Given the issues associated with health care, it has become more and more necessary to be able to tend to most of your common medical conditions at home. Fortunately, there are quite a few natural antibiotics that can be easily kept in your home for whenever they are necessary. Many of them you already use regularly. We will take a look at 15 of these natural antibiotics while answering a few questions, like: What are natural antibiotics? What is the strongest natural antibiotic? Is honey a natural antibiotic? Can you use natural antibiotics for sinus infection or other conditions?
Before we get into exploring these home remedies, you should be aware that these are not all inclusive cures. Serious illnesses and chronic conditions may need the treatment and advice of a health care professional.
Top 15 Natural Antibiotics that Have Surprising Properties
1. Garlic
When it comes to natural antibiotics, garlic is toward the top of the list. This may be the strongest natural antibiotic. Garlic has a compound called allicin which has potent antibiotic, antiviral, anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties. It has been used for thousands of years to ward off diseases and even vampires. Consuming garlic on a regular basis will boost your immune system and prevent most illnesses before they even get started.
What to do:
- Add garlic as a seasoning to your meals.
- Crush it, boil it for 7 to 10 minutes and drink it in a tea.
- Whenever you feel a cold coming on, just peel it and eat it raw.
2. Oregano Oil
Pathogenic bacteria don’t even stand a chance against oil of oregano, next on our list of natural antibiotics. Besides getting rid of bacteria oil of oregano is also antiviral and anti-fungal, giving you additional resistance. The potent ingredient in oil of oregano is carvacrol. This substance rivals pharmaceutical drugs in effectiveness, but doesn’t disrupt beneficial bacteria in your body.
What to do:
- Select oil of oregano concentrations which contain at least 70% carvacrol.
- You can use it in tinctures or teas as well as topically.
- Check out other uses for oil of oregano.
3. Manuka Honey
Is honey a natural antibiotic? Yes, it is, and a powerful one at that. Among the most potent varieties of honey is manuka honey. This honey is effective because bacteria cannot or do not build up a resistance to it.
What to do:
- This honey can be used topically on wounds to assist in healing infections.
- You can take it internally as an alternative to refined sweeteners.
- Also, you can consume it by itself as a remedy.
4. Echinacea
A cup of echinacea tea is one of the best natural antibiotics for holding off the onset of or reducing the severity of colds and flu. It is particularly effective against dangerous MRSA bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus. It has also been used for hundreds of years to treat open wounds, diphtheria and blood poisoning.
What to do:
- Most often, many use echinacea brewed as a tea.
- It can be used in a number of different ways, for its remedies.
5. Cayenne Pepper
The capsaicin in cayenne pepper is what makes it such a potent remedy among natural antibiotics. Science has validated both the anti-fungal and antibiotic effects of capsaicin. This raises its status above what was once called anecdotal folklore. You can also use it as seasoning in your kitchen. Probably, it is even sitting unused in your spice rack.
What to do:
- When used topically, you have to mix capsaicin with carrier oils like coconut or olive oil before you apply it.
- Cayenne pepper also makes an excellent remedy for sore throats and is among the best natural antibiotics for sinus infection.
6. Grapefruit Seed Extract
Another item on our list of natural antibiotics is grapefruit seed extract (GSE). GSE rivals garlic as on the list of the strongest natural antibiotics. GSE had bacterial growth inhibiting properties in topical applications that went beyond the effectiveness of its pharmaceutically produced competitors in scientific studies. Also, it is effective against a wide variety of organisms as well.
What to do:
- This antibiotic is most often used in topical applications.
- If you intend to consume it, it I best to make your own extract. You just need to grind the grapefruit seeds and consuming the pulp.
7. Ginger
Many people have eaten raw ginger served along with their sushi. Yet, few truly understand that this is a powerful remedy among natural antibiotics. Ginger is most effective at preventing food poisoning. It is also extremely effective at killing salmonella, listeria and campylobacter. In addition, fresh ginger can also aid digestion without harming beneficial bacteria in the gut.
What to do:
- If you are going out to eat, it isn’t a bad idea to chow down on a piece of ginger before you leave the house. Peel a finger of ginger about ½ inch long, chew it thoroughly and swallow.
- You can also make ginger tea and consume it 20 to 30 minutes before a meal.
8. Turmeric
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric is among also one of the most powerful natural antibiotics in your kitchen. It is often disguised as curry powder. It is best known for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is also a potent antibiotic for sinus infection and allergy relief. It is most effective used internally when it is mixed with black pepper in a 1:10 ratio to help it absorb.
What to do:
- Mix 1 tsp of turmeric and 1/8 tsp of black pepper in 1 cup of warm milk.
- Drink this remedy every 4 hours to help fight off infection.
