When you listen to antibiotics, the first word that pops into your mind is probably something like amoxicillin, penicillin, or Cipro. Whether it’s a toothache caused by an infection, bronchitis, or open wounds, your doctor will likely give you this class of medication.
While they are certainly NOT a substitute for prescription treatments, it is interesting to see the many foods, herbs, and spices that show antimicrobial activity in vitro (in laboratory experiments). They are called “natural”, but to be clear, they should not be confused with antibiotics.
Rather, these are something completely different: organic substances that demonstrate at least some antimicrobial activity in experiments. That’s it
1.Oregano oil
Oregano oil cares for pathogenic bacteria without altering beneficial bacteria. It is also antiviral and anti-fungal, making it a powerful natural antibiotic with a three-in-one combination that competes with pharmaceuticals and does not encourage antibiotic resistance.
The key antimicrobial ingredient in oregano oil is carvacrol. You need to make sure your source is at least 70 per cent carvacrol content for it to be effective.
2.Cinnamon
A search for the two words “cinnamon antibiotic” in PubMed yielded more than 100 results. Not only has it been extensively studied for having antibacterial properties on its own, but it has even been evaluated for its possible combination with traditional antibiotics such as doxycycline.
By itself, doxycycline is a type of tetracycline antibiotic commonly used for cystic acne, urinary tract infections, gum disease, and many others.
Cinnamon bark essential oil has been tested in laboratory experiments for products ranging from drug-resistant strains of E. coli to possible benefits against Listeria in meat.
If we will ever see that this spice developed in real treatments can be complicated by the fact that the most popular type, cassia cinnamon, is toxic to the human liver. Instead, perhaps the Ceylon variety could offer more potential for cinnamon benefits in healthcare.
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3.Colloidal silver
The colloidal silver got by electrolysis of unadulterated silver in refined water is viewed as one of the most powerful and compelling normal antiseptics. An adequate dose of this antibiotic does not have side effects or cause rejection or allergic reactions. Furthermore, it is capable of acting very effectively and very quickly on infectious diseases.
Searle stated that the application of colloidal silver to human subjects has been carried out in a large number of cases with surprising results. The main advantage was that it was quickly fatal to microbes without toxic action on its host.
Recent research also claims that colloidal silver can destroy antibiotic-resistant microbes like MRSA, avian flu, and SARS.
Almost a decade ago, there was an interesting report in a medical journal on the use of colloidal silver in a 12-year-old boy with severe cystic fibrosis, but it is not approved for that or any other medical use. Much more research is needed on this mineral before it can be considered a candidate for treatment.
4.Echinacea
What should you take for a cold? You often hear people say that echinacea is a good herbal remedy to relieve symptoms.
Since the common cold is a viral infection, antibiotics have no effect on it. The interesting thing about Echinacea is that there are studies that suggest that it could be antibacterial and be a natural antiviral.
Echinacea, which is actually a type of daisy, is one of the most studied herbs. PubMed shows over a thousand entries, and if you filter them into clinical trials only, you get 83.
As for its potential as a natural antiviral supplement, the most interesting clinical trial is from 2012 simply because of its large size.
The difference was said to be 26% shorter in duration of illness. Recurrent colds were reduced by 59% in the study. While it sounds good, the UK government’s NHS pointed out some of the main concerns they had about the study
- Results table was not published.
- No error estimates were reported around effect measures
- No financing statement
- Only partial disclosure due to conflicts of interest.
- Selective reporting of results.
Do natural antibiotics work? While this study technically looked for the antiviral, the concerns expressed above are reasons why you really have to look beyond the headlines, regardless of what an alleged herbal cure or treatment may be.
5.Garlic
Of all the natural antibiotics, garlic is one of my favourites. The reason is that it kills pathogens, not only bacteria but also fungi and viruses without damaging the beneficial intestinal flora.
Garlic is capable of eliminating phytochemicals and sulfur healing components. These sulfur compounds even chelate toxic heavy metals (such as lead and cadmium), bind with them for excretion outside the body.
- It has antibacterial, antifungal, and even antiviral qualities.
- It promotes the growth of a healthy intestinal microflora by acting as a prebiotic (food for probiotics).
- Garlic helps prevent fats from oxidizing.
- Garlic acts as a strong antioxidant and protects against DNA damage.
- Protects against radiation and sun damage.
- Garlic fights worms and parasites.
- It benefits digestion, which is good for the whole body.
It contains numerous supplements, for example, nutrients (C, B 1, B 2, B 3), minerals (calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc and phytochemicals (allicin, beta-carotene, beta).
6.Manuka Honey
What would be this list of natural antibiotics without raw honey that has been used as an infection fighter since ancient times? Of all the honey on the planet, UMF certified New Zealand manuka honey is the best when it comes to solving infections. Just make sure it has never been heated.
Manuka honey to be effective against more than 250 strains of bacteria, including:
- MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
- MSSA (methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus)
- VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci)
- Helicobacter Pylori (which can cause stomach ulcers)
The good thing about Manuka honey is that it is food. Personally, I’ve found it most effective for skin infections (only applied as needed), but research indicates an internal benefit in fighting infection and shrinking the cavity that causes bacteria responsible for dental plaque.
