By Lisa Schlemback Goehringer, Nature Gal Naturals

It is habitual for most of us to head to the doctor’s office to get a prescription when faced with an infection or other illness. However, the antibiotics often prescribed can potentially wind up doing more harm than good. The truth is, nature has given us plenty of herbs, plants, fruit, vegetables and other substances that are natural healers. They help to get rid of infection without the unwanted side effects from prescription medication. Antibiotics work against the body, destroying bad bacteria while also destroying good bacteria and weakening the immune system. Foods from nature work with the body, helping it to fight infection and heal, while simultaneously strengthening the immune system.

"Whenever the immune system successfully deals with an infection, it emerges from the experience strong and better able to confront similar threats in the future. Our immune system develops in combat. If at first sign of infection, you always jump in with antibiotics, you do not give the immune system a chance to grow strong." – Dr. Andrew Weil

What Are The Dangers Of Pharmaceutical Antibiotics?

A study done by The Johns Hopkins Hospital found nearly 20% of patients treated with antibiotics experience adverse side effects. Medical Doctor Pranita Tamma, assistant professor of paediatrics and director of the Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital states: “Too often, clinicians prescribe antibiotics even if they have a low suspicion for a bacterial infection, thinking that even if antibiotics may not be necessary, they are probably not harmful. But that is not always the case. Antibiotics have the potential to cause real harm to patients.” Side effects include allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, candida overgrowth, diarrhoea, destruction of good bacteria, intestinal inflammation, increased risk for diabetes, and gastrointestinal, kidney and blood abnormalities. The changes in gut microbiome leads to increased susceptibility to infections, compromised immune homeostasis, and deregulated metabolism. While antibiotics have their place in medicine, natural therapies are definitely safer and can actually be more effective.

5 Strong and Natural Antibiotics

GARLIC

Garlic has been used for centuries in various societies to combat infectious disease. Garlic possesses potent antibiotic, antiviral, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial properties and are able to help protect and facilitate removal of unfriendly bacteria, giardiasis, candida overgrowth, E. coli, It is also very high in natural antioxidants that destroy free radicals and support a strong immune system. The allicin in garlic is a powerful antifungal and antiviral that helps the body fight illness. Garlic is often treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting, so it is very important to buy organic garlic.

How to use: Take 1 clove per day of raw garlic. Chop or mince it up (this releases the allicin enzyme) and swallow with a drink of choice.

RAW MANUKA HONEY

The use of honey as a medicine has been traditionally used throughout the history of the human race. Honey is an amazing antibiotic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic which can effectively inhibit many problematic bacterial pathogens, and it can also be used to treat wounds. Honey is rich in antioxidant compounds that could protect cells from the harmful action of free radicals and consequently prevent oxidative stress; therefore, over time, helping to prevent the risk of age-related diseases.

The antimicrobial activity in most honeys is due to the enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide. However, manuka honey, displays significant antibacterial effects even when the hydrogen peroxide activity is blocked. It also contains several other antibiotic components that are not found in other types of honey such as phytochemical components like methylglyoxal. Microbial resistance to honey has never been reported, which makes it an amazing and predictable topical antimicrobial agent against the infection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Note: The consumption of Manuka honey UMF 20+ has been evaluated proving to be completely safe for healthy individuals. Please also note that it is crucial that you purchase raw, unpasteurised, and organic honey, as regular commercial honey is highly refined and stripped of many of its health benefits as a result. If possible, find a honey with the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF), which is a label identifying and measuring the antibacterial strength of Manuka. It will be from a New Zealand licensed company and have this trademark on the package.

How to use: To experience the most benefit, you should take a dose of about 1-2 tablespoons of Manuka honey a day. You can take it straight or add it to your favourite herbal tea, spread it on sprouted grain toast, or drizzle it over your oatmeal. You can also make a paste with fresh minced turmeric or powder and apply to an external infection.

OREGANO OIL

Oregano oil contains two main high phenols, thymol and carvacrol, which are natural photochemical compounds that provide antioxidant and antibacterial effects. It has been proven to enhance the healing process in bacterial infections. Two studies have shown that oregano oil appears to reduce infection as effectively as traditional antibiotics. It has also been demonstrated that oregano oil has components other than carvacrol that have antibiotic properties.

This oil helps boost the immune system and fight against certain bacteria such as salmonella, E. Coli, and candida. It also assists in preventing and treating respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, parasites and staphylococcus.

How to take: Dilute the oil as per instructions on bottle and place it under your tongue. Hold it there for a few minutes, and then rinse it out. Repeat at least four times a day. Take oregano oil internally for a maximum of two weeks, and take a couple of week’s break before taking it again because it’s so powerful. Take 5 drops a day. For sinus infections you can put a few drops of oregano oil in a pot of steaming water and inhale.

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms are considered one of the richest sources of natural antibiotics. Did you know extracts of many antibiotics are typically extracted from mushrooms? The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered in the Penicillin rubens mold. Ganomycin, a powerful modern antibiotic, comes from Reishi mushrooms. For their own protection in nature, fungi have developed a combination of medicinal compounds with antibacterial and antiviral properties which in turn are effective for building immune response in humans.

The top five medicinal mushrooms include:

1. Reishi
2. Mitake
3. Agarikon
4. Coriolus
5. Shitake

How to use: Look for raw organic mushroom powder and infuse in hot water for 10 minutes to make a tea. Avoid straining to reduce loss of nutrients.

TURMERIC

Turmeric is highly anti-inflammatory and also possesses antimicrobial and antiviral and anti-parasitic properties which makes it a great natural herbal alternative to fight off infections. Turmeric compounds show activity against cancer, eye infections, hepatitis, herpes, HIV, staph infections and more. Turmeric strengthens the body’s natural defences and reduces digestive tract inflammation.

The active compound in Turmeric, curcumin, produces antiviral activity by inhibiting the interaction of viral proteins with cellular receptors on host cells. This prevents the replication, gene expression and future infection of viruses by various mechanisms specific to the diseases.

How to use: Turmeric can safely be incorporated into your diet when taken appropriately. Add a piece of fresh turmeric to your fresh juices or smoothies, or grate it into salads. Combining it with pepper and fat (like coconut oil or avocado) enhances the absorption of the healing compound curcumin.

• Cut root: 1.5-3 grams per day
• Dried, powdered root: 1-3 grams per day
• Fluid extract (1:1): 30-90 drops per day
• Tincture (1:2): 15-30 drops, up to 4 times per day

The recommended curcumin dosage for a standard powder supplement is 400-600 mg, 3 times per day.

I share this information to encourage people who believe they may need, or are prescribed, pharmaceutical antibiotics to ask questions and understand the potential risks. Even when an extra boost is needed, you may not need to run to the doctor for a prescription; instead, rely on natural antibiotics and healers to help boost the immune system.