MRSA - The saga continues

It's been a stressful several months.  I had another outbreak on my face.  And after the dermatologist visit where she offered up doxycycline - I accepted and am on another round of antibiotics.  I am frustrated that nothing is working - or maybe that my expectations are off.  Plus my approach has been less than scientific - it's been a downright chaotic frenzy to throw everything at my body that even remotely could kill MRSA - and all I've done is spent 6 weeks on antibiotics now in the last 4 months. 

Bummer.

I tried Allimed - cannot say that it did anything, but as I've mentioned the cost was just kind of crazy.  It did improve my digestion - which made a nutritionist friend of mine curious as to whether or not I have some sort of yeast overgrowth in my gut.  That being said - the cheaper - garlicase has continued the benefits that Allimed started.  Also, I tried the cream topically and - didn't deliver.  Not saying that it doesn't work for some people - just didn't do it for us.

I have also been battling impetigo on my son's face.  I get rid of it and then a week later it reappears.  I have avoided the doctor because so far I've been able to get it to go away.  However, I know something is going on because it keeps coming back.  My concern with antibiotics is that we are already battling food allergies and asthma.  Plus with me - I've been on meds way too long - and I want to spare my son that.  So we need to lick this thing naturally.

I am however, working with our MD/TCM doctor and she has agreed to send us Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang.  I read another paper on it - and it has about a 50% success rate.  The theory seems to be that it stimulates the immune system (NK cells and macrophages), improves the nutrition status by enhancing digestion, and possibly prevents MRSA from creating biofilms.  Other than that it has not been found to have any bacteriacidal properties in vitro.  Go figure.  I'm hoping that it does it for us.  For the cases where it works - it has been found to not only rid the body of infection, but carrier status as well.  Sounds like a dream - I know.

I found a brand online - but our Dr suggested that she do it through her manufacturer in China because she is familiar with their manufacturing and extraction methods - and also she has reviewed their CFA.  We anticipate receiving that in the next week or so. 

Topically though I can share what we've used.
Oil of Oregano (my son hates this because it burns)
In our more desperate moments - the turtles uv lamp - very weak - for about 15 minutes at night
A bath paste - sent to us by our MD/TCM doctor - wish I could tell you what it is - simply labeled bath herb.  I put it on the rash while he's in the shower and leave it on for about 5-10 minutes.  If you want the ingredients I can send to - simply email me. 
A white cream - called Cream #2 for itch, red, rash - again - no idea what is in it - got it at the TCM herbalist in town. (Happy to share her information via email as well).
And French Green Clay - I put a thin layer the rash area and my son sleeps with it on.  It helps keep him from itching it at night - and it dries it out.
I have also used manuka oil - but this rash is by  his nose and lip - and I don't want him to swallow the manuka oil.  Plus there is potential for lung damage if it is aspirated - again small chance, but not risking it.

At any rate, that's where we're at.  Winning some battles, losing others - but the war rages on.

I am working on an interview with some TCM practitioners.  Will post in the coming weeks.

MRSA follow up - Listerine, Silver, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Kampo

I haven't posted in awhile.  But, I am happy to report that I remain relatively smooth faced.  The only thing that remains of my encounter with MRSA are red blotches along my cheeks - splotchy red areas that really look - well - like I had a disease.  For the most part they stay pretty constant - covering pretty much the entire right side and part of the left.  I did notice a flare up when I took a supplement that contained zinc.  Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I've read that MRSA sequesters zinc before your own body can.   So more zinc can mean more and stronger MRSA - and no one wants that.

About 2 days into the supplement, my face started to tingle/itch more than usual and a red blotch about the size of dime reappeared on my right cheek.  I stopped the supplement,  squeezed off the little white part, and slathered on staphaseptic ( a must have in arsenal of MRSA fighting weapons).  

 The next day I awoke and it was about 80% less red.  

So some interesting things I've added to my MRSA fighting arsenal:

Listerine - found to kill MRSA after 30 seconds.  I wonder what element - or is it combo.  Interesting though, Listerine has thymol in it - from thyme oil. 

Staphaseptic - picked it up at CVS. 

Manuka Oil - mentioned it before.  But even after being off antibiotics for a couple weeks, I still had the remains of 2 small boils.  Probably around the size of peas.  I put manuka oil on them every morning and night and they finally shrunk down to almost zero.  I really do think it was the manuka oil, because prior to that I was using microsyn which did not have an effect on them.  Microsyn worked best for me when there was open wound type access.  Manuka oil seems penetrated the skin because both of the bumps we're under closed skin.

Hyperbaric Oxygen - this is something that I am just beginning to explore.  Mild HBOT brought down the redness of my face after only 1 treatment.  But this redness according to the ID is inflammation - some sort of rosacea or ezcema thing.  We'll see what derm says - I see her in about 2 weeks.  Hyperbaric is on my list of things to return to once I get over this sinus thing I am battling.  I am not sure if I'll return to the place we first got the treatment, because I do believe that is where myself and mom got sick.  Also, I may try a metal chamber with 100% oxygen.  Not sure, but I'll definitely share that experience.

Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (in TCM) or Hochu-ekki-to (in Kampo Medicine) - this is an herbal formula that in this small - not even really study - in Japan, was given to 5 MRSA infected 70-something plus people.   They we're after treatment - found to be MRSA-negative with resolution of all infections.  I will definitely be consulting my herbalist for this formula - which is listed in the article.

Silver - This is one thing that I am not totally sold on - or rather, I remain skeptical.  But this is an interesting anecdote of its use as a systemic antibiotic.  A 12 year old boy with Cystic Fibrosis - and severe lung disease is successfully, measurably treated by his parents with colloidal silver that they found online.  There are many things to love about this story - like that the parents we're successful.  Also, they mention that the child was weaned off antibiotics and asthma meds, and still sustained his improvement.  Although, when he briefly discontinued the silver, he had a relapse.  Very interesting.  I hope he continues to do well.