Natural Treatments

• Though not recommended, certain natural remedies are believed to effectively combat fungal infections, including rose thorn disease. These include neem oil, tea tree oil, and oil of oregano. One reason these oils may not work against rose thorn disease, however, is that the fungus actually lives directly under the skin, and these anti-fungal oils are, for the most part, topical. If open abrasions or lesions are present, topical oils may work. In addition to being used topically, oil of oregano can also be ingested. Since Sporotrichosis largely exists under the skin, ingesting oil of oregano as well as using it topically may yield better results than using a topical oil alone.
  
  

Sanitation

• Simple sanitation can get rid of rose thorn disease if the fungus is recognized early on. Early symptoms resemble an insect bite or small staph infection, characterized by a small yellow boil and red irritated skin surrounding the area. If care is taken to wash the infection with soap and water several times a day, the fungus can often be killed. Epsom salts can also help to dry out the skin and remove the fungus. Application of direct heat to small lesions has also been proven effective for early treatment.
  
  

Potassium Iodide

• Though not a natural cure per se, potassium iodide is a substance that is commonly found in households. Used in a liquid oral solution, potassium iodide is very effective in killing rose thorn disease. The medicine is taken three times a day for three to six months or until the infection is gone.
  
  

Prevention

• The best defense against rose thorn disease is simple prevention. When gardening or farming, be sure to wear adequate protective gear, including long sleeves and pants as well as gloves. Though the fungus is not exceptionally common, if it is in your soil or garden, it can easily enter your body through the smallest of cuts through direct contact. Garden with caution, and rose thorn disease should not be a problem.
  
  

Medical Treatment

• If taken care of early, rose thorn disease can generally be prevented, but this is not always the case. if allowed to survive unchecked, the fungus can cause large unsightly lesions on your skin, and is capable of spreading to the organs and lymph nodes, where it can become fatal. If you believe you have rose thorn disease, and home treatment does not appear effective, consult a doctor immediately. Hospitals generally administer the aforementioned potassium iodide solution as well as itraconazole, commercially known as Sporanox, for skin infections. For more serious bone and lung infections, Amphotericin is administered via IV with varied success. Often, surgery is needed to remove infected lung and bone if the fungus reaches this degree of infection.