Diabetic Leg Ulcers: Home Remedies to Heal Leg Sores

| Modified on Jan 25, 2023

Among the more significant side effects of diabetes are diabetic leg ulcers, open leg sores that may afflict the feet or legs, once or recurrently, and break down the skin's protective barrier so that infection may more easily enter the body to cause disease and further tissue damage at the site of the ulcer. These ulcers often occur with advanced diabetes because the diabetic patient does not feel the damage occurring to the skin, where neuropathy has affected pain receptors in the legs and feet.

There are other health concerns that can cause leg ulcers including trauma, impetigo, tuberculosis, and cellulitis. However, diabetic leg ulcers are the most common. These result from blocked arteries and as a secondary effect of the neuropathy (nerve damage) that often comes with an uncontrolled diabetic condition. The atherosclerosis that blocks leg arteries causes arterial insufficiency, a lack of circulation to the area where ulcers subsequently occur.

Natural Treatment for Diabetic Leg Ulcers

Of course, a proper diabetes diet and blood sugar control are essential to preventing leg ulcers. For any existing, open ulcers, cleaning and dressing the wound is essential. You may want to consider coating the wound with honey as a natural antibiotic to supplement your immune system's own efforts to prevent infection. Supplemental zinc and vitamin C will speed up the healing process. As one more option, phototherapy offers a promising alternative medicine treatment for diabetic leg ulcers.(1)

References:
1http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19588536




Activated Charcoal

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Malcolm E. (Port Miresby, Papua New Guinea) on 10/12/2021
★★★★★

I have this Ulcer on my right leg., (about 6cm in diameter). Being a tropical ulcer, it weeps and defuses bad odor where ever I went., Thus making it harder for me to travel in public vehicles.., it's also very painful and caused inflammation to my right leg, that walking short distance is avoided.., into the third week of this misery a good friend of mine came for a visit and saw me in this misery., that friend suggested using Coconut Activated Charcoal therapy., and he advised me how to build a simple Charcoal Kiln and process the Activated Charcoal,, now I'm on this therapy and I'm satisfied with the results.., the oozing had stop and almost 95% of the odour is gone,, currently I'm on the mend, after 3 days of consumption and sprinkling the the charcoal onto the ulcer.


Activated Charcoal
Posted by Susan (USA)
★★★★★

One of the best remedies to heal dangerous leg ulcers happens to be activated charcoal. Sprinkling activated charcoal (mixed with water) directly onto an ulcer will start the healing process immediately.

Replied by Ernest
(San Antonio, Texas)
03/03/2012

What is activated charcoal? Is this charcoal that is used or charcoal straight out of the bag???? Help?

Replied by E Hoa
(Brisbane, Queensland)
07/23/2012

I have a pretty agressive ulcer and have given up on conventional medical treatment and looking for an alternative. Would you be able to give me more details on using Activated Charcoal? Does a dressing and bandage need to be used after the Charcoal has been applied? How long does it remain on the Ulcer? Does it have to be cleaned out before another application is applied, if so what do you use?

Replied by Israel Stanley
(Harare, Mashonaland, Zimbabwe)
04/25/2013

Activated Charcoal is highly porous carbon with the ability to absorb toxins when applied on to an open ulcer. When applied on to an open ulcer, its purpose is to absorb as much waste material or toxins as much as possible so that when the ulcer heals there no unwanted toxins or materail are trapped inside as the wound heals. Most people rush to get medication to close the ulcers before thoroughly cleaning the ulcer of any toxins or unwanted material like clotted blood, serum, puss etc. So the activated charcoal helps in that regard.

In the absence of thorough cleaning of the ulcer, the supposedly 'healed' ulcers will reappear again.

Activated charcoal is a black powder and is available from chemists or pharmacies in powder form or tablets. When someone is suspected of having taken poison by mouth, activated charcoal is given as first aid in order to absorb the poison in the system and confine it to the digestive canal. When that happens, the poison is not absorbed into the blood system, and can be passed out from the digestive canal thru the normal system or by inducing the person to vomit.

Replied by Barry
(Fenton, Mo)
01/13/2015

I had an ulcer about the size of a half dollar with a deep crater that I been battling a year. The doctors in the US could do nothing, but my wife and I started eating about 4 horse chestnuts a day, and within a month it cleared up. If you look online it says they are hazardous, but if you cook them they are edible. Now you can buy them in a powder form, and add to juice, or use creams on your legs with horse chestnuts. We found out Europe uses them for ulcers, venous disease, varicose veins, and Hemorrhoid.

