Staph infections are caused by staphylococcus bacteria. The infection can range from a small boil to a antibiotic resistant infection to a flesh-eating infection.
Causes and Risk Factors
Staph infections are caused by staph bacteria entering the body, usually via a cut on the skin or the mucus membranes (eyes, mouth, nose).
People with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of contracting a staph infection, so extra precaution should be taken.
Staph infections are contagious when the wound is draining. Avoid contact with surfaces, as the bacteria can be transmitted on many different surfaces, including doorknobs, grocery cart or basket handles, desks, tables, steering wheels, bottled condiments at restaurants, fitness equipment in gyms, locker rooms, stair railings-pretty much any where.
Staph infections are more common in North America, primarily due to our overuse of antibiotics and anti-microbial products. We have created super-germs while weakening our natural resistance (immune system).
Symptoms
Staph infection symptoms can range from:
- A lump that looks like a pimple or a bug bite
- Swelling
- Redness around a cut or affected area
- “Heat” in the affected area
- Fever (if the infection moves beyond the skin and into the blood stream)
- Chills and sweats
Staph infections that penetrate the bloodstream can be very serious, even fatal. They require immediate professional attention and intervention.
Natural Healing Solutions
If you have a cut, wash the area with soap and water, then apply an antiseptic remedy such as Tea Tree Oil. Keep the wound clean, dry and covered to prevent additional bacteria from entering the body.
A thorough cleansing of the body with an emphasis on the blood and lymphatic system and fluids and the major eliminative channels (colon, liver, lungs, kidneys) is mandatory when healing from a staph infection.
You can also gargle with a glass of warm water, sea salt (1/3 teaspoon), and 2 drops of Tea Tree oil if the staph infection is oral in nature.
Essential oils can be quite effective for staph infections. Good essential oils to add to your bath water for your anti-staph soak include:
- Tea Tree
- Manuka
- Ravensare
- Kanuka
- Leleshwa
- Niaouli
- Eucalyptus
- Cajeput
- Thuja
- Cinnamon (leaf, not bark)
- Vetivert
Simply add a few drops (1-2 drops of each oil, or 3-5 drops of an individual oil) to the bath water of each bath you take.
Dietary Intervention
To heal from any disease, always modify the diet and include more raw, organic, fresh fruits and vegetables so as to raise the body’s pH level. A diet that consists of 75% raw foods and 25% vegan foods is conducive to healing. However, you can’t go wrong with green foods.
When healing from any disease, ALWAYS abstain from consuming meat and dairy products as well as all processed and refined so-called foods.
Drink plenty of fresh organic vegetable juice (especially parsley and cilantro). Vegetable juice is healing, rebuilding, and nourishing and helps to raise the body’s pH level (to an alkaline level).
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
