Gangrene

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead Instructor]

Had a question about gangrene on another forum…thought I might as well post it here as well. 🙂

Once gangrene sets in, you’re done. Gangrene is, by definition, tissue death.

A visible line will form separating the tissue that is going to die from the tissue that’s going to live.

I have had several cases which were threatening gangrene (starting to get the line and all) in my veterinary practice and one or two in my human herbal practice. So long as the tissue on the “bad” side of the line was still viable I’ve reversed it in the cases I’ve had to date.

I use a mixture* I developed for use rattlesnake bites and hobo spider envenomations as necrotic tissue loss is the result of both of these.

I use the formula internally every several hours and also topically as a poultice just mixing the dry herbs with water and changing every couple of hours.

This is the formula:

Equal Parts

Echinacea

Plantain

Marshmallow root

Dandelion Root

Saw Palmetto

If there were no venom involved, one could probably skip the Saw palmetto.

If one were in the sticks and had no Echinacea (it doesn’t grow around here) one could substitute balsalmroot, yellow coneflower root or black eyed susan root all of which are around in the mountain west. Mallow (Malva neglecta a.k.a. “Cheesies”) root could also replace the marshmallow if that’s not around. Plantain and dandelion are everywhere so little worry there.

Echinacea (and the substitutes mentioned above), in addition to being a good immune stimulant and anti-microbial, supports the chemicals (hyaluronic acid et al…) that keep cells stuck together. One of the primary destructive processes in gangrene is enzyme secreted by the bacteria called hyaluronidase which dissolves the inter-cellular connections…the glue that holds cells together. Once a cell is disassociated from its buddies, it’s dead. Echinacea contains hyaluronidase inhibitors which interfere with the enzyme and keep the cells stuck together.

Marshmallow is also a specific for gangrene. Plantain removes toxins and is mildly vulnerary (increases cell-division rates like comfrey though not as strong.).

Patrick

*Disclaimer: Getting medical advice from an unknown bozo on the internet is dumb. All information in this post is for education and entertainment only and not meant to diagnose or treat any disease. If there is something wrong with you, go see your local health care provider. Never use any plant without certain identification from a local expert. Don’t run with scissors. Don’t talk with your mouth full. Don’t wire money to deposed princes from Nigeria. Don’t stick your head into 5-gallon buckets of water for prolonged periods of time.

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

[ComfreyStudent]

When you administer these herbs internally, is it as a tea, or tincture, or powdered in a capsule?

[Dr. Patrick JonesHomestead InstructorTopic Author]

Comfrey wrote: When you administer these herbs internally, is it as a tea, or tincture, or powdered in a capsule?

Doesn’t matter. Any of them would do the job.

I almost always just use powdered herbs because I’m lazy. With humans I have them put them in a little juice and down the hatch. With dogs, I just put them with a little canned food.

I don’t love capsules. For the most part, I think herbs are more beneficial if they can be in contact with the body all the way down the pipe.

Doc

Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.

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