Natural Treatments for Cellulitis

On 4/23/22 KG from Charlotte, NC wrote: "Just diagnosed with cellulitis yesterday. It's spreading. Washing clothes in hot water, no detergent. Prescribed antibiotic. 500 mg 4/d, 10 days. Is it safe to take colloidal silver orally as well? Spraying CS all over the areas...worried that it is spreading and don't want to go to er."

Although you are probably cured by now? But this might help in the future. I rarely find any alternative stuff never does anything for me, Manuka Honey doesn't do a thing, etc.etc. But 3 weeks ago I woke up to the most painful very inflamed burning and swollen left foot.

I went online and I believed it was Cellulitis. Although these symptoms can fit many foot problems? My son took one look when he came down and said "For God's sake mum, call 111", which is our London Hospitals for emergencies. I was given a very dangerous antibiotic which I then found out other countries are refusing to give it to anyone FLUCLOXACILLIN which I couldnt or wouldnt use anyway, and a penicillin cream which I am seriously allergic to. My son rushed all the way over to an all night chemist and brought it down for me. He knew in his heart I wouldn't touch it and he was right!

I decided to try activated charcoal to which I had in powdered form. It was the best thing I could ever have bought!

I mixed the powdered charcoal just a teaspoon with a teaspoon of organic golden flaxseed powder granules. I added a little water, and i applied it to my very hot swollen and painful foot. I soaked a little cloth (the pack of ten cleaning cloths you can buy for the kitchen) and after soaking the cloth, I wrang it out and laid it over the very thick charcoal and flaxseed. I placed a little white wound pad over it and used a plastic bag with little handles that you can buy from lidls store in a blue box. They fitted my foot perfectly. I added an extra one and I just about did them up which was perfect. I went to bed, woke up the next morning. My foot was absolutely normal!!! I phoned my son and he couldn't believe it! I have had no trouble since, but do seem to have a bit of a limp and when going out have worn slippers, but my foot is completely normal.

So please anyone, do try this!! it simply cured my foot overnight!! Of course, doctors won't tell you that, they don't want to know about alternative medicine. So I wrote this for anyone who is using alternative medicines and taking maybe four days to a week to work.

I slept with the above remedy in bed. During the day I used a little ice cold pack for 30 minutes a few times a day, and rubbed coconut oil or olive oil or aloe vera gel to keep foot nice. It would be my number one recipe for cellulitis, something the medical profession cannot do! heal a very serious infection that could take your life, cured it in a matter of 12 hours!! Simply unbelievable.

Rosina from London UK

Hospitalized for 7 days. Put on an antibiotic (Levaquin) that was very detrimental to my overall health. Came home...Manuka Honey and activated charcoal, mixed together. Spread on area and cover. IT IS MESSY, but within 24 hours the redness had subsided and I was on my way to recovery.

I plan on continuing it for a long time and to reduce the levels I am now taking. Right now I am taking 6-8 tsp. daily with meals. Right before I notice the most improvement I get very sleepy and a little dehydrated. I think this is because my body is detoxing. I have learned the hard way that when you body shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth) you must supplement with a natural salt as well as water. It is counterintuitive to think that you need salt when you are dehydrated but in Oct 2013 my salt levels plummeted and I had to be hospitalized. So now I have learned to take salt if I show signs of dehydration - but not iodized salt - it is toxic. (I also learned this the hard way.)

Of course if you are detoxing too fast you can lessen the amount of the supplement to slow things down. I may be taking a lot of Amla but I feel normal except for a little dehydration and sleepiness at night. All I know is that it is working. I will probably reduce the amount of Amla soon and I will eventually go down to 1-3 tsp a day for maintenance. I have a feeling the Amla is healing much more than only the cellulitis. I want to keep taking it for a long time to see if it addresses other health problems. If you are very sick don't give up, it may take months for your body to heal, even with the Amla. The cellulitis on my leg was about the size of a Tablespoon and has been there only about 6 months. Once you start taking the Amla it should be obvious that it is working though. This is what I have learned from my experience.

I forgot to mention that it is possible for hydrogen peroxide and AgNPs to breakdown biofilms, so they are both important and alternating days maybe a way to be able to use both effectively. If you want to increase the effectiveness of the AgNPs, you can dissolve xylitol in it to increase its biofilm busting ability, moisturize the skin and give it an anti irritant effect to the skin.

