Information About Essential Oils and MRSA

Let's look at essential oils and MRSA.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) are bacteria that healthy people usually have on their skin and/or in their noses. While normally harmless in those areas, the bacteria can enter your body through breaks in your skin.

A mild infection consists of pimples or boils. However, the infection can become worse (and life threatening) by infecting your bloodstream, joints, or bones.

Although MRSA used to be an infection usually picked up in a hospital, "community acquired" MRSA has become more common, especially among people involved in contact sports. (See the CDC for more about MRSA.)

Essential Oils and MRSA Research

Here are some research findings about using essential oils for MRSA:

The study, The Effect of Essential Oils on MRSA, tested geranium, lavender, patchouli, and tea tree essential oils and Citricidal (grapefruit seed extract) against MRSA. The most effective anti-bacterial effects against one strain of MRSA came from a combination of Citricidal and geranium essential oil. On tests against a different MRSA strain (Oxford strain), a combination of geranium and tea tree oil had the most effect. 

A number of other studies have been done. Search PubMed for more research about essential oils and MRSA.

Blend of Essential Oils for MRSA

The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils suggests the following blend:

• 5 drops geranium essential oil
  
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops oregano essential oil
• 5 drops thyme essential oil
• 2 drops cassia essential oil
• 2 drops clove essential oil
• 4 drops myrrh essential oil
• 4 drops bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) essential oil
• 1 teaspoon castor oil
• 1 teaspoon Phytolacca (poke root) oil
• 4 teaspoons jojoba oil

Blend all the ingredients in a dark glass bottle.

Apply some of the blend to affected areas every hour while you are awake. For additional help, apply an Epsom salt poultice to affected areas twice a day.

The book recommends using the essential oil blend in combination with taking a good botanical antimicrobial blend.

Of course, see a healthcare provider as appropriate.

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Photo Credit: Jen via Wikimedia Commons [CC-BY-SA-3.0]