10 Natural Antibiotics Supplements To Try
Long before the 1940s when pharmaceutical antibiotics were first developed, foods were used to help fight off infection and illness on a daily basis. People understood that there were certain foods that helped to fight off infection and that there were herbs that could fight disease. Many of the popular medicines and antibiotics that are available today are based on the initial findings of our forefathers. Over time, we have developed these herbal remedies and natural antibiotics into more packaged and controlled substances.
This means that today there are many options. While some people prefer the commercial and pharmaceutical antibiotics, the old standard natural antibiotics still have quite a pull and can helpful in your daily life. Unlike commercial products, they don’t always kill off everything, but they are gentle enough to be used on a daily basis and often cheaper than other alternatives.
What Are Natural And Commercial Antibiotics?
Natural antibiotics are substances and foods found in nature that help ward off disease and infection. You can get natural antibiotics from a number of sources including:
- Herbs
- Trees and Shrubs
- Fruit and Vegetables
- Grains
- Fungus
- Animal Byproducts
Commercial and pharmaceuticals have been known to be misused by the general public, hospitals and medical care professionals. They are often made in a lab and use the components of the natural antibiotic source and then create chemical reactions or compounds that often alter and magnify the effect of the plant. On the plus side, they are sometimes more reliable. On the downside, they can kill off too many bacteria or can complications if not used properly.
For example, today most health professionals will recommend probiotics whenever they prescribe any pharmaceutical antibiotics. This is due to the negative effects that pharmaceutical antibiotics can have on the natural occurring flora and bacteria that live in the digestive system, needed to maintain good health. Remember, this is nutritional, not medical advice, and you should always consult your primary care provider or health professional for medical advice and procedures.
Keep in mind that since some commercial products do use natural properties as well, you can overdo it on a supplement if one of your medicines or treatments already has the supplement included in the chemical make up.
For this reason, you should always consult your primary care physician before making major changes to your normal health plan, including if you are considering replacing a prescription antibiotic with a holistic option.
How Do Natural Antibiotics Work?
The compounds within many of the natural antibiotics in this guide have been known to be beneficial to the human body for centuries. Sometimes referred to as astringent foods, natural antibiotic foods work by cleansing the blood without removing the bacteria in our digestive system that helps keep us healthy or having other negative side effects to the body.
Each natural antibiotic has it’s own benefit to the body and there is no one source that can cure everything. However, there are a number of foods, herbs and other healing supplements that can help you fight off infection both externally and internally.
Sources of Natural Antibiotics
Below are listed the top 10 holistic antibiotics that you can find at your local store. Each of them provides a separate benefit and you may find that they are more effective when you use a couple of them with each other.
Let’s take a closer look and see how each can help.
Cabbage
Eating cabbage can be an excellent way to manage your weight prevent disease and improve digestion. Eating shredded raw cabbage as a side dish like in coleslaw, in your salad or drinking fresh cabbage juice with a bit of honey to sweeten it is a great way to not only gain its antibacterial benefits but also add vitamin c to your diet. Surprising to many people, seventy five percent of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin c is contained in eight ounces of cabbage.
How Does Cabbage Work as An Antibiotic?
A member of the cruciferous family of vegetables (the same family as Broccoli and kale) Cabbage contains sulfur compounds that are known to have antibacterial as well as cancer fighting effects
Colloidal Silver
Colloidal silver is an antibiotic treatment that has been successfully used to help fight off infections for centuries. You have probably seen it advertised on television or may have even read about machines that can be purchased to make your own colloidal silver at home but what exactly is colloidal silver? Simply put, colloidal silver is a suspension of liquid that has tiny particles of silver mixed into it.
How Does Colloidal Silver Work as An Antibiotic?
Colloidal silver works to kill off harmful bacteria by depriving them of their supply of oxygen. It also works against the enzyme that single-cell have to have to multiply. Because Colloidal silver is a heavy metal. too much of any heavy metal can be toxic so colloidal silver should only be used as a temporary treatment . Don't forget to always check with your primary care physician before using any of these treatments !
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Whether you stir a spoonful in your morning coffee for added energy and a clearer head all day or using it externally, there is just not enough that can be said about using the natural benefits of coconut oil. It really is one of the most unique and versatile gifts mother nature has to offer!
There is not enough that can be said for the benefits of coconut oil.
Stir a spoonful into your morning coffee for added energy and a clearer head all day.
How Does Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Work as An Antibiotic?
Coconut oils has antioxidants that you can`t find anywhere else in nature that can help to balance cholesterol and thyroid levels as well as blood sugar. An immune system booster and safe to use externally as well as internally coconut oil is also proven to improve brain function as well!
Echinacea
Native to North America, Echinacea, also is known as the “Purple Coneflower” or “Snakeroot”. It has for centuries been used to treat pain and sickness as a remedy in tribal medicine. Today it is made popular in health supplements to fight the cold and flu (such as Airborne) because it is proven to boost immunity internally in the body.
How Does Echinacea Work as An Antibiotic?
Echinacea works by stimulating the immunes system by naturally boosting in your body's bloodstream your system's natural infection fighters. Echinacea is similar in its effects to garlic, but unlike Garlic Echinacea should not be used for more than 10 days at a time. A powerful antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial solution Echinacea can be a good choice to use at the first signs of illness or colds and is available in capsule form as well as in liquid format.
