The doctor answers

Ligaments are fibrous formations in the form of bundles or plates that connect bones. Stretching them is a common injury among athletes whose joints experience increased stress.

Therapist

Vladimir Yashin
general practitioner, Moscow

Sprained ligaments - apply cold...

My son started playing sports and sometimes sprains his ligaments. How to provide first aid in this case?
Yuri, Yaroslavl

Ligaments are fibrous formations in the form of bundles or plates that connect bones. Stretching them is a common injury among athletes whose joints experience increased stress. But such an emergency can occur in anyone with an awkward movement or fall. And most often the ankle ligaments are affected. At the time of injury, the victim experiences severe pain, which makes it difficult to move and stand. The affected joint swells and a bruise develops at the site of injury. First aid is aimed at relieving pain. Apply ice or a towel soaked in cold water to the damaged area. You can apply a cold compress. After the pain subsides, you need to apply a bandage to the joint and take the victim to the emergency room, where they will take an x-ray. If the suspicion of a fracture is not confirmed, the doctor will give recommendations for treatment. First of all, the injured joint should be immobilized with a tight bandage. In addition, the doctor will prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs and, possibly, physiotherapeutic procedures to help restore joint function. The use of traditional medicine has a good effect. Experts advise applying plantain or coltsfoot leaves washed with cold water to the affected area, which are fixed to the limb with several turns of a bandage. Compresses with fresh onion juice or shepherd's purse herb, which can be done 2-3 days after the injury, help speed up the healing process.

...hurt yourself - compress with St. John's wort

We are doing renovations at home, I either hit the furniture hard, or trip and fall! All bruised. What to do with them?
Olga, Vologda

Bruise is a closed injury to soft tissues and blood vessels with the formation of bruises. Injury occurs when you fall or hit a hard, blunt object. If a bruise causes damage to the skin, first of all you need to wash the affected area with clean water and soap (laundry soap) and disinfect the edges of the wound with brilliant green or iodine. Then apply a pressure bandage to the site of the injury, and apply ice or a bottle of cold water to it. Cold will prevent the formation of an extensive hematoma (accumulation of blood in the surrounding tissues as a result of rupture of subcutaneous vessels). To reduce swelling, the injured limb should be elevated. If the skin is damaged, you can use special ointments and gels, such as Solcoseryl, to speed up healing.
Plantain leaf helps prevent the development of hematoma. It needs to be washed in cold water, mashed until juice appears and applied to the injured area. Cold compresses with an infusion of flowers and leaves of St. John's wort give a good effect (pour 1 tbsp of dry raw material with a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain and cool). If your leg or arm is severely bruised, you need to fix it with a bandage and splint (or improvised means: planks, plywood). The victim should then be taken to the emergency room. In case of a severe injury to the head, chest or abdomen, immediately call an ambulance, and until it arrives, provide the victim with peace.

Dermatologist

Alla Svetlova
dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist, Henna salon, Moscow

How to treat genital herpes

What to do if you suspect genital herpes? And do folk remedies help with this disease?
Oleg, Rostov region.

Genital herpes is a chronic viral disease, predominantly sexually transmitted.

If you encounter its symptoms, do not panic: this will only make it worse. Unfortunately, almost everyone in the world is infected with this virus. If the disease manifests itself, of course, the first thing you should do is go to a dermatovenerologist. But before that, stop sexual contacts, especially those not protected by condoms. It is not recommended to wash or rub the affected areas before visiting a doctor.

If genital herpes is on the skin and not on the mucous membrane, before going to the doctor, you can apply a solution of fucorcin (Castellani paint) to the pimples. Or easily (no more than 2 seconds) cauterize the herpes “bubble” with brilliant green (not iodine!). There is no need to paint over everything, otherwise it will be difficult for the doctor to make a diagnosis. You can also cauterize with alcohol, but it is easier to cause a burn. And if for some reason a visit to the doctor is postponed, you can apply Acyclovir ointment over the brilliant green. Do this 2-3 times a day. But then – be sure to see a doctor!

There is nothing drastic from folk remedies to combat genital herpes: viruses are difficult to cope with. But you can use calming herbs, because this virus affects not only sexual dysfunction (it happens that sex is impossible during an exacerbation), but also affects the nervous system: nervousness increases. You can take valerian extract (dragees) - 1-2 tablets at night. It is also useful to drink a glass of chamomile tea at night. Natural immunomodulators, such as ginger, are also good.

Pediatrician

Olesya Butuzova
Moscow

I heard about the Montessori system of raising children. What is it? My son is growing up, I would like to raise him happy and developed.
Svetlana, Vologda

The Montessori system of development and education of children is named after its founder, Maria Montessori, an Italian doctor and, as it turned out, a teacher from God.

For 100 years now, the system has been successful in the world, and every year there are more and more supporters.
Clubs are created for classes, didactic material is purchased and specialists are trained. But the important principles of Maria Montessori can be used at home. Auxiliary materials are important, but more valuable for this development system is a certain attitude towards the child!

Montessori education is based on two principles.

Principle No. 1.

There is no need to do for a child what he is able to do himself.

How often do mothers feed their child extra soup, even though he is already able to hold a spoon and eats quite well himself! And in a hurry to take the baby out for a walk, do we let him put on at least tights on his own? No, we quickly dress up the kids and run for a walk, depriving them of the right to try, try and strive for independence.

Maria Montessori believed that there is no need to do for a child what he is fully capable of. Parents should help the baby. Believe me, children strive for independence, and if this desire is ruined in the bud, then it will be much more difficult to accustom them to it. It is noteworthy that in Montessori groups all the toys are in their place and the children put them away on their own after classes. Let the child get used to the routine from childhood. Parental assistance should be minimal. Let the baby get dirty - it’s not difficult to wash things, but he will eat on his own and be pleased with himself. It’s okay if you go out for a walk 5 minutes later, but the baby will fasten his shoes himself.

Children raised according to this principle grow up to be independent, confident, and decisive. They quickly learn new skills and form adequate self-esteem.

Principle No. 2.

Lack of adult assessments and comparisons with others.

In most families, it is customary to constantly evaluate the child’s actions. He put away the toys - good job, couldn't eat himself - bad boy! There is no need to do this. Just like you shouldn’t compare your child’s actions with the behavior of other children. I often hear on the playground: “Egorka makes beautiful Easter cakes, but you constantly break yours” or “Look at Nadya, how well she rides a bicycle.” You will achieve nothing but complexes and the desire to please you and gain approval. The child must develop along the path to which he himself goes. Let him break Easter cakes! This means that at this stage of his life it is more interesting for him to observe the process of breaking down than to engage in creation. So what if he doesn’t want to ride a bike, maybe he’s more interested in rollerblading. Let the baby do what his soul is about. There is no need for comparisons and constant evaluations. The only thing that is recommended to do is compare its results. For example, today you managed to draw a flower better than yesterday. This way the child will learn to adequately evaluate HIS activities and HIS actions. A child raised according to this principle will not depend on someone else’s assessment in adulthood and will be less complex. Such people do what really interests them and know how to adequately evaluate themselves. And they are actually much happier than many!