Staph, Golden Staph, or Staphylococcus Aures is a bacterial skin infection that is (unfortunately) common in those with weakened immune systems (from HIV, poor diet, drug use, etc.) and crusty ass'd punx that avoid showers like they are the black death.

First off, how do you avoid contracting a Staph infection? I don't care if you're anti-hygiene or if you're an obsessive compulsive hand washer -- keep any open cuts, sores, and blisters clean!! This means washing them. Anti-bacterial soap, alcohol, peroxide, and Witch Hazel are hella cheap, (like 68 cents a bottle) and alcohol wipes are commonly available @ most needle exchange sights and street outreach people. Also, try to cover any open wound or sore with Band Aids or, failing that, a napkin and some tape (masking or duct tape work best). Remember that even a hangnail or paper cut on yer hand is an opening to infection when you're digging around in a dumpster or picking your dirty self!

A good way to avoid catching the Staph virus, (and I can't emphasize this enough) is to never, ever let your bare feet touch the floor in a public toilet or shower. The bacteria that causes Staph breeds like mad in a hot, moist environment, and all it takes is one little blister or cut on yer foot to contract it. Wear your boots, sandals, or flip flops when showering in shelters, sallies, etc. Hell, wrap yer damn feet in plastic baggies with rubber bands if ya have to -- you can always wash them off in a sink later on. Believe me, boys and girls, I'm serious. Me whole leg almost rotted off because of failure to heed this advice.

Another way to avoid Staph infections is to build up yer immune system with massive doses of Vitamin C, (drink OJ!) and to maintain a diet high in fiber, with lots of fruit and veggies. This is also a good idea if you have contracted the virus, as it will help your body to fight it off.

How do ya know if you have Staph? First of all, pay attention to the time it takes your body to heal from small cuts and abrasions. When Staph is wide spread these cuts will stay infected and not heal at all. In fact, if the infection is entrenched in yer system any cut or blister will not heal, and may open up into a larger wound, (kinda like gangrene -- nice, eh?)

Other symptoms include redness and irritation of the skin, rashes, eethyma, impetigo, and folliculitis. Basically, for those of us who don't know Latin, the latter termz refer to tiny pustules or nasty little pimples that may ooze fluid or puss. Wounds and cuts may also ooze puss and should be washed and cleaned thoroughly. Another symptom of Staph is cellulitis, which is defined as "swelling, tenderness, and warmth of localized tissue, most commonly on the face and extremities", (i.e. fingerz and toes). So if ya notice that happening, watch out!

The Staph virus is very, very, very contagious -- so when treating someone with the disease try and wear gloves and avoid contact with blood, pus, flaky skin, and all that icky stuff.

Remember to share the healing, not the disease.

Now as far as treatment, my own experience with the Staph virus wuz a goddamn nightmare. The earlier you treat it, the easier it is to get rid of, and I let it go for a long time and nearly lost my leg as a result. This is no joke! I'll give ya'll the straight dope and healing tip: people gave me all kindz of wak folk remedies -- I soaked my feet in Epsom salt, was on these very strong antibiotics and the disease still festered. It was not till I tried natural remedies that sum old wives showed me that I actually started to heal.

Whilst researching this article I went to a pharmacist and asked what to do about Staph, to kinda get the take on a Western Medicine angle, and this is no lie: every article and file the guy pulled up for me on Staph, (much thanx by the way to the nice pharmacist at Rite Aid for the research) wuz about how it was a monster virus that is becoming mo' and mo' resistant to antibiotics everyday. This has the doctors, (who pretty much have depended upon antibiotics for years to fight infections) seriously worried!

But trust yer street doc here, lads and lassies, n' ya can't go wrong.

First, get on a healthy diet as mentioned before, to boost yer immune system.

Second, garlick, garlick, and mo' garlick. Garlick is the best natural blood cleanser known to human kind. You cannot get enough garlick! Eat all you can, I mean like a clove a day, even if ya can't stand the taste, get those odorless, tasteless dietary supplements.

Other eliminative herbs that aid the blood stream, kidneys, etc. are Echinacea, Yarrow, Chamomile, Dandelion, Slippery Elm, Thyme, Celery Ceed, Milk Thistle, St. Johns Wort, and Esyllium -- these should be taken internally with food.

Now the vulnerary herbs, (wound healers) are topical and should be applied to cuts, blisters, and soles. These are: Tea Tree (good stuff), Arnica, Aloe, Calendula, Elder Flowers, Stinging Nettle, Marshmallow root, Witch Hazel, Yarrow, and Goldenseal. Apply to wound either in ointment form or with a cool compress or poultice. (See elsewhere in this site on how to make a poultice).

Healin' to ya'.