Range of reactions to stings

[Chris Luck]

Common mallow is native to Ireland according to Blamey / Grey wilson.

Similar looking species are Cut leaved and Musk which may well not be native to Ireland although probably introduced.

Chris

 

[Luminos]

Luminos, I think you should take a look at
http://www.joepastry.com/2012/marsh-mallow-marshmallow/

Thanks itma - I'm a bit squeamish about the gelatin, but I'd like to try the pate de guimauve. Shame to dig up the mallow "just" for the root, though...

 

[jdee]

Common mallow is native to Ireland according to Blamey / Grey wilson.

Similar looking species are Cut leaved and Musk which may well not be native to Ireland although probably introduced.

Chris

I bow to your greater knowledge Chris - just quoting what the Botanical Gardens in Dublin told me and I only offered up the remedy to help out as someone did the same for me. I was told that the plant concerned is not native to Ireland and if you say different then thats grand as well.

The article quotes wild mallow and that Dr Colman-Porter has drawn a tracing of the leaf as it is not the typical palmate leaves.

 

[Susan1]

+*#*Got stung on Sunday while putting mouse guards on.On my hand and thigh. My own fault as forgot to tuck in mu gloves and boots. Anyway had awful reaction my have was swollen and a red weald went up my arm very sore thesting on my thy swelled up and I ended up with a massive bruse. Had to get antibiotics. May have to see doc as reactions to stings getting worse not easier.

 

[drstitson]

"Had to get antibiotics."

for what?

 

[hiveabee]

"Had to get antibiotics."

for what?

antibiotics are for bacterial infections not allergic reactions.

 

[Karol]

antibiotics are for bacterial infections not allergic reactions.

Not quite as simple as that

Whilst not a licensed use, antibiotics have anti inflammatory and immuno-modulating properties in addition to being 'antibiotics'. So, whilst not being used properly in the classic sense, they may still be effective at relieving the inflammatory reaction seen with allergic reactions.

 

[drstitson]

true enough BUT

1. how many people prescribing them for stings are thinking along those lines

and

2. it still represents almost certain unnecessary use of antibiotics and hence whilst maybe providing slight relief is also potentially contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistant organisms. perhaps not as bad as giving abs for a viral infection but not far off.

 

[itma]

+*#*Got stung on Sunday while putting mouse guards on.On my hand and thigh. My own fault as forgot to tuck in mu gloves and boots. Anyway had awful reaction my have was swollen and a red weald went up my arm very sore thesting on my thy swelled up and I ended up with a massive bruse. Had to get antibiotics. May have to see doc as reactions to stings getting worse not easier.

"Had to get antibiotics."

for what?

Noting the 'imprecise' spelling throughout the post, and that the doctor was seemingly still to be consulted, I believe that antihistamines were most likely the medicament in question.

 

[drstitson]

i read that as implying Abs had come from OOH service, A&E or WIC and that seeing GP for referral for allergy testing/treatment was next step considered.

 

[Karol]

true enough BUT

1. how many people prescribing them for stings are thinking along those lines

In primary care very few but in secondary/tertiary care there is growing interest in the anti-inflammatory properties of antibiotics especially in resistant inflammatory diseases.

and

2. it still represents almost certain unnecessary use of antibiotics and hence whilst maybe providing slight relief is also potentially contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistant organisms. perhaps not as bad as giving abs for a viral infection but not far off.

It might be more than just slight relief. The mode of action is different to other anti-inflammatory agents (from what I gather). May also explain why patients swear by antibiotics even when they've clearly got a viral infection, i.e. a perceived amelioration of inflammatory response to viral infection & relief of naso-pharyngeal and arthralgic symptoms.

I agree that microbial resistance is clearly a concern. The problem is no where near as bad as the liberal use of antibiotics in treating self limiting viral infections.

Anyway, I'm not advocating the use of antibiotics for stings (unless there's clear signs of infection). Just pointing out that they may still be of some 'empirical' benefit even if miss prescribed.

 

[alanf]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nilelife/6240501406/ is what your looking for. I have only known it as wild mallow.

Which is Common-mallow Malva-sylvestris (La-grande-mauve).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_sylvestris

The leaves in the flickr photo look much more deeply divided than the Malva sylvestris depicted in Wiki, or the illustration in my Fitter & Blamey. The flickr photo looks more like a musk mallow: Malva moschata http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malva_moschata, leaves more divided, petals less divided and not so obviously veined. The tracing of the leaf in the original article may be significant, since that could be the most obvious difference outside the flowering season. Any chance of a copy of the drawing?

Both species have cultivated versions ranging from whites through pinks to purples. While that makes them readily available from nurseries and seed suppliers, the wild range might not be clear because of garden escapes.

 

[Chris Luck]

I agree Alan but I wonder how much chemical difference there is between Common, Cut leaf and Musk.

I should apologise for drifting into what may or may not be native in Ireland, it's just one of those things that's interesting to me in the same way that there are differences between mainland UK and Continental Europe following the last glaciation.

Of course we could be scientific, (well a bit), and try all three species along with a control placebo, (just the spirit).

Chris

 

[Karol]

Not that I want to be a spoiler but I would just like to venture a word of caution. Use of IMS (or rather methanol) has its own hazards. Methanol is rapidly absorbed through the skin and causes nasty toxic effects. Repeated use/exposure in treating repeat (especially multiple) stings could lead to irreversible side effects. Short term exposure limits are 250ppm, long term exposure limits are 200ppm and the use of methanol (in cosmetics) is restricted by law in the UK.

 

[Chris Luck]

Eau de vie it is then - I've got plenty of that at 60% proof.

Chris

 

[Karol]

Eau de vie it is then - I've got plenty of that at 60% proof.

Chris

 

[drstitson]

"Eau de vie"

i thought that only worked on Jellyfish stings?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK3LduV4-tg[/ame]

 

[Ely]

"Eau de vie"

i thought that only worked on Jellyfish stings?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK3LduV4-tg

Brilliant comedy series. There doesn't seem to be any dark comedy anymore.

 

[Luminos]

Brilliant comedy series. There doesn't seem to be any dark comedy anymore.

Psychoville comes close...

 

[Ely]

I saw the first series of psychoville. I enjoyed it but it was a little hit and miss. No where near as good as the first series of League of gentlemen. The film was dire though. Have thay made a 2nd series of psychoville?