Unlike the new generation of drugs that occupy pride of place in home medicine cabinets, people still, like 50 and 70 years ago, store Liniment balsamic (according to Vishnevsky) on the side shelves of refrigerators, carefully wrapping the tube in a double plastic bag. No matter how much they call Vishnevsky’s ointment outdated and useless, it still enjoys universal love. The point here is not at all about price, because we have long been taught: cheap cannot be good. The secret of the ointment's success lies in its time-tested effectiveness.
Indications for use
According to Vishnevsky, balsamic liniment has the following indications for use:
- lymphadenitis , lymphangitis , soft tissue phlegmon ;
- carbuncle , skin abscess , boil ;
- bedsores;
- empyema , in which sepsis is noted;
- burns of various degrees;
- frostbite;
- thrombophlebitis , varicose ulcer ;
- osteomelitis;
- postpartum ulcers;
- obliterating endarteritis ;
- cephalosporosis.
In addition, liniment balsamic ointment according to Vishnevsky is used in the treatment of hemorrhoids , nonspecific diseases of the female genital organs.
For radiculitis of various forms it is used as an additional treatment. The drug is used as a remedy for acne. You can find out in more detail why balsamic liniment according to Vishnevsky is used again from your attending physician.
Composition and dosage form
The official name of the medicinal product is “Balsamic liniment (according to Vishnevsky).” The simplified name “Vishnevsky ointment” is better known. It is a thick liquid of light brown or yellowish color, with a specific odor. Liniment is produced in aluminum tubes of 30, 35 and 40 g, or in polymer cans of 100 g.
Liquid ointment with antimicrobial properties has been used since 1927. Then this drug replaced antibiotics.
Content of substances in the composition of Vishnevsky ointment (per 100 g of liniment):
- birch tar - 3 g;
- tribromophenolate and bismuth oxide (xeroform) - 3 g;
- silicon dioxide - 5 g;
- castor oil or fish oil - 89 gr.
Birch tar reduces the activity of bacteria that cause inflammation. A natural remedy increases the ability of tissues to regenerate. Xeroform is an astringent and antiseptic substance; castor oil imparts viscosity. Silicon dioxide enhances the effect of the main component, promotes tissue restoration, and has an antimicrobial effect.
Instructions for use of Vishnevsky ointment (Method and dosage)
The use of Vishnevsky ointment is carried out externally - in the form of bandages, tampons, compresses. The instructions for Vishnevsky's ointment are as follows: balsamic liniment is applied two to three times a day to the affected area in a thin layer. Application for boils and other skin lesions also involves making and applying a gauze bandage from 5-6 layers of gauze, which is pre-impregnated with the product. The bandage is fixed.
It is also possible to apply the drug to the wound using a napkin soaked in the product. It must be applied so that the ointment completely loosely fills the wound. Dressings should be carried out until the wound is clean.
Vishnevsky ointment for acne is used by applying bandages or a patch with ointment to the area where the rash . If you need to use a remedy for subcutaneous acne, you need to apply a thin layer of it to the place where the pimple forms under the skin. There is a pronounced positive effect when using an acne remedy. Reviews indicate that with proper use of the product, acne also decreases.
A drug for boils . Treatment of boils with Vishnevsky ointment should be carried out until they disappear completely.
Vishnevsky ointment is used in gynecology to treat inflammatory processes of the pelvic organs. The use of Vishnevsky ointment in gynecology is carried out by using tampons soaked in the product. Tampons with ointment are inserted into the vagina. But such a procedure can only be carried out on the recommendation of a doctor and you must strictly follow his instructions.
It is the specialist who gives clear instructions on how to make tampons with Vishnevsky ointment. In gynecology, tampons are used, each of which is impregnated with no more than 15 g of product. The course of treatment lasts at least a week.
