In 1774, a chemist and pharmacist from Sweden Karl-Wilhelm Scheele discovered an amazing substance - potassium permanganate. In the people it is called potassium permanganate. She received close attention and widespread use due to her antimicrobial properties. How to replace potassium permanganate for the treatment of wounds and in gardening? You will find the answer in the article.
The use of potassium permanganate in medicine and contraindications
Potassium salt of manganese acid (such a chemical name for potassium permanganate) - these are almost black crystals. Crystals of this substance can be dangerous and cause burns. Therefore, for use, they are dissolved in water in different concentrations, obtaining a solution from pink to raspberry color. The safest solution can be made "by eye". To do this, approximately 10 crystals are dissolved in a liter of water. An important condition: you need to wait for their complete dissolution to prevent burns of the mucosa.
Where is potassium permanganate used?
Diluted to a concentration of 0.1% potassium permanganate solution is widely used as an antiseptic:
- washing of wounds, eyes, stomach;
- gargling;
- treatment of ulcers, burns;
- douching.
In all cases, it must be remembered that potassium permanganate has a temporary disinfectant effect. That is, it acts only during application. The prepared solution quickly oxidizes, losing its properties.
In addition to medicine, potassium permanganate is often used in everyday life as first aid for injuries, for seed disinfection, removal of fat from dishes, and water purification.
As with all drugs used in medicine, a solution of potassium permanganate has a contraindication. This is an individual intolerance. If, when using a manganese solution, color changes of the mucous membranes, swelling appear, then you must immediately abandon its use.
Potassium permanganate is a very affordable antiseptic available in every home. Consider how you can replace this disinfectant if it was not at hand.
Analogs of potassium permanganate
Knowing that the main purpose of potassium permanganate solution is disinfection, you can easily find drugs with identical properties. So what replaces potassium permanganate? Most often, hydrogen peroxide, Chlorhexidine, Miramistin, Furatsilin, alcohol, iodine, a solution of brilliant green brilliant ("brilliant green"), boric acid, activated carbon are in demand. With the exception of Furacilin and activated carbon, these are ready-to-use solutions. They are applied directly to the treated surface, irrigating it, or moistened with wet cotton swabs.
"Furacilin" is available in tablet form. Therefore, before use, the tablet is crushed and dissolved. Activated carbon is applicable only in cases of gastric lavage in case of poisoning. For better assimilation, it is also ground.
Features of use and scope
Consider analogues of potassium permanganate by application.
What replaces potassium permanganate for washing and disinfecting wounds, burns, ulcers:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide solution applied to a cotton swab;
- 0.5% aqueous solution of "Chlorhexidine";
- crushed and dissolved in 100 ml of warm water tablet "Furacilina"
- irrigation "Miramistin";
- iodine, alcohol, a solution of brilliant green is applied around the wound.
Gargling:
- 0.25% hydrogen peroxide solution.
- irrigation "Miramistin".
- Furacilin solution.
- 15 drops of iodine per 200 ml of hot water. Salt and soda are added to this solution.
What replaces potassium permanganate for gastric lavage? Shredded, water-activated activated carbon.
Eye wash: an aqueous solution of boric acid.
What are their properties?
It is clear that potassium permanganate is not the only antiseptic, it can easily be replaced with more effective drugs. The properties of similar products are not limited to disinfection. For example, Miramistin is capable of both preventing the appearance of new microbes and destroying them. Thus, this tool can be used both for treatment and for prevention. Also, these solutions are used to disinfect the hands of surgeons before surgery, to disinfect medical equipment.
By analogy with potassium permanganate, all the drugs presented can cause burns, allergies, poisoning.
What replaces potassium permanganate yet?
Substitutes for a solution of potassium permanganate are not only pharmaceutical preparations, but also various folk remedies. These include: soda, salt, citric acid, propolis, vinegar, honey, decoctions of various herbs. The list goes on and on. Typically, the ingredients are not used one at a time, but mixed with each other in various proportions.
Despite the large number of substitutes, you need to clearly understand that the main task is not to harm. Each solution should be freshly prepared, the drug should not expire. It is necessary to observe the rules of preparation, proportions in order to avoid allergic reactions and other side effects.
Gardening
Permanganate helps to fight pests and insects to owners of garden farms. It can be replaced with substances based on metaldehyde (such drugs as Bactofit, Healthy Soil, Pseudobacterin). This is an element obtained by the combination of ethanol and acetic acid, which is a toxin. What can replace potassium permanganate for processing plants yet?
For the purpose of disinfection, 3-5% of the seeds are lowered into hydrogen peroxide, aged for about 20 minutes, then washed with flowing water and dried. If you add a few grains of boric acid to the solution, you will get optimal top dressing. It should be borne in mind that the substances lack potassium and magnesium needed for plants, for this reason nitrogen fertilizers cannot be dispensed with.
You can warm the grains in the oven. Plants will be disinfected if the used material is left in the open air in sunny weather for 2-3 days.
Conclusion
Potassium permanganate is a unique substance that came to the aid of humanity about 250 years ago. It is used in healthcare and in everyday life. During the Second World War, potassium permanganate was in service with soldiers and medical staff, which greatly helped to prevent the development of infections in conditions of complete unsanitary conditions. This is a simple and affordable antiseptic with an extended spectrum of action. But its absence cannot be a cause for concern, since in pharmaceuticals there are many analog drugs. Many of them are many times stronger in their disinfecting properties.