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Carpenter. 1949. Clinical experiences with chlorophyll preparations

A clinical study using chlorophyll preparations to treat chronic osteomyelitis, osteomyelitis secondary to compound fractures and chronically infected wounds and ulcers. The study included many patients that had been resistant to other forms of therapy. The author considered chlorophyll preparations not necessarily a cure, but was interested to find ‘such rapid eradication of infection and healing of wounds’. Photos show epithelialization and healing of lesions, chronic ulcers and a ‘grossly infected amputation stump’. In many of the wound healing and ulcer cases there was no evidence of recurrence of infection or of breakdown at 18 months.

Smith & Livingston. 1943. Chlorophyll. An experimental study of its water soluble derivatives in wound healing

Wound healing involves an inflammatory (exudative) phase and a proliferative tissue growth and repair phase that presumably involves growth stimulating factors. This study tested various water soluble chlorophyll preparations and other agents including vitamin ointments and sulfathiazole on wounds created by excising portions of skin from rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs. Response in rate of healing tended to be greater for chlorophyll than with other agents tested (the data is summarized in several tables not reproducible here).

Conclusion: ‘On the basis of these observations it is suggested that chlorophyll preparations should be used much more extensively in the treatment of wounds and burns.’


Bowers. 1947. Chlorophyll in wound healing and suppurative disease

Lieutenant Colonel Bowers of the US Army reports on the use of water-soluble derivatives of chlorophyll in over 400 cases over a period of nine months. He (and colleagues) noted several major effects, notably: loss of odour associated with infected wounds; a stimulating effect on tissue formation (granulation tissue) when used as a dressing particularly for burns; and a drying effect in the case of abscesses, sinus tracts, surface lesions and osteomyelitis. Mention is made of chlorophyll efficacy in treatment of cyst wounds, fistula-in-ano (6 cases), sarcoma/carcinoma (4 cases), ulcerative colitis (1 case), thoracic empyema (several cases, 2 particularly effective), gunshot wound sinus tracts (17 cases), decubitis ulcer (4 cases) and burns (4 patients). In 119 cases of compound fractures to limbs chlorophyll reduced odour and enhanced healing, in some cases with exceptional results, e.g. legs saved from seemingly inevitable amputation. Numerous other cases and conditions are mentioned. Chlorophyll was comfortable as a wet dressing and was easily tolerated by patients. The author “is convinced that chlorophyll is the best agent known for use in the treatment of suppurative diseases, indolent ulcers or wherever stimulation of tissue repair is desired..”