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What are EXTERNAL ULCERS | EXTERNAL ULCERS | Herbal Remedies for EXTERNAL ULCERS | EXTERNAL ULCERS herbal remedy | EXTERNAL ULCERS Treatment

External ulcers are the result of a small wound or insect bite which refuses to heal. Varicose ulcers are those which open on a varicose vein and I strongly advise against anyone neglecting them – seek a professional opinion.

Ulcers should be kept dry protected. Simple remedies would have included bathing with a herbal lotion such as horsetail, marigold, sage, thyme, rosemary, camomile or red clover, leaving the area to dry and then dressing with comfrey ointment or the more modern alternative of vitamin E oil straight from a capsule. If the ulcerated area is not severe many of the remedies given for Boils may bring relief.

Preventative Measures for EXTERNAL ULCERS

If you are prone to boils take sulphur regularly.

Drink plenty of water and avoid fatty foods, chocolate and stimulants.

Sunshine and a daily swim in unpolluted sea water are the best although not always the most practical solutions. Investigate sensible alternatives.

A three to four day fast on fruit juices will cleanse and purify when you feel your system becoming clogged.

Honey: Equal quantities of honey, fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice and cod liver oil mixed and taken three times a day is an excellent tonic when you are feeling tired and run down.

Iodine: Swab and incipient boil with iodine three times a day to stop it developing further. Paint around a boil with rubbing alcohol or iodine to bring it to a neat head and prevent infection.

Red clover, nettle and sassafras tea: This brew purifies the system.

Emergency Measures for EXTERNAL ULCERS

Honey: Apply warm honey, honey and oil – wheatgerm for preference – or honey, fresh fog and thyme simmered together or dip half a fresh fig in honey and apply it cut side down.

Comfrey: Pulp the leaves with honey and garlic and apply.

Lemon: Apply half a lemon cut side down.

Wheatgerm and carrot: Grate a raw carrot into 1 tablespoon of wheatgerm oil. Apply as a thick poultice and leave over the boil.

Bread poultice: Soak bread in boiling water (you can add 1 good teaspoon of mustard powder if you like) until it is soft and apply still hot but not boiling as a poultice. This is a genuinely effective method of bringing a boil to a head.

Linseed poultice: Crush 1 good handful of fresh linseeds and add as much boiling water as you need to make a paste. Apply thickly and cover.

Fenugreek: Apply a poultice of crushed fenugreek seeds which have been boiled in water for 10 minutes.

Slippery elm eucalyptus oil: Mix the powdered bark of slippery elm with eucalyptus oil to make a thick, soothing poultice that is also effective on cuts, whitlows and carbuncles.

Yarrow, dock, chickweed, catnip, burdock or wild pansy (hearts’ ease): The leaves of any of these herbs steamed and softened may be used as a drawing, healing poultice but do make sure that they come from a clean source. Sorrel cooked and reduced to pulp is reputed to clear a boil overnight.

Essential oils of camomile, lavender, lemon, myrrh or thyme: Use either direct or on a hot compress to relieve pain and reduce infection.

Zinc: Take a daily course of zinc until the boil has healed.

Calendula extract: This is recommended as a safe and healing lotion.