Vishnevsky ointment for hemorrhoids is applied externally. Ointment for hemorrhoids is applied to a strip of gauze folded in several layers and applied to the place where the hemorrhoids . This compress should be changed once every 12 hours. When the inflammatory process gradually decreases, treatment of hemorrhoids with ointment continues for several more days, but compresses need to be done at night. Reviews for hemorrhoids about this treatment are usually positive.
However, before you start using Vishnevsky ointment, you should definitely consult with a specialist and act according to his recommendations. If there are no positive results of treatment or if the situation worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Contraindications and harm
Vishnevsky ointment is not used if the patient has hypersensitivity to any component of the drug. It should be taken into account that birch tar has a complex composition, containing more than 10 substances (mainly aromatic hydrocarbons).
Contraindications to Vishnevsky ointment include individual intolerance to resins, phenol and its derivatives, xeroform.
The drug should not be used for acute purulent diseases of the skin and soft tissues:
- abscess boil;
- suppurating atheroma;
- extensive abscess;
- paraproctitis;
- hidradenitis;
- carbuncle;
- phlegmon.
Please note that liniment is not recommended for use on a large area of skin. The drug is not used for bleeding or fistula. The product may be harmful for skin diseases of allergic origin.
Use by special categories of patients
To use Vishnevsky ointment during pregnancy, a consultation with a gynecologist is required. The doctor takes into account the balance of benefits for the mother with the potential risk for the fetus and unborn child.
Vishnevsky ointment should not be prescribed during breastfeeding without consulting a pediatrician. The doctor makes a decision on the advisability of using liniment taking into account the benefit/risk ratio.
The components of the medicine can cause allergic reactions in pregnant and breastfeeding women.
During the period of bearing a child, the use of liniment can alleviate the course of varicose veins of the lower extremities. The drug reduces pain in the area of inflamed veins. Before applying the product, it is advisable to treat the skin with a suitable antiseptic.
The safety and effectiveness of Vishnevsky ointment in children have not been established. There are no data from clinical studies of this drug in younger age groups. The methods of application and dosage of the medicine indicated in the instructions apply only to adult patients.
Undesirable effects
With prolonged use, side effects of Vishnevsky ointment in the form of skin irritation are possible. Most often, unwanted effects are associated with the presence of tar. Components of the natural substance may cause redness, itching, and swelling at the site of application of the drug.
Allergy to Vishnevsky ointment most often occurs with long-term use of the product. Hives appear in the form of pink blisters on the skin. It is recommended to first test the liniment on a small area of skin in the crook of the elbow.
Remember that birch tar increases sensitivity to sunlight. In summer, avoid direct rays during treatment with the drug.
special instructions
Wikipedia shows that at the moment there is no information about the effect of the drug on a person’s reaction and ability to drive.
People who are highly sensitive to phenol and derivatives should use the product with caution.
Do not allow the drug to come into contact with the eyes or mucous membranes. To prevent this, you need to wash your hands thoroughly after using the product. In case of contact, rinse with plenty of clean water.
Birch tar , which is part of the drug, can increase sensitivity to sunlight. In the summer, people undergoing treatment with these drugs should avoid being in direct sunlight.
All the pros and cons
Studying the annotation for liniment, one can only wonder how just three natural components included in its composition can produce such an amazing pharmacological effect. It is believed that the drug is able to cope with almost any skin problem, and this versatility is easily explained by the natural properties of its ingredients.
The register of positive properties provided by the ointment includes 7 main points:
- Stops inflammatory processes.
- Disinfects affected areas.
- Stimulates skin receptors.
- Triggers cell regeneration.
- Acts as an antiseptic.
- Dries out the skin.
- Relieves swelling of external tissues.
Among the advantages, it is also worth noting the low price, availability at any pharmacy without a prescription, and long shelf life. Although Vishnevsky's ointment belongs to the old generation of drugs, attending physicians in medical institutions willingly prescribe it as a safe disinfectant and restorative external agent.