Along this same line of thinking, if you can tolerate N Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) it is also useful as a biofilm buster. Biofilms may be the reason that you say it is harder to eradicate the cellulitis this time.

Good luck!

Art

Thanks for these remedies! I have never used an onion for infection, just inflammation. (Wonderful for bruises! ) So, this is great to know.

When we have dealt with Staph/Cellulitis, we have used turmeric internally. Also, I find it helpful to avoid sugar and dairy (except for milk kefir or yogurt with L. Caseii, which is very helpful.)

Frankincense essential oil is a helpful topical for staph infections as well.

Epsom Salt baths may be useful. 1 1/2 cups per bath.

Keep us posted on your progress!
~Mama to Many~

Thanks for everyone giving the health items that they use. Invaluable help.

The above colloidal silver and serrapeptase is the first time I completely cleaned up the ulcer on leg!!

I am at this time still continuing with colloidal silver and the serrapeptase.

I have had the best luck with topical colloidal silver when I have kept it wet as opposed to spraying and letting dry. I have managed to keep it wet by taking a cotton cloth such as an old t-shirt that I have folded it into layers, saturated with colloidal silver and placed over the area I want to treat so that it covers beyond the area I wish to treat and then wrapped an ACE elastic wrap around it to keep it in place and then I check hourly to make sure it is still wet. I have never used it for cellulitis, so I don't know if it works for that, but cellulitis is a bacterial infection and colloidal silver seems to be a potent antibacterial.

Art

I have no experience in using borax for infections because colloidal silver has always worked for us. Ours is homemade and when its to be used externally we make it stronger. Borax should still be helpful so l hope someone has an answer for you. Cellulitis is happening too often after knee operations so it does not surprise me that you got yours after an ankle opperation. I remember the days when staph was only in some city hospitals and patients transfered to a hospital without staph were barrier nursed till tests showed they were negative. Now its everywhere. All the best in your journey to health, God bless

Anyway, I hope this is helpful to you and I wish you the best of luck!

Well little did I know that after I had it the first time I got it a second time very soon. The cause of it was that I have athletes foot/eczema on both feet. They are red on the soles and I am so sure it is the moccasin type because skin is thick, dry, and cracks so bacteria can get in. Prescription drugs, creams, etc. did not take care of my athlete's foot. I was at a dermatologist and my regular doctor. Dermatologist told me to buy over the counter athlete's foot cream and creams for the eczema after I was done with her prescription drugs. I did just that and nothing helped my feet. I have spent hundreds of dollars just trying to find something that works. Athletes foot is a known cause of Cellulitis.

In Dec 2013 by chance I stopped in at a holistic health center and with luck was able to talk to the main person there for 10 minutes and I told her my problem. She looked at my hands that have some eczema on, and in one second she said I can tell you right now that no creams will cure your foot problem because you have "CANDIDA" and that is causing your athletes foot and eczema.

She said no dairy, no sugars, and I must go gluten free. Well I started the diet half way till after Christmas was over. I went on the diet as strict as I could and my feet got better. She wants me to drink 3 quarts of water a day (room temp and put lemon slices in it) The day I went to see her in Dec I had cellulitis than, as I have it right now, but it is getting better. I am taking turmeric, Vitamin C, Echinacea, and garlic pills. I also put very warm water on my leg when taking a shower or I use washcloth that I run hot water on. I also have a stocking on now that is half way a compression stocking. I put tea tree oil on my leg with a cotton swab. Now I have had cellulitis several times and got rid of it using these methods. I only had to use antibiotics the first time. I check my leg everyday and the minute I find a reddened sore spot I hit the Cellulitis treatment and I am able to get rid of it. If you have a bad case I would see your doctor because I have seen some pictures of really some bad looking open wounds on legs that have Cellulitis. You would need medical treatment then.

My feet are getting better and better, but I am not home free yet so I got a small crack in my foot and that is why the Cellulitis comes back. If I was totally and 100% strict on the diet maybe my athletes foot would be totally gone. I have had the problem for 3 years now so I can't expect it to be gone quickly. I understand it takes some people 6 months or more to get rid of the athletes foot. The last few days I have really been strict on the diet, and as a bonus I am losing weight. I am going to get rid of this pesty athletes foot/eczema one way or the other.

