Medicines are a vital part of every one’s life. Though medicines are generally referred to tablets and tonics, it has much wider perspective. There are many things in this beautiful earth that are not medicines still have medicinal properties. Similarly one such chemical which is of great importance in our day to day life is tannins. Astringents are those substances which are formed of these complex chemicals tannins. In our everyday life it is quite obvious that we will incur cuts and bruises. Thus astringents come in very handy in this respect and therefore are regarded as one of the best treatments for treating cuts and wounds.

The basic property of Astringents is that it has a binding effect on tissues. Thus it is very helpful in treating cuts and wounds. It is actually the complex chemical tannin which has this effect. Astringent is so named as it is derived from a Latin term, ‘astringere’ which means, ‘to bind fast’. Thus this property of Astringents is used to heal the cuts and wounds that one may incur. When one incurs a cut then the tissues of the upper layer of the skin is torn apart and the skin below is exposed to outer atmosphere. Now it depends of the depth of the cut and if the cut is deep then even the underneath layer of skin is torn apart and then blood comes out. If the wound is left open to the atmosphere then various microscopic germs will affect the wound and will make the condition worse.
Astringents have their own procedure for healing the wounds. Astringents cause the bodily fluids containing proteins to become precipitate and insoluble. This in turn forms a protective layer over the wound and protects it from the outer atmosphere. Now as it is protected from microscopic germs then any sort of allergic reaction is avoided. Then gradually the astringents cause the tissues that are torn apart to join. In this way the wound is healed and the situation is under control within a very less time. Gradually there is a reduction in the irritation on the surface of the skin and the inflammation of the surface also reduces. Thus the wound is healed completely.

Astringents are generally found in blackberry, comfrey root, horse chestnut, rosemary, wild cherry etc. and in many more things. Apart from this astringents are used in various healing ointments and lotions that are sold in the market in the name of various healing medicines.

Filed under: Astringents