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Wheatgrass At Work
| Wheatgrass has remarkable healing properties as these entries will testify. Your comments are welcome. Thank you. Dr. Chris Reynolds. |
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Leg ulcers are very common and can often be difficult to treat. They affect approximately 1% of Australians, and, as the population gets older, this percentage will increase.There are a number of causes of leg ulcers including diabetes, poor circulation/varicose veins, trauma and prolonged pressure (as in bedsores).The treatment of these ulcers varies from one doctor, hospital and nurse to the next and the huge global ulcer-healing industry is yet to find a simple, effective and economical way to manage them. The cost to taxpayers is substantial as is the cost of dressings and other "ulcer-healing" paraphernalia to the patient. Many require domiciliary care. The elderly, who represent the bulk of ulcer sufferers, do just that - suffer. Pain, leakage, the unsightliness of wet dressings and malodour can embarrass the patient. They often feel hopeless with the indolent nature of their condition and quite rightly question the medical profession's inability to find a suitable remedy. Understandably, depression can develop which further aggravates their plight. However, there is hope - but we have to return to another era to find it. Back in the 1930's and 40's, substantial research into the cereal grasses, including wheatgrass, showed dramatic improvement in the cleansing and healing of infected wounds and skin ulcers. Much of this research was carried out by leading surgeons and other specialists in large medical institutions in the United States. Then, in 1941, penicillin was found to have highly effective antibiotic properties. The interest in cereal grass as a potential antibiotic promptly ended. By chance, in 1995, I was fortunate enough to re-discover wheatgrass as a healing agent, an event that abruptly changed my view of the wound and ulcer healing process. It led to considerable success in this area compared with what my classical medical training had taught me. These photographs illustrate just one of numerous ulcer patients who have benefited from wheatgrass.
I explained to him how I thought wheatgrass might work for him by activating growth factors under the skin. That in time, they would most likely create new skin cells which would heal the several small ulcers present, and strengthen the skin itself. I suggested he use wheatgrass extract once daily and keep the area covered with a dry dressing, which he did. As you can see, in just 9 days of this very simple, inexpensive treatment (I used a simple gauze dressing), there has been significant improvement. The scale and overlying scabs have almost disappeared and the ulcerated areas have healed. The skin has become smooth and is already strengthening. Above all, the patient was happy and his wife greatly relieved. Below is another case of an inflamed, very painful ulcer over the shin in an 80 year old man who has been taking steroids (prednisolone) for emphysema for nearly 8 years. One of the side effects of steroids is atrophy or thinning of the skin. These patients bleed and bruise easily and immunosuppression by steroids can predispose wounds to infection and significantly inhibit the wound healing process. This ulcer, caused by a minor injury in an 80 year old male, had been present for 5 months and was clearly not doing well. By applying the wheatgrass spray daily, in 13 weeks, the ulcer has healed completely. No antibiotics were required and the patient's pain disappeared after the first month of treatment.
Which wheatgrass product should I use and how should I use it? Because the Skin Recovery Spray contains fewer ingredients than the Skin Recovery Cream, there is less likelihood of an allergic reaction. This is rare, but, like any topical application, possible. On the other hand, some patients do better using the cream than the spray, so it is really a matter of finding what is best for you. I usually recommend the spray as first line treatment. This product is very safe, however in most cases, we are dealing with very fragile skin, so it is best to hasten slowly. Therefore, apply just a little spray AROUND the ulcer(s) once or twice weekly only to begin with, and try to avoid the ulcer surface. The reason for this is that the microcirculation on the floor of the ulcer can recover quite quickly forming new granulation tissue (new connective tissue cells and tiny blood vessels that form during the healing process). In some cases, this can lead to an increase in exudate (fluid containing protein and cellular debris) that can macerate surrounding skin, particularly if the skin is thin as often occurs in the elderly. Granulation is essential for the ulcer to ultimately fill and provide the substrate for new skin growth which may or may not eventually occur. There are no guarantees in ulcer healing. Overuse of wheatgrass should be avoided and bear in mind that a little goes a long way. Concurrently, the skin surrounding the ulcer(s) tends to strengthen after several months which helps prevent skin damage from adhesive dressings, tape etc. and further degeneration of the ulcer edges. If granulation does occur and exudate increases, cease treatment for a week, then try spraying around the ulcer again. As with any kind of ulcer treatment, responses can vary considerably, so a watchful and careful eye is needed when using wheatgrass. Whatever the bioactives are that stimulate granulation, they appear to penetrate rapidly through the skin and can still stimulate new growth even though there is no direct contact between wheatgrass and the ulcer surface. Prevention is better than cure. Many of these ulcers can be prevented simply by applying wheatgrass to ageing skin daily - and it pays to persevere. Refs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Dr. Chris Reynolds. M.B.,B.S. Dr Wheatgrass Information | Sunday, May 31, 2009 | Comments (0) | Permalink
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