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Cut Appears to Be Getting Infected in Spite of Treatment

Posted By Namaw (Al) on 03/14/2016

I cut my finger Saturday (10 days ago) with a utility knife when butchering a chicken. Pretty deep, but bled freely. I immediately flushed the cut with the garden hose. I kept pressure on it until it slowed down the bleeding, then put a light dressing on it. It does not hurt and is not oozing, but seems swollen on either side of the cut (I have scars that are swollen like this) and mildly red. I have been soaking it in salt water and then pouring hydrogen peroxide on it. I have also applied lugols. My DH thinks its infected. What should I do?

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 03/14/2016

Dear Namaw,

Everything you are doing sounds great!

I would continue as you are and add some sort of poultice. I like activated charcoal or bentonite clay or French green clay for this. I mix them with water to make a paste and put the mixture on a piece of old white t-shirt and fold the poultice mix inside and apply to the infected area. I cover that with plastic wrap from the kitchen and attach it with cohesive tape.

If you can't get any of the above, you can make a baking soda poultice or salt poultice. I have even heard of a potato poultice!

I keep one poultice on overnight and change a couple of times during the day.

You might want to take some turmeric and vitamin c internally too, to help prevent infection.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Namaw (Al) on 03/14/2016

Thanks, Mama, I have the clay. Will make a poultice & keep it on overnight. Thanks.

Replied by Carol Ann (Zwingle, Iowa) on 08/15/2016

Index finger cute from barbed wire, bruised and swollen; bled, rinsed water, soaked in baking soda solution, don't see red line signifying infection, going to continue soaking in baking soda solution; wanted another opinion. Thank you!

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