Wound Care
Index of Diseases / Health Conditions ... Medicinal Foods, Herbs, Spices & Household Items
The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.
Wound Care:
- Honey: Up until World War II, honey was used commonly to treat skin wounds. With the introduction of antibiotics in the 1940s, honey was taken out of the medicine cabinets and returned to the kitchen. Some doctors are starting to use honey when modern medicines have been tried - and failed - to cure skin wounds. Honey contains three ingredients that make it ideal for treating wounds.
- Because it's high in sugar, it absorbs much of the moisture inside wounds, making it hard for bacteria to survive.
- In addition, many honey varieties contain large amounts of hydrogen peroxide, the same medicine you use at home to disinfect cuts and scrapes.
- Finally, some honey contain propolis, a compound in nectar that can kill bacteria. In a laboratory study, researchers smeared honey on seven types of bacteria that frequently cause wound infections, and according to a renowned professor of biochemistry at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, it effectively killed all seven types.
- Aloe: Note - Aloe is not recommended for deeper wounds because it causes the skin to tighten too soon, hindering the recovery of the deeper layers.
- Calendula. A powerful healing herb for skin conditions and cuts. You can buy it as an ointment, mix it with aloe vera and vitamin E oil, and rub it on as an external antiseptic and soothing healer.
- Cod liver oil, applied topically, contributes to faster wound healing and improvement in skin quality. An excellent treatment for diaper rash and other skin conditions is cod liver oil mixed with zinc oxide. And cod liver oil taken orally helps maintain soft skin and minimize wrinkles.
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide is used medically for cleaning wounds, removing dead tissue, and as an oral debriding agent. Peroxide stops slow (small vessel) wound bleeding/oozing, as well. Click here for info.
Any bite wounds or scratches from dogs and cats need to be treated aggressively, even if they appear to be minor. The wound needs to be washed out with hydrogen peroxide or Betadine.
If the victim is a bird, it will require aggressive antibiotic therapy. Cats transmit a bacterium called Pasteurella, which causes Pasteurella Septicemia in untreated birds. This is a serious infection resulting in death.
Information contained on this website is provided as general reference only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought.
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