Molluscum Contagiosum (Water Warts)

Things in the clinic come in cycles. Recently, Molluscum Contagiosum has been the headliner, with children from 5 to 11 coming along in recent weeks complaining of the dread Water Warts.

Summary

Molluscum is a virus that affects the skin, causing small wart-like lumps, often with a characteristic dimple on top. It is much more common in children, and only very rarely affects the same person twice. It can last from a few weeks to several years, with the average being 6-18 months, and eventually resolves without treatment. While some children only have a few bumps, others can have a lot of them and they may be extremely itchy. The most common areas are the armpits and upper chest, midriff, legs, and groin, although most patients have just one of these areas affected at any one time. It can be a very unpleasant - and unsightly - condition.

Case History - Harris

Harris is a pretty typical case. He’s 7 and essentially healthy, with no digestive problems, asthma, sleep difficulties, or other conditions common in children. He sometimes has mild eczema, flares of which have been getting less frequent and severe since he was a toddler. His mother reports that he often gets colds, but they do not linger. He has no known allergies, no history of serious illness, no relevant family history, and is an active happy child. When he presented, apart from the itchy warty bumps on his chest, arm, and creeping down his flank, he appeared to be in good health. Some of the bumps were very itchy, and there were scabby scratches under his arm. He had been diagnosed with molluscum some two months before, and his mother had sought treatment for it because of the spread and the itching.

I gave Harris a pretty typical mix, with mineral-rich Horsetail to support the structure of his skin; Cleavers to improve lymphatic cleansing; Echinacea to boost his immune system; Reishi mushroom to support and improve his immune system; and Thuja as an anti-viral. Topically, I gave Harris a lotion with Chickweed cream for the itch; anti-viral Thuja tincture; cooling and soothing Witch Hazel water; and anti-inflammatory Lavender and Peppermint essential oils to cool and disinfect. 

While it can take up to 12 weeks for much to happen with the herbs, Harris was lucky: by his follow-up appointment the itching had gone, the spreading had stopped, and the older lesions were resolving. By his second follow up the bumps had gone, leaving no scars, and he needed no additional appointments.

Treatment Strategy & Herbal Remedies for Water Warts

With cutaneous viruses like Molluscum, warts, and verrucas, there is a common MO: they wall themselves off from the immune system and multiply off the radar. Their secret to survival avoiding detection by the immune system. So, in treatment, the main strategy is to give immunity a little bit of a boost so it notices the invader. Add in some anti-infective herbs to weaken the infection, and then, when the patient’s immune system notices, it can clear up the problem quickly and cleanly, never to return.

Viral infections generally need herbs that are anti-viral (Breaking News)!, and for treating this type of skin infection, Thuja is the big name virus hunter. Lymphatic function is very important because it is the lymph which carries much of the body’s immune cells and removes metabolic wastes, as well as the by-products of fighting infection. Therefore, I always use a lymphatic mover when treating Molluscum. 

I have noticed that children who contract the condition, especially those who get a bad case, tend not to have tip-top immune systems. They catch a lot of bugs at nursery or school, and may have eczema or other atopic conditions that can increase their susceptibility to infection. Eczema also generally means somewhat compromised skin.

The slightly lowered immunity gives an invader like Molluscum, for whom survival depends on not being noticed, the perfect opportunity to set up camp. So, in addition to anti-virals and lymphatics, I usually include something to boost immunity and give the kids a little nudge. Immune helper herbs I use include Reishi Mushroom, Elderberry, and Siberian Ginseng, selected depending on the child and other conditions or predispositions she may have.

Conclusion

While Harris was fortunate and the initial prescription worked for him and worked quickly, sometimes the blend can need a little tweaking: more lymphatics for Elsie, who is prone to raised glands and has had a couple of bouts of tonsillitis; a little extra immune support for Jamie, who had pneumonia as a baby; Annabelle, with very dry skin and bad eczema, needed a more complex regimen, with supplements and dietary changes in addition to herbs. It normally takes anywhere up to up to twelve weeks for the condition to budge, and when it does it goes quickly, knowing it’s beaten. While I do not like seeing people suffer, I like treating Molluscum. It’s satisfying to see something which can make a person so very miserable just disappear and leave no trace. There aren't many things like that in life, so I’m always happy when I see a person with Molluscum come through the clinic door.