Natural Remedies for Scars
Wounds that could become scars must be treated quickly – not only because of how they will look, but to give the skin a chance to heal completely. Help the healing process with a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. You can also prepare a natural balm for daily application, which often will make the scar disappear.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A – also known as beta-carotene – promotes healthy skin and encourages healing. Our diets should include foods that contain vitamin A. How do we know which foods are high in beta-carotene? Most are orange in colour. For example:
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potato
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Apricot
- Melons
Vitamin C
Vitamin C: what a wonder! It’s a source of vitality that benefits the skin in four important ways: it is antioxidant, regenerative, moisturising, and revitalising. For all of these reasons, it’s very helpful for healing the skin; but it also accelerates new skin cell production and aids desquamation, the shedding of old cells.
Vitamin C powerhouses include:
- Citrus fruits
- Barbados cherry
- Red fruits
- Red pepper
- Parsley
- Kiwi
- Broccoli
Vitamin C supplements are another option, the most natural of which is powdered barbados cherry. The body absorbs these forms more readily.
Silicon
For optimum cellular function in the body – and, therefore, the skin – silicon is extremely important. When we think of healthy skin, hair and nails, it’s the first mineral that comes to mind. Given its ability to improve skin elasticity, it is often found in firming creams.
Silicon superhero foods:
- Avocado
- Alfalfa
- Whole grain rice
- Horsetail
- Onion
- Whole oats
- Cucumber
- Leeks
- Beets
- Cheese
If you find it difficult to eat enough silicon-rich foods, you might try taking it as an organic liquid. An essential oil, it is indispensable for human health. Bonus: it is an authentic beauty elixir. For better absorption, try to use an organic variety.
Natural ointment
Did you know that you can prepare your very own healing and regenerative natural ointment? Here’s a quick guide:
- Aloe Vera: It’s always useful to have an aloe plant at home so you can extract the gel straight from the leaves. If you don’t, however, you can buy natural aloe vera gel.
- Rosehip oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Vitamin E (you’ll find these in capsules at your local health food shop)
Mix equal parts aloe vera and rosehip oil (approx. 50 ml of each) in a glass bowl. Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil and 10 drops of vitamin E. The vitamin E is very important, as it will preserve your ointment. Combine well with a wooden spoon and voila! For better storage, keep your mixture refrigerated. Apply at least twice a day, ideally once in the morning and once at night.
Painful scars
If your scars feel painful, try applying hypericum oil to them. To make it at home, soak hypericum flowers outdoors in a little olive oil for 30 days. When the oil is ready, it will turn pink. Apply it to the scar twice or three times daily. For contusions and burns, this is also fabulous to have at hand.
Hypericum 6CH is an effective homeopathic remedy that’s worth trying for painful scars. Just place 3 of the little balls or tablets under your tongue three times a day. Be sure to take it between meals and not too soon after you have consumed strong flavours (such as mints, coffee, etc.).
Stubborn scars
If you find that your scar just won’t heal or the skin is stubborn in regenerating, try some arnica cream. You’ll find it at chemists and health food shops. If you prefer, there’s a homeopathic remedy called Arnica 6CH. Use it as described above.
Arnica flower
Honey and Propolis, two ancient remedies
Bees provide us with two naturally excellent and relatively inexpensive options for skin regeneration.
Honey has lots of beneficial properties, not least of which are its powerful moisturising, antioxidant and antibiotic effects. Frequently used in skin masks, it can also be used to treat scars. As a skin remedy, apply organic honey to the scar three times a day. Leave it on for at least ten minutes.
Propolis was first used to treat several skin diseases in ancient Egypt, as it possessed tremendous antiseptic and healing properties. In fact, in Greece, Aristotle deemed it “a remedy for skin infections, wounds and abscesses”. Applied daily to your scar and taken orally, it will quickly regenerate skin. Soon, your scars will be a distant memory.
Pre-prepared propolis creams cam also be found in health food shops. The added advantage of these is that they do not cause the same inflammation that most conventional chemical creams do.
