Cuts and Wounds

Disclaimer: Although I did receive emergency medical technician training while in the military, hold a current Red Cross first aid certificate, and have dealt with more serious wounds than I want to remember, I'm not a doctor and strongly recommend that you get medical care from a doctor for anything major or questionable. Traditional medicine today is really good at treating cuts and wounds so always consult a doctor when you need one!

This page is my effort to respond to many of my healing students who ask what I do to try and help the healing process. Here is what I found works best for me! *Smile*

First Aid: Get medical help whenever you have a serious cut or wound! I’ve long enjoyed going camping and backpacking where it is impractical to get medical attention unless a wound is fairly serious and those often require pretty serious first aid skills. If you go into areas where medical care is not available, then get yourself first aid certified by the Red Cross or other appropriate first aid training organization. I trained as a medical technician so had a first aid kit that contains a few things most do not know how to use safely. I also carry a few extra things that I think we should have with us when away from immediate medical care. Specifically, I carry butterfly bandages and a few tubes of super glue (cyanoacrylic). After getting a wound cleaned up and sanitized, the butterfly bandage can help pull the wound lips together and then the Super glue can hold all in nicely together. In fact, many emergency rooms do exactly the same thing. They thoroughly clean and sanitize the cut, hold the wound edges together with butterfly tape or bandages then use a little Super glue in lieu of stitches to hold all together and minimize scaring.

Basic Treatment: After having gone to my doctor to take care of anything major, I augment my medical treatment as follows.

First, immediately start using Micatracin, polysporin, or one of the other generic triple antibiotic cream/ointments on the open wound if your doctor permits (some have to drain and this may not be a good idea). These keep the wound site soft so it will heal faster and the antibiotic minimizes infections. All of these ointments are available over the counter. Use them liberally. They will both keep the scaring and cracking to a minimum plus help block re-infection.

There are some herbs, antioxidants, and other alternative healing remedies that many find help with their healing process.

Echinacea is a flower used by the American Indians as a natural healing agent to bolsters the immune system. We can get this from health food stores as pills, capsules, and extracts. Although it tastes terrible one of the better ways to take this herb is to put six drops of the alcohol extract under your tongue every four hours for about six days. Too much of this flower is toxic so if you are still having problems after about six days, take a couple of days off from the Echinacea extract before resuming.

Vitamin E, preferably from a natural source such as wheat germ oil is known to reduce scaring and also promote healing. We need to take the vitamin E both internally and externally. I suggest that you take 600 IU a day by putting the oil capsules in your mouth and letting your mouth tissues absorb the oil instead of swallowing. I read a study that only about 2-3% of the vitamin E survives a trip through the tummy acids to get into your blood. Up to twenty times more gets into your system through your mucus membranes in your mouth.

Vitamin E oil gently rubbed directly on the wound as it starts to heal may also be of benefit. I’ve read some pretty amazing stories of high success in terms of reduced scaring and faster healing. One author I read suggests the Vitamin E is good because it is a macromolecule known to collect toxins and it is a natural cleanser both internally and externally.

Vitamin C bioflavonoids taken internally also helps the healing process. Unlike vitamin E which is an oil and remains in our systems for quite a while, vitamin C is water soluble so passes through quickly unless we keep taking more or take time released capsules. At one time I worked with Dr. Pauling and he recommended and personally took many grams of vitamin C daily. I would suggest you take 300 to 500 mg of Vitamin C every four hours. It should be taken at a different time then the extract.

Also, you should be taking a good multiple vitamin mineral formula. I buy my vitamin C, E and multiple from Bronson Pharmaceuticals in LaCanada, California. They have excellent prices, good quality, and fast shipping. I use their Vitamin and Mineral Insurance formula, two pills a day.

Alternative Healing: Strangely, when we get hurt we seem to naturally withdraw from that part of our body. Take your mind and spend at least a few moments when you think about it just getting back in touch with the hurt area. While you do so, envision it all being pain free and well. I’ve used a thermograph and was pretty surprised that doing this exercise and relaxing ends up increasing the temperature in an area. I attribute the higher temperature to increased blood flow which will speed up healing. I read an article that just this one thing alone will just about double the healing rate. How is that for way out in left field?