Replied by Robert Henry
(Ten Mile, Tn.)
01/13/2015

HI U BARRY, , , , , , , , thank you for this information. Met a man in our chelation group that had the same situation and 3 Hydrogen Peroxide IV's avoided the amputation of his leg. Pocket Ozone will work also. The wound just needs oxygen in any way it can get it. Blood flow is paramount and the lowly supplement, L- Arginine will do that. It's the poor man's Viagra. I will say no more as my wife reads my posts.

Our allopathic doctors will change to natural remedies in time, but not in my time.

=======ORH=============

Replied by Joanne
(Mississippi)
05/17/2015

Comments on leg ulcers - they are heart breaking, and the hospitals don't provide an array of usable medicine.

I use colloidal silver, internal and external as it was one of the first antibiotics used for burn patients in the US. It worked. I cleaned all sores, and those emerging. Fine spray the leg daily.


Activated Charcoal and Flax Seed Poultice

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Teresa (Bentonville, Ar) on 03/18/2013
★★★★★

My companion had a very bad ulcerated leg, we believe the cauce was from a fall that damaged his ankle, resulting in a plate and several screws years ago. It happened so fast at a time when he very busy having a large barn being constructed. His calf swelled to 2-3 times normal size in a day, and the skin became open and raw, about the size of a tennis ball. We couldn't get in to see our naturopath until the next day, so we found info on the internet about charcoal/flax poultice.

I was covering a large area, so I took 16'' x12" piece of clean cotton sheet, mixed 1/3 cup food grade activated charcoal with 1/2 cup ground flax seed and enough water for paste that you can spread on the cotton cloth. I would take that and wrap it around his calf. Then wrap saran wrap around that, and then wrap an ace bandage around that and pin it on for the night, 8 hours. You don't want it exposed to air, or it dries out. It takes the pain away in about 20 min. You can do it 3 times daily, but leave time to air out. And Keep the area Very clean, spray peroxide often.

We did this daily for 5-6 months. At first it drained liquid out, a LOT of liquid out. After about 4 months he showed his Dr. They panicked, did a lot of tests, nuclear bone scan and others, sent him to specialist. That Dr. came in looked at the calf, felt the leg, went back out checked tests, came back in, felt the leg for 10 min. checking for temp. We told him what we we're doing, he said, "did a lot of stuff drain out?" I said, "oh ya", he said the leg has no infection or problem he could find. After a total of 5 months we stopped the wraps, and the skin started peeling off, layer after layer... And every so often it gets to acting up, and he'll do another poultice. For the most part he only had poultice on at night.


Activated Charcoal, Tamanu Oil

1 User Review
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Posted by Pbird (Wa, Usa) on 10/22/2013
★★★★★

I used the charcoal early on in the process of healing my leg sores. It did clean them up very nicely and then I was able to go on to things like the tamanu oil to stimulate cell growth.

Replied by Louan
(Springfield, MO)
08/13/2014

I want to help several patients with ulcers in our dialysis unit. Where do you purchase tamanu oil are there any side effects and how long did it take for relief and healing. Thanks for your help. Louan

Replied by Lulu
(Delaware)
06/16/2022

Does anyone know if pbird from 2013 ingested the charcoal or applied it externally for the leg ulcer?

M in Md
(Md)
06/16/2022

I sensed she used charcoal externally on her leg ulcer. However, I have used charcoal internally many times. It is great for relieving gas, indigestion and food poisoning.


Aloe Vera

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
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Posted by Papaya (Warsaw, Poland) on 12/17/2014
★★★★☆

After using very strong corticosteroid on my infected leg ulcers, my skin became thin and easily damaged, not to mention, it is more prone to infection (impetigo). I started applying fresh aloe vera gel from a cut leaf and I see it slowly regenerates.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
12/18/2014

Papaya, is your aloe plant plain green or spotted?

Replied by Papaya
(Warsaw, Poland)
12/18/2014

My aloe is plain green. I think that eating a spice also plays significant role in rebuilding collagen damaged by corticosteroids. I've also read some posts written by people suffering from corticosteroid induced skin atrophy about applying yoghurt and avocado on these sensitive skin areas but I haven't tried it yet.


