| Supplement | Amount | Why |
|---|
Bromelain | 3,000 MCU (2,000 GDU) three times per day for several days, followed by 2,000 MCU three times per day |  [3 stars] Taking bromelain may help reduce swelling and speed the healing time for surgical wounds and soft tissue injuries. |
|
Vitamin B-Complex | Follow label directions | [3 stars] Thiamine (vitamin B1), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), and other B vitamins have all been shown to play a role in wound healing. For this reason, some healthcare practitioners recommend a high-potency B vitamin supplement to promote wound healing. |
|
Vitamin C | 1 to 3 grams daily | [3 stars] Taking vitamin C may promote connective tissue repair. |
|
Zinc | 30 mg daily (with 2 mg copper daily to prevent depletion), or apply topical zinc preparations regularly | [3 stars] Zinc is a component of enzymes needed to repair wounds, and even a mild deficiency can interfere with optimal recovery from everyday tissue damage. |
|
Aloe | Apply stabilized gel three to five times daily |  [2 stars] Aloe has been shown to decrease inflammation, promote cellular repair, and facilitate wound healing. |
|
Chamomile | Apply an ointment containing 2% chamomile extract or standardized for chamazulene and bisabolol content three to four times daily
| [2 stars] Topically applied chamomile can be used to speed wound healing. |
|
Chondroitin Sulfate Topical | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] Applying an ointment containing chondroitin sulfate may speed healing of skin wounds. |
|
Copper | 2 to 4 mg daily | [2 stars] Copper plays a role in the strengthening of connective tissue and may help promote wound healing. |
|
Gotu Kola | Take a standardized herbal extract providing 60 mg total triterpenoids once or twice per day | [2 stars] Applying an ointment containing gotu kola may speed healing of skin wounds. |
|
Honey | Take under medical supervision: apply 10 to 20 ml twice per day | [2 stars] Topical application of honey has been used since antiquity to accelerate skin wound healing. Honey has been shown to inhibit the growth of several organisms responsible for wound infections. |
|
Horse Chestnut | Apply topically | [2 stars] Horse chestnut contains a compound called aescin that acts as an anti-inflammatory and reduces swelling after trauma, particularly sports injuries, surgery, and head injury. |
|
Hyaluronic Acid | 1% solution for ears | [2 stars] Topically applied hyaluronic acid is sometimes used in skin wound dressings to improve healing. |
|
Ornithine Alpha-Ketoglutarate | 10 to 30 grams daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with OKG has been shown to significantly improve wound healing and decrease the length of hospital stays. |
|
Vitamin A | Take under medical supervision: 25,000 IU daily | [2 stars] Vitamin A plays a central role in wound healing and may be useful as a supplement or in a topical ointment. |
|
Vitamin E | 400 IU daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with vitamin E may enhance healing and prevent adhesion formation after surgery, applied topically, the vitamin may help prevent scarring. |
|
Arginine | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Arginine appears to improve wound healing by increasing protein synthesis. |
|
Arnica Topical | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Some practitioners consider topically applied arnica to be among the best wound-healing herb available. |
|
Bladderwrack | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Alginic acid is one of the main constituents in bladderwrack. Calcium alginate has shown promise as an agent to speed wound healing. |
|
Calendula | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Topically applied calendula can be used to speed wound healing. |
|
Carnosine | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Carnosine, a small molecule composed of the amino acids histidine and alanine, appears to promote wound healing. |
|
Chaparral | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Chaparral has been used topically to decrease inflammation, and pain, and promote healing of minor wounds. |
|
Chondroitin Sulfate Oral | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with chondroitin sulfate may promote wound healing by providing the raw material needed by the body to manufacture connective tissue. |
|
Comfrey | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Comfrey has anti-inflammatory properties that may decrease bruising and help heal wounds when the herb is applied topically. |
|
Echinacea | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Echinacea is used among European practitioners of herbal medicine to promote wound healing. |
|
Glucosamine Sulfate Oral | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with glucosamine sulfate may promote wound healing by providing the raw material needed by the body to manufacture connective tissue. |
|
Horsetail | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Horsetail can be used both internally and topically to decrease inflammation and promote wound healing. |
|
Plantain Topical | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Topically applied plantain can be used to speed wound healing. |
|
St. John’s Wort | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Topically applied St. John’s wort can be used to speed wound healing. |
|
Tea Tree | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Tea tree oil may be applied topically to skin wounds, although it is not recommended for burns. |
|
Witch Hazel | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Witch hazel can be used topically to decrease inflammation and to stop bleeding. |
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