The temptation to build a snowman or participate in a friendly snowball fight is pretty enticing when the winter season comes a-knocking. However, Old Man Winter has something planned if you spend too much time in freezing cold temperatures, especially without wearing the proper attire. Before you go out into the cold, protect your body parts and familiarize yourself with home remedies for frostbite.

What is Frostbite?

When your body has become exposed to the extreme cold, you run the risk of developing the medical condition known as frostbite. Attacking your hands, fingertips, nose, feet, ears, and toes, frostbite is in fact the reaction your body gives when it is trying to protect your organs from extreme coldness. At first, you may experience what is called ‘frostnip’ – the least severe form of the condition, where the skin is left slightly numb and white. More serious cases can cause your skin to transform into more colorful shades of the rainbow, swelling and other symptoms.

Causes and Symptoms

Frostbite causes your skin to look white or grayish-yellow. The extreme cold can cause skin to become hard and feel waxy. Itching, burning and numbness are common symptoms of frostbite. With frostnip, after affected body parts start to get warm, peeling is a common side effect. If you encounter a severe case, blistering and hardening of the skin may take place. Once frostbitten body parts start to defrost, your flesh is left red and painful. Severe frostbite can leave your skin swollen, blue or purple. 


Frostbite Home Remedies

When body parts get too cold, medical attention is sometimes needed. Severe frostbite means tissue is dying and the possibility for suffering an infection or losing digits greatly increases. Quickly treating frostbite is an important first line of action. For average cases of frozen toes and fingers, consider the following home remedies for frostbite:

a) Stay Away from Extreme Heat:

It’s a natural reaction to immediately place frostbitten body parts close to heat, but using direct heating sources, such as a campfire, a roaring fireplace or heat lamp, can actually burn your already damaged skin.

b) Body Heat:

Your own body heat can effectively warm frostbitten fingers and hands. A popular method is to place them under your armpits [1]. In the bed, curl your body into the shape of a ball to generate more energy and warmth.

c) Stay Away from Wetness:

Many people have the urge to place frostbitten hands under running water to warm up, but this act simply increases heat loss.

d) No Alcohol:

Some people believe that drinking alcohol will warm the body, but alcoholic beverages actually cause an increase in heat loss.

e) Gloves:

Treat frostbitten ears, nose and the rest of your face to warmth provided by dry, gloved hands.

f) No Smoking:

Since smoking tobacco products decreases peripheral circulation, avoid this nasty little habit to increase your resistance against the bad effects of extremely cold temperatures.

g) Loose Clothing:

Wearing loose clothing enhances circulation, which can help your frostbitten body parts recover at a faster rate.

h) Remove Jewelry:

For frostbitten fingers, remove jewelry in an effort to increase circulation and healing.

i) Soda Bottle:

Warm frozen toes by filling up a 1- to 2-liter soda bottle with hot water and rolling it back and forth underneath your feet [2].

j) Warm Water Baths:

After the initial treatment of frostbite, bathe affected body parts in warm water to increase circulation and aid the healing process.

k) Hot and Cold Compresses:

Alternate between a hot compress (as hot as you can stand it) and ice cold compress to treat frostbitten skin. Apply a hot compress for three minutes followed by a cold compress for 30 seconds. Repeat three times each – ending with the cold compress.

l) Cayenne Pepper:

Components found in cayenne pepper work towards boosting circulation and reliving pain associated with frostbite.

m) Ginger Tea:

Another way to boost the healing power of enhanced circulation is to drink a cup of hot ginger tea.

[1] http://mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-frostbite/FA00023
[2] Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest; pg. 91.