With life threatening instances of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections on the rise, many are seeking safe and effective alternatives in the realm of natural medicine. Manuka oil is a shinning example. Reports of healing attributed to the oil are becoming more commonplace - oftentimes in cases where patients have suffered from MRSA boils, lesions and open wounds that did not respond to antibiotic treatments. Extracted from the leaves and branches of the L. scoparium manuka tree native to New Zealand, this essential oil not only conquers deadly bacterial infections, but also relieves a host of other ailments - from anxiety to eczema. As a potent healer, manuka oil is making its mark as a remedy far more effective than conventional medical care.
Dangers of MRSATraditionally, staph infections have been treated with methicillin, but have since become largely immune to the antibiotic with the emergence of the MRSA strain. This creates a dangerous situation as the infection can easily rage out of control, especially for individuals with compromised immune systems. The MRSA bacteria can migrate from the skin to the muscles, bones, heart and brain - increasing the risk of death. Even individuals with healthy immune systems can become infected with the bacteria.
Dramatic recoveryStories abound regarding the outstanding healing abilities of manuka oil, particularly with MRSA. One such example illustrates how the oil saved a man from amputation when conventional medicine failed. As reported in the Gaia Health article, "Manuka Honey and Oil: Antibiotic Action So Powerful It Beats MRSA":
"My friend's husband - we'll call him Jeffrey - had contracted a case of MRSA. All the medical establishment's treatments were for naught. The point had arisen that he was told his leg had to be amputated to save his life, but ending his career as a rehabilitation swimming coach.
My friend refused to accept that sentence. She insisted on trying manuka oil. She applied it directly to Jeffrey's wound. Within a day, it became apparent that it was healing. The result was complete healing - and Jeffrey has been back at work for the last year."
The oil form of manuka is not as well known as the honey, but it's beginning to gain recognition as an even more powerful defense against the ravages of MRSA. The essential oil can be used undiluted topically or internally. The therapeutic components include: alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, myrcene, para-cymene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, methylcinnamate, alpha-farnesine, isoleptospermone, leptospermone, sesquiterpenes (cadina-3,5-diene and delta-amorphene), triketones. It exhibits cytophylactic (cell regeneration) and cictrizant (antimicrobial, tissue repair) actions.
Other applicationsLong used by the Maori of New Zealand, manuka oil has a variety of uses beyond the treatment of MRSA, including:
- Eczema
- Fungal infections
- Inflammation
- Asthma
- Insect bites and stings
- Allergies
- Rashes and sores
- Burns
- Dandruff
The oil is also helpful for anxiety. According to Gaia Health, "It is known to interact with GABA-A receptors, the same ones that benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam), do. No experiments have been done on this aspect, and it appears that medicine considers it to be an adverse reaction - though, of course, it's considered the beneficial effect of Valium!"