Aspirin

1 User Review
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Posted by Kelly (Washington) on 04/20/2021
★★★★★

Baby Aspirin for Diabetic Leg Ulcers

In perimenopause, I'd become pre-diabetic, with fasting blood sugar hovering in the 110 - 115 range, and developed sores on the skin around both ankles that wouldn't heal. I read somewhere that baby aspirin would help the sores go away, only one 81mg dose a day (too much is counter-productive).

Within days, the ulcers started healing, and now a month later, they're completely gone, no trace!


Bread and Baking Soda

Posted by Debra (Mackay Queensland, Australia) on 03/27/2013

I have a new leg uler which developed after a bleed. It is on my interior ankle. Extremely painful. Can feel the swelling where the damage was done. I was told of a method using bread, bicarbonate of soda on the bread and water which makes the paste bubble. Does anyone know of this method. Surelly there is some native bush remedy out there. Indigenous people have cures for all their needs which they have used for years. Modern wound clinics just put on a bandage and say see you nexst week. One year later you are still doing the same thing.

Replied by Louwrence
(Rustenburg, North West, South Africa)
03/27/2013

Hi Debra, I have read that a dr from Zimbabwe places sugar on a wound that does not heal & then it starts healing.

Replied by Gavin
(Manganui, Northland, New Zealand)
03/27/2013

Manuka honey the +16 variety, and cayenne to get the circulation going. Capsules might be better. The ulcers are usually varicose ulcers. Pack the wound with the honey and lightly bind it with a bandage.


Chronic Leg Ulcer

1 User Review
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Posted by RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 05/07/2022 75 posts
★☆☆☆☆

Do not use Medical Doctors (MDs) if you have a leg ulcer. In my experience, MDs do not know how to heal leg ulcers.

At age 70 my father was bitten by a dog, and subsequently developed a leg ulcer that never healed. He had access to free health care, and was able to see an MD, or an RN, once a week, and every week, but the MDs were very little or no help.

He didn't have any other health issues.

They did dress that wound every week, however that ulcer was still an open wound at age 80 when he passed away.


Colloidal Silver

1 User Review
4 star (1) 
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Posted by Lauren (Phoenix, AZ) on 07/13/2022
★★★★☆

WORKED TEMPORARILY

Hi my Dr. at the VA diagnosed me with foot ulcers. Nothing they gave me did much. I have tried wheat grass and colloidal silver cream wrapped in saran wrap which has been the only thing that has made any difference at all. In fact, at one point the sores were almost gone. Then I had a problem finding the wheat grass. Do you have any suggestions on anything else I could possibly try? Thanks so much.

Replied by mmsg
(somewhere, europe)
07/14/2022

The silver alone should work too. Someone here uses Silvaderm (or some name like that) from the pharmacy on such ulcers (diabetic) and it does help a lot.

Replied by Maxime
(US)
07/14/2022

Look into these:

No: tea, coffee, soda, vinegar, unbuffered ascorbic acid, smoking

Heavy metal detox: Cilantro, garlic, onion, turmeric, lemons, things that detox metals like arsenic, etc., colon cleanse like senna, magnesium sulfate, oxygenated magnesium (OxyPowder), melatonin, parsley

Varicose vein remedies: Horsechestnut, butchers broom, yarrow, natural vit E virgin coconut oil/milk/cream (not those big cartons in the case by the milk, the small carton by the asian foods), raw whole lemons not vit c tablets, alkaline diet

Improve circulation: Garlic, onion, turmeric, things that increase circulation, niacinamide, magnesium

Kill infection: warm water with fresh crushed garlic - magnesium sulfate - maybe borax - baking soda - footsoak, goldenseal, comfrey

Keep it clean: fresh aloe gel topically, possibly castor oil (apply to bandage and lay over wound), betadine (apply with spray bottle)

Those are some things to consider/educate yourself about. Niacinamide tablets, and garlic and onion powder (maybe with a few spoonfuls of tahini each day - for example in a curry) and aloe gel and/or betadine topically are what I would do first were I in your position with the few facts you provided. I'm not a doctor, this is just from what I've read.

There is a gov study that showed that eating garlic detoxes arsenic from the body. It described the effects of arsenic poisoning which appeared strikingly similar to diabetes/heart disease.

Replied by Israel
(israel)
07/16/2022

This is a long journey to healing but try applying several times a day 10% povidine. It's difficult to improve blood circulation in this area and wheatgrass is not effective.

