GARLIC HAS A HERBAL BENEFITS

Garlic's health benefits and medicinal properties have long been known (1). Garlic has long been considered a herbal "wonder drug", with a reputation in folklore for preventing everything from the common cold and flu to the Plague! It has been used extensively in herbal medicine (phytotherapy, sometimes spelt phitotherapy).

Raw garlic is used by some to treat the symptoms of acne and there is some evidence that it can assist in managing high cholesterol levels. It can even be effective as a natural mosquito repellent.

In general, a stronger tasting clove of garlic has more sulphur content and hence more medicinal value it's likely to have. Some people have suggested that organically grown garlic tends towards a higher sulphur level and hence greater benefit to health. In my experience it certainly tastes better so I buy organic whenever possible whether or not it's best for my health.

COLD SPONGE BATH

Cold Sponge Bath: is used in cases where the skin is dry and hot. Cold water is used for sponge bath but in case where skin is burning hot, ice cubes may be put on water. Avoid chilling the patient. A cold compress on the forehead or armpits may be placed while the sponge is being done. Chilling with shivering will cause the temperature to rise. Sponge may be repeated and prolonged until the desired effects are obtained, or until the fever goes down.

Procedure:
a. Remove clothing and cover patient with sheet or blanket. Place cold compress on the forehead or the armpits. Renew compress as often as you can.
b. Sponge on one part, in the same order as the hot sponge bath. Friction is used to bring blood to the surface and to increase the rate of circulation to hasten the cooling process. The skin may be left slightly moist, fan lightly with towel until the skin is dry. Evaporation lowers body temperature. Hot lemonade may be given.

DOING MY HOSPITAL ROUNDS

I was just recently hired by a tertiary level hospital here in the city. I was told by the medical director that I have to start next year as one of the resident doctors of the hospital. Aside from the hospital, I also hold clinic nearby. The schedule was fine for me since I have the entire month of December to do the things I like to do and at the same time, I can attend to the patients in the my clinic to tell them that medical clinic hours will be change since I will be doing hospital rounds.

But just this morning, I got a call from the hospital director that my duty would start tonight, Christmas eve. The hospital expected that there will be a lot of patients with powder burns because of pyrotechnic materials. Starting this eve, I have to be in the hospital for these patients. I guess I will be celebrating my Christmas celebration with nurses and hospital staffs. I will be doing the hospital rounds immediately arriving in the hospital building.

As medical doctors, we vowed to save lives and we don't select the time in doing this. I will be assigned in the emergency room. That I expect more patients admitted for this season.

NEW DENGUE PATIENT

I received a call my close friend that her daughter was in the hospital the other day due to high fever. Since I am their family doctor, I went immediately to the hospital to check my patient out. According to my friend, her daughter has a fever that comes and go. She was admitted immediately after she collapsed in their house.

The attending physician in the hospital where my patients was brought was my classmate in medical school for 3 years. He told me that my patient is sick and her platelets count in going down rapidly. They have already performed several test on her to determine her condition. As I was looking at the patient, I was able to noticed rashes on her skin and I was in doubt of my medical findings as I observed her in the hospital.

Right immediately, I know that she might have dengue fever and in few hours, her life might be in danger if no immediate action is taken. As the medical findings show, she has dengue fever. A fever that is feared most of many because of the cases where dengue fever was the findings and the patient died because of the sickness.

Immediately after I knew the result of the laboratory examination done to her, I told her father to find tawa-tawa grass and boil it to get the juice from the grass. For it is the best medicine for dengue fever. What is different from other fever is that, dengue can be very dangerous if left unattended. Internal bleeding can happen in the liver or kidneys that can lead to death of the patient.