Whitlow Health Dictionary

Whitlow: From 3 Different Sources


An abscess on the fingertip or toe, causing the finger to swell and become extremely painful and sensitive to pressure and touch. It most commonly develops from acute paronychia. A whitlow may be due to the virus that causes herpes simplex or to a bacterial infection. In some cases, it may be necessary to drain pus from the abscess.
Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association
A popular term for PARONYCHIA.
Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary

Crinum Asiaticum

Linn.

Family: Amaryllidaceae.

Habitat: Wild as well as cultivated as an ornamental.

English: St. John's Lily, Poison Bulb.

Ayurvedic: Naagadamani, Naa- gapatra, Sudarshana (var.). C. defixum Ker.-Gawl, is equated with Sukhadarshana.

Siddha/Tamil: Vishamoongil.

Action: Bulb—laxative (a substitute for ipecacuanha), expectorant. Used in biliousness, and in strangury and other urinary affections. Also used for the treatment of burns, whitlow and carbuncle. Fresh root—diaphoretic, emetic. Leaves— expectorant; externally, anti- inflammatory (used in skin diseases and for reducing inflammations). Seed—emmenagogue, diuretic.

The bark gave sterols and triter- penoids. Seeds contain alkaloids— lycorine, crinamine and crinasiatine.... crinum asiaticum

Cynodon Dactylon

Pers.

Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India up to 3,000 m.

English: Bermuda Grass, Bahama Grass, Couch Grass.

Ayurvedic: Duurvaa, Bhaargavi, Shatvalli, Shatparvaa, Tiktaparvaa, Shatviryaa, Sahastravirya, Shitaa, Anantaa, Golomi.

Unani: Duub.

Siddha/Tamil: Arugampallu.

Action: The grass is a reputed as a remedy in epitaxis, haematuria, inflammed tumours, whitlows fleshy excrescences, cuts, wounds, bleeding piles, cystitis, nephritis and in scabies and other skin diseases. It is credited with astringent, diuretic, antidiarrhoeal, anticatarrhal, styptic and antiseptic properties. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommended the dried fibrous root in menorrhagia, metrorrhagia and burning micturation.

Phenolic phytotoxins—ferulic, sy- ringic, p-coumaric, vanillic, p-hydro- xybenzoic and O-hydroxyphenyl acetic acids, are reported from the plant. The leaves contain tricin, flavone C- glycosides and a flavonoid sulphate.

Dosage: Whole plant—10-20 ml juice (API Vol. IV.); root—5-10 ml juice (API Vol. III.)... cynodon dactylon

Dioscorea Daemona

Roxb.

Ayurvedic: Hastyaaluka.

Siddha/Tamil: Peiperendai.

Folk: Karukandu, Kolo (Bihar).

Action: Tubers—used for ulcer, to kill worms in wounds. Plant parts— used in whitlow, sores, boils.

The tubers contain 81.45-81.8 carbohydrates, 7.20-9.12% albuminoids. The toxic principle is dioscorine which is distributed throughout the plant.... dioscorea daemona

Fester

A popular, not a medical, term used to mean any collection or formation of pus. It is applied to both abscesses and ulcers. (See ABSCESS; ULCER; WHITLOW.)... fester

Jatropha Curcas

Linn.

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical America. Now cultivated along with Cromandel Coast and in Travancore.

English: Physic Nut, Purging Nut.

Ayurvedic: Vyaaghrairanda (var.), Sthula-eranda, Kaanan-eranda.

Siddha/Tamil: Kattu Amanaku.

Folk: Bagharenda (var.).

Action: Seed—highly toxic. Nut— purgative. Plant—used for scabies, ringworm, eczema, whitlow, warts, syphilis. Stem bark—applied to wounds of animal bites; root bark to sores.

The protein of the seed contains the toxic albumin curcin (protein 18.0%, curcin 0.005%).

Seed and seed oil—more drastic purgative than castor seed oil and milder than Croton tiglium oil.

An aqueous (10%) infusion of leaves increased cardiac contraction is small doses. EtOH (50%) extract of aerial parts—diuretic and CNS depressant.

The seed contain phorbol derivatives. The plant also contains cur- cosones and lathyrane diterpenes.... jatropha curcas

Felon

See: WHITLOW. ... felon

Paronychia

(whitlow) n. an inflamed swelling of the *nail folds. Acute paronychia is usually caused by infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Chronic paronychia occurs mainly in those who habitually engage in wet work; it is associated with secondary infection with *Candida albicans. It is vital to keep the hands dry in order to control chronic paronychia.... paronychia

Pergularia Extensa

N. E. Br.

Synonym: P. daemia (Forsk.) Chiov.

Family: Asclepiadaceae; Periplo- caceae.

Habitat: Throughout India and hotter parts.

English: Hairknot Plant, Whitlow Plant.

Ayurvedic: Uttamaarani, Vrischikaali, Vishaanikaa. Phala- kantaka. Ajashringi is a doubtful synonym.

Siddha/Tamil: Utthaamani, Veli- paruthi.

