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Broken bones are no fun! Broken toes can be especially painful, and if you are an active person, they can really hold you back from doing the things you love. Thankfully, there are some natural ways you can speed up the healing process and get yourself back in the swing of things a bit faster.

Natural Treatments: When working to speed up the healing process, there are several natural- minded treatments you can use.

• You can buddy-tape the injured toe to the largest adjacent non-broken toe, to encourage proper alignment of the broken toe while healing. This can also help prevent the broken toe from moving to speed up the healing process. Always use gauze or a cotton ball between the toes that are being taped together to prevent skin irritation and infection.
• Use ice to reduce pain, inflammation and swelling as soon as possible after sustaining a toe injury.
• Keep off your affected foot as much as possible and avoid putting pressure on it. Elevating the affected foot can also reduce swelling.
• Wear supportive shoes with a high, wide toe box or open toes to avoid further irritation or injury to the toe.
• Apply essential oils which help to aid in the healing process.  Cypress, fir and helichrysum can be applied topically 3x daily to aid in the healing process.

Nutritional/Supplement Support: There are several foods, herbs and supplements you can use to help speed up the healing process.

• Calcium rich foods: green leafy veggies, sea vegetables, salmon, sardines and unsweetened cultured dairy are all good natural sources of calcium which can support bone growth/healing.
• Zinc: pumpkin seeds, beef and spinach are great food sources of zinc, which helps to boost immunity and speed up the healing process required to rebuild bones.
• Vitamin K rich foods: kale, spinach, broccoli and other GREEN foods are high in vitamin k which supports healthy blood clotting and bone growth/healing.
• Turmeric/Curcumin is a great natural way to help reduce inflammation in the body.
• Bone broth/collagen supplements: Sipping bone broth throughout the day or incorporating collagen into your smoothies or meals can help to support healthy, strong bone growth.

Things to avoid: There are some things you should avoid when trying to heal a broken bone, as they can weaken your bones and promote inflammation:

• Alcohol
• Sodium
• Refined sugar & grains
• Soda
• Caffeine

With the proper support and rest, you can absolutely help to speed up the healing process. It can be frustrating, but remember if you take it easy immediately following the injury, you will heal much faster! If you suspect a broken toe, see your podiatrist for assessment and treatment to prevent further complications.