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Wheatgrass heals leprosy ulcers
Natural remedy yields amazing results
by Dr. Chris Reynolds. M.B.,B.S.| Published on |
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website 17 February, 2009 |
Wheatgrass (not the wheat you see waving in the summer fields, but the young, fresh sprouts that grow in trays one sees in juice bars), has been an integral part of Indian culture for several thousand years, is used at Hindu ceremonies, and is known to have quite remarkable healing properties. In the 1930’s, wheatgrass and other cereal grass sprouts were found to contain potent growth and fertility factors. Subsequent clinical and laboratory research revealed a host of other therapeutic properties, in particular, wound and ulcer healing. Just before the wheat seed starts to form is when the herb is at its bioactive best, and the extract distilled from this mix has far higher potency than freshly juiced wheatgrass. I have used such an extract very successfully since 1995 for treating a broad spectrum of conditions, wound healing in particular, on thousands of patients.
Quite by chance and with no foreknowledge of the therapeutic properties of the cereal grasses (they can all heal), the disappearance overnight of a thick scab from a leg ulcer using a cereal-based cream sample opened my mind to the world of natural therapy. The cream also relieved the patient’s pain (it was a diabetic/arterial ulcer, which can be very painful). On closer examination, a thin, but discernible layer of cells had covered the wound surface and appeared to have sealed the wound. Instead of the usual weeping appearance one sees with open wounds, the surface was perfectly dry. In a moment, this simple observation completely changed my orthodox medical view of the wound healing process.
Although leprosy can cause numerous signs and symptoms, my interest mainly lay in the skin manifestations caused largely by damage to peripheral nerves. Patients develop patchy loss of sensation that affects predominantly the hands and feet. Because the skin patches are anaesthetised, the patient all too easily traumatises the skin but is unaware damage has been done. Once this happens, an ulcer forms which can sometimes last more than 30 years. Repetitive trauma e.g. walking, can also prevent the ulcer healing and, even with protective footwear the wound often becomes indolent. To date, other than surgery which is expensive and has limited success, there is no effective medical treatment available.
Wheatgrass spray was used on a patient in Mumbai who had leprous ulcers on the sole of his foot for 10 years and was also a non-insulin dependent diabetic. Diabetic ulcers can be notoriously difficult to heal so this represented a double challenge for wheatgrass. In just six weeks, the ulcer, present for a year, showed significant signs of healing. After 3 months, the ulcer had almost healed as seen in these photographs.
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Twenty participants with foot ulcers were selected for treatment, and the process was recorded with serial digital photographs. The wheatgrass spray was applied every second day and the wound re-covered. Appropriate medical release forms were signed or marked by all patients and in November, 2008, the study began.
As wheatgrass quickly softens the surrounding callus (dead skin), which tends to hold the wound open and prevent healing, calluses could be easily removed with a scalpel. This also helps promote healing. Often the slough on and around the ulcer, (which can be quite thick), disappeared and revealed the full extent of the ulcer’s surface. Re-covering with new skin can then commence. This usually starts from the edges, but can also develop as small islands of skin on the surface, that coalesce as the healing proceeds.
Most people approach wound and ulcer healing in quite a different way - cleanse the wound, keep it moist, and apply a protective dressing, the main aim being to prevent infection. However, clearly this wasn’t working. To begin with, the exudate (clear liquid or ‘weeping’ on the wound surface contains all the growth and other factors essential for the healing process, but they are simply washed away whenever there is a dressing change. We noticed that wheatgrass in some way ‘resurfaces’ (re-epithelialises) the wound – usually within 24-48 hours – with a new layer of cells. It is very thin, but sufficient to contain the exudate underneath and prevent bacterial invasion from above. The growth (or healing) factors in the exudate can then do their work unhindered. It also appears they most likely stimulate the local immunity which eliminates unwanted bacteria rather than kill all bacteria. Many live ‘normally’ on the skin and possibly even assist the healing process. In other words, rather than interfering with the healing process, wheatgrass facilitates it.
The 19 trial participants have a combined total of 30 ulcers. One has healed completely, there has been significant healing in 28, and one as yet appears not to have responded. We intend to continue the study for at least six months when we will decide our next step. In due course, the serial photographs of all ulcers will be made available, on the internet.
Acknowledgements
During my stay in India, I was fortunate enough to have our Pilot Study Coordinator and good friend, Dr. Laxminarayan Vardharajan (Rajan) and Dr. Kamlakar Bhandarkar, Lepra’s Madhya Pradesh ILEP State Coordinator, do a wonderful job of making me feel at home. I thank Lepra India for arranging transport, and presentations to District Leprosy Officers in Khandwa (120 kilometres south of Indore) and to physicians and surgeons at the M. Y. teaching hospital at Indore that were very well received. These sessions received considerable TV and press coverage which broadcast awareness of Lepra around Madhya Pradesh, a state of 72 million people.
I would also like to thank Terry Vasey for getting the ball rolling and LEPRA UK for publishing this article; Dr. P. V. Rhangaradha Rao in Hyderabad for administrative support; Mr. Dominic Usavio, and of course Rajan in Indore, without whose extraordinary dedication to leprosy sufferers and hard work I would never have found myself in India. There were many others who made my visit so worthwhile.
I was warned before I left Australia that India would change me. It has. To the impoverished and stigmatised, living in harsh conditions, my respect and admiration for your spiritual strength, your happy smiles, your friendliness, and above all, your dignity, is immense.
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| Dr. Chris and Dr. Vardharajan (Rajan) visiting a leprosy ulcer trial participant in Indore. | Rajan treating a leprosy ulcer with wheatgrass extract. Khandwa, India. |
| Refs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Contact Details. Dr. Chris Reynolds. M.B.,B.S. Queensland, Australia. info@drwheatgrass.com.au Read the Sunshine Coast Daily's article about Dr. Chris' visit to India. |
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