Folk: Utaran.

Action: Plant—Uterine stimulant, tones up urinary bladder, stimulates gastric secretion, expectorant, emetic. Leaf—used for amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea; externally applied to carbuncles.

The plant gave betaine, a polypep- tide, hentriacontane, lupeol, alpha-and beta-amyrin, beta-sitosterol as major constituents. Seeds and stems gave car- denolides—calactin, calotropin, calo- tropagenin, uzarigenin and coroglau- cigenin.

The plant extract exhibits stimulating action on uterine and other involuntary muscles. The extracts cause rise in arterial blood pressure, increase in movement and tone of urinary bladder, and stimulation of gastric secretions. An aqueous extract of the leaves shows antibacterial activity against E. coli and Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus.... pergularia extensa

Labrador Tea

St James tea. Wild Rosemary. (Ledum Latifolium, Jacq.) (Ledum Greenlandicum). German: Sumpfporst. French: Romarin sauvage. Italian: Ledone. Part used: leaves. Grows in wild damp northern places where only goats eat it and where the Swedes still drink it for gout.

Action: tonic, pectoral, diaphoretic. Expectorant.

Uses: Dyspepsia, cough, dysentery, violent itching, chest infections. Cold shivery conditions with chattering teeth. Inflamed or malignant sore throat – to cleanse and sweeten bad breath. Antidotes the effects of alcohol. Gout.

External: gnat bites and punctured wounds, (Dr Teste) bee-sting, needle-pricks leading to whitlow, body lice, (strong decoction).

Ledum palustre (Marsh tea, Wild Rosemary, Porsch), is more powerful than Ledum latifolium – for practitioner use only.

Preparation. Average dose: 1-4g.

Tea. Quarter to half a teaspoon to cup water, gently simmer 15 minutes. Dose: half-1 cup. ... labrador tea

Lemon

Citrus limonum. Refreshing and fragrant essential oil.

Constituents: flavonoids, coumarins, mucilage, Vitamin C, calcium oxalate.

Action: prevention and treatment of scurvy, anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, anti-fat, antihistamine.

Contains citric acid which is an anti-bacterial capable of destroying some viruses and bacteria.

Uses: Coughs, colds, influenza and onset of fevers generally. Traditionally a whole lemon was roasted or baked in a moderate oven for half an hour and as much juice drunk as tolerated. Sore throat (gargle). Diphtheria: impressive cures reported. Persist until false membrane is detached: Neat lemon juice gargle hourly, swallowing 1-2 teaspoons. If too strong, may be diluted. Often overlooked for hiccoughs. Dropsy: lemon fast. 3-4 days on lemon juice alone: no solid food, tea, stimulants, etc. Biliousness, sick headache: juice of a lemon morning and evening; sweeten with honey if necessary. Malaria: half a teacup juice in water every 2-3 hours. Rheumatism: juice of half lemon before meals and at bedtime; may be diluted. For rheumatism, anecdotal success has been reported by combining equal parts lemon juice and molasses: tablespoon thrice daily before meals. Cellulitis. A lemon mask helps to fade spots.

External: erysipelas, corns, lesions of scurvy. “For a felon (whitlow) cut off end of a lemon; insert finger and bind securely. In the morning remove exudation of matter.” (Chinese Barefoot doctor)

Preparations: Tincture Limonis P (1948) (dose, 2-4ml) is sometimes available but recorded successes have been chiefly due to use of the juice. Oil Lemon BP. Used also in Aromatherapy.

Note: When drinking lemon juice care should be taken to see juice does not come in direct contact with the teeth, the enamel of which it erodes. The juice may remove some calculi from the body, but after having cleared the bloodstream it leeches calcium from the teeth and bones. It is a known cause of arthritis, inducing dryness and subsequent erosion of cartilage of the joints. ... lemon

Marigold

Pot marigold. Calendula officinalis L. German: Ringelblume. French: Souci des Jardins. Spanish: Calendula. Italian: Calendola. Dried florets. One of the most versatile and important herbal medicines. This is the same Calendula as used by the homoeopaths but the method of preparation and therapy is different. Contains high levels of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and Vitamin A.

Keynote: injuries. Not the same plant as French Marigold (Tagetes patula).

Constituents: volatile oil, flavonoids, triterpenes.

Action: immune stimulant, anti-protazoal, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, anti- haemorrhage, anti-histamine, anti-bacterial effect particularly against staphylococcus and streptococcus, anti-emetic, anti-cancer, antiseptic, styptic, haemostatic, diaphoretic, anthelmintic, oestrogenic activity (extract from fresh flowers), menstrual regulator.

Uses: Internal. A remedy which should follow all surgical operations. Enlarged and inflamed lymphatic glands, gastric and duodenal ulcer, jaundice, gall bladder inflammation, absent or painful menstruation, balanitis, rectum – inflammation of, gum disease, nose-bleeds, sebaceous cysts, measles (cup of tea drunk freely), pneumonia – a cooling drink which is anti-inflammatory. Vaginal thrush.

