WMN Editors

Epsom Salts

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July/August 2011  ISSN-1059-6518  Volume 24  Number 4

Epsom Salts – MgSO4

By Frank Hubbell, DO

What is Epsom Salts?

Epsom salts consists of magnesium sulfate, MgSO4, simply magnesium plus sulfate. The name comes from the town of Epsom in England, where the mineral was originally distilled from the water of springs that came up through the porous chalk in the area.

 

Epsom salts is a readily available, over-the-counter, inexpensive compound with a variety of medicinal uses. In this particular article we will focus on its usefulness in treating skin infections like cellulitis. Read more

WMN Editors

ADVANCED WOUND MANAGEMENT

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The fact is that soft tissue injuries, such as abrasions, lacerations, and puncture wounds are very common.  We have all had these sorts of injuries at one time or another, and most of the time they are simply a nuisance, easily remedied with a little tender loving care, soap and water, and a Band-aid. But, it’s not always quite that easy. Even a simple wound, if not managed properly, can turn into a potentially life-threatening infection.

When working in disaster response, medical mission relief, wilderness medicine, or remote medicine, the skills of wound management are of critical importance. The wound may be a small abrasion on the knee that simply needs a good scrubbing to clean it out or a large, jagged laceration caused by the slip of a chainsaw, resulting in a deep gash, that is bleeding profusely, and full of bark, dirt, and oil. Regardless, any and all soft tissue injuries need proper attention to facilitate healing and, more importantly, to minimize the risk of a serious infection.

ISSN-1059-6518

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WMN Editors

MITES CHIGGERS AND SCABIES

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July/August 2010  ISSN-1059-6518  Volume 23 Number 4

By Frank Hubbell, DO

Illustrations by T.B.R. Walsh

Mites Chiggers

and Scabies:

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WMN Editors

SUNBURNS AND SUN BLOCKS

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July/August 2010  ISSN-1059-6518  Volume 23 Number 4

By Frank Hubbell, DO

Sunburns and Sun Blocks:

There are many variations on skin color ranging from albino to ebony. The color of the skin is simply determined by the quantity of a pigment, melanin, in the skin. The more melanin that is produced, the darker the skin.

The skin pigment melanin is produced by melanocytes, which are found in the stratum basale of the epidermis. The number of melanocytes in the skin is very similar from person-to-person, but how much melanin is produced by the melanocytes varies greatly, giving the wide range of skin colors that are seen around the world.

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