Some of the most potent natural antibiotics are sitting in your herb garden right now.
It is amazing how many natural sources offer healing benefits to the human body– from pain relief to immune boosting to improving your heart health to increasing brain function, there are so many herbs and plants to try before reaching for a prescription. “Natural antibiotics are usually herbs that have the ability to kill bacteria,” explains Susan Blum, MD, Founder and Director Blum Center for Health. “They come in single formulations, like oregano or grapefruit seed extract, or berberine, for example. They also come in blends of the above, and giving a blend helps make the supplement ‘broad spectrum’ and more powerful.
Trying natural antibiotics instead of prescription are a good option because they are gentler on the body and they also kill yeast, so that people who are sensitive to getting a yeast infection from antibiotics won’t have this problem.”
Here are a few natural antibiotics that will protect you from infection and disease:
- Oregano oil — If you need to deal with a foot fungus, intestinal parasites, digestive upset, or even sinus infections, oregano oil does the trick! You can apply it topically, inhale the steam, or swallow the oil to obtain the many healing benefits of this amazing oil. “It kills bad bacteria and yeast that can overgrow in the gut, and improves immune function this way. It is also possible that oregano and other herbs can work at all mucous membranes in the body when taken orally, including the lungs and sinuses, which are often the location of URI’s.”
- Colloidal silver –– Silver has been used as a healing remedy for thousands of years, and colloidal silver has proven effective at killing off microbes without affecting the host. It can even protect from tetanus toxins, diphtheria, and other very serious toxins. It’s best when used for external treatments, such as an ear wash, a gargle, or a topical skin treatment.
- Cayenne pepper –– Packed with capsaicin and other compounds, cayenne pepper makes one heck of a wonderful remedy. It acts as a natural antibiotic, and is particularly useful for treating vulvovaginitis. It can help to combat fungi and deal with strep throat.
- Garlic –– It’s not just good for killing off vampires! Garlic contains sulfur compounds that offer amazing healing benefits to the entire body. It can fight viruses, fungi, and bacteria, can eliminate heavy metals and toxins from your body, and protects your DNA against damage. It’s one of the best natural antibiotics around because it’s versatile enough to mix into most meals.
- Grapefruit seed extract –– Studies have proven that grapefruit seed extract is nearly as effective as topical antibacterials that are commonly prescribed or recommended by dermatologists today. It is also a powerful wart treatment.
READ MORE: DIY Coconut Oil for Toe Nail Fungus
- Ginger –– Ginger has long been used as an antibiotic to help reduce the risk of food poisoning when eating sushi (raw fish). Ginger has natural antibiotic properties, particularly against food-borne pathogens. It’s also wonderful at getting rid of toxins and helps to improve your digestion.
- Turmeric –– Turmeric is loaded with a wonderful compound called curcumin, a potent antioxidant that can aid in digestion, reduce inflammation, and so much more. The spice can help to reduce inflammation in the body, and can help to boost your natural immune response. “Turmeric is great for healing because it is anti-inflammatory and helps immune cells recover from an illness. It also heals the gut lining and therefore is great for immune function by improving the health of the gut.”
- Manuka honey –– This raw honey from New Zealand is listed as one of the top natural antibiotics, simply because of its ability to combat and eliminate more than 250 strains of bacteria. This includes a number of antibiotic-resistant strains, as well as bacteria that can cause ulcers. It’s also effective at dealing with skin infections, and it’s certainly one of the tastiest of the natural antibiotics, and readily available over the counter from brands like Manuka Doctor.
- Olive leaf extract –– Olive leaf extract is rich in oleuropein, a phytochemical that keeps the olive tree resistance to diseases. One of the compounds in the olive leaf extract serve as a broad spectrum antibiotic, protecting your body from a number of different types of infections. It can prevent fungi, viruses, and bacteria from multiplying.
- Echinacea –– This is one of the most popular herbs for dealing with infection and illness, and is used around the world. It can fight flus, urinary tract infections, malaria, diphtheria, and so many more health problems. Not only is it effective, but it’s much safer than many modern medications–people taking Echinacea have reported fewer side effects than when taking medication.
