One of the popular and old home remedies to help reduce swelling and bruising in the eyes, commonly called a black eye, is place a raw steak on the affected area . However, this practice could make the problem worse.
As explained by WebMD, most black eyes are the result of trauma that causes bleeding under the thin skin of the eyelid, producing the characteristic black and blue discoloration.
Although putting a steak in a black eye is a remedy that we have even seen in Hollywood movies. Meat will not help cure it.
The custom of placing a steak in the damaged eye dates back to Egypt in the year 1600 a. C, AM Whale, former chief pharmacy at Livingstone Hospital in South Africa, told Jet. “The custom in those distant days was to apply steak to the damaged eye, followed the next day by an application of honey.”
OCLI vision points out that it is the coldness of the steak, not the meat itself, that has the healing powers . “An ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables are just as effective. The cold helps keep swelling down and, by contracting the blood vessels, helps reduce internal bleeding that causes the color black and blue. ”
Raw meat can cause an infection as there are probably bacteria in the meat.
Fisiocrem mentions that using ice and cold or warm compresses as home remedies safer than a steak to relieve pain and swelling of bruises. “The cold constricts the blood vessels and helps to numb the area, reducing inflammation and pain. The best way to apply it is using a cloth or compress so as not to burn the skin ”. He warns that if there is a wound, do not put the remedy into practice.
The bruise tends to disappear in one or two weeks. But in some cases the black eye can also warn of a more serious injury to the eye or skull.
It is recommended that the damage to the eyeball that becomes red and swollen is checked by a doctor or ophthalmologist. Medical attention should be immediate if the person experiences any vision problems (double vision, floaters or blurred vision), severe pain or bleeding from the eye.
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