Alarming statistics indicate that drug-resistant skin infections are on the rise. Unfortunately, many drugs commonly used for such infections are sometimes ineffective due to resistance to antibiotics. Check out the following natural remedies to treat infections effectively and safely.
The explosive growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria has led to a resurgence of interest in the use of natural remedies, many of which have a rich history of use by our ancestors.
Read on for six ways to treat a skin infection naturally using herbal remedies, honey, essential oils, and probiotics. We have also included three recipes that you can try at home to start feeling better.
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The emergence of drug-resistant infections
More and more adults are struggling with skin infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
And, perhaps because some pediatricians routinely prescribe antibiotics or because “antibacterial” soaps and other products are so widely used in homes and schools, this trend is also on the rise in children under 15 years of age. years.
Drug-resistant skin infections pose a significant health risk at any age because they increase a person’s susceptibility to systemic infection.
The growing problem of antibiotic resistance is causing many people to turn to natural substances to treat skin infections.
Excitingly, an emerging body of research indicates that natural compounds, including botanicals, honey, and topical probiotics, have significant therapeutic value in treating skin infections without the potential to cause antibiotic resistance.
And these treatments don’t just work for MRSA. People with acne, ringworm, yeast skin infections, and a host of other bacterial infections may also see positive results.
If you are having trouble with a skin infection, be it acne, ringworm or a bacterial infection, you can take the treatment into your own hands. Check out this article for six ways to treat it naturally and get recipes for remedies that you can make at home.
6 ways to treat skin infections naturally
While there are many natural compounds that have antimicrobial properties, some stand out from the rest for their ability to fight antibiotic-resistant skin infections:
CBD oil
Cannabis has received little attention from the medical community in recent years. A growing body of research indicates that it has an incredible variety of health applications, including treating skin infections.
Cannabinoids can be a powerful ally in neutralizing the difficult-to-treat superbug MRSA, which often affects the skin.
Cannabinoids can also make skin more resistant to infection in the first place by upregulating the endocannabinoid system, a network of molecules and receptors that influence immunity, among many other effects.
Topical CBD oil may be the best way to get the antibacterial and skin-protective benefits of cannabinoids.
Honey bees
Honey, a sweet, slimy food derived from flower nectar and most commonly produced by the European bee Apis mellifera, is truly “liquid gold” in treating skin infections.
Topical application of raw natural honey reduces redness, swelling, and healing time in bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella. Its effects are comparable to those of topical antibiotics.
Natural honey also accelerates the healing of diabetic wounds and is useful in the treatment of ringworm, Candida skin infections and acne.
Manuka honey, a special type of honey produced in New Zealand by the bees that pollinate the native manuka bush, has a broad spectrum of action, unlike any other known natural antimicrobial.
Inhibits pathogenic bacteria that colonize skin and wounds, including MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The powerful antimicrobial effects of manuka honey are mainly due to the presence of methylglyoxal (MGO), a natural phytochemical found in the nectar of Leptospermum flowers that damages bacterial DNA, RNA and proteins.
When selecting manuka honey for medicinal uses, you need to consider the UMF, a quality mark, and a grading system that rates the strength of the honey.
UMF stands for “Unique Manuka Factor” and is an official designation given only to genuine manuka honey produced and packaged in New Zealand. UMF 10+ is the minimum concentration honey recommended for medicinal use; It is best for less serious infections like acne. For more persistent infections, UMF 15+ or 20+ is recommended.
Ointment made from cryptolepis can treat infections
Cryptolepis is a shrubby plant native to Africa that has traditionally been used to treat malaria. However, this plant also works as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial against pathogens involved in skin infections, such as MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans.
Sida acuta: Invasive Herb or Effective Treatment Option?
Sida acuta is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family that grows throughout the world and is often considered an invasive species or weed.
Despite its low reputation, Sida acuta is a powerful treatment for skin infections. It is active against skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida.
Eucalyptus, juniper berries, or other essential oil to treat skin
Essential oils are made by distilling the volatile oils from plants. They can be applied directly to the skin, either directly or diluted in a carrier oil (such as coconut or olive oil).
