Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 What makes you think it's cellulitis? This usually presents as an infection spreading down the finger, in a red streak which is sometimes raised as well.Soaking with hot water sounds like what you should be doing, several times a day. When he is not soaking, get some ichthammol ointment from the drugstore, put it on the finger and bandage it. Ichthammol is a " drawing salve " made from diatoms or something like that. It is an old, old remedy for infections. You can also give him the usual immune boosters, like vitamins C, E, and A, as well as zinc selenium and fresh garlic cloves chewed well. Fresh juices are a good idea as well.Make sure he gets alot of rest, and give him alot of liquids as this helps the body rid itself of infection. Also, don't feed him any chicken, turkey, or duck right now. My Chinese herbalist believes that chicken and chicken soup and other poultry products should not be eaten when there is infection in the body, as it holds the infection in. As far as his not having any cuts or scrapes, you can get this even from a hangnail, or from no discernible cut. Cellulitis is really acute spreading infection, usually staph, and it doesn't sound like it's gone that far yet. Continue to watch him carefully, and if you do see red streaks or other obvious signs that it's spreading despite your treatment, don't feel guilty about taking him in for an injection. Fran >It is swollen, red, hot and tender. All classic signs of cellulitis. I > do not want to get him an injection if I can avoid it. Right now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 > What makes you think it's cellulitis? I guess it is because I do so many reports on it and I see the symptoms here. Maybe I worry too much cause I'm the mom in this case? I dunno. It is still very swollen and hot, no red streaks yet. We keep on soaking and see how it goes tomorrow. Can I use black ointment or green or white clay to draw? I have both of those, just not sure where to apply since there is no visible wound. Thanks again. Carlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 There is probably some tiny wound you can't see, or even a hangnail. Soaking is the best thing, as it increases circulation to the area and your son's white cells will fight the infection if they are able to. I've had tons of infected fingers just like your son's, which is why I don't think it is necessarily a serious condition. I once developed an infection on my right index finger, the one that has a huge callous from writing. The whole tip thing was totally inflamed and my mother put " black salve, " aka ichthammol ointment on it. In your son's case I would put it around the fingernail base generously, and then bandage it. Make sure the soaking water is really hot. When I do a soak I boil the water and put the Epsom salts in, and then put it in a dish. Then I dip the finger in for a second and remove it quickly. Repeat this until the water is tolerable to soak in for an extended period, but still hot. I haven't had any infections like that for awhile, but my Ex got them all the time. I first heard about cellulitis from reading a pathology book, and I did develop it myself twice, on my toe. It had that red streak that I described, as if it were tunneling down my toe toward my foot. Each time the doctor asked if I was diabetic (I'm not) as this kind of thing is most common in diabetics or immunosuppressed people. You're wise to just watch him until tomorrow. If it isn't any worse by then he'll be able to heal the infection on his own. Do keep him rather quiet for the next few days in any case. Moms all worry. You'll never stop even when your son is 70 years old. Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 Got any tea tree? make a paste with white clay... got any plantain? if both, make a paste for for the finger... Should help. Suzi "keeweedaly <keeweedaly" <keeweedaly wrote: > What makes you think it's cellulitis?I guess it is because I do so many reports on it and I see the symptoms here. Maybe I worry too much cause I'm the mom in this case? I dunno. It is still very swollen and hot, no red streaks yet. We keep on soaking and see how it goes tomorrow. Can I use black ointment or green or white clay to draw? I have both of those, just not sure where to apply since there is no visible wound. Thanks again.CarlinFederal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and toprescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian ShillingtonDoctor of NaturopathyDr.IanShillington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 herbal remedies , Suzanne Nottmeier <suziesgoats> wrote: > > Got any tea tree? make a paste with white clay... got any plantain? if both, make a paste for for the finger... Should help. > Suzi I do have some green tea and the white clay. The black ointment I have has comfrey, chaparral, lobelia, goldenseal, plaintain, red clover, mullien, marshmallow, chickweed, pine tar myrrh and beeswax in olive oil. Geesh! That should cure anything, huh? I washed it with Betadine solution and smothered it in this salve. If it is still angry looking tomorrow I will try the white clay and tea. Thanks for the help. Carlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 herbal remedies , " Francine <feisner@e...> " <feisner@e...> wrote: > There is probably some tiny wound you can't see, or even a > hangnail. Soaking is the best thing, as it increases circulation to > the area and your son's white cells will fight the infection if they > are able to. He did get some greenish pus to ooze out from the side of the nail after soaking it for a while. I still see no wound, but I guess it is there somewhere. I washed it with Betadine and smothered it with Black ointment for the night. We'll see how things are in the a.m. He is a pretty good trooper about trying out his mothers witch doctoring Definately better than his father! Thanks for your help. Carlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 > He did get some greenish pus to ooze out from the side of the nail after soaking it for a while. I still see no wound, but I guess it is there somewhere.> Yes, that's just what I expected would happen. Keep soaking... That black ointment you have sounds pretty powerful, especially with the chaparral in it. It's not the same thing as ichthammol, though. You might want to get some at the drugstore. It was always in our medicine cabinet at home when I was growing up. Come to think of it, this was what my mother always kept on hand as a first-aid kit: rubbing alcohol peroxide ichthammol ointment Desitin (has a cod-liver oil base) A & D ointment (for burns, etc.) betadine (or mercurochrome, something like that) epsom salts & boric acid, for soaking bandaids & other bandage materials tweezers (for removing splinters) It was fun remembering all that... Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 Carlin, Green tea and tea tree are 2 different things... but the salve you have should work... Pine tar is an old remedy.. my grandfather used it on lots of stuff and my neighbor up the road swears by it....used it on a cat that got in a fight and was bad and it healed it..... Suzi "keeweedaly <keeweedaly" <keeweedaly wrote: herbal remedies , Suzanne Nottmeier wrote:> > Got any tea tree? make a paste with white clay... got any plantain? if both, make a paste for for the finger... Should help.> SuziI do have some green tea and the white clay. The black ointment I have has comfrey, chaparral, lobelia, goldenseal, plaintain, red clover, mullien, marshmallow, chickweed, pine tar myrrh and beeswax in olive oil. Geesh! That should cure anything, huh? I washed it with Betadine solution and smothered it in this salve. If it is still angry looking tomorrow I will try the white clay and tea. Thanks for the help.CarlinFederal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and toprescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian ShillingtonDoctor of NaturopathyDr.IanShillington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2003 Report Share Posted February 22, 2003 Do not forget your "Hot & Cold" therapy. Nothing moves blood and other bodily fluids like "Hot & Cold" therapy. One minute under the hot, one minute under the cold. Alternate back and forth at least 7 times. Do this 3 times a day. If I was allowed to use only one therapy in natural healing, it would be "Hot & Cold". It's that important. Love, Doc Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington I guess it is because I do so many reports on it and I see the symptoms here. Maybe I worry too much cause I'm the mom in this case? I dunno. It is still very swollen and hot, no red streaks yet. We keep on soaking and see how it goes tomorrow. Can I use black ointment or green or white clay to draw? I have both of those, just not sure where to apply since there is no visible wound. Thanks again.Carlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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