Skin infections caused by Staphylococcus bacteria include boils, acne, impetigo and cellulitis. The bacteria normally live on the skin but may penetrate and cause a skin infection through cuts, burns, surgery or invasive medical tubes. Conventional treatment includes antibiotics, but bacteria are becoming resistant due to overuse of these drugs. Herbs with antibiotic properties may be useful as home treatments for skin staph infections. It is important to consult a health care professional before starting herbal treatment, since some staph infections may be life-threatening.
Walnut
Walnut, or Juglans regia, is a deciduous tree that bears a fruit containing the edible nuts. Traditional healers use the leaves topically to treat several types of staph skin disorders including acne and skin ulcers. The herb is also used internally for skin problems, diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders. The active ingredients include tannins, flavonoids, essential oils and glycosides, and the leaves have astringent, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory actions. A study by C. L. Quave and colleagues published in the August 2008 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology tested extracts from 104 plants used by local healers in southern Italy. The research found that walnut leaf extract had a significant inhibitory effect on staph bacteria, likely due to phenolic compounds, including naphtoquinones and flavonoids. This study supports the traditional use of walnut for treating staph skin infections. Walnut extract should not be taken during pregnancy.
Harlequin Fuchsia Bush
Harlequin fuchsia bush, or Eremophila duttonii, is a small shrub with red and yellow flowers native to Australia. Aboriginal healers use a wash of the stems and leaves as an antiseptic to treat staph skin infections from cuts and open sores, and to heal impetigo. A study by Enzo A. Palombo and Susan J. Semple published in the October 2001 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology tested 39 plants used in Australian Aboriginal medicine for antibacterial actions. The study found that a leaf extract of harlequin fuchsia bush was the most active, inhibiting all gram-positive bacteria, including staph. The study supports the use of harlequin fuchsia bush aerial parts to treat staph skin infections. Further studies are needed to determine the active ingredients and safe dosages for this plant.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort, or Hypericum spp., includes several hundred species of tall shrubs and small trees with star-like yellow flowers. Hypericum species are used topically and orally to treat pain, mild depression, burns, wounds, and skin infections and abscesses. Herbalist Stephen Harrod Buhner recommends H. perforatum, or common St. John's wort, for staph skin infections. A study by J. Reichling and colleagues published in the July 2001 issue of Pharmacopsychiatry found that this plant was effective against gram-positive bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Another study, by R. M. Rabanal and colleagues published in the July 2002 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, tested three species---H. canariense, H. glandulosum and H. grandifolium---for antibacterial action. The study found all extracts were effective against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, including two staph strains, S. aureus and S. epidermidis, which cause boils, inpetigo and staph infections in patients using medical tubing. The researchers attribute the antibacterial action to the tannins, flavonoids and anthraquinones. These plants should not be taken during pregnancy or combined with antidepressants.
References
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology": Effects of extracts from Italian medicinal plants on planktonic growth, biofilm formation and adherence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology": Antibacterial activity of traditional Australian medicinal plants
- "Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria"; Stephen Harrod Buhner; 1999
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology": Antimicrobial studies on three species of Hypericum from the Canary Islands
- "Pharmacopsychiatry": A current review of the antimicrobial activity of Hypericum perforatum L.
