EARTH MATERIALS IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Rocks and minerals are getting an increasing amount of attention in the studies of their pathologic effects in human health. The beneficial effects of Earth materials are all too often ignored or misunderstood.

One of many areas, where minerals are used as pharmaceuticals, is in emergency medicine. Some of those practices are well known, others have not been heard of unless one was directly involved. A mineral may be produced synthetically but if it has a naturally occurring counter part, it was included here.

Ice compresses applied to a sprain or burn to relieve inflammation are a familiar practice. Ice packs are used on snake bites to prevent further absorption of the venom. Ice caps are often placed on the head of a stroke victim.

“Bicarbonate” (nahcolite) administered intravenously is a daily practice of emergency room medical teams. Sodium bicarbonate is used to treat several types of poisoning such as mercury chloride, naphtaline (moth balls), and turpentine.

Salt is often used in emergency situations. It is one of the first medicines administered to a victim of heat exhaustion. Salt cathartics are given in many cases of poisoning.

The Israeli Defense Department advises its soldiers to carry fuller's earth, an attapulgite type clay, to treat exposure to chemical warfare with the deadly mustard gas being one of the main targets. Clay minerals also act as medication against poisoning by paraquat, a powerful agricultural chemical.

The zeolite group has been gaining much popularity among medical researchers in recent time. Zeolites are employed as front line defense against radiation exposure. Clinoptilolite plays a major role in stopping heavy bleeding, including life threatening injuries of severed arteries.

Silver has been recognized as a powerful antimicrobial for centuries. Silver is said to have shown inhibition of the growth of bacteria and fungi on surfaces. Silver products are an alternative to hard surface disinfectants typically used within the healthcare industry. Silver is also an ingredient in creams treating burn victims.

Epsomite, known as epsom salt, is applied in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, an irregularity or loss of regular heartbeat, where it acts as arrhythmia suppressor, when used intravenously.