A wide variety of essential oils have antimicrobial properties that can neutralize skin pathogens, including:
- Eucalyptus
- Juniper berry
- Lavender
- Tea tree
- Oregano
- Wise
- Thyme
- Incense
- Ylang Ylang
- Cypress
Essential oils are often combined to produce synergistic effects. One oil, for example, can be an effective antiseptic, while another works as an anti-inflammatory. Your best option may be to use a pre-made blend of essential oils for topical use on skin conditions.
Topical probiotics
The health benefits of probiotics are not limited to the gut. They also have applications in the treatment of skin infections.
Lactobacilli have antimicrobial activity against skin pathogens and prevent the formation of biofilms (a build-up of hard-to-eradicate bacteria on the surface that is difficult to eradicate) when applied topically.
Lactobacillus plantarum also inhibits the colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the skin and improves tissue repair in burns.
Why do natural skin infection treatments make sense?
Antibiotics have long reigned in the field of dermatology, forming the cornerstone of treatment for skin infections. The practice of using one type of therapy to treat an illness, such as an antibiotic for a skin infection, is known as “monotherapy.”
Monotherapy is problematic because pathogens are highly adaptable organisms that rapidly develop ways to evade the effects of unique antimicrobial compounds.
Pathogens that successfully evade the impact of antibiotics pass on their antibiotic resistance genes to subsequent generations.
Considering that some bacteria can pass through a single generation in as little as 20 minutes, it’s not surprising that antibiotic resistance has exploded in our modern society!
Using natural compounds to treat a skin infection is an effective way to avoid the pitfalls of antibiotic monotherapy.
Unlike antibiotics, which contain only one active antimicrobial compound, botanical drugs and other natural substances contain many active compounds, all in one package.
The presence of multiple antimicrobial compounds makes it difficult for pathogens to adapt and evade the effects of the intervention, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Also, in traditional herbal medicine, many plants are given together to treat infections. The synergistic effects produced by a combination of botanical ingredients enhance the antimicrobial effects of the intervention and further reduce the risk of bacterial resistance.
Using a natural remedy to treat the skin infection allows you to take a functional medicine approach to the problem, addressing the root cause, without contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistant pathogens.
3 recipes to treat skin infections naturally
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to treat a skin infection naturally. In fact, you can make a herbal antibacterial wash, wound powder and herbal oil for skin infections right in your kitchen.
If you’ve never made your own herbal oil, don’t worry. These recipes are easy to follow, and you can find supplies at various online retailers. Look for a vendor who sells organic herbs.
General antibacterial wash
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces of antibacterial herbs such as Artemisia absinthium, Cryptolepis, or Sida acuta
- 2 ounces Echinacea (if you are using Echinacea angustifolia, use the root; if Echinacea purpurea, use the flowers or seeds)
- 2 ounces dried evergreen needles (any species)
- 1/4 water, filtered or distilled
Combine the herbs with water. Cover, bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Let cool and strain. Rinse the affected skin generously with the decoction four times a day.
Wound powder
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce Berberis root or bark
- 1 ounce of Cryptolepis or Sida acuta root, Bidens or Alchornea leaf
- 1 ounce of echinacea root or seed
- 1 ounce juniper leaf
- 1 ounce of lomatium root
- 1 ounce lichen Usnea
Powder all the herbs as finely as possible (a high-powered blender or food processor for a semi-small grind and then transfer the mixture to a walnut or coffee grinder for a finer powder).
Strain the powder through a sieve. Use as needed. This formula can be sprayed on the feet or on shoes and socks to treat athlete’s foot. It can also be used in babies for diaper rash.
Herbal oil to treat skin infections
Ingredients:
- 1 ounce dried Artemisia leaf (any species of Artemisia will work)
- 1 ounce dried Berberis plant (such as barberry or Oregon grape)
- 1 ounce dry Cryptolepis (or Sida acuta)
- 1 ounce dried echinacea root or seed
- 1 ounce dried evergreen needles (any species)
- 1 quart of extra virgin olive oil
Grind the herbs as finely as possible with a high-powered blender or coffee grinder. Place the ground herbs in a small ovenproof glass dish or ceramic pot that can be covered. Don’t use a metal pot.
Pour in enough olive oil to saturate the herbs, stir well, and then add extra oil to coat the herbs by a quarter inch.
Heat the mixture, with the lid on, overnight in the oven for eight hours at a low temperature, between 65º to 90º C. Let the mixture cool and then press the mixture through a cloth to extract the oil. Store the oil in a sealed glass container out of the sun.