A minor disadvantage is that with prolonged use, liniment can cause dry skin, itching, peeling, and rashes. In addition, the tar included in the composition develops sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation, therefore, during the course of treatment, prolonged exposure to the sun should be avoided. The main disadvantage of the ointment was and remains its strong unpleasant odor, which in rare cases of individual intolerance can cause allergic reactions.
Analogs
Level 4 ATC code matches:
Naftalan oil
Suporon
Naftaderm
Vinylin
Hydrogen peroxide
Potassium permangantsovka
Iodoform
Pantocide
Diamond green
Ectericide
Salicylic-zinc paste
Elekasol
Salicylic-Zinc ointment
Formalin
Formagel
Aseptolin
Xeroform
Vitaon
Olazol
Formidron
Analogues of Vishnevsky Ointment are drugs that have a similar effect. As a rule, patients try to find analogues without the odor characteristic of balsamic liniment. In some cases, the following drugs replace the ointment: Solcoseryl , Chlorophyllipt , Yoddicerin , Fukortsin , Panthenol , Ichthyol ointment , Clobaza , etc. Also in some cases (for burns, wounds, etc.) synthomycin ointment .
Which is better: Vishnevsky ointment or Ichthyol ointment?
Ichthyol ointment , like balsamic liniment, has an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect. Used for burns, wounds, joint pain, eczema. Like Vishnevsky ointment, with appropriate doctor’s recommendations, it is used for inflammation of the lymph nodes, mastitis , and lactostasis . However, reviews note that ichthyol ointment greatly dries out the skin, so it must be used carefully. It also has a distinct unpleasant odor.
Which is better: Levomekol or Vishnevsky ointment?
Levomekol is mainly used to treat severely inflamed and festering wounds, since the product has more active antibacterial properties. But basically the indications for the use of these drugs are similar. For example, treatment of bartholinitis is carried out using both Levomekol and Vishnevsky liniment.
Bartholinitis is also treated by alternating the use of these two remedies (one during the day, the other at night). An advantage of Levomekol can also be considered the fact that this product is odorless.
Treatment of other diseases
In addition to the main indications for therapy, there are also additional ones, in which the drug is used infrequently and mainly in home therapy, and not for medicinal indications.
From deprivation
Balsamic liniment or Vishnevsky ointment is used due to the presence of tar. Compresses are made with the drug on the affected area of the skin. Leave the medicine to act for 12 hours. Make a compress once a day until complete recovery.
For paraproctitis
Frau mit Schmerzen am After
Vishnevsky's liniment is used in the form of compresses. It is up to the doctor to decide whether it is possible to carry out treatment using this drug. If he does not consider such therapy acceptable, then it should be abandoned. It is not always possible to get rid of paraproctitis without surgical intervention.
With flux
Vishnevsky's liniment can only be used at the very beginning of the disease, when suppuration is just beginning to form. For therapy, gauze folded several times is soaked in ointment and applied to the lump that has appeared on the gum. The top of the gauze is covered with cotton wool. Not everyone can withstand such treatment, since often the use of liniment causes severe nausea, which prevents its application.
For bursitis
Vishnevsky's liniment is used in the form of compresses, which are placed on the affected joint at night. Treatment continues until the signs of the disease are completely eliminated. The use of ointment is necessary in complex therapy.
Reviews of Vishnevsky ointment
According to reviews left by patients and specialists, balsamic liniment is an effective remedy for many diseases. At the same time, the ointment is used not only as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent, but is also effectively used for wen , hemorrhoids, and diseases of the female reproductive system. In particular, reviews in gynecology indicate that the ointment is effective in a variety of inflammatory processes. Reviews of tampons with Vishnevsky ointment are in most cases positive. Patients note only an unpleasant odor, so they advise using the product at night.
Reviews often talk about what the ointment helps with. For example, for sinusitis the drug is used as a basis for the preparation of effective remedies, which include the juice of aloe , Kalanchoe, cyclamen, etc. Reviews for sinusitis indicate that such remedies are effective in the early stages of the disease. Reviews also note the effectiveness of the product in the treatment of atheroma. You can find out what else this drug is used for on thematic forums and websites.