Two days ago my husband asked me if I ever tried glycerin to make my dry cracked feet softer and I said no. I read up on glycerin on the internet and went right out to buy some. I am soaking my feet now every day in ACV and then putting athletes foot cream and glycerin on. I only have been doing it for two days now so it is to soon to tell if it will help. Glycerin is good for many rashes.

For my Candida the gal has me taking Candex, 2 pills twice a day and a proboidic pill in the evening. My question is , will I ever get rid of the Candida? It all ties together with my athletes foot and Cellulitis. I bet your site has some goods posts on it, (Candida) which I will read tomorrow. I only found this wonderful site today.

Hope my post will help somebody suffering right now like I have been the last three years. And by the way, since I have Cellulitis right now I take the chair cushion from the living room and two other sturdy pillows under it to prop my leg every night when I sleep and it is amazing how use to it I am and can sleep very well. Good Luck

I got cellulitis a year ago from a bug bite (mosquito I think) which became rapidly infected! I put Tea Tree oil on it but it only burned and didn't stop the infection. Actually I didn't know I had cellulitis at that point. I went to my local hospital emergency and the doctor on staff said likely the bug bite got infected due to chronic sinus infection under the cheek! He advised a topical antibiotic, which I normally NEVER take antibiotics as I get severely ill from them (I have a chronic underlying immune disorder and other health challenges originally due to serious childhood trauma/complex PTSD--post traumatic stress syndrome. To say, I have been holistic, vegetarian (mostly) and use many natural healing methods since I was 18 and I am 57 now).

Back to the cellulitis: I was so scared on reading on-line what cellulitis is and how dangerous that I decided to try:

1) a topical colloidal Silver gel. My face/cheek swelled to triple the size and became itchy, painful and really red!!! I looked up the ingredients and there was one that is some kind of chemical as the base that on researching is used by the cosmetic industry and is highly reactive in exactly the ways I had, for some individuals, esp. With sensitive skin normally (me)!!!! And this was advised by the health food store!!

2) I tried the topical antibiotic at that point being really worried--and even WORSED reaction!!!!!!

SOOOOO, I gave up, went on line, found people using golden seal---I tried a tincture straight, burned like hell. Put a little in SLippery Elm powder with water, applied as a pack on my cheek--this worked and in a few days my infection was greatly reduced. I continue for a few weeks. BUT the infection stayed at a low level and here I am 11 months later with it spread to my lips and up to my temple!! I tried slippery elm again, no change. I've tried various healing salves, I've even tried Tea Tree oil with water this morning--just burned a little, redder now--still swollen though not as bad as a year ago.

What now? I AM of course working with someone I've found who does natural healing to help my whole body and mind---with energy clearing work to clear out the PTSD, and diet adjusting ( already eat for 20+ years an organic, whole foods diet with all the best supplements) and supplement adjusting with muscle testing for MY SPECIFIC NEEDS. I was crying this morning though, wanting to give up, then praying to my Angels, God, the Universe to help me with my whole condition---I've had a 'flu' with vomitting, aching, fatigue, etc for 5 months now! #@! It went away for a bit, seemed the healing was working and then I ran out of money for my good food and supplements and boom! The flu came back--the whole bit. I've been on this adjusted diet and supplements with this healer for 2 weeks now, still sick!!! Argh! But I'm not giving up!

Any suggestions? I will, by the way, look at what the Earth Clinic suggests and try them! Thanks everyone for your stories by the way! To Light and Joy! Cheers! Janet

Turmeric Cocktail:

* Turmeric - 1 heaping teaspoon
* Pepper - 2-3 dashes (you can use black pepper or cayenne or berbere -- it all works.)
* Oil - 1/2 teaspoon. Use Coconut oil or Olive oil or Black Seed Oil.

Put this in a mug and cover with 1/2 cup of boiling water. Stir til dissolved. Add your choice of tomato juice or V8 or coconut milk or milk to make the drink palatable. Take this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and before you go to bed at night. If you are at home during the day, take one then also.

