Natural Ways to Remedy A Staph Infection
My child, dealing with eczema, unfortunately, contracted the hands, foot, and mouth virus this spring. The combination of eczema’s existing challenges and the hands, foot, and mouth virus exacerbated the situation, eventually leading to a staph infection due to persistent itching. Faced with this issue, I was hesitant about seeking immediate medical attention, fearing the typical prescription of antibiotics or steroids by a doctor. Discovering natural remedies and seeking alternative solutions became my priority. I knew antibiotics would disrupt her gut health and steroids would disrupt her microbiome. You can read more about how we handled gut health here and topical steroid withdrawal here.
So we sought to treat it naturally and here’s how we got rid of it:
- We gave her Dead Sea salt baths every night, and mixed 1/4 c raw apple cider vinegar in the bath. This can sting, so to offset the discomfort, I’d give her a fun popsicle that we only used at bath time! We also busied her with these bath time toys to keep her mind off of itching. These baths alone and how we did it helped tremendously. We’d also use this method whenever she had a flare.
- Afterward, we would lightly spray the spots with colloidal silver spray. If the spots were really nasty looking, I would cover it overnight lightly with sterile cotton gauze.
- We did not moisturize with anything.
- We washed all her clothes in hot water and nontoxic detergent.
We continued this process for about 2.5 weeks. It feels like such a long process, but you will start to notice the skin will scab over to heal and flake (which I’ve learned is a good thing). To keep the itching to a minimum, we used D-Hist Jr., dressed her in light cotton clothes and stayed active to keep her moving, distracted and having fun despite her condition.
Nutrition is Important
While it’s common to focus on visible skin issues, it’s crucial not to neglect the internal healing the body requires. In the face of any virus, the body engages in a vigorous battle against infection, demanding a substantial supply of nutrients to strengthen immunity. Particularly during these challenging times, prioritize feeding your child nutrient-rich, WHOLE, organic foods. It’s advisable to adopt this practice consistently, but recognizing the realities of daily life, I understand it may not be feasible around the clock. Here are some examples:
- Organic, free-range, cage-free eggs
- Well-seasoned chicken breast, grass-fed beef, wild caught salmon
- Leafy greens. If this is particularly difficult, try making a smoothie with a tiny bit of honey and some berries, or making smoothie popsicles for the bath. We also love Mamma Chia, Noka and Once Upon A Farm Pouches
- Season broccoli, green beans, zucchini with healthy fats like extra virgin olive oil, grass-fed butter, or beef tallow
- Berries, kiwi, oranges, bananas
- Nut butters if not allergic
- Organic rice cooked in organic chicken bone broth
- Remove packaged foods and snacks altogether. Focus on the edges of the store when you grocery shop – that’s all the fresh stuff for the most part!
- Limit dairy for a time.
These are the supplements we used:
Omega-3s
Vitamin C
Vitamin D+K2
D-Hist Jr.
As with any supplements, I encourage you to do to your own research and to buy directly from the manufacturer or a grocery store. I am not a doctor and am only speaking from my own personal experience. I do know from my own research that these three vitamins in particular are very helpful in repairing the immune system and helping the body along in its healing. I’ve also read that these are particularly lower than normal in eczema kids. As a gentle reminder, supplements are not a replacement for actual nutrient-dense foods. I also want to mention that probiotics is also super important and we have had a good experience with Klaire Labs.
With these combined efforts, and LOTS of prayer, we were able to help our daughter without the use of antibiotics or steroids. I’m here to encourage you, and I’m cheering you on as you walk this path. I know how hard it is to see your little one uncomfortable, but it won’t last forever. It’s important to remember that God is in control, and He will give you wisdom in the most trying of circumstances. We are thankful to God our daughter is now eczema-free! It feels surreal to say that. If you’d like to read more about this journey, you can read that here.
This post contains affiliate links, for which I receive a small commission the items I have used and recommend.