Replied by Rob
(Kentucky)
07/16/2022

I read an article about this sugar cure for wounds back in 1985 from a woman who was trying to heal her grandmother's bedsores. The earliest mention of sugar for wound healing that could be found in the medical literature was during World War I in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Sept. 4,1915). This treatment persisted as an old wives' tale until the mid 1970s when Richard Knutson, MD, began using sugar on hard-to-treat wounds (Southern Medical Journal, Nov. 1981).

His formula involved mixing 4 pounds of table sugar with 1 pound of Betadine (iodine) antiseptic ointment (know that you're not allergic to betadine) and 6.5 ounces of Betadine solution in a double boiler over low heat. He applied the mixture to a depth of one-fourth inch, changing the dressing and cleaning the wound daily. He treated over 5,000 patients over 15 years. Sugardine is simply a paste of granulated white sugar and betadine solution mixed to a toothpaste or peanut butter consistency, and it is a remarkably safe and effective wound dressing. Granulated white sugar heals wounds. Sugar has been used in Egypt and many other Middle Eastern countries for generations as a safe way to treat cuts and in some cases burns. Sugar draws water from the wound into a dressing accelerating the healing process, which is prescribed in African folk medicine.

The sugar kills bacteria through osmotic action, and attracts the body's "clean-up crew" of macrophages and other infection-fighting elements to the wound site, thus promoting rapid cleansing and healing of the wound. Ingredients for Sugardine: * Table Sugar * 10% povidone iodine (or the more expensive betadine)

Procedure:

* Mix one part 10% povidone iodine to two parts white sugar.

Adding more or less sugar makes it the consistency of thick honey or peanut butter. Put the sugardine in a container with a tight fitting lid. The mixture will need stirring now and then but it will never go bad. It is my understanding that with a large open wound you pack it with sugardine and then bandage it. Sugardyne can be safely applied to the wound without fear of any bleeding once clots have been given adequate time to form–usually 1 ½ to 2 days. A copious amount (¼ to ½ inch thick layer) of Sugardyne is applied to cover or fill the wound and then covered with dry gauze. Deeper wounds are packed full of Sugardyne to the brim. Dressings are changed once daily. Dressing changes continue until the wound if fully healed. As a rule, no skin graft will be required. Skin will automatically cover the granulation tissue (“proud flesh”) that fills the defect, completely.

Replied by Katzie
(Canada)
07/20/2022

I would be slathering that with Manuka Honey! I would then cover, but re-check it every few hours. If the area is dry, put more Manuka on it. I have found that wounds like that will "drink" how much honey it needs. It is worth a try, certainly. Best of luck.

Oh, and soak in Colloidal Silver, whenever you can, a few times a day. Or even a soaking wet cotton round over the area for 20 mins at a time will really help, too. Colloidal Silver could probably heal that all by itself, but Manuka is topically healing, and I would be drinking the Colloidal Silver. That sore would be under powerful attack two ways, and stands little chance of staying around. Please keep us updated.

As for brand and strength of the Manuka Honey and Colloidal Silver, get what you can comfortably afford. They're both amazing, even at their cheapest.

Replied by RB
(Somewhere in Europe)
07/20/2022
75 posts

Hi Lauren,

Sorry about your foot ulcer.

> my Dr. at the VA diagnosed me with foot ulcers. Nothing they gave me did much.

I would never rely on MDs for the healing my foot ulcer. More specifically - even if the MDs at the VA were free to me - I would never rely on them for the healing of my foot ulcer, as their expertise on foot ulcers is pretty much limited to the dressing and re-dressing of that open wound.

> I have tried wheat grass and colloidal silver cream wrapped in saran wrap, which has been the only thing that has made any difference at all. In fact, at one point the sores were almost gone. Then I had a problem finding the wheat grass. Do you have any suggestions on anything else I could possibly try?

Supplements are nice to have. However, what really counts is your lifestyle, the foods you eat, the drinks you drink, the drugs you take, and or any long-term health issues you might have. Please tell me about your lifestyle and health issues! Example: Give me a list of foods, drinks, drugs and smokes you have in a typical day! How many grams of complete PROTEINS do you have in a typical day? What is your WEIGHT? Diabetics, for example, if they get injured, often get leg ulcers that never heal. Others, too, with long histories of poor nutrition and lousy lifestyle choices, often get leg ulcers that never heal, if they get injured.

I hope this will help!