- You can mix 1 tsp of turmeric with 1 Tbsp of honey. Use it topically to fight infection and heal wounds as well.
9. Tea Tree Oil
One of the most powerful natural antibiotics you can use topically is tea tree oil. It is especially effective against antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. Moreover, it is so powerful that it is most often used diluted in a carrier oil. Also, you should not consume raw tea tree oil.
What to do:
- Dilute tea tree oil at a 1:1 ratio and apply it to infected areas.
- Be careful using this around your eyes and sensitive membranes.
10. Aloe Vera
The cooling and refreshing effects of aloe vera go beyond their typical use for healing sunburns. Because of its potent properties is another item among the natural antibiotics to keep in your home. Surprisingly enough, the gel inside the chutes of this plant inhibits the growth of streptococcus and shigella bacteria. Anthraquinones, several lectins, sallcylic acid and acetylated mannans and ploymannans make what gives aloe vera its potency. Also, these compounds are being studied regularly with promising results for numerous health benefits.
What to do:
- Slice open a chute of aloe vera and scrape out the inner gel.
- You can add 1 Tbsp to a glass of juice or mix it with honey to fight cold or flu.
- You can also apply this gel directly to a wound or burn to fight off infection and promote healing.
11. Goldenseal
Another ingredient among on our list of natural antibiotics which you should keep in your home is goldenseal. This herb is a rising star among immunity boosting and herbal antibiotics. It is effective against respiratory, digestive and genitourinary tract infections.
What to do:
- For goldenseal tea, pour 1 cup of very hot water over 2 tsp of the dried herb. Then, cover and allow to steep for 15 minutes before straining and drinking.
- Mix 1 ½ tsp of goldenseal tincture into 1 cup of lukewarm water.
- This mixture can be used as a gargle to relieve sore throat or in a neti pot for sinusitis treatment.
12. Cabbage
Cabbage probably isn’t an item you would expect to find on a list of natural antibiotics. The sulfur compounds from cabbage make it a powerful antibiotic. Fermented, its powerful properties come alive and they help to produce beneficial bacteria in the gut while starving out bad bacteria. Something that might also intrigue you is to know that cabbage contains 75% DV of vitamin C in a single cup.
What to do:
- Consume cabbage raw in a salad.
- You can also drink it from a juicer to obtain its healing benefits for colds, flu and intestinal tract issues.
- Add kimchi or sauerkraut into your diet 3 to 4 times per week.
13. Apple Cider Vinegar
Another top performer among natural antibiotics is apple cider vinegar (ACV). There are probably more benefits derived from ACV than nearly any other natural ingredient available. ACV has both antibiotic and antiseptic properties which make it great for fighting off infections of all kinds.
What to do:
- Stay ahead of bacterial development by drinking 1 tsp of ACV in 12 oz. of warm water every morning when you first get out of bed.
- You can use a less diluted mixture as a gargle for sore throat as well.
- Mixed in equal parts with honey, it can help calm a cough.
- Soaking infected wounds in diluted ACV is another option.
14. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
You can hardly build a list of natural antibiotics without including coconut oil. Its antibiotic properties come from its medium chain fatty acids found in abundance. It is very effective when used in orthodontic applications. This is because it can kill bacteria in the mouth. Coconut oil can also relieve pain from an abscess or other infection until you can get to your dentist’s office.
What to do:
- Make your own natural toothpaste without the harmful chemical additives and fluoride using coconut oil.
- Oil pulling with coconut oil is effective at fighting bacteria in the mouth as well.
15. Cinnamon
Among the other powerful natural antibiotics from your spice rack is cinnamon. It is efficient at eliminating fungal infections like candida. However, it also inhibits the growth of food-borne bacteria, making it an excellent food preserver and preventive remedy for food poisoning. Researchers have indicated that cinnamon oil is effective at fighting serious infections like staphylococcus and E. coli bacteria.
What to do:
- Sprinkle cinnamon on your food to spice it up and give you a health boost.
- Drinking cinnamon tea make from tea bags or from boiling a cinnamon stick in 1 ½ cups of water for 10 minutes can help get rid of bacteria causing sore throat or intestinal tract bacteria.
- You can also use cinnamon oil as an additive in the coconut toothpaste listed above.
To Natural Health
What is a natural antibiotic? They are common herbs, spices and foods that come from nature without being refined or processed. When it comes to your overall health and wellness, being prepared to face bacterial and other infections is a must. Keeping these 15 natural antibiotics in your home is not a difficult task given the fact that most of them have other culinary uses.
Stock up on several of your favorite antibiotic foods, herbs and spices and be ready for anything that might occur. If you have additional natural antibiotics to add to our list or have success stories using them to share, please add them in the comments section below.
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