Introduction
Diabetic foot ulcers are common in both Type 1 (insulin-dependent) and Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent diabetes) and can lead to considerable disability.
They tend to recur and may lead to amputation if blood circulation can’t be restored and, healing can take months to years. In fact, many never heal which is where wheatgrass can do much to help restore the blood supply and actively help heal these wounds.
How do diabetic ulcers form?
Mainly due to reduction or blockage of blood flow to a particular area, which causes the skin to break down. Because the nerves controlling blood supply have been damaged, (peripheral neuropathy), affected skin becomes vulnerable to even minor injuries that can damage the skin surface and result in an ulcer. Fortunately though, diabetic ulcers usually respond well to wheatgrass extract where it appears to repair the minute nerves controlling blood flow to the area. This video shows how quickly wheatgrass can alter blood flow in the micro-circulation.
How should I use wheatgrass on a diabteic ulcer?
Generally, less works best when using wheatgrass, so apply just enough to cover the ulcer surface once a week only, covering the wound with a light gauze dressing and bandage.
Persevere.
Case #1. Diabetic ulcer.
49 y.o. male. Left forefoot. Present 4 months, heals in two with wheatgrass.
Case #2. Longstanding (many years) diabetic ulcer (foot)
Wound was healed sufficiently enough to enable skin grafting.
Case #3. Big toe amputation wound heals quickly with wheatgrass
Case #4. Diabetic ulcer skin graft heals well in 3 weeks
Case #5. Diabetic ulcer heals in 5 weeks after surgical debridement & wheatgrass
Case #6. Non-healing diabetic ulcer following trauma 4 months earlier. Wound almost healed after one week of wheatgrass.
Case #7. 55 y.o. male. Non-healing ulcer on heel 4 years. Wound debrided after 2 weeks’ wheatgrass.
Case #8. Wheatgrass recovers and heals skin graft on diabetic ulcer
Patient’s testimonial:
This 52-year old Type 2 diabetic suffered from peripheral neuropathy, where the nerves supplying his lower leg were damaged which ultimately lead to a diabetic ulcer.
The ulcer was operated on leaving quite a large wound (Fig.1.), and was then treated with negative pressure dressings, without improvement, so a skin graft was applied. Because recovery was incomplete, he began applying wheatgrass extract to the wound.
The patient says: “Within a couple of days of commencing use of wheatgrass, the wound had revascularised and the open areas were beginning to close. (Fig. 2). The open areas of the graft/wound closed after just 7 days and the graft/wound continued to make outstanding progress.” (Fig. 3.)
Dr. Chris Reynolds.