So this isn't exactly a beauty hint, except in the sense that bruises are really ugly, and the sooner you get rid of one, the prettier that place is. Bear with me: Three weeks ago, on a very icy morning, I was walking my dog and stepped out onto a patch of black ice (while wearing sneakers, like an idiot) and went into a split on the sidewalk. Which is something my body has pretty much avoided for 40 years. A quick ambulance trip to the emergency room later, I found out that I'd torn my left hamstring. Within a few days, this injury bloomed into a bruise that blackened the back of my entire left leg, from the back of my knee to my waist. Not bruisey purple, not black-and-blue. Black. Like it was about to fall off. It was quite shocking, really--it even grossed out my physical therapist, which was not reassuring. So hobbling back from her office one afternoon, I ran into a friend who immediately started making fun of my limp (Yes, I have nice friends). I flashed him my disgusting bruise in an effort to make him feel bad about himself but it didn't work. He just said, "Limp your ass to Whole Foods and buy yourself a tube of Arnica Gel. It'll fix you right up." And you know what? I did, and it did. Within three days, applying this colorless, odorless goo, the entire bruise had dissipated. Only its perimeter was still visible--the interior of the bruise was my normal pink, healthy skin. My physical therapist was freaked out yet again at my next visit. She had never seen such extensive bruising disappear so quickly. Nor had she ever heard of the stuff, so she looked it up and confirmed that arnica is completely safe. I was surprised when I found this drugstore.com link above that the touting arnica as a pain reliever. My Arnicare tube has slightly different packaging, so this must be new. I did not notice any pain relief, but even vicodin wasn't giving me pain relief from this sucker, so take that into consideration. But bruise relief? Absolutely. If you are clumsy like I am, it's worth keeping a tube around.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Black and Blue and Back
So this isn't exactly a beauty hint, except in the sense that bruises are really ugly, and the sooner you get rid of one, the prettier that place is. Bear with me: Three weeks ago, on a very icy morning, I was walking my dog and stepped out onto a patch of black ice (while wearing sneakers, like an idiot) and went into a split on the sidewalk. Which is something my body has pretty much avoided for 40 years. A quick ambulance trip to the emergency room later, I found out that I'd torn my left hamstring. Within a few days, this injury bloomed into a bruise that blackened the back of my entire left leg, from the back of my knee to my waist. Not bruisey purple, not black-and-blue. Black. Like it was about to fall off. It was quite shocking, really--it even grossed out my physical therapist, which was not reassuring. So hobbling back from her office one afternoon, I ran into a friend who immediately started making fun of my limp (Yes, I have nice friends). I flashed him my disgusting bruise in an effort to make him feel bad about himself but it didn't work. He just said, "Limp your ass to Whole Foods and buy yourself a tube of Arnica Gel. It'll fix you right up." And you know what? I did, and it did. Within three days, applying this colorless, odorless goo, the entire bruise had dissipated. Only its perimeter was still visible--the interior of the bruise was my normal pink, healthy skin. My physical therapist was freaked out yet again at my next visit. She had never seen such extensive bruising disappear so quickly. Nor had she ever heard of the stuff, so she looked it up and confirmed that arnica is completely safe. I was surprised when I found this drugstore.com link above that the touting arnica as a pain reliever. My Arnicare tube has slightly different packaging, so this must be new. I did not notice any pain relief, but even vicodin wasn't giving me pain relief from this sucker, so take that into consideration. But bruise relief? Absolutely. If you are clumsy like I am, it's worth keeping a tube around.
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8 comments:
So sorry you hurt yourself! Feel better soon. Great recommendation.
The clumsy of the world rejoice! Thanks for sharing this!
Sorry to hear you fell - I took a tumble at work (tried to wear heels - that'll teach me!) and fell on both knees. At my advanced age, I rejoiced when I was able to get up on my own, but both knees were covered with massive bruises a day later.
Considering that my pale-skinned bod bruises like an MF, I'll have to get some of this. Glad to hear you are on the mend!
bisbee
On Christmas Eve at 6AM I walked into a plate glass window at a convenience store. What clean glass that was, at least before I hit it! And there was no eggnog involved, either! Anyway, I spent 2 hours in the ER trying to get my italian schnozz to stop bleeding. So, you can't beat me for stupidity - I didn't have the excuse of black ice. I've always heard about arnica - good to hear its effectiveness confirmed.
I'm gonna have to pick some of that up. So sorry you hurt yourself!
Oh good arnica gods, yes that stuff is a miracle.
I'm super-duper pale and extremely clumsy, so I bruise all the time. Combine that with my tendency to burst blood vessels in my face at the slightest provocation, and I use arnica on a near-daily basis. I got the stomach virus over Thanksgiving, right before I was due to meet my boyfriend's parents for the first time, and my entire face was bruised terribly. People kept asking me if I had been in a car accident. Three days with Arnicare, and any remaining bruises were easily covered with some light concealer.
Now I pimp this stuff out like it owes me money to anyone who will listen.
Poor You!! And holy crappe, Arnica!
What a great recommendation!! I fell off a horse 3 weeks ago and have huge bruises on arms legs and tailbone (sigh). At least I don't have to look ugly... :-)
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