GANGRENE

    Gangrene is a medical term for the death of tissue resulting from loss of blood supply or a diminished blood supply caused by the narrowing of arteries and vessels. It is a progressive bacterial infection that if, untreated, will require amputation. While it can affect any area of the body, gangrene generally appears on the feet, legs, fingers and arms. The majority of the estimated 50,000 non-traumatic amputations annually in America are performed on diabetics. Amputation is not always required, particularly if aggressive treatment can be initiated immediately.
    If caused by the clostridium bacteria, most gangrene causes blisters, oozing fluid, and putrid odors; thus the term gas gangrene. It also has the symptoms of dry gangrene where the affected area turns black, loses feeling, and has red, inflamed surrounding tissue.
    Some of the causes of gangrene are bad wounds and infections, reduced blood supply to an extremity, diabetes, frostbite, drug reactions and swelling from large burns. Sclerosis of the arteries, thrombosis, and embolisms can also cause it. Warning symptoms include pain in the area when at rest and black, blue, or purple colored skin surrounding the affected area. See the sections on Disinfectants, Diabetes, and Frostbite in this book.
* See your health care provider if symptoms are suspicious. Depending upon the location and advanced state of the infection, antibiotic therapy may be ineffective and often fails to stop the disease. If caught in the early stages, soak the body part in a solution of 1 oz of Sol-U-Mel and 4 tbsp of Epsom salts in one gallon of very warm water (106 to 110 degrees F) for 20 minutes, every 2 hours. The wound should be allowed to drain as much as possible. Keep the area warm, since the tissue usually feels hot and swollen. Apply T36-C5 or T40-C3 every 2 hours to the affected part. Pain-A-Trate can increase local blood circulation to the area and should be applied immediately after T36-C5 or T40-C3.
    Of course, a good nutritional program is always recommended. The Vitality 6 pack, (the Vitality Pack with Oligofructose Complex, CellWise, Florify, Phytomega and ProvexCV), is a good start.