First Aid

James Green Dragon · May 13, 2005

I came accross this little remedy & figured I'd share. I have also heard that honey can be used to treat wounds. And tobacco will assist in treating bee stings & such...

"GIMMIE SOME SUGAR . . .":

"The use of granulated sugar for treatment of infected wounds is recommended by some as a treatment of first choice. Sugar has been called a nonspecific universal antimicrobial agent. Based on its safety, ease of use, and availability, sugar therapy for the treatment of infected wounds is very applicable to the needs of the (medic). . . . As with any traumatic wound, the wound is first irrigated and debrided. . . . Once bleeding is under control, deep wounds are treated by pouring granulated sugar into the wound, making sure to fill all cavities. The wound is then covered with a gauze sponge soaked in povidone-iodine solution. . . . In a few hours, the granulated sugar is dissolved into a syrup by body fluid drawn into the wound site. Since the effect of granulated sugar upon bacteria is based upon osmotic shock and withdrawal of water that is necessary for bacterial growth and reproduction, this diluted syrup has little antibacterial capacity and may aid rather than inhibit bacterial growth. So to continually inhibit bacterial growth, the wound is cleaned with water and repacked at least one to four times daily (or as soon as the granular sugar becomes diluted) . . . A variety of case reports provide amazing data supporting the use of sugar in treating infected wounds. . . . Odor and secretions from the wound usually diminished within 24 hours and disappeared in 72 to 96 hours from onset of treatment."

Hugh L. Coffee, from Ditch Medicine (pp. 47-48)

Anyone else want to share some SHTF first aid techniques?

Danzz · May 13, 2005

James Green Dragon said:
Since the effect of granulated sugar upon bacteria is based upon osmotic shock and withdrawal of water that is necessary for bacterial growth and reproduction...

Granulated SALT might do the same thing, but I have a feeling that's not going to be very popular with the patient

scalesandtails · May 13, 2005

Cool post,Thanks for the info

Thomas Linton · May 13, 2005

Danzz said:
Granulated SALT might do the same thing, but I have a feeling that's not going to be very popular with the patient

In WW I, saline solution was used as a constant drip to irrigate wounds to prevent infection. It was the same salinity as blood (and normal seawater). I think straight salt would cause cell damage.

rebeltf · May 13, 2005

I think my reply is along the same lines as the thread.
Charcoal... no , not the Kingsford stuff that comes in a sack for BBq , I'm talkin about what you get from a campfire/fireplace/forest fire/etc.
I read a story about two guys going salmon fishing, long ways from home , one gets deathly ill from a bad fish and asks the other to make him a 'tea' out of water and charcoal powdered from the campfire , other guy thought he was nuts but did it anyways , the sick guy is puking and diarehhah *sic* so dehydration is a big issue , a little while later he asks for more of this 'tea' , then he is well enough to walk on his own and just eats little bits of charcoal while washing it down with water , a few hours later he is as right as rain again.
How you ask ? charcoal has the ability to not only absorb many times its own volume but it also 'surrounds' and coats the bad stuff you might have in your belly i.e. poisons or bad food.. Make sure though you are cautious as to what charcoal you consume from what tree or wood. Pine would be the best I would gather.

mete · May 13, 2005

There is a commercially available dressing that contains dextrose. However honey has been used successfully for thousands of years !!

skammer · May 13, 2005

Many burn centers are now switching to honey for severe burn treatment to avoid infection.

In particular Manuka honey.

BTW, if you use plain ole honey make sure its unpasturized as pasturization kills a lot of the healing effects of it.

Skam

ken_nerve · May 13, 2005

rebeltf said:
it also 'surrounds' and coats the bad stuff you might have in your belly i.e. poisons or bad food..

The term for that is "adsorb"

rebeltf · May 14, 2005

The term for that is "adsorb"

Oops!

sixty four hour work week makes my brain mushy , all I could think about when I was typing that was how bad I wanted to go home