Uses: External. Rapid epithelisation process in damaged skin tissue, especially alcoholic extract; rapid wound adhesion and granulation without suppuration. (Weleda)

Wounds where the skin has been broken: laceration with bleeding (Arnica for unbroken skin). Sores, leg ulcers, abscess etc. Sore nipples in nursing mothers, varicose veins, nosebleeds, grazed knees in schoolchildren. Bee, wasp and other insect stings. Chilblains, fistula, inflamed nails, whitlow, dry chapped skin and lips, wind burn, air pollution.

Dentistry: Tooth extractions: rinse mouth with infusion of the florets or much-diluted tincture – 5-10 drops in water.

Malignancy: strong tea, 1-2oz to 1 pint boiling water; use as a wash to cleanse exudations.

STD purulent discharge: inject douche of strong infusion as above.

Wm M. Gregory MD, Berea, Ohio, USA. “I have never seen one drop of pus develop in any wound, however dirty.”

Preparations: For internal or external use. Average dose, 1-4 grams, or equivalent. Thrice daily.

Tea: dried petals/florets. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Drink freely.

Home tincture. 1 handful petals/florets (approximately 50g) to 1 pint (500ml) 70 per cent alcohol (Vodka); stand 14 days in a warm place, shake daily. Filter. Dose: 5-20 drops in water.

Poultice. Handful petals/florets to 1 pint boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Apply on suitable material to injuries where skin is broken; replenish when dry.

Herbalist’s Friend. 1 part Tincture Calendula to 4 parts Witch Hazel, for phlebitis and painful varicose veins.

Weleda. Calendula lotion locally, or as a mouth wash and gargle. ... marigold

Nails

Nail loss. Paronychia. Clubbing. Brittle nails. Deformity (koilonychia). Spoon-shaped, as from iron-deficiency anaemia. A wide range of diseases affect the nails which, themselves, provide useful clues to underlying constitutional disturbance. Brittle and malformed nails are usually due to mineral deficiency. Ridging and grooving show altered nutrition and damage to the nail bed. Psoriasis nails are pitted.

Infections include candidiasis (monilia), ringworm, staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. Biting of fingernails reveals anxiety. Colour change and atrophy of nails may be caused by antibiotics, antimalarials, betablockers, gold and arsenic medicines, steroids, “The Pill”; requiring Eliminatives, liver, kidney and possibly Lymphatic agents.

For in-growing toenail – see entry.

Alternatives. General, internal. For antifungals, see: WHITLOW. Mineral-rich herbs for nutrition.

Teas: Alfalfa, Carragheen, Horsetail, Gotu Kola, Red Clover, Oats (for silicon salts), Plantain, Silverweed, Clivers, Dandelion.

Decoctions: Yellow Dock, Burdock, Sarsaparilla, Queen’s Delight.

Tablets or capsules: Alfalfa. Kelp. Bamboo gum.

Formula. Horsetail 2; Gotu Kola 1; Thuja quarter. Dose: Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons. Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Thrice daily.

Cider Vinegar, See entry. Efficacy recorded.

Topical. Alternatives:– Apply to the nail:

(1) Liquid Extract or Tincture Thuja. (Ellingwood)

(2) Blood root. (J.T Kent MD)

(3) Evening Primrose oil.

(4) Contents of a Vitamin E capsule.

(5) Tincture Myrrh.

Diet. Nails are almost wholly protein. High protein. Onions, Garlic, Soya products, Carrot juice, Cod Liver oil, Kelp.

Vitamins. A. B-complex. B6. B12. Folic acid.

Minerals. Calcium. Dolomite. Copper. Iron. Silica. Stannum, Zinc. ... nails

Herpes Simplex

A common viral infection, characterized by small, fluid-filled blisters. Herpes simplex infections are contagious and usually spread by direct contact. The virus has 2 forms, HSV1 (herpes simplex virus, type 1) and HSV2 (herpes simplex virus, type 2).

Most people are infected with HSV1 at some point in their lives, usually during childhood. The initial infection may be symptomless, or may cause a flu-like illness with mouth ulcers. Thereafter, the virus remains dormant in nerve cells in the facial area. In many people, the virus is periodically reactivated, causing cold sores. Rarely, the virus infects the fingers, causing a painful eruption called a herpetic whitlow. HSV1 may produce eczema herpeticum (an extensive rash of skin blisters) in a person with a preexisting skin disorder, such as eczema. Eczema herpeticum may require hospital admission. If the virus gets into an eye, it may cause conjunctivitis or a corneal ulcer. Rarely, HSV1 spreads to the brain, leading to encephalitis. The virus may cause a potentially fatal generalized infection in a person with an immunodeficiency disorder or in someone taking immunosuppressant drugs. HSV2 is the usual cause of sexually transmitted genital herpes (see herpes, genital).

Treatment of herpes simplex depends on its type, site, and severity.

Antiviral drugs, such as aciclovir, may be helpful, particularly if used early in an infection.... herpes simplex




Recent Searches