Re: Salicylic acid and warts...

[Allanque]

Warts are evil.

My brother has a few that have been burned off, frozen off, lazered off, cut off, and are still coming back.

I know there were several articles a while back on using duct tape to make them go away, but I think I deleted the ones I had.

Other than that, I'd suggest asking a doctor or dermatologist what they'd suggest.

[lovemyson]

JohnBark,

My 6 yo son has developed a wart on his foot too and we took him to pediatrician and it was frozen off. It actually hasn't fallen off yet and we might have to go back in 2 weeks if it doesn't fal off to have it frozen again. I wasn't sure about the over the counter stuff so I opted for the dr office! Good luck!

[JohnBark]

TEXTDo the duct tape thing now. However the wart in a place between his big toe and the ball of his foot. So, we thought the over the counter stuff would be our next option, if the duct tape doesn't work.

Maybe we should try Windex on it too (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding)?

;D

Thanks!

[eaccae]

John,

DS had a bunch of warts (nasty ones) in the same places as your son's. We tried all of the over the counter products but they irritated it more and drove DS insane. Finally I just let it be - gave it a break - and they eventually all went away. But I agree with everyone else - if it is really bothering your son - I would go to a dermatologist - especially considering the location. I had some warts cut off of my foot as a teenager - and it didn't hurt (they froze it first).

Good luck.

[AustinsMom]

My son had a wart on his palm that the dermatologist wanted to do minor surgery to remove, with precautions following that would include not being too active with the hand for several weeks. We decided to visit our local healthfood store to try something else first, and bought a product call WART OFF by Teeter Creek. The ingredients are 20 ml Thuja leaf and 10 ml Celandine Herb, along with distilled water and pure grain alcohol. We put it on the wart twice a day for something like 10-14 days, and the wart dried up and fell off. You can't even tell where it was now, and it was a pretty large one. It definitely was easier than the prescribed surgery routine!

[catatonic]

In answer to your original question - yes, avoid the salicylic acid. We went the freezing off route - same spot on foot. Generally, warts will go away on their own and you don't need to worry much unless they are unsightly or cause discomfort.

[JohnBark]

Catatonic,

Thanks for answering my question about Salicylic acid. That's the what I really want to know, if Salicylic acid should be avoid at all cost. Thanks!

[Kimmers]

I am going to post this under another thread because I want to make sure I am going to get a good response...why is it that salicylic acid, which is used in things like wart remover (and I've seen it in other products that have nothing to do with food) and yet it is in the things we eat?? What the heck is that??!! Why are we consuming the same stuff that removes warts in our food??!! Someone please give me your insight!

Kimmers

[Allanque]

My shampoo has salicylic acid in it.

[Kimmers]

Cat reassured me on the salicylic acid issue but it just seems so strange to me that they use this in household products and yet it occurs naturally in our foods. Interesting.

Kimmers

[eaccae]

There are two "kinds" of salicylic acid - the naturally occuring kind that is found in fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc. - and the man-made product that is used to make aspirin, food additives and preservatives, topical ointments etc. Apparently the use of the salicylic acid depends on how it is is mixed. Here are two articles I found that best describe each form.

January 1, 2002 -- Vegparadise News Bureau


Five a Day Helps Keep
a Heart Attack at Bay


Those who pop an aspirin daily to prevent a heart attack may gain similar results by eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. Most nutrition authorities are currently recommending at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily for their antioxidant properties in combating heart disease and cancer.
In a study conducted in Scotland, Dr. James Lawrence and Dr. John Paterson revealed that vegetarians had high blood levels of natural salicylic acid. This high level of salicylic acid may explain why vegetarians are less susceptible to heart disease and cancer. The results of the study were reported in the July 2001 issue of the Journal of Clinical Pathology.

Lawrence and Paterson took blood samples from three groups: nonvegetarians from the community, vegetarian Buddhist monks in a local monastery, and patients from a diabetic clinic who took 75 mg of aspirin each day. The vegetarians had higher salicylic levels than the nonvegetarians, but the patients on aspirin had SA contents greater than that of the vegetarians. Some of the monks had SA levels as high as the levels in diabetic patients. Eight of the 37 vegetarians had SA concentrations higher than those found in the aspirin group while 6 of the 14 patients in the aspirin group had concentrations lower than the highest vegetarian value.

Salicylic acid, present in aspirin, is commonly used to treat inflammation. Many cardiac specialists recommend aspirin to their patients as a heart attack preventive. The aspirin acts to deter atherosclerosis, an inflammation of the artery walls due to a buildup of fatty deposits. Before aspirin was used to treat atherosclerosis, salicylic acid was employed for that purpose. Aspirin, the generic name for acetylsalicylic acid, becomes salicylic acid 20 minutes after entering the bloodstream.

Herbs and spices have the highest concentration of salicylic acid. Included in this group are cayenne, cinnamon, curry, dill, mustard, oregano, paprika, rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme, mint, black pepper, bay leaves, basil, caraway, ginger, and nutmeg.

Vegetables with a high level of salicylic acid encompass broccoli, chili pepper, cucumber, okra, spinach, squash, sweet potato, green pepper, radish, zucchini, and tomato processed as tomato paste or canned tomatoes.

Fruits high in salicylic acid include raisins, prunes, raspberries, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, currants, dates, guava, oranges, pineapples, plums, and strawberries.

Unlike the salicylic acid in aspirin, the natural SA derived from vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices does not have anti-clotting capability. Both natural and synthetic salicylic acid reduce inflammation in the arteries to help prevent narrowing and hardening of the arteries.

Lenore Hodges, chairperson of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, believes that natural salicylic acid may be a phytochemical that battles disease-creating free radicals. She points out that whole grain breads are high in salicylic acid and contain approximately 800 phytochemicals. White bread contains approximately 8.

Hodges explains that this SA research explains why vegetarians have better health for longer periods of time. "It's very important to include more plant food into your meals," she says. "A lot of people don't even eat one fruit or vegetable during the day."

Salicylic Acid is a white crystalline powder or needle-shaped crystals with sweetish taste; soluble in acetone, ether, alcohol, boiling water, benzene and turpentine, sparingly soluble in chloroformbenzene, slightly soluble in water; melts at 158°C. It is prepared commercially by sodium salicylate which derived from sodium phenolate with carbon dioxide under heating and pressure. It contains both a hydroxyl and a carboxyl group, which react with either an acid or an alcohol. The carboxyl group forms esters with alcohols; e.g. methyl salicylate is formed with methanol, which used in food flavorings and presevatives; menthyl salicylate is formed with methanol, which is used in suntan lotions; phenyl salicylate (called salol) is formed with phenol, which is used as an antiseptic and antipyretic agent. The hydroxyl group reacts with acetic acid to form acetylsalicylic acid (called aspirin). Salicylic Acid is important for the preparaion of other pharmaceutical products, dyes, flavours, and preservatives. The sodium salt (Sodium salicylate), a shiny white powder, is used for antiseptics preparations and as a preservative.

chemicalland21.com

[foley]

Here's a great link to articles on salicylate sensitivity~*

allergies.about.com/cs/salicylate/

[catatonic]

Interesting stuff, guys. Thanks.