Home remedies for bed sores

Bed sores are ulcers, lesions or swelling on the skin, caused due to prolonged pressure on any body part, especially the bony areas. Common with people who are handicapped and are confined to the same position, bed sores can get very painful and discomforting. If not tended to at the earliest they can even become life threatening, affecting blood circulation to the affected part. However, they can be treated with the help of some effective home remedies.

The common areas where bed sores usually occur are – back, thighs, lower back, hip bone, ankles, knees, shoulders, spine, head and heels. You can know that the patient has bedsores if the skin begins to turn red and dark and it does not turn white when you press it. The appearance is more like blisters and these over a period of time, begin to loose the skin on them; to an extent that the sores might go as deep as the underlying tissue, muscles and even the bone in extreme cases.

Caused mainly due to pressure on one or more body points, bed sores also have certain other associated factors which contribute in the development of these skin lesions.

These are –

•    Infection – any body part which develops skin infection and has moist looking skin which may also have septic, is discoloured and might be irritating or painful, has a possibility of converting into a sore.
•    External injury which has not healed well.
•    Continuous abrasion of a particular area on the skin especially the bony surfaces.
•    Humid or moist conditions, coupled with lack of movement.
•    Restricted activity.
•    Malnutrition and dehydration may also cause bed sores, since the skin is undernourished.
•    Slow nervous control over the body keeps the patient from changing sides when required.
•    Weak bowel control in bedridden patients often leads to their skin getting wet and moist.
•    Anaemia also leads to bedsores.
•    Atherosclerosis may also lead to sores on the body.
•    Diabetes and similar ailments which make the skin more prone to infection also result in bedsores.

Home remedies for Bedsores 

•    A Vit-E oil application is good for bedsores. This can be applied all over the body.
•    To remove poison from the wound an effective remedy is to pour honey and sugar poultice over the wounds.
•    A mixture of aloe vera, wheat germ oil and comfrey also proves to be good for these skin lesions.
•    Mix an equal amount of powdered comfrey leaves and slippery elm, to make a paste. This can then be put in a piece of muslin cloth and tied on the area.
•    Washing the sores three to four times a day with goldenseal or turmeric root and then drying them thoroughly is good for the skin.
•    Cleaning and removing dead skin around the wound is very important.
Dietary inclusions
•    For a person suffering from bedsores, the diet should be rich in foods containing Vit-A, B, C and E, as this helps the wounds to heal faster.
•    If a person is constantly ill and bed ridden, the diet should be planned by a dietician.
•    Protein and Zinc rich food is vital for bedsores as is a fibre rich diet.
Points to be kept in mind
•    The patient’s bed and surroundings should be kept hygienic.
•    Change sheets daily.
•    Sheets should be dry and moisture free at all times.
•    Use antiseptic solutions to wash clothes and sheets.
•    Treatment for bedsores should begin at the earliest when detected.
•    Change the position of patients every two hours.
•    Physiotherapy or light massage might also help.
•    Educate all members of the family to take care of the patient well.

With timely, constant and appropriate care, it is possible to revert the formation of bedsores and cure the person completely.