People who live in cold and humid climates know mostly about chilblains. This is a medical condition which is happening due to the sudden warming of the skin after exposure to cold temperatures. The sudden change in the temperature causes the blood vessels to quickly expand, which leads to leakage of blood into the nearby tissues. It is a known fact that the chilblains can affect many different body parts, such as the nose, earlobes, ears, fingers, hands, toes, and feet.
The most common symptoms of chilblains are dryness, inflammation, swelling, pain, redness on the affected area, intense itching, and burning sensation. In severe cases, blisters can happen on the affected area, and ulceration and infection can also set in. It is a known fact that the chilblains can affect people of all ages, but it is more common in children and elderly people. Also, it is more common in women than men.
There are some factors which can increase your risk of chilblains, such as excessive smoking, low body weight, a poor diet, a family history of chilblains, and poor circulation. In most cases, this condition goes on its own for a period of one to three weeks when further exposure to cold is avoided. You need to talk with your doctor if you suffer from chilblains before you start using some of the below-mentioned home remedies. Here are some home remedies for chilblains:
Garlic help in chilblains
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This is a very effective home remedy which can help you to eliminate the symptoms of chilblains. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce itchiness and inflammation as well as promote quick healing [1,3]. It is recommended to rub the affected area with garlic oil. You should do it several times per day because it will stimulate the blood flow and relieve some of the discomfort. Also, you should include garlic in your diet.
Calendula treat chilblains
You can use the calendula as your natural treatment for chilblains. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce pain and inflammation as well as encourage quick healing [2]. You should boil a handful of calendula flowers in two cups of water and then let this home remedy simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes. You should allow this home remedy to cool down and then add some sea salt to it. You should soak the affected area in this home remedy for about fifteen minutes once or twice per day. Also, you can buy calendula ointment from the market and then apply it to the affected area.
Potatoes help in chilblains
This home remedy can help to bring down the itching and inflammation which is caused by chilblains to a great extent because it has soothing and anti-irritating properties. Also, they can help you in the treatment of blisters that develop with chilblains. You should cut a raw potato into thick slices. You should sprinkle some salt on the slices and gently rub them on the affected area. You should boil one or two potatoes in two cups of water for ten to fifteen minutes. You should allow this home remedy to cool down. You should soak the affected area in this home remedy for about ten minutes. You should follow either of these home remedies two times per day for a period of a week.
Onion cure chilblains
This is a popular home remedy for chilblains. It has antibiotic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce inflammation, swelling, pain, and itching and reduce the risk of infection [3]. You should cut an onion into thick slices. You should gently rub a slice of onion over the affected area. You should let it stay there for fifteen minutes and then wipe it off using a warm washcloth. You should do this natural treatment two or three times per day for a period of one to two weeks. You should not apply raw onion or onion juice on cracked skin.
Marigold
You can use marigold flowers to help you with the irritation and pain associated with chilblains [4]. You should take marigold flowers and boil them in water approximately for twenty minutes. You should let the concoction cool for a short while, and you should soak the affected area for a period of fifteen minutes. You can add a small amount of sea salt to it to speed up the healing process.
Massage
When you are in the winter months, you should massage your hands and legs directly in circular motions two times per day in the morning and at night before you go to bed. When you are massaging, then this will ensure good blood circulation, and it will reduce your risk of developing chilblains. You can use castor oil or palm oil to massage your hands and legs. Also, there is another option, and that is to add a few drops of essential oil, such as lemon, rosemary, or lavender oil, to any good quality vegetable oil and use it to massage.
Elevation
If you suffer from chilblains, then the first thing you should do is elevate the affected area. This can help to improve blood circulation, which in turn can help to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling. You should put your hands and legs on a few pillows to keep them elevated. If your ears or nose are affected, then you should sit in a high–backed chair and bend your neck backward. You can help your body to adjust to the room temperature by wrapping yourself with a warm blanket and drinking a glass of hot chocolate or cup of warm. When your body has adjusted to room temperature, then you should gently massage the affected area with warm coconut oil or olive oil to improve the blood flow.
Aloe Vera treats chilblains
This home remedy has healing and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used as a natural treatment for chilblains. This can reduce the pain, soothe the inflammation and eliminate other discomforts [5]. You should cut an Aloe Vera leaf to extract its gel. You should apply the extracted Aloe Vera gel to the affected area. You should massage gently to increase blood circulation. You should let it dry on its own and then rinse it off using a wet tissue. You should follow this home remedy one or two times per day until you see improvements in your condition.
Black peppercorn
This is a useful home remedy for chilblains. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. You should grind ½ to one teaspoon of black peppercorn thoroughly. You should heat one tablespoon of sesame seed oil and add the ground black peppercorn to it. You should strain it and then allow it to cool down a little bit. You should use this warm oil to massage the affected areas two or three times per day. You should avoid using this oil if there is any bleeding or cracked skin on the affected area.
Stop smoking
We know that smoking is not good for our health. If you suffer from chilblains and you smoke, then it will make them worse. You should stop smoking as soon as possible. It can help you to rid of the chilblains, and it will improve your health.
Turnips
This vegetable can help you in the treatment of chilblains. You should take some slices or chunks of turnip and use a pestle and mortar to ground the turnip into a paste and rub this paste on the chilblains areas. This can help to reduce the inflammation and pain of the chilblains. [6]
Exercise regularly
It is known that poor blood circulation can make you more susceptible to chilblains. You should exercise regularly because this can help you to overcome the risk factor. When you are exercising, then it can improve blood circulation to all parts of your body. Before you start any exercise, you should warm up gradually with simple foot exercises to get the blood circulating. Aerobic exercises and cardiovascular workouts can help you a lot. You should do them for at least thirty minutes on a daily basis. Also, you can go swimming, jogging, bicycling, or walking on a daily basis to improve your circulation.
Increase calcium intake
There are some studies in which are said that calcium deficiency can make you more vulnerable to chilblains [7]. If you had chilblains in your past during the winter months, then you can prevent it if you increase your calcium intake. You should eat foods that are rich in calcium, such as salmon, sardines, beans, white beans, collard greens, kale, broccoli, fortified cereals, fortified orange juice, fortified soy milk, soybeans, yogurt, cheese, and milk. It is required, you can take calcium supplements after talking with your doctor.
Lemon juice
You may think that lemon juice will not function as a natural treatment for chilblains because it will cause stinging in wounds, but it can help to bring down the inflammation, and it will heal the skin from any blisters which you may have formed.
References:
[1] Arreola R, Quintero-Fabian S, Lopez-Roa RI et al. Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds. Journal of Immunology Research. 2015;2015:401630.
[2] Preethi KC, Kuttan G, Kuttan R. Anti-inflammatory activity of flower extract of Calendula officinalis Linn. and its possible mechanism of action. Indian journal of experimental biology. 2009;47(2):113-20.
[3] Wilson EA, Demmig-Adams B. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties of garlic and onions. Nutrition & Food Science. 2007;37(3):178-83.
[4] Basch E, Bent S, Foppa IM, et al. Marigold ( Calendula officinalis L.): An evidence-based systematic review by the natural standard research collaboration. Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy. 2006;6(3/4):135-59.
[5] Hajhashemi V, Ghannadi A, Heidari AH. Anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities of Aloe littoralis in rats. Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2012;7(2):73–8.
[6] Zare A, Khaksar Z, Sobhani Z, Amini M. Analgesic effect of valerian root and turnip extracts. World Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2018;7(3):345–50.
[7] Gourlay RJ. The problem of chillblains: With a note on their treatment with nicotinic acid. Social Medicine in the Curriculum. British Medical Journal. 1948:336-9.
