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As the name implies, antibiotics help fight bacterial infections. They have no effect on infections caused by viruses, such as the common cold, seasonal influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and some ear infections. Antibiotic drugs are routinely overused, both in human medicine and agriculture, resulting in the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant infections.<\/p>\n
Taking an antibiotic unnecessarily will also kill off your beneficial gut bacteria, which could make it more difficult for you to recover from your illness. The good news is there are many natural plant-based remedies that will help kill bacteria without the risk of building resistance. Here\u2019s a review of 10 natural antimicrobials you can reach for as a first line of defense, before resorting to a pharmaceutical antibiotic.<\/p>\n
As long as you use the right kind of honey, science backs its use for a variety of bacterial infections, especially when used topically. As explained in the 2011 paper, \u201cHoney: Its Medicinal Property and Antibacterial Activity\u201d:1<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n \u201c[The] medicinal importance of honey has been documented in the world\u2019s oldest medical literatures, and since the ancient times, it has been known to possess antimicrobial property as well as wound-healing activity.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The healing property of honey is due to the fact that it offers antibacterial activity, maintains a moist wound condition, and its high viscosity helps to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection. Its immunomodulatory property is relevant to wound repair too.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The antimicrobial activity in most honeys is due to the enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide. However, another kind of honey, called non-peroxide honey (viz., manuka honey), displays significant antibacterial effects even when the hydrogen peroxide activity is blocked …<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The medical grade honeys have potent in vitro bactericidal activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria causing several life-threatening infections to humans.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In 2018, the U.K. Department of Health proposed guidelines recommending the use of honey as a first line of treatment for coughs, as part of its goal to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use. As reported by BBC News:2<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n \u201cA hot drink with honey \u2014 and often with lemon and ginger as well \u2014 is a well-known home remedy for coughs and a sore throat … [P]roposed guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Public Health England (PHE) say there is some limited evidence that it can help improve cough symptoms.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The nectar from the manuka flower contains dihydroxyacetone, a precursor to methylglyoxal (MGO), an antimicrobial compound not found in most other honey. Australian manuka honey is perhaps the most well-known and well-studied medicinal honey, with clinical studies demonstrating its effectiveness in the treatment of:3<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first manuka-based medical product in 20076<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0(Medihoney by Derma Sciences Inc.). Today, several different brands of Manuka-based wound and burn dressings can be found online.<\/p>\n Do not use conventional store-bought honey for wound care. It lacks the medicinal qualities of medicinal honeys like Manuka, and could potentially feed rather than inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. For more information, see this September 21, 2022,\u00a0article on Manuka honey<\/a>. Used internally, your best bet is raw, locally sourced, unprocessed honey. There\u2019s a lot of\u00a0fake honey<\/a>\u00a0out there, so use caution.<\/p>\n Garlic has been used to fight bacterial and parasitical infections for centuries. According to a 2014 review, garlic has been proven effective against \u201ca plethora of gram-positive, gram-negative, and acid-fast bacteria,\u201d including but not limited to:7<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n Importantly, garlic \u201cexerts a differential inhibition between beneficial intestinal microflora and potentially harmful enterobacteria,\u201d meaning it inhibits bad bacteria while leaving good bacteria alone.8<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n Garlic also has antiprotozoal and antifungal properties, and according to the 2014 review9<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0above, garlic can be an effective treatment for conditions such as Candida albicans, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and giardiasis.<\/p>\n In the case of giardiasis \u2014 an intestinal infection marked by stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and watery diarrhea \u2014 researchers found commercially available garlic capsules eliminated the symptoms in all patients within 24 hours.<\/p>\n Research also supports the use of garlic and garlic derivatives for chronic external- and middle-ear infections. According to one such study,10<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0two components of garlic, allicin and s-allyl cysteine (SAC), were effective against the microorganisms involved in most ear infections, even at low concentrations. Garlic-infused oils are commercially available, but you can also make your own. Here\u2019s a recipe previously published by Verywell Health:11<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n \u201cYou will need one garlic clove, olive oil, a pan, a strainer, a glass jar with a lid, a dropper, and a piece of cotton. You can make your own garlic oil in a few easy steps:<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 1.<\/span>Peel and crush up the garlic.<\/em><\/p>\n 2.<\/span>Warm the oil and garlic slowly on low heat until the garlic and oil are fragrant.<\/em><\/p>\n 3.<\/span>Remove it from heat so that the mixture can cool down.<\/em><\/p>\n 4.<\/span>Strain the garlic from the oil while pouring it into a jar.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Once the oil is ready, you can use it as you would any other type of eardrop.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Ginger<\/a>, available in extract, tincture, oil and oral capsule form, also has potent antimicrobial activity. A 2020 study12<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0demonstrated that ginger essential oil was effective against E. coli and S. aureus, two bacteria involved in periodontal infections.<\/p>\n According to the authors, the bactericidal effects of ginger essential oil appears to be due to its ability to disrupt the bacterial cell membrane. As such, it may also be useful in food preservation.<\/p>\n Another study13<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0found a 10% ginger extract effectively killed Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis, which are also implicated in the causation of oral infections. More than a dozen other bacteria are also vulnerable to its effects,14<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0as are a number of biofilms.15<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n Ginger is not suitable for children under age 2, and adults should not take more than 4 grams of ginger per day. Pregnant women are advised to cap their intake at 1 gram per day.16<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n Echinacea extract has antibacterial properties and is known to have been used by Native Americans for more than 400 years to treat wounds and infections. According to Mount Sinai Hospital,17<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0echinacea<\/a>\u00a0may be used to treat \u201curinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete’s foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
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<\/div>\nGarlic<\/h2>\n
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\n Salmonella<\/td>\n Escherichia coli<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Pseudomonas<\/td>\n Proteus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Staphylococcus aureus<\/td>\n Klebsiella<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Micrococcus<\/td>\n Bacillus subtIlis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Clostridium<\/td>\n Mycobacterium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Helicobacter<\/td>\n Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n\nGinger<\/h2>\n
Echinacea<\/h2>\n