| Marigold Therapy, a line
of creams, ointments, tinctures and oils developed and patented
by chiropodist M. Taufiq Khan, contain extracts of several
types of the marigold plant. Marigold has been used for
nearly 30 years in the United Kingdom to treat a variety
of foot issues, including bunions, tendonitis, plantar faciitis,
fungal infections and verrucae, commonly known as plantar
warts.
Vlahovic, who has a professional interest in phytotherapy
-- the use of plants for medicinal purposes -- offers Marigold
Therapy to her patients, and specifically investigated its
use in three of her patients who had HIV as an alternative
treatment for the small skin lesions called verrucae. She
found that the treatments either cleared or greatly reduced
the number and size of the warts in four to six sessions,
after other treatments had failed to do so.
Plantar warts are a common occurrence among otherwise healthy
adults, but in HIV patients, they are often harder to treat,
more numerous and less receptive to common treatments such
as cryotherapy or surgical removal.
"Mainstream treatments are sometimes not an option
for HIV-positive patients because they have weakened immune
systems and invasive procedures can further compromise them,"
Vlahovic said. "But alternative therapies like Marigold
Therapy don't pose that threat." Further study is planned
for a larger sample size with a standardized treatment regimen,
she added.
While other generic marigold creams are available in most
health food stores, only doctors certified by the Marigold
Clinic at the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital can distribute
Marigold Therapy products. Vlahovic is currently the only
U.S. podiatrist with this certification.
"In Europe, alternative medicine is extremely popular
and accepted in most medical circles," said Vlahovic,
who blends phytotherapy with traditional Western medicine
to treat her patients.
Marigolds have long been used as a treatment for a variety
of health problems. In ancient Greece and Rome, marigold
tea was used to combat sleep disorders and calm nerves.
During the Renaissance, the yellow plant was used to treat
everything from headache, red eyes and toothaches to jaundice
and skin problems.
The plant's effectiveness on foot issues had not been widely
studied until about 30 years ago, when Khan, founder of
the Marigold Clinic, identified the healing properties of
more than 57 species of the marigold plant, and found that
different mixtures were effective in treating different
foot problems. Khan's mixtures are manufactured through
Marigold Footcare, Ltd., in London.
Vlahovic received training at the Marigold Clinic at the
Royal London Homeopathic Hospital to learn how to apply
and dress the products, and to learn which combination of
extracts would effectively treat each foot problem.
All the mixtures work differently," said Vlahovic.
"One mixture will have antiviral properties, which
works best for treating a wart. Another mixture will have
kerolytic qualities, which work best in treating corns and
calluses."
In addition to Marigold Therapy, Vlahovic also offers a
host of other natural treatments, such as Traumeel, a homeopathic
medication, and Sarapin, made from the extracts of the pitcher
plant, both used to relieve pain in overuse injuries. Vlahovic
notes that these require little to no recovery time, and
she can often treat a problem in just a few treatments.
"I enjoy being able to offer my patients a combination
of nontraditional treatments with Western medicine to give
them the greatest benefit," she said.
Vlahovic has even treated herself and family members with
natural medicines.
Tony Vlahovic went to see his sister nearly five months
ago in excruciating pain from plantar fasciitis, an overuse
injury that affects the sole of the foot. Tony, a sports
medicine therapist, told his sister that he could barely
walk, and as a result, he couldn't function properly at
his job as a physical therapist, or do any of the activities
he enjoyed such as jogging.
Vlahovic treated her brother with Marigold Therapy once,
and Tony said his pain was virtually gone afterward, and
hasn't returned.
"I had tried things like Aleve and Advil, and did some
reflexology to stretch out my foot," he said. "It
took care of the pain in the short term, but within a few
hours, it would come back, and with a vengeance. But now
it's been five months, and I'm pain-free."
He noted that he was skeptical of trying an all-natural
remedy, but decided to try it since it seemed to be the
lease invasive and least inconvenient.
If I hadn't tried this, I would have either had to wrap
my foot or get injection therapies, and both options would
have made it difficult for me to get around," said
Tony. "But after my marigold treatment, I had complete
mobility."
This research was presented by podiatrist Tracey Vlahovic
at the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting
on Feb. 1. Vlahovic is assistant professor at Temple University
School of Podiatric Medicine.
Other authors on this poster are M. Tariq Khan, BSc, MChs,
DFHom, FLS, of the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital in
England, and Otto H. Mills, Ph.D., of the Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School in New Brunswick, N.J.. Vlahovic has a consultant
agreement with JSJ Pharmaceuticals, which funded the production
of the poster but did not fund research. Vlahovic has no
investment, financial or consulting relationship with Marigold
Footcare, Ltd.
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