Pamela Duncanson
A Herbal Approach to the Treatment of Patients with Hospital-acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Abstract
The aim of this project was to explore the herbal approach to treating patients with the hospital acquired infection MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus). This infection is rising in incidence with the increase in antibiotic resistance. Alternative strategies were therefore explored for medical herbalists to use when faced with a patient with an antibiotic resistant infection.
Literature from a range of databases and publications was reviewed and evaluated. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with a small number of practising herbalists. Using the Grounded Theory approach, theories were generated from the data to provide a qualitative analysis while statistical data was illustrated using a quantitative approach.
Results from the literature provided some information on the anti-microbial effects of a number of essential oils and herbs while other references recognised the benefits of other complementary plant activities.
Interviewees expressed the view that a depleted immune system was the main risk factor for contracting MRSA. Treatment strategies were aimed at an anti-microbial approach, although the need to reinforce this with a systemic approach was also thought to be important. Echinacea angustifolia was cited most often and treatment strategies included both internal and external applications. Herbs were chosen for their pharmacological and physical attributes rather than their energetic profile. The main theme to be discussed however was the need to treat patients as individuals taking their medical histories into consideration and prescribing accordingly. Dietary and lifestyle advice was expressed as being an important adjunct but no real specifics were uncovered. Although the participants all expressed that herbal medicine had been successful, limitations such as re-infection at home and patient determination were thought to be important.
Future work could focus more on an energetic understanding of the infection to provide yet another framework for developing treatment approaches.
