WARNING: Graphic Pictures!!!

As some of you know, I’m not the most skilled in the fine art of “kitchen”.  In fact, before relocating from Florida, I considered the kitchen nothing more than the main support structure for the house.  And further, among all the appliances in the kitchen there was only one that was actually useful (to me) … the microwave. 

Needless to say, the journey into what the purpose of a kitchen is actually used for has been a huge up hill battle – but one I am winning.

If you will recall, I had a very serious accident in the kitchen a while back. Remember my article “Where is Thumbkin? … Where is Thumbkin? – (When Things Happen Unexpectantly)”?  In short, I purchased a new mandolin slicer - new as in sharper than sharp blade.  I was in the process of using the mandolin for the first time to slice a sweet potato … I say in the process because that is really all I accomplished (the processes) because on the first pass … I removed the side of my thumb. Literally.  From my knuckle up and across the fingernail of my right hand (yes I am right hand dominant).  A perfect slab of thumb ¼ inch thick was resting on the counter (at least I kept with the general guidelines of thickness for dehydrating … just saying.)  This picture was taken three days after the accident. I am only showing the front view as the back is quite nasty - and no that is not dirt in my nail. As if!!

Some have asked why I didn’t use the slicing guard. My reason (go with me on this.)  The potato was large and my hand was so far from the blade that it didn’t seem practical – at the time.  The mandolin was the hand held type that you hold with one hand and slice with the other. Well my left hand that was holding the mandoline slipped and well the rest is history. Nuff said. Oh except “please use the slice guard”.

With this said what I want to share with you - now that I’ve totally grossed you out - is my journey to healing. 

From my previous article you saw that the “professional” medical care given was less than optimal. So, I did what most preppers faced with uncertain times would do - I put myself in a mindset of where there would be no medical care available and took matters into my own hands … er thumb.  After a week of medical healing I began treating my thumb using raw honey.

Now let me back up just a little bit. I have heard numerous times in the past; as I’m sure you have too, about the wonders of using honey for wound care dating back thousands of years.  And in fact, I had gone to a seminar earlier and heard a surgeon - of all people - give a presentation on treating diabetic patients who developed osteomyelitis, a bone infection caused by bacteria, fungi or other germs. I say of all people, because a lot of surgeons are so anxious to ‘cut’ - after all that is what they do and get paid for - than to treat a wound conservatively.

The pictures the surgeon showed were horrific, nasty and gross (I spared you gross pictures of my thumb).  But the pictures were needed to illustrate the medicinal properties of honey. What I saw was amazing.  In, at times, less than 6 months the gaping infection-fested holes (and I use that term lightly as in some instances these wounds were partial amputations of a foot or hand) after being packed with honey the wound closed completely over.  Pictures in this situation were definitely worth a thousand words.

So, when I made up my mind I was not going back to any professional medical care for my thumb and remembering the surgeon’s seminar I decided to take the prepper approach to wound care (caveat: I am not advocating you do this. I am just sharing what I did. You should always seek medical care when available - just sayin.)

I began by washing the wound twice a day and then packing it with pure raw honey and wrapping it. NOTE: store-bought honey at your local grocery store is usually NOT raw honey.  Look for a reputable bee farmer or farmer’s market to obtain raw honey.

I packed honey in the thumb wound for three months.  It was amazing. Everyone – including me – thought I would be left with this huge indention on the side of my thumb because all the muscle was gone. But nope! Although I can tell where the wound is – it’s totally numb – the thumb itself looks pretty normal (normal of course is subjective … just sayin.) It is really nothing short of a miracle. 

I’m sharing this because I would highly suggest you include raw honey as a critical part of your preparedness medical supplies for that time when you should find yourself without the aid of professional medical care – the honey can be used for its antibacterial, viral and fungal properties and for treating wounds.

Where is thumbkin?  Where is thumbkin?… Oh, there you are. Hello friend *smile*

Just sayin’

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