Dr. Amy Neuzil, ND

MRSA, or Methicillin Resistant Stapholoccocus Aureus is a strain of the common Staph bacteria that has become resistant to almost every known pharmaceutical antibiotic and it is one of the most threatening super-bugs creeping around right now. It is important to know what you can do at home to protect you and your family.  Keep in mind that MRSA is very common, and up to one third of the population could be silent carriers.  

MRSA looks much the same as any other skin infection, at least at first.  Usually it will occur in a cut, scrape, scratch or pimple – especially in children.  Like any other infection, the skin around the wound will become red, warm to the touch and swell slightly.  If it is MRSA the area will commonly develop into a boil or even an abscess and will last longer than normal, but even that isn't proof that the infection is MRSA.  The only way to tell if it is MRSA initially is to have your doctor test the infected area before beginning treatment.  Testing generally takes about 48 hours to complete, although rapid genetic testing is becoming more widely available in hospitals. 

Skin infections, MRSA or not, are easy to treat at home using natural methods.  If you have a skin infection that doesn't respond quickly to those methods, or if you see any sign that the infection is spreading, then see your doctor or go to the hospital right away.  If the infection spreads you could see fever, general ill feelings, red streaks around the skin infection or the infection area may seem to get larger.  If MRSA infection spreads to the blood or internal organs it can be life threatening so please don't take risks.

The great thing about this is that MRSA responds very well to natural treatments, just like the regular Staph infection.  It is important to start treating s soon as you notice a wound becoming infected. Here are the steps you can take:

1.   Wash the area thoroughly with 3% hydrogen peroxide. This is inexpensive and available in any drug or grocery store. Use a large amount straight out of the bottle.

2.   Soak a facecloth in hot water and place over the infected area for 30 seconds to a minute to soften any scabbing and allow the peroxide to penetrate.  Make sure this facecloth is then bleached or disposed of as it could pass on infections.

3.  Re-wash the wound with the 3% hydrogen peroxide.

4.  Mix a thick paste of about a teaspoon of clay with water and 5-10 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract, which is a potent natural antibacterial.  Both the clay, which can be French green clay, bentonite or white clay; and the GSE are available at natural health food stores. This clay should be about cookie-dough texture when mixed.  

5.  Apply a thick layer of the clay mixture over the wound, cover with gauze or a large band-aid and leave for at least an hour  or overnight. This mixture pulls toxins, bacteria and fluids out of the area, which draws infection out of the tissues.  The clay may dry the skin around the infection, this is normal and not harmful.

6.  Remove the clay pack with hot water and rinse again with hydrogen peroxide.

7.  Cover with a clean band-aid or bandage.

8.  Repeat the rinsing and clay pack every 12 hours until the infection disappears.  This should only take 24-36 hours.

9.  If the infection doesn’t respond within 24 – 36 hours or if you start to see more serious signs like fever, then see your doctor immediately.