Epsom Salt and DM Wound Care

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I see a lot of docs order Epsom Salt in warm water soaks BID x 20 minutes, followed by garamycin.

The salt must cause bleeding, thus scabbing. Sometimes the docs wipe the scab away q 2 weeks. Is this scabbing actual healing?

The wounds take many months to heal.

The are almost never infected, per culture results. Why start or continue the Gent?

I'm just wondering about the theory behind this approach of hypertonic (?) soaks and antibiotic.

Thanks for your help.