Gangrene

🌿 Overview

Dry gangrene is caused by stoppage of blood flow, most often in fingers, toes, nose, or ears — caused by frostbite, arteriosclerosis, Raynaud's disease, or diabetes. Without treatment, the gangrenous area must be amputated, but the person will survive. Wet (gas) gangrene is caused by an infected wound and kills within days if untreated — the person goes into shock. Gangrene is the advanced condition of blood poisoning; it will not develop in a person with good circulation and clean blood.

Common signs

• Dry gangrene: skin darkens and becomes dry, shrivels, and eventually sloughs off; dull aching pain, coldness, and eventual numbness
• Wet gangrene: skin progresses from pink to deep red to gray-green or purple; infected wound, shock if untreated
• Both: skin darkens and dies

🔎 Why it happens

Common causes and triggers — spotting yours is often the first step to relief.

• Dry: blocked blood flow from frostbite, hardening of arteries, poor circulation, Raynaud's disease, diabetes, injury, or blood clot
• Wet: infected wound with no oxygen supply; bacteria produce gas in tissues
• Any condition that severely reduces circulation to an area

✅ What to do

Gentle, practical steps you can take at home — start at the top.

1. Consult a physician — gangrene requires medical treatment
2. SoakResting a body part (or the whole body) in warm, treated water. How to make a soak → the afflicted area with marshmallow root teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → as hot as the patient can tolerate, for long periods; drink the tea simultaneously
3. Plantain poulticeMashed plant material applied right on the skin. How to make a poultice → over the area is excellent
4. Relieve pain by adding a small amount of lobelia to the poulticeMashed plant material applied right on the skin. How to make a poultice → or soakResting a body part (or the whole body) in warm, treated water. How to make a soak →
5. If skin is dry: lightly rub wheat germ or olive oil on it
6. Chelation therapy (EDTA) — clinically proven to help with gangrene caused by arteriosclerosis
7. Carrot juice daily; green drinks and chlorophyll; drink lots of water
8. High-protein diet to rebuild tissue; kelp to strengthen the thyroid
9. Keep walking or massage the area (usually the legs) to improve circulation
10. Cool baths to the extremity or whole cool baths; add 1 Tbsp. chaparral teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea → or apple cider vinegar per quart of water
11. Alternating hot and cold footbaths or fomentationA hot, moist cloth pressed on the body — classic hydrotherapy. How to make a fomentation → packs to improve blood flow
12. Stop all junk food, meat, tobacco, alcohol, and nearly all salt immediately

⭐ Community-ranked natural supports

Vote ▲ on everything that helped you, and ▼ on anything you tried that didn't — the ranking updates live. Tap 💬 to share what worked, so others can find it faster.

Crowd feedback, not medical advice — in this preview your vote is saved on your device. *Ties are broken by our editor score (sources, safety, simplicity, cost, lifestyle fit).

🍽️ Eating to help

Food is one of the gentlest medicines — small, steady changes help most.

Favor these

• High-protein whole foods to rebuild tissue
• Carrot juice and green drinks
• Kelp (thyroid support)
• Large amounts of quality water
• Vitamin A and C (high doses)

Go easy on

• All junk food
• All meat
• Tobacco and alcohol
• Salt (nearly all)
• Saturated fats

Gangrene is always a warning sign of severely compromised circulation. Treat the underlying cause — arteriosclerosis, diabetes, or Raynaud's disease — aggressively or gangrene will recur.

💬 Ask Remy about Gangrene