Of course, one of the simplest and most effective remedies for a bruise is ice. When you ice a bruise, you basically cause the blood vessels to constrict, thus cutting off the flow of blood. If this is done immediately following the impact, when you expect that a bruise will form, icing can actually prevent the discoloration associated with a bruise. This icing, alternated with heat eventually, can stimulate more rapid healing as well. For head injuries or bruises in visible areas, applying ice immediately is the first and best recommendation.