What do the doctor's say
In modern medical circles there is no consensus on the effectiveness of the legendary ointment. Some experts believe that it was good for its time, but against the backdrop of recent advances in the field of pharmaceuticals it looks very poor. There are those who openly doubt the existence of a “miracle cure” for any ailment. Their slogan goes something like this: “For every disease there is a cure.” From the point of view of evidence-based medicine, which emerged at the end of the 20th century, liniment is classified as a drug with officially unconfirmed effectiveness, and, therefore, is recognized as an outdated dosage form.
Used as an antiseptic
However, even among attending physicians you can find many fans of Vishnevsky ointment. Having solid medical experience behind them and a lot of examples from patient histories, they still prescribe balsamic liniment as an effective time-tested antiseptic. The natural composition of the drug, transparent pharmacology and the absence of contraindications are the most powerful arguments in favor of the ointment.
In case of purulent boils, it is necessary to contact a medical institution
Hematomas and balsamic liniment
Sometimes our awkward movements become the causes of bruises on the body. Imagine how beautiful a hematoma on your face will look. It will not only cause pain, but also cause aesthetic discomfort. What to do in this case? When damaged, the integrity of the skin is damaged. The vessels begin to burst, and the blood from them spreads through the muscle tissue, where it stagnates. Bruises can cause swelling at the injury site. They can cause severe pain when you touch the sore spot. It is advisable to provide rest to the victim after a bruise. Apply cold to the affected area and then look for a method to eliminate it.
Quite often they use Vishnevsky ointment for hematomas on the face. She is able to reduce them not only on this part of the body, but also on others. Using this substance will help:
- dissolve the bruise
- restore blood microcirculation,
- soften and regenerate the skin,
- relieve puffiness and swelling.
In addition, it has an antimicrobial effect.
Side effects
There may also be side effects of the drug on the body. In such a situation, it is necessary to stop using the ointment and visit a doctor to choose an analogue that will be well accepted by the body.
Side effects from using the product are:
- rashes at the site of application of the product;
- intense skin itching;
- redness of the skin.
There is an opinion that the drug can provoke the development of melanoma (skin cancer). There is some truth to this statement, since if tar is left on the skin for a long time (more than 3 months), it can indeed cause cancer. With a course of treatment with liniment of no more than a month, the therapy does not pose any danger.
Release forms
Balsamic liniment has 5 main forms of release:
- Aluminum tube - most often found in pharmacies. The net weight of the drug produced in tubes can be 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 and 60 g. The difference in weight and packaging is due to the variety of pharmaceutical companies producing the drug.
- Tin can 15 kg.
- Glass jar (dark glass to prevent exposure to sunlight) - 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 80, 100, 1000 and 2000 g.
- Polyethylene jar (plastic) - available in forms of 20, 25, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 1500 g.
- Polyethylene bag 15 kg.
Ointment price
To the question of how much Vishnevsky’s ointment costs, one can rightfully answer - inexpensive in comparison with other drugs of similar action. The price of a metal tube with a volume of 40 grams is 40 rubles, a glass jar of ointment of the same volume will cost about 100 rubles. It’s easy to order from catalogs and buy in an online store at an even more affordable price. Home medicine cabinets must have such a balm; it will help quickly and effectively solve skin problems better than cream, the cost of which is several times higher.
Ointment at home
If you want to prepare your own healing remedy, you will need to take:
- xeroform - 1.5 g;
- birch tar - 1.5 g;
- castor oil - 47 g.
INTERESTING fact: Benefits of calendula for skin
It is necessary to thoroughly grind the xeroform with half the tar in a mortar, then add the rest. Mix thoroughly again and gradually add castor oil while stirring. Transfer to a jar and place in the refrigerator.
But still, most people prefer to purchase liniment at the pharmacy, since the drug is not expensive.
