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VIII. Summary of Pre-treatment Goals
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1. Resolve cellulitis
2. Heal ulcers
3. Decrease edema, both lower extremities
4. Improve skin condition, both lower extremities
5. Patient to maintain lymphedema reduction with home program
6. Decrease risk of infection, both lower extremities
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IX. summary of Therapeutic Intervention:
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1. Resolve cellulitis.
Daily topical application of castor oil packs on both lower legs.
Oral colloidal silver, 2 tablespoons, 2-3 times daily, between meals for 10 days.
RESULTS: Infection was better after the third day, and resolved after the sixth day.
Overall pain in legs was reduced from 10+/10 to 9/10.
2. Heal Ulcers.
Daily topical application of herbal mixtures directly on ulcers. Due to the severity, pain and tenderness of the ulcers,
milder herbal mixtures were used initially on this patient before the standard herbal application could be tolerated.
After the castor oil packs, honey was applied directly to the ulcers. After 11 days, vitamin-E ointment (vitamin-E, aloe vera,
wheat germ) with comfrey salve was used, along with the honey. After 25 days, colloidal silver was sprayed on the ulcers and
a mixture of slippery elm, comfrey, and honey was applied.
RESULTS: After six weeks the ulcers were completely closed and healing.
After 3 ½ months the ulcers were completely healed. Pain from ulcers eliminated.
Overall pain reduced from 10+/10 to 4/10.
3. Decrease edema, both lower extremities:
In conjunction with healing the ulcers, a modified CDT treatment consisting of MLD and a light wrap of one layer of low
stretch compression bandaging was begun after the third day. Treatments were given once or twice a week over a 2-month
timeframe. Maintenance treatments were provided on a monthly basis.
RESULTS: Edema reduced by 18 cm on lower right leg, and 13.8 cm on the lower left leg;
total reduction of 31.8 cm.
4. Improve skin condition, both lower extremities:
During CDT treatments, hydrogen peroxide was used to cleanse the skin and Horse chestnut gel was applied topically.
For the first few treatments, comfrey salve and mullein/lobelia salve were applied topically. Additional remedies
used on an as-needed basis included: castor oil, low pH natural lotion and aloe vera gel.
5. Patient to maintain lymphedema reduction with home program
6. Decrease risk of infection, both lower extremities
In between office treatments, patient was on a home-maintenance program, administered by his wife on a daily basis.
The program consisted of light cleansing of wounds with hydrogen peroxide, applying new herbal mixtures of slippery
elm and honey to the wounds, applying both aloe vera gel and a low PH natural lotion to the skin of both lower legs,
and finishing with light compression, low stretch bandages.
After 3 ½ months, all ulcers were healed, the cellulitis resolved and the LE reduced by a total of 31.8 cm.
Patient stopped taking all pain medication. Pain from the cellulitis, ulcers and LE was eliminated.
There was still some pain in the hips due to the surgeries and arthritis, but it was much more manageable.
Overall pain was reduced from a 10+/10 to a 4/10.
The patient was able to drive again, shower, dress himself and ambulate independently, with under-the-arm crutches.
Crutches provided a greater sense of security than canes. He was able to perform household chores and to socialize.
The quality of his life improved significantly.
The patient maintained all improvements for one year until he cut back significantly on his home program.
He developed one ulcer, 5.3 cm wide by 2.4 cm long on the anterior part of the lower right leg, and a second ulcer;
2.0 cm round on medial ankle of right leg. The skin on the anterior side of the left leg appeared erythematous and
scaly. Bi-monthly treatments consisting of castor oil applied topically to both legs, herbal packs of slippery elm
and honey applied to ulcers, CDT therapy and resumption of the home maintenance program healed the ulcers within six weeks.
It became evident that the patient was not able to manage his home program. He became more frail and the venous stasis combined
with the lymphedema required additional attention. Therapeutic Swedish massage for one hour, once per week was added to
his bi-monthly CDT therapy three months ago. Ulcers have not returned, and the dryness, redness and resiliency of the skin have
improved.
Lymphedema complicated by multiple co-morbidities in the elderly patient can be successfully managed utilizing herbal remedies
in compliment with a modified program of CDT. Natural remedies, in conjunction with other manual treatments, work with the body,
not against it. Ulcers can be healed, cellulitis resolved and the patient can attain a greater quality and quantity of life.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Peter Glasser is a licensed massage therapist, certified in Dr. Vodder's MLD. He has been treating Lymphedema for 10 years, and pioneered
the use of Horse Chestnut and other natural remedies for treatment of Lymphedema. His work has appeared in Lymph Link, Alternative Medicine
Digest, Vegetarian Times, Hunterdon County Women's Newspaper and other publications. He is co-owner and President of Ultimate Health Center,
Inc., and can be reached at 800-268-6905 or uhc@usit.net
Diana Brady is a Nationally Certified Nutrition Consultant who treats chronic diseases. Her articles have appeared in Lymph Link,
the Women's Health Series book, Lymphedema Services Newsletter and Interstitial Cystitis Association newsletters. She is co-owner
of Ultimate Health Center, Inc.
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