Symptoms

Staphylococcal infection is associated with symptoms that range from minor to severe to life-threatening. They can include pimples, boils, abscesses, furuncles, carbuncles, osteomyelitis, enterocolitic, pneumonia, and bacteremia.

What is Staphylococcal Infection?

From Modern Western Medicine

These are infections brought about by the family of staphylococcus bacteria, perhaps the most common bacteria in existence. The bacteria appear under a microscope as grape-like clusters. They can cause a wide range of problems, from skin infection to serious internal disorders.

Present on the skin of most people, staphylococcus bacteria are generally harmless, but they can become trapped in sweat or sebaceous glands, causing skin infections in pustules, boils, abscesses, sites, or carbuncles. The bacteria can invade the deeper tissues if the surface is broken. They often affect the mucus membranes of the nose, throat, and lungs, causing viral infections, including pneumonia.

Staphylococcus bacteria can also invade the mucus membranes of the vaginas of menstruating women, especially those who use highly absorbent tampons, where they can produce highly toxic by-products, which results in toxic shock syndrome. A different type of staphylococcus can cause urinary tract infections.

Other ways staphylococci can cause infection is through the use of an infected needle, which can result in septic shock, infectious arthritis, osteomyelitis, or bacterial endocarditis. Contaminated food may also transmit the bacteria.

From Traditional Medicine

Hygiene can play a role in the onset of staphylococcus infection, but a more important reason is a weakened immune system. Many clean and hygienic people contract the disease, while those with open cuts and sores can avoid infection. The underlying difference is often the relative strengths of the immune systems in question.

Staph infections are serious and often require medical care or supervision. In addition, immune-boosting activities help rid the body of the bacteria. The remedies provided below can assist in boosting the immune response and helping the body fight the disease.  

Remedies

General Recommendations

  • See the section on boosting the immune system in Part IV.
  • See Part IV for a section on strengthening the lungs.

 

Food to Eat

  • Whole grains
  • Green vegetables
  • Miso soup
  • Beans

Foods to Avoid

  • Sugar in all forms, including fruit, honey, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol
  • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Dairy products
  • Oils

 

Herbs for Treating Staphylococcal Infection

  • Honeysuckle: used for infections and inflammations; broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity; dose is 9 – 15 g
  • Bear lichen is effective against most staphylococcus infection. Use 10 – 30 drops of tincture.
  • Garlic: either in capsule form or chop up and swallow it raw in water

 

Hydrotherapy

  • Remove dirt and foreign matter from all cuts and wounds and wash with soap and water and flush with hydrogen peroxide
  • Apply warm goldenseal tea compresses to firmly adherent crust
  • Flush with hydrogen peroxide and apply tea tree oil full strength
  • Repeat every two waking hours
  • Apply tea tree ointment at night. This is an antifungal agent. (Iodine and alcohol may kill bacteria, but they also destroy healthy cells and should not be used.) When the skin is very raw, as in the case of impetigo; do not use a tea tree oil application. Use 3 parts of castor oil to ½ part of eucalyptol. This is because the tea tree oil may cause burning or irritation.
  • Expose to fresh air and sunlight
  • Change pillow covers, sheets, towels, and clothing daily to prevent re-infection and spreading infection to other family members.

 

Supplements

  • Beta-carotene: 15 – 30 mg daily
  • Vitamin C: 100 mg per day
  • Vitamin E: 100 – 400 IU per day
  • Zinc: 15 mg per day