I hope this is your first and last time looking up home remedies for a black eye. Really. I’m tempted to share this with you:
“What do you tell a guy with two black eyes?
- Nothing. He’s already been told twice!’’ – Cedric the Entertainer, Be Cool
…and I could not resist the temptation. Maybe it’s not that funny out of context…then again…a black eye is a black eye.
With the right home remedy, it’ll be gone in no time.
Causes of Black Eyes
There are various causes of black eyes, the most common being a blow to the head. It might happen if something or someone hit you or you walked into something. It’s usually no big deal unless it’s happening all the time or frequently enough to become disconcerting.
So…why would someone be getting black eyes all the time, or too often at any rate, with too often taken to mean, say, once a week. Or if you have two black eyes. That CANNOT be a coincidence. In the context of the Russian mob boss who was being spoken to by Cedric as illustrated in the quote above, the reason would be pretty clear even if you haven’t watched the movie.
But this is not the case with you. If you were that kind of person, you wouldn’t be looking up home remedies for black eyes.
OK, so now, the causes of black eye:
- Getting hit (duh)
- Getting bitten by some kind of insect
- surgical procedures to the face, such as nose surgery, jaw surgery or a facelift
- swelling around the eyes
- a type of head injury that causes both eyes to swell and blacken. Doctors call it “basilar skull fracture”. It’s raccoon eyes in layman’s terms.
- Allergic reactions
- Cellulitis (skin infection around the eye),
- dental infections
Signs and Symptoms
Swelling, discoloration due to bruising and pain are the most common signs and symptoms of a black eye. At first the swelling and discoloration will not be conspicuous. The area around the eye gets a light red hue, after which it gradually gets darker and starts to swell more. There may be difficulty opening the eye or blurry vision. If there are more serious visual problems, you should see a doctor.
Normally, the area will become lighter and the swelling will go down in a week. A week is a long time though, and if you can’t get away with not taking your sunglasses off at work (or ever in this time), then it is way too long.
Loss of vision, double vision, bleeding, being unable to move the eye, losing consciousness, clear fluid coming out of the ears or nose, blood in the eyes or a headache that just doesn’t go away may all be symptoms of a severe injury.
In every event, you should have an eye doctor look at the black eye to ensure that the eye is not significantly injured.
If someone with a black eye experiences the following, call a doctor:
- very strong pain or swelling that does not stop;
- is more forgetful than usual or his / her behavior changes in some other way
- has swelling around the eyes that is not associated with any injury;
- has fever and other signs of infection in general or of the eye
- feels nauseous or dizzy or vomits
- Was stung by a bee near the eye
If you are aware that the person is taking blood thinners or suffers from hemophilia, he / she would also require medical assistance in this situation.
If the person or you (if you have a black eye) is / are not experiencing any of the things on the lists above, then a good old natural home remedy is what you need. Because a week is too long, like I said.
So, without further ado…
Treatments
1. Oatmeal tops the list
Photo Credit: perfect-diet.net
Surprised? You should not be because the fibers in oatmeal work wonders against bruising and other skin injuries.
Required Ingredients:
- 100 g of oatmeal flakes
- A bowl of warm water
Process:
- Soak the oatmeal in the water and wait 10 minutes, then gently massage around the eye for a few minutes. You will feel the pain start to go away, slowly but surely.
- Message with vitamin E oil after the oatmeal. The black eye will heal in two days.
2. Ice pack – Simple and Easy
Photo Credit: regionstraumapro.com
This is an obvious one. All you need is an ice pack. Press it to the black eye to numb the nerves and experience pain relief. Do this a few times a day.
3. Eucalyptus oil – the power of nature
Photo Credit: jujuaroma.com
Research on eucalyptus oil shows that it has a variety of anti-microbial and immune-modifying properties. It contains a chemical called eucalyptol, which is the reason it is so effective against skin irritation caused by a blow or hit.
Required Ingredients:
- A few drops of eucalyptus oil
- Warm water
Process:
- Pour the essential oil into a cup of warm water and rub on the swollen skin around the eye.
- Repeat as needed until the pain subsides and the swelling starts to go down.
Note: Eucalyptus oil has many other beneficial medicinal and biological properties. Click here to learn more about its wonderful effects on people’s health!
4. Eat more foods with vitamin C
Fruits with high vitamin C content like lemons, kiwi, oranges and papaya are recommended if you have a skin injury like a black eye because vitamin C widens the blood vessels, making it easier for the skin to repair itself. Doctors recommend a daily vitamin C dosage of around 40,000 mg, divided into eight doses.
Required Ingredients:
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Mango
Process:
- You can choose any of these fruits in any amount or a combination of all of them. These fruits are the richest ones in vitamin C.
- Mix the fruit in a blender (if it is too thick, add water) and consume at least once a day.
5. Comfrey root is an excellent home remedy that has stood the test of time
Photo Credit: herboco.com
If you want to reduce the pain and bruising from a black eye as soon as possible, comfrey root is an excellent choice. This is a shrub that grows in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America that is sold in most natural food stores. Its leaves and root have been used in traditional medicine throughout the world for millennia.
Required Ingredients:
- One teaspoon of comfrey root
- A cup of water
Process:
- Make a paste by grinding the comfrey root and mixing with the water and apply it on the injured area daily.
