Water was used in some suggested remedies. One of these advocated wrapping the bruised area with cloths dipped in very hot water and repeating the treatment several times. This was to prevent the bruise from swelling. Also to prevent the bruise swelling, a cloth could be folded five or six times, dipped in very cold water and applied to the bruise. When the cloth ceased to be cold it was to be removed and the process repeated.
Olive oil was the basis of another cure. A piece of cloth or wool was dipped in it and the bruises rubbed with it. The bruise was then covered with a compress saturated in oil.
Alternatively, a tallow candle was used. The bruise was rubbed with the cold tallow candle to prevent discoloration occurring.
A mixture of chopped parsley mixed with butter could also be applied, as could a piece of brown paper with treacle spread on it. A mixture of feverfew, ribwort, plantain, sage and bugle crushed and boiled in unsalted butter or vegetable oil was another suggested cure. This was strained and applied to the bruise.
A poultice could be made of hyssop leaves and applied to the bruise, and poultices could also be made from cabbage leaves or burdock. Mallow leaves crushed and mixed with unsalted butter or vegetable oil were advocated to be smeared on bruises to stop the pain and reduce the swelling.
A lotion could be made from infusing a handful of rosemary leaves in a pint of boiling water and adding the white of an egg and a teaspoon of brandy to the mixture when it was cool. Another lotion could be made from boiling some comfrey leaves.
The crushed fresh leaves of plantain were also thought to relieve bruising when applied to the bruised area, and yarrow and hops were both used externally. Rose water was thought to reduce swelling , as was lavender oil, while a poultice or compress of witch hazel was thought to be particularly effective in the treatment of bruises. Wintergreen , tansy, and white horehound were thought to be useful in the treatment of bruises, as were celery, herb Robert, fenugreek and hyssop.
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