Bed Blisters

Definition

Bed blisters, more commonly known as bedsores, are ulcers on the skin caused by extended bed rest. The continual pressure on the body causes the sores to form on the skin. Bedsores typically occur on the buttocks, hips, and shoulder blades.

Signs and symptoms

Bedsores are obviously apparent on the skin and appear as deep, red painful ulcers. Minor ulcers are typically smaller than a quarter, while severe ulcers can be several inches wide.

Cause

Bedsores usually affect patients who are bedridden or restricted to a wheelchair. Elderly nursing home patients are particularly vulnerable to bed sores because they may not be mobile. If they are unable to move themselves, patients must be regularly moved and adjusted. Lose cotton clothing is also a must for bedridden patients. Daily bathing with soaps that contains vitamin E and aloe vera can also help decrease the chance of getting bedsores.

Once bedsores occur, they will usually begin to heal within a week. However, in severe cases, without treatment, sores can last for more than six weeks.

Natural Cures

Diet: Consume plenty of liquids such as filtered water, and fresh fruit juices. Include fiber in your diet to maintain a clean colon. Also, ensure your diet is packed with organic fruits and vegetables to help support a healthy immune system.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® can be applied (minimum four times a day) on the unbroken skin around sores, but not directly on, blisters or ulcers.

Herbs: Comfrey root natural powder, Echinacea powder, goldenseal, myrrh gum, pau d’arco, slippery elm natural powder, and suma, taken as teas, tinctures, and in the form of herbal compresses, can all help to speed the recovery of bedsores. A typical naturopathic remedy is to clean the open wound with Calendula succus extract (liquid of the marigold flower) after which cover it with zinc oxide.

Homeopathy: Calendula, Hypericum, Merc sol., Chamomile, Phosphorus, Hamamelis, Silica, and Belladonna are the best homeopathic remedies for treating bed blisters.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of applying water, ice, steam and alternating cold and hot temperatures to restore health. Treatments include total body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation, and the application of warm and cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating an array of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a personal-treatment program. Many professionals including naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, and day spas use Hydrotherapy as part of their treatment routines. We suggest trying several at home hydrotherapy remedies. Please seek the advice of an alternative healthcare practitioner prior to undergoing these treatments to ensure they are right for you.

*Purified water is essential in any Hydrotherapy remedy. Remedies involving purifying bath water offer clear instructions.

Juice Treatment: Carrot, beet, cantaloupe, currant, and grape juice have all proven to help reduce recovery speed.

Nutritional Supplementation: The following supplements can be helpful for treating and preventing bedsores: Vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin B complex, ascorbic acid, vitamin D3, and zinc. Free-form amino acids can also help, as can garlic clove capsules, to enhance immunity and healing speed. If bedsores continue to persist, pancreatic enzymes between meals may also be helpful as well.

Topical Remedy: Make a paste with goldenseal powder, a vitamin E tablet, and zinc oxide. Apply the paste around the affected areas but not directly on. Enzyme cream, aloe vera gel, comfrey ointment, and calendula lotion are also effective topical treatments for bedsores.

Alternative Professional Care

If your symptoms persist despite following the remedies listed above, seek the assistance of a competent health professional. The following professional therapies have all proven useful for healing bedsores: Acupuncture, Chelation Therapy, Guided Imagery, Permanent Magnetic Field Therapy, Naturopathic Treatments and Oxygen Therapy. (See Glossary for descriptions of these alternative treatments.)