Colloidal Silver, Potassium Permanganate

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Jenn M. (Cobborra, Australia) on 02/23/2019
★★★★★

Some years ago I was given a radical idea to try. At the time I didn't take any notes etc but it worked! I had 5 cellulitis ulcers on one leg and I was told to drink 1/4 cup of Colloidal Silver every 5 hours and spray my leg frequently with same. To do it over a 24 hour period. I did it and within 10 days I had only had the original ulcer left. Which hasn't been oozy for years.

So in that time frame, I lost 4 ulcers that have never returned. In 2017, one of my 2 specialists told me to use potassium permanganate ( aka Condy's Crystals ) to wash my legs daily and use the amount of crystals that would barely fit on the edge of a matchstick... He told me it kills sepsis and pseudomonas. Other Dr was delighted and told me that before the arrival of penicillin, doctors used Condy's Crystals as a wash for ulcers.


Colloidal Silver, Serrapeptase

1 User Review
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Posted by Deiddrich (Meridian, Mississippi Us) on 05/10/2015
★★★★★

I have used Colloidal Silver to disinfect leg ulcers with a spray, use one or twice daily. Use Serreptase once or twice a day of 40,000 to 80,000. This will close the emerging ulcers and established ulcers. A white cream made with colloidal silver for dressing the leg ulcers and surrounding the ulcers will heal these wounds.


Cumin, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil

1 User Review
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Posted by Homeopathic Junkie (California) on 12/24/2017
★★★★★

The open ulcer in the leg. The very best treatment is to mix curmin, baking soda and coconut oil. Any amount will do. Apply to affected area by using cotton and leave it overnight wearing socks. My cousin had this major problem for 10 years. I went to Africa and did the treatment for her. Almost 1 year now, no problem.

She used to have it worse during rainy season in Africa but thanks to GOD ALMIGHTY, no problem. Just make it like paste. I pray that GOD cures all human beings, regardless of color, creed, or race. GOD Bless you all!!!

Replied by Stacey
(Dallas)
07/14/2022

Is it cumin as in the Middle Eastern spice or black cumin as in Nigella seeds or black seed?


Everclear (Grain Alchohol)

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Liz (Midland, TX) on 01/14/2009
★★★★★

My 80 year old mother had horrible looking sores on her legs. She asked me to pick up some everclear.(190 Proof). I was skeptical but she had heard of it somewhere and within two days her legs And foot looked better than they had for months and it did not BURN!!?? We just poured it over her legs first then we patted with washrag. I was amazed but it worked.

Replied by Su
(Lillington, North Carolina)
04/07/2010

do you have to cover the leg with cloth like a bandaid, sort of, AFTER you poured the 'everclear' ????


Herbs

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Posted by RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 05/07/2022 75 posts
★★★★★

I'm surprised that, for ulcers, no one has recommended any herbs. If I had an ulcer, I would take the advice of Jethro Kloss (born in Wisconsin, in 1863), the author of "Back to Eden". He was a herbalist and healer who amassed a great deal of knowledge on Nature's many resources. On ulcers, he said the followings:

A light diet is necessary; the food must be well-digested. The bowels must move 2 or 3 times a day; use laxative herbs and high enemas. Steep one teaspoonful of Golden Seal and one-half teaspoonful Myrrh in a pint of boiling water. This solution is excellent for cleansing washes and dressings. Thoroughly wash the ulcer, using this solution as a cleansing wash. Internally, take a tablespoonful of this, 6 times a day. Dress the ulcer, by mixing together 2 teaspoonful of powdered Golden Seal and 1 teaspoonful of Myrrh, and by sprinkling it on the ulcer, after it has been thoroughly washed. Bandage loosely with bandaging. Internally, take any one of the following herbs. Or use 2 or 3 of the following herbs, mixing the equal parts thoroughly, and using a heaping teaspoonful to a cup of boiling water; strain and drink 4 cups a day, one an hour before each meal, and one upon retiring. Bayberry, Golden Seal, Ragwort, Lady's Slipper, Chickweed, Sage, Wood Sanicle, Slippery Elm, Bogbean, Ground Ivy, Bittersweet, Agrimony, and Raspberry Leaves.


Honey

4 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
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4 star (1) 
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1 star (1) 
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Posted by Meg18 (Durham, England) on 10/15/2011
★☆☆☆☆

Do NOT use honey for skin ulcers - despite the claims that bacteria can not grow in honey, using it for a leg ulcer gave me a horrendous infection that swelled my legs to the size of telegraph poles, after which I lost all of the skin below my knee. Two years later the original leg ulcer still hasn't healed. Honey can apparently carry heat resistant spores for some really nasty diseases!



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