Culicoidis said:
Natural remidies have their place, but septicaemia is a killer. A trip to your local GP or A&E at worst gives you a course of antibiotics at least tells you to soak it in warm salty water. Poultices etc work very well but antibiotics save lives.
The problem with going to your local with a thorn or a cut is GP, well most of them any way, are harassed and overworked, and sad to say some of them just opt for the prescription= quickfix and a method of keeping up with meeting the current government targets.
We live in a country where
over prescription of medication is a curse. I have been to the doctors with a heavy cold, but wanting to see the doctor about something entirely different, and my (now ex) doctor has prescribed antibiotics, for my flu. When questioned he justified his action by claiming that most people would be more than happy to take antibiotics.
As a people we are getting to the point where there is no point using the once commonly used antibiotics as they no longer work, the bacteria are resistant to them, over prescription and failing to take the whole course is leading to resistance to some of the newer drugs as well
Yes if you have the symptoms of blood poisoning then forget the doctors and go to the A&E, but unless you are run down or of weak constitution, then a poultice and keeping the wound site clean will be more than enough, covering the wound will reduce the risk of infection, even it its just a simple vinegar and Epsons salt poultice, or my mothers favourite standby, green soap and white sugar.
The signs to look out for with blood poisoning are sudden onset of:
fever,
chills and shivering,
rapid breathing and headache,
nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. if you have any of them then go to the hospital, do not pass go, do not stop to collect anything.
I was part of a land clearance and re-use project in the early eightys and despite all the protective clothes issued, I was getting hooked up with thorns almost weekly. I never needed the services of a doctor. And most of the thorns either worked themselves out, or were drawn out with a sugar and soap poultice
Usual disclaimers, Im not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV.