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Caring for Skin Injuries pt 1 of 4

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming all too common. New virus-strains crop up with surprising regularity. Staph infections are increasingly common. While many of us may think a staph infection is just a bacteria which infects a wound, remember, it has been known to enter the blood stream and become a deadly disease.

The staph bacteria, known as staphylococcus aureus is a commonly found bacterium on the skin, nose and mucous membranes. Under normal conditions, most staph species bacteria is harmless, in fact, some species are even beneficial and kills deadly bacteria before it can infect the skin. However, over 20% of the population carry the aureous species.

Common infections of this species includes those who frequently have a range of common skin ailments such as pimples, impetigo, boils, cellulitus, folliculitus, furuncles, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome, and abscesses. Others may even be susceptible to its deadlier effects such as pneumonia, chronic pneumonia, meningitis, osteomylitus, endocarditus, toxic shock syndrome, and septicemia. It is one of the four most feared of post-surgical infections. (It should not be confused with the streptococcus bacteria which causes strep throat.) Each year over 500,000 patients in American hospitals alone contract a staphyloccal infection. Sometimes with lethal consequences.

Preventing Staph Infections

Treating the body and the wound as soon as possible can minimize the risk of a deadly infection from this virus. Bacterial hand sanitizers, anti-bacterial soaps, and other anti-bacterial products are not the answer. Over time and repeated usage, the staph bacterium becomes immune to the anti-bacterial product.

Step One

Being prepared; it is essential to have several first aid kits assembled and set up beforehand. It is important to have a first aid kit in each vehicle, on each level of the home, and a small one which can be taken with you and your family members. These smaller ones could be small enough to fit into a pocket.

Personal Kit:

Here is what you need in your personal kits: several sizes of band-aids, gauze, skin sanitizing pads, alcohol prep pads, an eye patch, and single use anti-bacterial ointments. Additional items may include itch relief, burn relief, and insect bite relief as well as tweezers, q-tips, and insect sting removers. If the person is allergic to bee stings, it is also important that their kit also contains an epi-pen. Many of these products can be purchased at a discount store such has Wal-Mart, in the pharmacy section. The entire kit should be able to fit into a candy tin, which measures 3 inches by 3 inches, by 1 inch.

Other First Aid Kits Can Be Found HERE

Step Two

In addition to a first aid kit, it is also essential to have herbal remedies which boost the immune system. Additionally, especially if you or the person using the kit is allergic to the anti-bacterial ointments, it is important to have a few herbal essential oils or tinctures on hand to fight infection. (More about this in part 3 of this series)

Treating wounds externally is only going skin deep. The body needs an internal boost to promote rapid healing and tap into the body's disease-fighting capabilities. For these, there are many immune system boosting herbal remedies which are safe and effective.
(Covered in parts 3 and 4 of this series.)

Step Three

Become knowledgeable in treating wounds. Knowing how to identify and treat each type of wound is essential to insuring a reduced risk of infections, increased healing time, and reduced scar formation. (We will cover more of this in part 2.)

Step Four

To increase the body's immune response and speed recovery time beforehand, it is essential to provide the body with the necessary elements it needs to fight infection. This means a daily regimen of continual front line defense. To increase healing time after receiving an injury or when going into surgery, simply increase the dosage as recommended.

Zinc reduces healing time. Chances are, if you are taking a mineral or multivitamin supplement, you are receiving enough zinc. However, if you have illness, wounds, or surgery, take up to 15 mcg daily to decrease the time which the body needs to bounce back from colds, viruses, injuries, and surgeries. Topical zinc treatments also inhibit the bacterial growth in wounds. (Think calamine lotion.) Take it in an oral supplement form for the six weeks prior to surgery, and for six more weeks after surgery or injury.

Vitamin-C is essential for daily health. Vitamin-C is one of the most basic vitamins in the body and is responsible for many of the chemical reactions within the cells and metabolism which makes us healthy and energetic. Vitamin-C is required to build skin tissue, blood vessels, and immune system cells. It also reduces scarring and tissue death after injuries.

Take about 300mg to 500mg daily as a preventative measure, and take up to 1g or 2g following surgeries, injuries, or during illness. Be sure to purchase a bio-active formula so that the body has the essential enzymes to utilize the vitamin-C, otherwise, it is useless. Ascorbic acid is not the same thing as full spectrum, plant derived sources. Reach for ingredients such as pure camu camu berries, rose hips, Acerola berries, and citrus bioflavonoids.

A multi-vitamin product made from whole food sources. If you hate taking pills, any one of the Greens 8000 products provides the same power of pill form vitamins, in a delicious and easy- to-drink dried food form.

An Omega-3 essential fatty acid supplement. Avoid omega-6 continuing products. The standard diet has enough omega-6 and too little omega-3 content.

By following the above four steps, you can insure your body has what it needs to effectively reduce the possibility of infections, especially due to injuries and surgeries. Be sure to read our up-coming newsletters for more information on treating wounds and promoting vibrant health. At Nokomis Nutrition, we are passionate about your health.