Although our ankles are extremely resistant structures because they must be able to support the weight of the rest of our body, in actions as simple as walking or jumping or as complex as physical exercise, it is pretty standard that we suffer an ankle injury due to kink, something we’ve all ever experienced. An ankle sprain can be mild when it only involves overstretching the tendons or something more serious when they are under too much tension and tear, which is accompanied by bleeding. As these are prevalent injuries, it is necessary to know, at least basic, about the care that an ankle sprain implies. This FastlyHealarticle will show you the best home remedies for a sprained ankle.
Table of Contents
Primary care to heal a sprained ankle
Regardless of the treatment applied for a sprained ankle, there is some primary care that is essential to promote recovery:
- Rest: it is necessary to give the foot time to recover, for which it is recommended at least 24 hours of rest, avoiding walking or standing when possible.
- Ice: placing ice packs or cold gel packs on the affected ankle for the first 48 hours helps control inflammation and possible bleeding in the joint and contributes to pain relief.
- Compression: placing bandages on the affected ankle also helps control bleeding and inflammation, in addition to helping to limit movements so that the tissues can recover more quickly.
- Elevation: when placing the foot up, the amount of blood that goes down to the foot is more minor, reducing the inflammation since it depends on the blood to be carried out.
In the following article, we show some first aid for sprains.
Lower the inflammation of a sprained ankle with clay paste
One of the best home remedies to reduce inflammation of the ankle is the application of clay paste. Clay has been applied for many years to relieve joint trauma and bleeding. It can reduce bleeding and inflammation of injured joints; in addition to stimulating healing and remineralization of tissues, it has antiseptic and soothing properties.
To make a clay paste, you must mix the green or red clay powder with red wine vinegar, a mixture to which extracts of horsetail, comfrey, arnica, burdock, or chamomile could also be added. The resulting paste should be placed and rubbed on the swollen ankle once a day, left for an hour, and rinsed off with water.
Water, salt, and vinegar for ankle sprains
Each component of the preparation of warm water with salt and vinegar benefits the recovery of foot sprains. Warm water facilitates circulation and relieves inflammation, while salt and vinegar have anti-inflammatory properties, not only for joint sprains but also for pain and muscle cramps.
You should mix 1 cup of vinegar and two tablespoons of salt in a bowl with warm water, for which you could use especially Epsom salts. The affected foot is soaked for at least 20 minutes at a time and twice a day until the swelling improves.
Cayenne pepper to heal a foot sprain
Another of the most effective home remedies for an ankle sprain is cayenne pepper. The capsaicin, a component of cayenne pepper, produces an analgesic effect and has been used for many years to treat various ailments, from lumbago and migraines to diabetic neuropathy trigeminal neuralgia. This also makes it an option to consider for relieving the pain of an ankle sprain.
There are two possibilities when it comes to using cayenne pepper. The first is preparing it in the form of tea to consume twice a day and take advantage of its analgesic effects, and the second is mixing the pepper with hot water with which we will wet a cloth that will be placed on the ankle.
Heal a sprained ankle quickly with castor oil.
Massaging the affected ankles with oil can be very soothing, mainly when using castor oil, which has long been used to remedy ankle sprains. It improves circulation and relaxes the joint to facilitate recovery.
Turmeric quick treatment for ankle sprain
Like cayenne pepper, turmeric has a component characterized by its anti-inflammatory, relaxing, analgesic, and antioxidant properties, known as curcumin, which can contribute to the recovery of ankle sprains.
In this case, turmeric powder should be mixed with a bit of water to create a paste applied to the affected ankle and covered by a bandage that must remain for about 10 hours. Recovery is accelerated by using this treatment for a week at a time.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Home remedies for an ankle sprain, we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.