Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 11/26/2013:

When he got home from work, he soaked it in hot water with Epsom Salt. (This is what Herbalist Rachel Weaver says to do. She says she grew up on a farm and when they stepped on nails they treated it this way. They never had tetanus shots and never had a problem. But they soaked each wound many times and used very hot water.) I put a charcoal poultice on it overnight. I also put him on 4 capsules of turmeric 4x a day. (Turmeric is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and a blood purifier.)

The next day he went to work without a charcoal poultice. When he got home his foot was sore and also red. Not hot and angry red, but red nonetheless. We did another Epsom salt soak and charcoal poultice overnight. He continued the turmeric. The next day he soaked it twice (he was home.) and we continued the turmeric and overnight poultice. The red was receding, as was the pain.

He didn't like using charcoal poultices during the day. So, during the day I would put 1 drop of turmeric essential oil diluted in some olive oil on the wound. (Which was just a puncture.)

So, it has been a week. We are no longer soaking it or poulticing it. (I think we did that for four days.) I still have him taking turmeric, just in case. The wound looks fine. It is still just a bit uncomfortable. (I think he had some soft tissue damage that is still healing.)

We made the poultices very large. The charcoal part was about 4x6 inches. I had it covering the area that was initially red and at least an inch beyond.

I think the turmeric essential oil was optional. Charcoal poultices during the day would have been as good, just not as convenient. Turmeric essential oil isn't the most common thing to have around, like the other things we used.

We were glad to avoid a doctor or hospital expense to get a tetanus shot. There are instances when I would consider one but I like to know other options and share them, especially since medical treatment is not always easy to come by, and is often not affordable.

I hope this story will help someone else to deal with a nail wound.

Have a great day!

~Mama to Many~