Chester Herbalist

If you can stop the bleeding and keep the wound free from infection - you have done your part and nature will take over from there.

Clean, disinfect and cover

1 - To staunch bleeding, apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or piece of gauze. Once the bleeding has stopeed, gently clean around the area with salt water or Calendula tincture.

2- Twice a day, clean the wound with Myrrh tincture. Myrrh helps to stimulate the production of white blood cells and has been known since the time of Moses as a natural anit-biotic. Mix a teaspoon of the myrrh tincture with 100ml of cooled boiled water. Pour a little over the cut or graze and leave the wound exposed until it dries.

4 - Try tea tree oil or lavender oil. Stir 10 drops of the oil into a little water and use this to rinse the cuts.

Kitchen cures.

If you have no access to antiseptic cream, then dab on a little honey (manuka if possible) and cover the wound with a clean cloth or bandage. Honey has anti-bacterial properties and it appears to speed up wound healing.

A lesson from Lassie

If you are out and about with no access to anything at all - copy your dog and lick the wound. A report in the Lancet described the beneficial effects of saliva (but it must be your own!)