Magnesium Sulfate | Forest Garden

Like most serious gardeners, when I get a little “ding” I generally just keep on going and choose to ignore it. That’s probably why I have absolutely no idea how I injured my thumb last week. I get lots of dings between work in the garden and the kitchen. They almost always heal right up and I stay in motion.

One of the best values of the home pharmacy!

This thumb injury, right where the nail meets the skin, started out that way. But, I made the cardinal mistake of working outside without gloves over the weekend. Add in all of the dish washing, and general cleaning up, and I exposed the little nick in my skin to some nasty bacteria somewhere along the way. It was sore on Saturday, worse on Sunday, but by yesterday it was throbbing as I typed. And it kept getting worse.

If you’re like me, you do most of your own “doctoring” and avoid the AMA crowd whenever possible. Trying to remember all of the home remedies for infections, I remembered Epsom Salts. We try to keep some around all the time because it’s useful for so many things. Well, I finally found a carton in the garage next to the Plant Tone, covered in cobwebs and potting soil. Not exactly sterile looking. The last time I had used it was on the roses in early summer.

The flower bed I reworked and bordered this weekend

Epsom salt, or Magnesium Sulfate, is not really salt at all. Originally found at a mineral spring in Epsom, Surrey, England; it is a combination of Magnesium and Sulphate, both very healing to the body. Epsom salt is an extremely versatile crystalline product (probably why it’s called “salts”) which enhances growth, bloom, and general vigor in many types of plants; greens your lawn; kills insects; soothes muscle aches and pains; reduces inflammation; and draws toxins out of the body. (More uses for Epsom salts here)

By the time I realized that my whole thumb was red and throbbing, it was late in the day yesterday and I had no interest in heading to the store or the urgent care. A long soak in a bowl of hot water and dissolved Epsom salts finally brought some relief. Temporary relief that is.

I went on the offensive with mega doses of vitamin C, topical antibiotic cream, and even some colloidal silver; which was the antibiotic of choice before the pharmaceutical industry made so many specific antibiotics available. A full assault on the nasty microbes attacking my thumb at least kept the infection from spreading any more, and we got a few hours of sleep here and there.

You can feel the pain draining away during an Epsom salt soak. Whether we’re talking tired muscles, infected finger, or any of a number of other maladies; Epsom salt is a powerful healing agent. It can penetrate through the skin, across the cell membranes, to bring healing and draw out toxins. Soaking for 20 to 30 minutes, every four hours or so, made a huge difference.

Snapdragons from Homestead Garden Center, grown by the Patton family, moved into their new bed on Saturday morning.

Given no other option, the finger might have healed up in a few days with the healing protocol I’d started. But I’ve read too many stories lately about fast moving infections, and by this afternoon decided to pay the price and get the script. The doc was great, except for the forceps under the nail to make sure nothing was still lodged there. AND, she told me that she would have suggested the Epson salts soak had I not already initiated it. So, with the antibiotic coursing through my system I’m beginning to feel better, but will keep soaking the thumb until at least tomorrow.

Do you have Epsom salts in your pantry? It is basic equipment for a serious gardener. It, along with pure water, is as good for the gardener as it is for the garden!

What have I learned from this little misadventure? It always pays to reflect and tote up the lessons to carry forward.

Newly planted snapdragons

1. Always wear gloves when working in the garden. Protect the skin from nicks, and the nicks from the nasties in the soil.

2. Put a clean bandage and an alcohol wipe in the gardening vest, right next to the pocket knife. I’ve never done that, but will going forward.

3. Don’t ignore little injuries hoping they’ll go away. I don’t mean to sound like a wimp, but a little more care on the front end could have prevented this infection.

4. Spring for two packages of Epsom salts. Leave one in the garage with the plant foods, but keep another one in the pantry for healing.

Tonight I’m still a nine fingered typist, but managed to get a few photos of the garden before dusk.

Here are Tuesday’s Snapshots from the forest garden.