It is said that if you want to make your home more beautiful, but if you don’t want to get a plant that is too high maintenance, then you should opt for a succulent. These plants are great for many things, including making the air and the space better, but many people are wondering if they have healing properties as well. In this 2024 guide, we are going to tell you if succulents are good for treating cuts and wounds, and we will give you some additional health tips related to these plants.
Can they help with healing?
The short answer to this question is yes, there are some plants that are going to help with treating cuts and wounds, and they are especially good when it comes to burns. One thing that you need to know is that the process is a bit more complicated than just putting a cactus on an open wound.
Experts suggest that you should use these plants only if you have a superficial wound that does not require medical help, and that does not require you to get stitches. In case you have a minor cut or an injury that happens pretty much every day, then you are free to use some of the succulents that you have at home.
In case you cut yourself at home, as you already know, the first thing that you need to do is clean the wound with warm water and soap and then dress it. If you are not at home, and if you don’t have clean water at your disposal, then you can use the juice of the Cardon cactus to clean the cut. This plant is also recommended if you want to use something to stop the bleeding, and you don’t have a bandaid or any other type of clean cloth next to you.
It is said that in case you have an open wound or a cut and you don’t have access to your first-aid kit, you can use succulents by cutting a piece with a clean knife and then pressing that piece to the wound. You should leave it there for at least an hour or two, and you should remove it as soon as you have access to clean water or a standard first aid kit.
Remember that most succulents have spikes, so you need to be extra careful when you cut them. If possible, hold them with a rubber or silicone glove and then cut a piece of them so that the flesh of the succulent can be exposed. In case the plant has a lot of spikes, make sure you cut the flesh out so that your cut or wound does not come into contact with the spikes. You can make things much worse if there is a spike stuck in your wound and you would need to address this problem as well.
Which succulents are the best for this?
As you can see in the Succulent Market, there are many different types of cacti and succulents, and this begs the question – which plant has the most healing properties? Now, we are going to give you more information about the most popular plants that can help with treating your wounds and cuts.
The number one plant that everyone knows about is aloe vera. This succulent is the most popular one for various reasons and its healing properties are the reason why we can see this plant in many cosmetics products nowadays. You should know that you can directly put it on your skin or open wound, and it will help out with treating it. It has anti-inflammatory properties and it can also help with reducing the chances of your wound getting infected and leaving a scar. Many people use it directly on their skin to help with eczema, acne, or even wrinkles. So, if you have this plant at your home, make sure you take good care of it because it can help you out a lot.
Another plant that can help you out a lot is Opuntia, and this succulent has almost the same healing properties as the aloe. One thing that you need to know and remember is that the Opuntia has a lot of small spikes and if you don’t cut it properly, you will have to deal with the spikes for a long time. The leaves are large and they are filled with flesh, so if you open the leaf and if you scoop from it directly, you can put it on any cuts or wounds and it will promote healing. Know that this plant can also be eaten raw, and it is said that it can help with a lot of digestive issues and even decrease blood sugar.
Finally, we have the Agave Americana which has been used in herbal medicine for a long time. This is said to be a miracle plant, and it can help with any inflammation or skin irritation that you have, and even though it mostly grows in deserts, you can still have it in your home as long as you know how to grow and keep it. It is said that this succulent is the best one when it comes to treating wounds and it can help stop the blood, provide a clean environment for the wound to heal, and even promote faster healing without leaving a scar. It can also help with different types of aches including tooth pain. If you are thinking about getting a new plant for your home that can help you out in case you don’t have a first aid kit, then you should definitely consider getting the Agave Americana.
Know that most of the succulents you have at home can help you out in case you have a minor cut or wound, but before you put anything on your irritated and damaged skin, you have to check if the plants you have are healing. There are some plants that are toxic and can do a lot more damage than good, so know which plants you have in your home before you start using them for their healing properties.