You will also need to take Turmeric capsules, almost any brand. (Stay away from Walmart and brands with fillers, or make your own capsules.)

Turmeric Capsules 400-500mg - 3 capsules every 4 hours.

Drink lots of water. Turmeric will dry you out.

The cellulitis has been in your system for a long time. The first day of this regimen you may feel worse. Please stay with it. When it has been in your system this long, it will take 1-2 weeks for you to see very noticeable improvements not just at the site but in general energy.

By the way I too have chronic PTSD, from traumas similar to those you mentioned. The Turmeric cocktail will not interfere with your treatment and it might even help even you out.

Good luck. Keep us all posted.

Exactly 1 week later, they started to itch again, and swelled back up like the day I got them. I had no fever, so I did what my grandmother would have done: I rubbed a little oil on my skin (cold-pressed sunflower) and strapped a yellow onion slice to it.

I've had it on for at least 12 hours and the heat is entirely gone. The swelling is still there, but the redness has been cut in half. It also doesn't itch! Although I do smell like an onion...

I have been changing out the onion slices every time they wilt up too much and look like the juices are used up.

I'm also applying an ice pack because it's 80 degrees and I work at a desk. I'm elevating the ankle too. I need to keep the areas cool and irritation free.

My family is prone to getting mild cases of cellulitis with bug bites. Normally, there is a wound that pusses and that's easily treated with powdered turmeric right on top (then slap a bandaid on top to trap it). If it's really nasty, I'll add some cayenne powder and garlic powder to the mix. But since this cellulitis is under the skin, I knew I needed a poultice to draw it out and onions are specifically killers of staph bacteria (scientifically proven).

I came here to see if there were any tips and tricks I can do on the side to speed the healing, and I'm definitely going to tackle this internally to boost my immune system too.

Thank you Earth Clinic and all you lovelies who share your amazing remedies. I hope I helped someone else out! And I hope you were lucky enough not to be stung on the bum like me.

I often use colloidal silver (CS) for such purposes because it has anti inflammatory effects, acts as a potent topical antibiotic and it helps wounds heal faster as discussed here :

https://www.dovepress.com/anti-inflammatory-potential-of-green-synthesized-silver-nanoparticles--peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJN#:~:text=Silver nanoparticles also exhibited potent, 44 and wound healing properties.

With CS, I have found that the wound dressing needs to remain wet for best effect. I do this by taking an old cotton t-shirt and cutting a piece that when folded four or more times is large enough to fully cover the wound and slightly more area around the wound. I fully wet this folded cloth (not dripping wet) and place it on the wound and then secure it in place with an elastic ACE wrap. The wrap holds it in place and helps the dressing to stay wet for a much longer period of time. I leave it on for at least 3 hours, remove and let the area fully dry for at least an hour and then repeat as necessary.

Art

Thank you so much,

Dolores

Re the Cellulitis;

Please take a look at the "Recent Post" I put up to "Johanneinsc" just below this one. In a case of a skin issue, I'm all for using Echinacea first topically if this were me. Then I'd go to combo Colloidal Silver and DMSO, fifty-fifty topical applications. Both I'd do five days with aps three times or so daily ... for five days each. And...I'd drink both the Echinacea in glass of water (five drops) three times daily for a month and at different times of day drink CS (a tablespoon or more) three times daily. Separate the CS and Echinacea by an hour. The CS I'd take for six months at least. Probably a year.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil can be used orally and topically. When I have used it for infection, we use 1 Tablespoon three times a day.

You might also consider turmeric - 1 teaspoon three times a day as well. Taking it at the same time as the coconut oil would be best, and adding a litle black pepper if possible. It increases its effectiveness.

Both coconut oil and turmeric together are excellent. Extra vitamin C may also be helpful.

Let us know how it goes!

~Mama to Many~

Well, I absolutely love to walk in the woods (or anywhere in nature) and do this as able. Fall is around the corner-I try to walk most days when the weather is not extreme. But mostly I just enjoy the flowers, trees, clouds, sky, birds, and ocassionally a wild turkey or deer. Most of the herbs that I use are ones that I buy in bulk. I do finally have a couple of wonderful comfrey plants growing near my house and I have wildharvested burdock, plantain, and jewelweed. But it has all been one step at a time. I would never want someone to be discouraged that they "can't do herbal medicine" because they cannot collect or grow it themselves.

