Cheese Arm

The other day, the head coach of the hockey team here went to the hospital to get his arm checked out.  He had a small sore on his elbow that had become swollen so he assumed it probably had gotten infected.   

The hospital here put his arm in a cast...a full cast...and told him to rest for the next two weeks.  He was instructed to not work or do any kind of labor.  In Italy, everything is slightly blown out of proportion.  You have a fever...take a week off.  You broke your arm...don't lift anything for a year.  You had a baby...stay in the hospital for five days.  

Full arm cast for a sore on the elbow. 

If this had happened in the States (I'm making an educated guess here), they would have probably cleaned the wound, put a bandage on it, and gave him some antibiotics for the infection.  Then, he would have gone right back to work.  In the States, drugs are always the answer.  You have a headache...take these pills.  You have a sore throat...take these pills.  You've been feeling sad lately...take these pills.  

Which way is better?  It's up for debate.  But according to the GM's wife, neither.  She took matters into her own hands when she saw him. 

She cut the cast off, threw some Topfen cheese on a paper towel, put the paper towel on the wound, and wrapped it.  Apparently, the cheese draws out the toxins and bacteria.  She instructed him to continue doing this for a couple of days.  Well, sure enough, the next day it already looked better and within a few days, it was completely healed.

Of course, this kind of medicine is right up my alley.  I love home remedies!  I did some Googling (yes, I love to Google everything) and came across an article about Lindsey Vonn putting Topfen cheese on a bruised shin a few years ago to help with the swelling.

It fights infections, reducing swelling, and tastes great!  (source)