Natural antibiotics

I am sure all of us, at one point or another, were given antibiotics by our medical practitioner or pharmacist.  In this article I am not going to defend it, nor am I going to tell you not to use it.  Instead I am going to tell you, my readers, more about antibiotics that you can find in your kitchen cupboard and in the supermarkets or health shops.

Garlic

Garlic not only has antibiotic- and antiviral properties, but also antifungal and antimicrobial properties.  It can help your body to get rid of invading organisms and supports your immune system at the same time.  Because garlic is a strong antioxidant, it rids the body of free radicals, therefore preventing them from damaging your cells.  For the body to absorb it optimally, crush or chew it before swallowing – this releases the active enzymes it contains.  You might be thinking: eat it raw?  No way!  If that doesn’t appeal to you, you can soak it in warm water and drink it as a tea, use it when you cook, or buy a natural, good-quality tablet at your nearest pharmacy or health shop.

Oregano oil

Oregano oil fights infections and keeps parasites at bay.  A study, that was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that oregano oil wipes out at least 5 different types of bacteria!  What is more, is that this herbal oil can be used in many different ways.  For example, you can add some drops in hot water and breathe it in for sinus infections, you can place some drops in a foot bath to get rid of toenail fungus, and you can even clean your home with it to keep bacteria at bay!

Do make sure that the oregano oil is organic and medicinal (should you want to ingest it).  Best to always dilute it with some water or mix it with a carrier like olive oil, before you take it orally.  If you have never used this orally, best to make sure you are not allergic to it.  I would suggest to just boil it (like a tea) and inhale it – again this should not be done if you are allergic.  As always, if in doubt, speak to a medical practitioner or pharmacist that have knowledge of natural, herbal medicine, before drinking it.

Honey

Honey is one of the oldest known natural antibiotics in the world.  It contains a compound called hydrogen peroxide, which apparently account for its antibacterial properties. Honey has a high sugar content, but interestingly, it is this high sugar content that seems to stop the growth of some bacterial species.  It has low pH levels that contribute to dehydrating bacteria, which causes them to die off.

Honey can be directly applied to a skin-injury to ward off infection and can be used for treating coughs and sore throats. Best to use raw, organic honey as refined types may have some of the benefits stripped away.  Be careful if you are sensitive to / allergic to honey.  Some people cannot use any kind of honey, so always check before you use it orally.

Ginger

Ginger has been used as a natural antibiotic for thousands of years.  In Asia ginger is served with many dishes as it has food poisoning prevention properties. Ginger has antibiotic effects against some of the deadliest food-borne pathogens like salmonella, listeria and campylobacter.  It also possesses antiviral properties that can help your body overcome invading pathogens.  Ginger is wonderful to use if you are nauseous or suffer from flatulence or gas.

Making some tea with fresh, raw ginger pieces, steeped for a few minutes, is wonderful.  You can add fresh lemon juice, a touch of cayenne pepper, and/or garlic – a highly effective immune boosting tonic that will help you to overcome infections naturally.

As I have said in my introduction, antibiotics is sometimes necessary.  When you have to use it, make sure to take something like Interflora (a probiotic) as antibiotics can break down the flora in our gut / stomach.  Something as simple as treating the wrong types of infections with antibiotics, or forgetting to / not wanting to finish the antibiotics’ course, can cause the bacteria to become resistant to their mechanism of action and start to thrive.  Viral infections, for example, cannot be treated successfully with antibiotics, therefore it might be a good idea to first turn to Mother Nature (and your kitchen cupboard), before using prescription antibiotics.

So yes, by all means, have that pizza or pasta-dish with garlic, oregano, etc, etc, and let us remember what generations before us used, long before medicinal antibiotics came on the market!