[wisconsin_cur]

Cellulitis

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')ellulitis is a diffuse infection of connective tissue with severe inflammation of dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin. Cellulitis can be caused by normal skin flora or by exogenous bacteria, and often occurs where the skin has previously been broken: cracks in the skin, cuts, blisters, burns, insect bites, surgical wounds, or sites of intravenous catheter insertion. Skin on the face or lower legs are most commonly affected by this infection, though cellulitis can occur on any part of the body. The mainstay of therapy remains treatment with appropriate antibiotics.

[mos6507]

I don't think there is an herbal remedy for every condition, although there are certainly no shortage of claims for miracle herbal cures. So if we get to a point of collapse where you can't get antibiotics anymore, that will just be another factor driving die-off.

[wisconsin_cur]

No but there are treatments. Half of my co-workers, at one time or another have been diagnosised with this and been treated for it. Either it is not as serious as we sometimes take it to be or there was some kind of treatment. I am guessing that (great) grandmother Cur would have something for when this came up on the farm. I would settle for that.

"Well I guess they will just die" is for other people and statistics. If I can do one thing to move the odds in the favor of me and mine I will do it.

[patience]

The treatment of livestock for such things is pretty straightforward, although not too pretty. Lance to drain the infected spot, wash with disinfectant. apply povidone (gentle iodine) or gentian violet (the purple stuff that won't wash off), and soak the affected area with very warm epsom salts at least twice a day. Give supportive care. Worked on my horses and dog.

The disinfectant could be alcohol (OUCH!), and the soak could be with salt water, although painful and less effective. I guess I'd do it if I had to. And, there are herbal antibiotics, but I'll leave that for someone else to tackle. Grapefruit Seed Extract comes to mind.

Personally, I stocked up on vet supplies, epsom salts (cheap), aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and have an herb garden and a daughter who knows how to use it. We hope that will keep our animals and us is shape. Last time I went to a doctor for actual help was when I got struck by lightning, but I wasn't very clearheaded at the time. He couldn't do anything to help, BTW, but I got some nutritional help from my son in law that did help. Point is, we are in the soup for medical help NOW, IMHO.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'I')t has a chance of becoming serious if left untreated, does anyone know the odds?

[patience]

smallpoxgirl,

Granted the stingy stuff destroys healthy tissue. Are you saying you wouldn't use it if nothing else was available?

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('patience', 'G')ranted the stingy stuff destroys healthy tissue. Are you saying you wouldn't use it if nothing else was available?

[TWilliam]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', 'C')orrect. The problem is this. Healthy tissue is relatively resistant to bacteria. When you put stingy stuff on and it kills cells, now you have dead tissue in the wound. Dead tissue is a smorgasbord for bacteria. You're basically baiting bacteria into your wound. A wound needs to be kept clean and dry. Any foreign material or dead tissue needs to be scrupulously removed. Other than possibly an antibiotic, I wouldn't usually put anything else in it.

[jdmartin]

When I was in the Navy I got a bad case of this in my finger. It started out just as sore, as if I hit it against something, then it swelled until it looked like a cartoon finger, and turned kind of whitish. Hurt like a SOB. The ship doctor stuck me with something to numb, then lanced it from the nail to the palm. Stuff exploded out of it like a grenade but damn did it feel good. Then he cleaned it up with some antiseptic, bandaged it and sent me on my way. Couple of days later it was if it had never happened.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 'W')hen I was in the Navy I got a bad case of this in my finger. It started out just as sore, as if I hit it against something, then it swelled until it looked like a cartoon finger

[WildRose]

Osteomyelitis is a complication, or progression, of cellulitis, where the bone/bone marrow becomes infected if the cellulitis is untreated. A bone scan or CT scan can detect osteomyelitis. People usually need IV antibiotics for this and sometimes surgery to remove the dead tissue.

[aflatoxin]

When I was 28, I got Cellulitis in my knee. I shingled a roof, and bruised up both knees. About a week later, one was better, the other one worse.

It didn't seem like that big of a deal-not that swollen, then surprise! Really swollen and sore. I went to a doc, who took a look at it, then he sent me to an Infectious Disease specialist. He also called my wife to make sure I went.

I went to the second doc, who stayed late from work to see me, and he calmly gave me two choices: IV antibiotics in the hospital, or IV antibiotics at home. There was no third choice because, according to him, I would probably be dead in less than 2 days without them.

treatment consisted of one gram of IV Keflex four times a day, up a catheter that was stuck in my arm. This went on for two weeks.

Not fun.

[Grautr]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('patience', 'G')ranted the stingy stuff destroys healthy tissue. Are you saying you wouldn't use it if nothing else was available?

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Grautr', 'w')hat about honey? I've never tried it but I have read many herbalists who claim its a great wound dressing sometimes mixed with a herb such as comfrey.

[Umber]

I have read that crushed garlic was used as a wound dressing because of its antibacterial properties until at least as late as the end of WWI.

I would probably also try salt water in a pinch. The thought that salt water would be of help is somehow appealing...but that's just me... Ogg, the beach dweller, way back when beaches and sea water were a lot cleaner.

Umber

[patience]

I read somewhre that the Roman army had oxcarts following it loaded with garlic and honey to treat wounds. Makes sense to me. Honey is a natural disinfectant-I read that nothing can live in it--it keeps indefinitely. Garlic is loaded with allicin (?), a natural antibiotic.

[jdmartin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('patience', 'I') read somewhre that the Roman army had oxcarts following it loaded with garlic and honey to treat wounds. Makes sense to me. Honey is a natural disinfectant-I read that nothing can live in it--it keeps indefinitely. Garlic is loaded with allicin (?), a natural antibiotic.

[RedStateGreen]

If I was in a situation where no antibiotics were available I would eat as much raw garlic as I could stomach, put hot compresses on the area, take anti-inflammatory meds (like ibuprofen or aspirin), elevate the area above my heart, and pray a lot.

Things like this are going to be what kills people in the future, as fewer and fewer can afford health care.

[Forester]

I've read a few articles about how maggots can clean wounds--apparently they consume dead or diseased tissue and leave the healthy tissue alone. It is called maggot debridement therapy and was widely used during wartime before the introduction of modern antiseptics and antibiotics. I don't know how this would apply to an internal infection that has no open wound, but if the cellulitis developed into an open infection (or could be opened by lancing, perhaps), it might be worth a shot in the absence of antibiotics. The green bottle fly is found around the world and is a good candidate for this type of therapy.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('RedStateGreen', 't')ake anti-inflammatory meds (like ibuprofen or aspirin)