Treatment for infected wound

When your skin gets broken and the wound is exposed, it is easy for the skin to get severely infected. Such infections in open wounds are often very harmful. If not treated soon, the infected area can become septic.

Usually, not much has to be done to treat a wound. In fact, an infection of wound can be treated at home itself with some anti bacterial or antiseptic lotions or creams and some gauze. The problem of infection and complications creeps in when such preliminary treatment is delayed, neglected, or for some reason not available at the time. A disinfectant and gauze may not be handy at all times! There are some materials that you can always find in your homes which are useful for treating wounds. Not only do these materials treat the wounds, they also prevent them from getting infected.

Here are some simple home remedies for the treatment of wounds:

• If you have some gauze and disinfectant at home, simply clean up with the disinfectant and apply an antiseptic lotion or cream. After that, wrap this wound with clean cotton gauze.
• Turmeric powder, another effective method for treating infections, can be applied on the wound. Alternatively, add some turmeric powder to warm milk and drink it everyday. It treats the infection as well as increases the body's immunity. Turmeric powder is both a disinfectant and an antiseptic.
• Mince some onions and apply the paste on the wounded skin. Leave this on for an hour. After an hour wash off the paste and cover the wound for some time. The onion has properties that help it to remove the infection from the wound. However, it is important to throw the paste immediately after keeping it on for an hour. Do not touch any other part of your body with this paste.
• Honey is also a famous and effective remedy for treating infectious wounds. Honey contains some enzymes that help treat the wound and remove infection. Apply a small amount of honey over your wound and cover it with gauze. Leave it on for about half an hour before removing the gauze. It is important to not keep the gauze on for a long period of time otherwise the threads tend to stick to the wound.
• Garlic juice is another bactericidal remedy. However, garlic juice is quite hot and should never be used in its concentrated form. Mix the juice of 2-3 cloves of garlic with some water. Smear this solution all over the wound and cover with a cotton pad. This will help release the infection in the form of pus. Wipe the wound clean then and cover it with a soft piece of gauze.

answered by G M

Infected wounds can turn out to be pretty harmful if not treated at the right time. Generally we apply disinfectants or antibacterial ointment on the wound, cover it up with bandage and leave it hoping for it to get better on its own. This is just one way to look after your infected wound considering you have the antibacterial handy at home. You would also need to clean the wound with the disinfectant a few times a day and wrap it up with a bandage again. But there are several other natural home remedies as well that you can resort to.

One of the oldest and most efficient methods to treat an infected wound is to apply turmeric powder over it. What most people don't know about turmeric is that it is also a disinfectant, antibacterial, antiseptic and contains fluoride, a chemical that helps in the healing process. You can sprinkle the turmeric powder directly on the infected area, and wrap it up with a bandage. The turmeric will clean out any bacteria, stop the bleeding, and help control infections. Another easily available option would be to use onions. Crush or mince onions and apply the paste on the wound and leave it for about an hour. Wash the infected area after removing the paste and repeat this exercise 3 times a day. By doing this the onion will extract the infection from the wound without causing irritation to the skin.

Another famous remedy to heal wounds is honey. It has been used as a treatment for infections for centuries. To heal your wound, simply apply a small amount of honey on the wound, cover it using cotton bandage and leave it for a while. The honey emits low levels of hydrogen peroxide along with other antibacterial properties and helps in clearing up the infection. You can also use garlic as it works similar to onions; it's not only antifungal but also antibiotic and antiviral. Extract and mix garlic juice with 2/3rd portion of water and apply the solution on the wound and cover with cotton bandage. Ginger works as a strong antiseptic as well. It helps reduce the amount of pus, which indirectly relieves some of the pressure on the wound and also acts as a natural painkiller. Ginger can be sprinkled on the wound or you can use ginger oil, and cover up with a bandage. Repeat this exercise 2-3 times during the day.

answered by G M

You have not mentioned the nature of your wound. A wound that you sustain in small accidents around the home or the work place can be treated at home. However, you have specified that you have an infected wound. This gives a different perspective on the whole issue. An infected wound can lead to other problems and should be attended to at the earliest. You should visit the doctor without any further delay and seek professional help before you begin any treatment at home. You will have to ensure that a high degree of hygiene is maintained in taking care of the wound. Always clean it using warm water and a clean cotton swab. Don't touch it with dirty hands and avoid going out since this will lay the wound open to the pollution and dust in the atmosphere.

You can use a pinch of turmeric on the wound. Turmeric is well known for its antiseptic properties and will help the wound heal fasters. Another ingredient that you can find in your kitchen and that will help the wound heal faster is honey. Take a little honey on a clean cotton swab. Apply this directly on the wound. Another home remedy is the application of a spoonful of onion that has been minced on the wound. It is recommended that you let this remain on your wound for an hour before you wash it off. You can apply this to your wound twice or thrice in a day. However, it is advisable to seek the opinion of a doctor before you do this.

answered by M W