I really admire Mmsg on this forum, growing things on the balcony of her apartment. I would like to see natural remedies available to anyone who wants them. Most people can grow an aloe plant on a window sill and it has many applications. Many people can buy a bag of turmeric or cayenne pepper at a local market of some sort. There much healing benefit to be had from such! (But you are correct that it is common to doubt that a plant would be very helpful. I definitely had no idea how healing plant medicine could be! )

My hobby of nautural medicine is one that has turned out to be useful for my family. I could probably enjoy searching the globe for useful medicinal plants, but alas, I have many more interests than time to pursue them, as most people do. :)

I actually grew up in the suburbs and rarely used anything "natural." Even now, I do use over the counter or prescriptions for my family, once in a while, if it seems to be the best thing. I have been grateful for some good doctors for emergency situations over the years. But year by year we have learned and applied more natural things to our lives, and it so so satisfying to have safe, simple, inexpensive options.

While we do live on a small farm, we are not living "off the grid" or anything. If my family had to live off what we grow, we would be long dead. :) I hope to empower my children to take responsibility for their health and nutrition and at the same time be grateful for what they have whether it is home grown or from the store, an herb from the woods or a medicine from the doctor. I am not Amish, though have some Amish families that live not to far from us and we admire their resourcefulness and productivity!

I haven't worn make up regularly in decades (its just not my style)...but I am quite intrigued by the creating of make up. I have a friend that has done so and it is probably something I would have fun researching and doing if I had the time.

So here a little, there a little and we each learn a little more each day!

~Mama to Many~

Internally-

Turmeric - 2-4 times a day. 1/4 t. (an adult could take 1 t. Which would be about 4 00 capsules) I mixed it with honey as he couldn't swallow pills.

Coconut oil 2-4 times a day 1 t. (1 T. For an adult, but work up to it from 1 t. ) I gave this at the same time as the turmeric as the turmeric need some fat to work the best.

Externally -

During the day - several times a day I put a mixture of olive oil, tea tree essential oil and frankinsence essential oil on his ear. (1 t. Oil plus a couple of drops of the essential oils. He is a sensitive redhead and straight would be too much.)

During the night - charcoal poultices - 1 part ground flax seed, 1 part activated charcoal powder and water to make a paste like a soft jelly. I spread this on a paper towel and folded it over and put it on his ear and covered with plastic wrap (charcoal must be wet to work) and then attached it to his head with a bandana.

Once in a while I did hot and cold soaks. This really did seem to help. I would get two containers, one with very cold water and one with hot water as much as he could stand. I would alternate hot and cold several times and end with cold.

I have noticed several good ideas for you but wanted to add this so you have lots of things you can try. Please let us know what works for you!

~Mama to Many~

Recently dx with cellulitis and the huge dose(1600 mg 2X a day) of Batrium made me horribly ill. After the doctor refused to lower the dosage or prescribe an alternative antibiotic I began my own research. Wish I had found your site earlier but nonetheless will be adding Turmeric to my daily regime.

To those who have had cellulitis... What antibiotic worked the best for you? And, what have you implemented for a preventative. Doctor tells me the chances of a recurrence are likely.

My son was hospitalized for serious, rapidly spreading cellulitis, which started with a boil. He responded well enough to antibiotics to come home, but although the culture indicated the boil was not MRSA, the boils did not respond to the various antibiotics the Drd tried. He developed multiple boils on and around his privates which wouldn't go away. By the way he's been hospitalized, had many surgeries and on intravenous and antibiotics many times for a digestive disease he was born with. The celulitis came back three times, while following the infectuous disease Dr's advice to control it, which was exhausting, frustrating for both of us and ineffective. Of course the Drs think you're not following their directions if their strategy doesn't work. Then I found this site! I gave my son one turmeric capsule three times daily for three days. A nutritionist suggested I watch the acid alkaline balance of his diet. Topically I applied black salve to any full blown boils. If I noticed any small emerging boils which have not yet formed pus at the tip, I apply straight tea tree oil to the tip only, being careful not to get it on the surrounding skin. I discovered the effectiveness of these particular topicals by observation after using so many topical remedies.The advantage of the black salve is that it stays on without a dressing. I couldn't use bandages/poultices because of the location of his boils. Nothing has worked like the turmeric, supported by the topical application of black salve and tea tree oil for healing the boils, as well as watching the diet. He now takes one turmeric a day for prevention. The origin i think is candida, but we're working on that.