- Alternatively, you can boil the root in water and apply it to the bruised area by dipping a clean cloth in the warm tea.
Notes:
Comfrey root can also treat burns, muscle sprains and joint inflammation.
6. Witch hazel offers infinite skin benefits
Witch hazel is a great healing agent for black eyes among many other skin problems. It will restore your clean and healthy skin in no time at all.
Process:
- Mix the ingredients, soak a cotton swab in the mix and dab it on the affected eye.
- Do this for a few minutes four times a day. This will have a gentle, healing and soothing effect.
Note: The witch hazel plant is top choice for natural skin care; its astringent properties make it an efficient treatment for acne as well.
7. Warm compress – As good as ice
Photo Credit: natural-homeremedies.org
I recommend using warm compresses as soon as you get the black eye, next day at the latest, because it will help increase blood flow to the skin around the eye and speed up the healing process.
Required Ingredients:
- A clean cloth
- Warm water
Process:
- Dip the cloth in the water, and squeeze to get rid of the excess water. Make sure the cloth is clean because you risk developing an eye infection to go with your black eye, which is likely to prolong your unenviable agony.
- Put the warm cloth on the swollen eye until the cloth becomes cool. Do as often as you need to until you feel relief.
Note: try massaging the area if there is no pain. The goal is to facilitate blood circulation to get rid of the dried blood that has piled up under the skin.
8. Arnica reduces swelling
Arnica will help relax the tense eye muscles and repair all damaged tissue in the area. Start using it as soon as you can – it is sold in drugstores as a topical cream or oil. I recommend the latter.
Apply on the black eye a few times a day until you feel relief.
9. Calendula or marigold is an amazing anti-inflammatory flower
Calendula is used frequently to reduce inflammation, reduce bruising and swelling around the eye and help wounds heal.
Required Ingredients:
- Several calendula flower petals
- A cup of hot water
Process:
- Put the flowers in the water and let it steep for 13 minutes.
- Then put it in the fridge for thirty minutes.
- Soak a clean cloth in the tea and press to the injured area for a few minutes.
- Do this daily until the black eye disappears.
10. Potatoes reduce pain. Really.
Required Ingredients:
- A medium-sized potato
Process:
- Cut the potato into thick slices and leave in the refrigerator.
- When they get cold, place a slice over the bruised area for twenty minutes.
- Alternatively, you can grate a potato and apply the juice to the bruise.
11. Clay repairs damaged blood vessels
Photo Credit: atomboutique.com
Clay is a great anti-inflammatory agent that has been used as a remedy since ancient times.
Required Ingredients:
- Some clay
- A bit of water
Process:
- Mix the clay and water to create a paste and cover the area of the eye.
- This paste ensures almost immediate relief from itchiness and pain.
- Be careful not to get clay in the eye though because it might irritate it.
Note: Clay is an amazing absorber, extracting all kinds of toxins from the human body. Natural clay offers a host of beneficial properties and soothes all kinds of pains and aches. It is found in most gardens.
12. Aloe Vera does wonders against all skin damage
Photo Credit: davidwofle.com
You know that aloe vera’s medicinal properties go way above and beyond skin care. Use real aloe vera gel or juice from the plant, not the type sold in stores.
Required Ingredients:
- One cup of aloe vera juice or half a cup of gel.
Process:
- Mix the gel with fruit juice and drink the mixture in the morning on an empty stomach.
How to Prevent Black Eye
If you are constantly getting black eye because you are bumping into things, you need to find out what the reason is. There are three possibilities:
a) Poor vision. You need to get your eyes checked.
b) Lack of attention. Try to be more observant of your surroundings. It’s OK to be introverted, in tune with your thoughts and feelings and yours alone. However, this should not happen at the expense of your appearance, because this is what people see, and, more importantly, you might get seriously injured.
c) You keep falling and hitting your head because you are abusing substances. If this is the case, either try to cut down on your recreational drug of choice or switch to another one. Again, you should do this as soon as possible to prevent serious injuries.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, the best home remedy is ending the relationship with your abusive partner! Call the police the next time he gives you a black eye.
If you don’t want to go back and forth between your home and the police station and spend hours filling out forms (or you suspect the police won’t come – in some countries they don’t answer domestic violence calls), find a way to leave him. He will keep doing it. Don’t think he’ll stop.
Conclusion
Did you like our list of home remedies? No need to feel weird because of your black eye anymore – it’ll be gone by the time you remember how you got it! Black eyes are not a serious issue unless they are a symptom of an underlying condition, so if none of our remedies work, you should see a doctor.
Please tell us what you think in the comments and share this article so you can help other people.
Dr. Kyra Russel Jr.
A qualified doctor, Dr. Kyra Russel Jr. is someone who wears many hats, working also as a health writer, author, researcher, and media medic. She is a master communicator who is passionate about putting convoluted health information into words that make the information widely accessible. Her primary interests are child and adolescent health, women’s well-being, beauty, and nutrition.
Thank you so much for this helpful information. My friend was recently
hit by a car and is now sporting a bump on the head and a black eye.
Thankfully, the doctors found no concussion. I will share this info. Greatly
appreciate your advice.