn purple.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 05/04/2004
 ★★★★★

I thought I had broken my ankle. It was so bad I had to crawl on my knee and my leg and foot were one! My grandmother told me to soak a brown paper bag in vinegar and wrap it around my foot all night. Incredible results. The swelling had gone down two thirds and in three full days I was walking on it again.

Replied by Cat
(Sydney)
01/01/2013

I soaked some cotton stips with ACV after reading theses post, and did exactly what you guys did (Acv on the sprained foot, plastic bag, overnight... ) and now woke up with majorly pruned foot. It has been a few hours and is not getting better. Don't really notice a difference in the sprain. Now I have a tingling pain from the pruning and my foot looks just horrible! It is all white and has huge creases everywhere. It is painful and don't really know what to do, or what will happen (blisters all over?)

Replied by Timh
(Louisville, Ky, Usa)
01/02/2013
2048 posts

Cat: Take a 20 min foot bath w/ 1 large spoon of Baking Soda a one of Epsom Salt.

Apple Cider Vinegar and DMSO

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Posted by Elaine (Edmond, Oklahoma) on 04/22/2014
 ★★★★★

My husband came home yesterday with a sprained knee. He tripped over a pallet and was walking with a crutch. I came here to see what might help with his pain and healing. I found ACV and DMSO. I decided to pour some ACV in a cup and soak a wash cloth in it. I took a plastic bag and placed it under his knee and then swabbed his knee with a little DMSO and placed the cloth on his knee. About two hours later he was walking without the cane! He said the concoction helped a lot. I am now doing the same and hope it makes things even better.

Apple Cider Vinegar and DMSO
Posted by Stephen (Pennsylvania) on 07/30/2013
 ★★★★★

I had a terrible sprain or strain of muscles or ligaments in my low back. It was so bad, I was using crutches and a wheelchair to get around my house. Reading of the old remedy of "vinegar and brown paper, " I thought perhaps the vinegar drew DMSO out of the woodpulp of the paper... So I rubbed DMSO on my back and soaked a cloth in ACV.... This combination worked better than the DMSO alone and was almost miraculous in the effect it had. Several such treatments greatly resolved the excuciating pain I was in.

Replied by Namaw
(Bama)
03/03/2017
★★★★★

Vinegar & brown paper works. I first learned of it in 'Jack and Jill'--he breaks his crown and puts vinegar & brown paper on it. Simple remedy.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Baking Soda

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Posted by Michael (Nashua, NH) on 05/08/2023
 ★★★★★

It works!

  • 1/2 tsp Baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp honey

Microwave for 14 seconds

Whisk to dissolve

  • 1 tbsp water
  • 3 tbsp ACV. (Add slowly)
  • 2 tbsp water

I did this three times a day and the pain stopped in a few hours and the swelling went down in one day.

I am not a home remedy guy but this really works!

The honey helps make it pleasant tasting.

EC: Hi Michael, please let us know what medical condition you are posting this great feedback about. It sounds like a sprain, but please let us know if it's something else, and we'll move the post to another page.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Clay

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Posted by Anonymous (USA) on 02/01/2005
 ★★★★★

As a child I was plagued with sprains. My grandmother mixed apple cider vinegar with red clay, heated it and made a paste. It was placed on the sprain and then wrapped with strips of an old sheet. After an hour the paste was soaked off with warm water and my sprain was healed.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Helichrysum Oil

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Posted by Allie (Flemington, NJ) on 09/02/2008
 ★★★★★

Stepped off a ladder wrong and twisted and sprained my ankle. Immediately swelling and PAIN. Applied washcloth soaked with ACV and bag of crushed ice on top of that. After a few hours I continuously applied Helichrysum essential oil. In 2 days I was back to work on my feet. Kept it wrapped in ace bandage with the oil applied first. Had just a mild limp. Swelling went down overnight! Barely a bruise. I've sprained this ankle before, usually extreme swelling and purple bruising and pain for a week or so. Also applied an Arnica cream at bedtime.

Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric

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Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 08/13/2015
 ★★★★★

One of my grown sons was removing tile from a kitchen. He spent all day using a hammer against hard tile. His forearm was very, very sore when he got home. His face showed his pain and he is really pretty tough, so it must have really hurt.

I soaked a couple of flannel cloths in raw apple cider vinegar and wrapped his arm. I covered that with plastic wrap and an old sock with the foot cut out to hold it all together. I also gave him 4 turmeric capsules (internally) for good measure. :) When he got up this morning, his pain was nearly all better and he is off to work.

Vinegar is so amazing!

~Mama to Many~

Replied by KT
(Usa)
08/13/2015

I have to jump in here, MtM.

Are you certain it was just muscle and not bone? This raised red flags for me and wondered if he was getting a good source of protein (eggs) for breakfast and following that with magnesium. I could be wrong, just wanted you to be aware of my thoughts about this!

Love,

Kt

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee)
08/14/2015

Dear Kt,

Definitely don't know for sure what it was. But whatever it was it is 100% better now. And he eats eggs for breakfast most days. He and his brothers say they feel best on days they eat eggs for breakfast!

Thanks for checking!

Love,

MtM

Arnica

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Posted by Whiteraven (Chicago, Illinois) on 12/16/2010
 ★★★★★

Many european and cultural grocery stores (especially latin) sell the arnica herb in little bags among their teas and cooking herbs. Throw this in ceramic oven safe cookery and cover it with olive oil. Put it in the oven on your lowest setting (150-200F degrees) and let it cook for 1-2hrs. Take it out and strain it into a pretty bottle with a cork or cap and label it (DO NOT EAT), because arnica is poisonous unless used in homeopathic doses in tincture form. This oil is amazing! Rub it on bruises or sprains, just not on any open cuts or near the mouth or eyes. It heats as you rub which is great for massage. I use this as a massage oil on my husband's back when he suffers from bad muscle spasms and he is able to walk around pain free all day.


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