Use in practice

Gingivitis most commonly develops due to dental plaque along the gum line. The gums may bleed during brushing, become swollen or sensitive, while pain is not necessarily present. The most important measures are thorough cleaning of the teeth and interdental spaces and, if needed, professional removal of tartar; if the gums are receding, pus is present or teeth become loose, a dental examination is needed.

A cold sore on the lip often begins with tingling, itching or a burning sensation, followed by small blisters and then a scab. It is most commonly caused by the HSV-1 virus, which remains in the body after infection and can become reactivated. Most recurrent outbreaks heal within about one to two weeks, but it is also important to know when a cold sore is contagious,…

Knee pain can have many different causes – from overuse or an injury to the meniscus, ligaments or tendons to osteoarthritis, inflammation or problems in other structures around the joint. When choosing the appropriate approach, it is therefore important first to determine where the pain is located, how it started and whether the problem comes from the joint itself or from the tissues around it.

Candida is a yeast that can normally be present in the mouth, digestive tract, on the skin and genitals without causing any problems. A problem arises only when actual candidiasis develops – a local or, more rarely, invasive infection. Much more questionable are explanations that attribute fatigue, bloating, “brain fog” and many other non-specific symptoms to Candida without…

An ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries of the ankle joint. Find out how to recognize it, how milder and more severe ligament injuries differ, how long recovery usually takes and when medical assessment is needed.

Swelling occurs due to the accumulation of fluid in the tissues and, after a blow, sprain or other injury, is often part of the body’s normal response. More important than the swelling itself is understanding its cause, as it can also result from inflammation, impaired venous or lymphatic drainage and other health problems. With milder injuries, it usually begins to gradually subside, while sudden, rapidly increasing…

Cooling with ice is often used after injuries to reduce pain and swelling, but its effect on healing is less clear. See what the research shows and why we generally do not recommend cooling when using Smrekovit.

An open wound on the leg may heal slowly because of impaired circulation, swelling, diabetes and other factors. Learn what affects wound healing and when medical assessment is needed.

Fungal nail infections often begin with a change in colour, thickening or crumbling of the nail, but not every nail change is caused by a fungal infection. Learn about the typical signs, treatment options and how to monitor progress, as improvement usually becomes visible only as a new, healthy part of the nail grows out.

A heel spur is a bony growth on the heel bone, but the growth itself is not necessarily the cause of pain. Pain in this area is often most noticeable during the first steps in the morning or after a longer period of rest and may also be associated with overuse of the plantar fascia and other tissues around the heel. Below, you will learn how to recognise the typical pattern of symptoms,…