[Health] Basic Medicine

manu · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 753

I recently had a staph infection and put haritaki powder directly on the wound. I also took triphala (three ayurvedic herbs) with some ghee (clarified butter) internally. It took about ten days to completly heal.

Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4035

manu · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 753

I do use local herbs, in fact I grow most of my own. All the herbs that I mentioned are from India.

RedStateGreen · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:14 pm Post subject: Re: [Health] Basic Medicine

The basic minimum:

garlic - antiviral, antifungal, builds immunity, can be eaten or used on the skin (like for athlete's foot), tastes great. All alliums (onions, leeks, etc.) have these properties but not as potent.

ginger - for minor stomach complaints

generic pain relievers of your choice - if you're not allergic, an anti-inflammatory like aspirin or ibuprofen (better since kids can take ibuprofen too) will help tremendously for muscle/bone/tooth/ear pain. These can help with fever as well.

sterile dressings - can be made from cloth or can buy.

splints - these can be made on the spot, but it's nice to have them around in emergencies. Pad more than you think you should then pad some more. Any hard edges will cause problems. If in doubt (pain increasing, hand/foot turning colors or swelling), loosen it and get to a doctor.

tape (medical kind) - get paper tape and the regular kind, some people are allergic to the glue on the 'sticky' regular medical tape.

good tweezers - not the crap in the packaged first aid kits. Revlon makes excellent ones.

scissors - the sturdy 'paramedic' ones are good for cutting through clothing and bandages.

reading glasses - you do plan on living past 40, don't you? Go to a dollar store and get one of each strength. You can't help anyone if you can't see.

Don't forget things you or your family need on a day to day basis (YMMV): eyewash (if you have contacts, but I'd suggest getting a backup pair or two of glasses), catheters, vital medications (like heart medicines), parts for wheelchairs, etc.

Taking a first aid/CPR class is a no-brainer. Taking an EMT certification class is even better (some community colleges offer these). Other good ideas might be to apprentice with an herbalist, acupuncturist, or midwife. The more you know the less junk you need and the better you'll be able to take care of a situation.

Sterilizing things = boiling or steam

I agree with clean water washing of wounds. If you have time to boil then cool water that can be used for later washings. The first priority is to stop the bleeding then get the garbage out of the wound. The big mistake people make is not getting it all out. Anything left in there will cause infection.

Cauterizing = bad. Last resort only.

I would highly discourage cutting/suturing/gluing anything/putting stuff in wounds if you don't know what you're doing. Most wounds will heal without suturing, it just makes the scar prettier. Suturing dirty wounds and/or using contaminated suture material is a fast track to sepsis and death. If in doubt, find a doctor.

Please, no amateur surgery. Don't even think of going there. You're as likely to kill them as do any good.

Remember 'first do no harm'. The medical profession has gotten way away from this but it's a good thing to keep in mind.
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steam_cannon · Expert Joined: Dec 28, 2006 Posts: 2467 Location: MA

princessquitealot · Coal Joined: May 30, 2008 Posts: 1

I have an aversion to allopathy. I plan on stocking up on natural, holistic and herbal treatments from places like www.herbalhealer.com

Pops · Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: [Health] Basic Medicine

The basic minimum is a bunch of triple antibiotic ointment.

"Every cut every time"

Susan had blood poisoning a few years ago from a little wound and it was a bad thing.

"Every cut every time"
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mystiek · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 9:47 pm Post subject: Re: [Health] Basic Medicine

I agree with Pops former advice of cleaning and treating wounds everytime. Our friend's toddler got a small cut that became infected with MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus)-which landed the child in the PICU septic with a very resistant bacteria. Unfortunately we have some "wicked bad" bugs out there that pretty much "laugh" at antibiotics that are thrown at them now. Pretty scarey stuff.

Mominator · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 26, 2008 Posts: 106 Location: FL

I recomend the manual Emergency Childbirth by White
It's short and easy to understand and it covers the basic info needed for the vast majority of births.
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frankthetank · Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: Re: [Health] Basic Medicine

Great. I read this today, after yesterday stabbing my finger pretty good with a utility knife while cutting cardboard outside. I did put some alcohol on the wound, and washed it good, but that was it. Probably be dead soon Smile

edit: It is amazing i haven't had any infections. I cut myself constantly and am always playing with woodchips, composts and digging holes. I really need to start using gloves more often.
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Wolfen30 · Coal Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 18

There are a few great books out there for herbal medicine. One that I particularly like is The New Healing Herbs: Revised and Updated by Michael Castleman. Or almost any works by Andrew Weil.

manu · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jul 26, 2006 Posts: 753

If any of you are diabetic, I found a good article on an ayurvedic website ayurvedasara.com

mystiek · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:12 pm Post subject: Re: [Health] Basic Medicine

Don't forget if you get cuts-especially stuff like dirty barb wire,etc-make sure your tetnus shot is current. If you don't have a primary doctor you can probably go down to your local health dept and get one.

SchroedingersCat · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 527

I bought a suture kit even though I have no idea how to use it. I figure if the need arises there may be a person who could suture if they had the kit.

It's amazing how many different skills are available in even a fairly small group of people.
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Repent · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject: Re: [Health] Basic Medicine

Lets be real with this people. How exactly can a person store a lifetime's supply of medications, especially for long term ongoing illnesses such as athsma, or diabetes?? I can't imagine how much fridge space a 25 year supply of insulin would take up, which also assumes energy available to power refridgeration!

How exactly could I stock up on say a 30 year supply of my athsma medications when I'm not a doctor and I can't write my own prescriptions. Just think of how quick the government would move in to prevent people from hoarding vital and limited medications.

What of all the people who need things like dialysis machines for blood diorders, never mind trying to get permit to put an x-ray machine in the basement of your house.

If the healthcare system is in collapse, most of the people who rely on healthcare to keep them alive are going to die. Although I believe, while we still have our democracy I think voters will hold the government accountable to make some types of healthcare and pharmaceuticals available even in the midst of economic and social collapse.