My son has Down Syndrome, Hirschsprung's disease (never could spell it.), and an ileostomy, so you can imagine the difficulties with nutrition. It was an ordeal I thought would never end. I worried constantly that the celulitis would return. It's been almost a year without boils or cellulitis. Thank you for this site! If it wasn't for this site we probably would have continued with the endless cycle of antibiotics and hospitalization.

Something bit me on my forearm, and 2 days later some 30% of my entire forearm was red and swollen. This is something you'd normally go to A&E for to get IV antibiotics. But I wanted antibiotics to be a last resort, something I would use if I had fever indicating sepsis and/or compartment syndrome. I read somewhere that someone tried avocado for something similar and it worked almost miraculously overnight, and they tried it on a relative and it worked again. I had an avocado in my fridge so I thought I'd give it ago. Like the guy recommended, I simply squashed up some avocado flesh and applied it, not just on the bite mark, but all over the forearm where it was red and swollen. At first there was a stinging sensation, as though the avocado was reacting with the venom or bacteria in and around the bite mark. Then my arm felt calm, the pain and throbbing had stopped.

I applied the avocado before bed, and when I woke up, the arm felt and looked a LOT better. But as soon as I washed the avocado off, it felt like the redness and swelling was quickly coming back. So I quickly put more avocado on and the arm calmed down again.

Then on that day I learned about another person's experience with GARLIC for a similar problem. So that night I decided to apply grated garlic over the avocado. Garlic being alkaline, made my arm sting all over at first.

When I woke up the next morning, almost ALL the swelling and redness was gone! In fact, the only redness that remained was the occasional small blister caused by alkaline burns from the garlic, so you need to be careful with this one. I don't know which was the greater help, but I know both avocado and garlic helped me to cure some seriously severe cellulitis on my arm, and did so within just 2 days, something even IV antibiotics would have taken at LEAST 3-4 days to get rid of.

And all without any systemic side-effects. No gut trouble, no building up antibiotic resistance. I think it's important to also combine this topical approach with a systemic approach.

I was sure to avoid all grain-based carbs and sugars, I drank ACV diluted with water (I really think this helped), and I took a high dose of turmeric capsules.

THANK YOU for sharing this! I will be giving this a try today! I was in the ER 3 days ago for severe breast cellulitis (reconstruction implant / breast cancer). I had IV antibiotics on Sunday and am taking high dose meds along with applying coconut oil, eating tons of garlic and fresh turmeric... I am also doing HBOT therapy for 90 minutes daily.

I hope this is what will kick it over the edge on healing!

Thanks again,

~Rhonda

I ate some bad chicken breast and got very sick. A few weeks after this my cat scratched me on the leg while I was trying to get him out of the house because of a fire. A month later I began getting strong flu like systems and I noticed on my leg that the area where the cat scratched me had become a big red infected gash. I went to an emergency clinic and was told it was cellulitis. I went on 24 days of antibiotics but stopped after I started losing my hearing. By this time the gash was pretty much healed over but was red and inflammed underneath. The flu symptoms are gone and I am pretty normal except for the red gash on my upper leg. I have tried numerous natural solutions but am currently using a daily pascalite (calcium bentonite) clay internally 3x a day and a cilantro drink 2x a day to cleanse my system.

I found that Epsom salt solution also helps retard the infection topically. I've only used the clay for a week and the infection has definitely decreased. I'm just going to stick with this because I am noticing other minor healing signs as well. It is my conviction that the cellulitis is an internal problem and has to be treated both internally and externally. I think restoring health to the gut is always an essential and I am working on that as well. The clay has enabled me to sleep through most of the night. I normally take Coral Calcium and a methylated B complex to boost my system and immediate feel the lack if I miss a dosage. But with the clay I forget sometimes to take these pills because it seems to be keeping my body stronger. Hope this helps somebody. Thanks for all the good information everyone has contributed.