Fermented Foods and Gut Busters
Research has proven that one of the overall keys to wellness and cancer prevention is a balanced gut. Fermented foods and probiotics are both gut busters that have been proven to give beneficial effects on the digestion system while promoting whole body wellness.
Probiotics not only work to help the good bacteria, (gut flora) live and flourish but they can also help to boost them in your digestive system as well. The last decade has had many incredible medical discoveries and of those probiotics are one of the most incredible.
The good bacteria in your digestive system is so important that doctors are now recommending that their patients that are on prescriptions for antibiotics supplement with a probiotic supplements and to eat fermented foods. Fermented foods are packed with natural probiotics that are far more easily processed by your body then supplements alone, so using the two in conjunction with each other makes sense to get the most out of your health supplement.
Aside from probiotics other options for gut protection comes in the form of fermented foods like:
- Kombucha
- Raw Milk Yogurt
- Kefir
How Does Fermented Foods Work as An Antibiotic?
Fermented foods, provide healing for your body and act as an antibiotic in a non-traditonal sense. They don’t actually kill off the bad bacteria as most antibacterials do. Rather, they balance out the positive bacterias that have a beneficial effect on your gut. In doing this, the body is able to more effectively remove the offending bacteria that makes you sick.
Garlic
Garlic has been used for over seven million years to treat everything from simple maladies to serious disease. Whether it be a common cold, serious infection or simple inflammation garlic can be used to reduce or remedy these ailments and for those who dislike the taste, it can be supplemented in a flavor free format.
How Does Garlic Work as An Antibiotic?
A member of the onion family, this wondrous superfood is an antioxidant, meaning it helps to eliminate free radicals that cause cancer. Garlic is also antiparasitic, antifungal antiinflammatory as well as being a natural antibiotic. But how does it work? When crushed or chewed raw garlic contains allicin. A compound which has properties that act a bit like penicillin!
Besides having minerals, vitamins and nutrients that aid in fighting infection and aiding in a healthier lifestyle, it can cost pennies on the dollar compared to expensive doctor benefits.
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)
Grapefruit seed extract can be an effective antibiotic to help fight against over eight hundred different types of bacteria and viruses as well as many different parasites. It is also an effective deterrent to over a hundred different strains of fungi as well. These findings were published in a study by the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
How Does Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) Work as An Antibiotic?
Grapefruit seed extract works by alkalizing the body naturally. Studies have shown that alkalizing the body can also be a natural deterrent help fight certain cancers. High in antioxidants, Grapefruit seed extract is also a great, natural probiotic aid and can help working to boost your gut flora aiding in digestion.
Honey
Honey has for centuries been known as a natural antibiotic. Civilizations all over the world have used honey for its antiseptic properties. It was so trusted by the ancient Romans they used it to help heal soldiers on the battlefields.
Even today is is considered by many to be one of the best antiinflammatories, antimicrobial, antibiotics known to man thousands of years later. Since pasteurization methods can kill the antioxidant effects it is best to look for honey that is organic and raw.
How Does Honey Work as An Antibiotic?
Honey contains certain enzymes. One of these enzymes actually releases hydrogen peroxide! This is the process that helps prevent the spread of bacteria as well as helps prevent the spread of infection.
Another of the benefits to raw organic honey is that it can help the liver operate more effectively by removing harmful toxins from the blood. Using honey can also be beneficial to the digestive system. Combining honey with cinnamon can be a great benefit to your immune system and helps to strengthen white blood cells.
Oil of Oregano And Other Spices
The medical research of today shows us that even after hundreds of years many of herbal remedies of the past that are tried and true, still work as well today as they did then.
One of the go-to items in holistic medicine and long standing item considered beneficial to human health are essential oils created from herbs and spices. One of the Major sources of these and a home to many are countries from the Mediterranean region. One of the most common and one of the most powerful is Oil of Oregano.
Other spices that are beneficial as an natural antibiotic are:
- Fennel
- Anise
- Mustard Seed
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Cloves
- Basil
- Cinnamon
- Thyme
- Allspice
- Cayenne
- Chili peppers
How Does Oil of Oregano And Other Spices Work as Antibiotics?
Oil of Oregano can work to aid in relieving everything from the common cold to digestive issues. It can also be used to help in the treatment of wound sand the best part, it can be used externally as well as internally.
Oil of Oregano and other spices work as natural antibiotics because they’re packed with phenols and flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants which aid in not only healing, but strengthening your immune system. Not only is it full of antioxidants, but oil of oregano is also antiviral, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antifungal as well as antibacterial. Many scientists are only now not only analyzing but also confirming the antibiotic properties of many herbs and spices across the world!
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Raw apple cider vinegar can be used for everything from aiding in stomach ailments to lowering your cholesterol, helping to manage your weight or even reducing your risk of cancer.
How Does Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Work as An Antibiotic?
How does Raw apple cider work you ask? Well it naturally helps to alkalize your system. Studies have shown that people who have naturally alkalized systems not only have a lower risk of having cancers but also live longer, healthier lives as well. Raw apple cider vinegar is a great way to help alkalize your system and help you get closer to the goal of a healthier you!
Reach for a Natural Antibiotic
Natural food medicines can help to aid your body in keeping itself in check and in good health. By using prescribed antibiotics, you are not only killing off the bad bacteria but also killing off the Good bacteria as well. This can leave your body stripped of its ability to ward of illness as well as it`s natural ability to fight off infection. Since your body is designed to heal itself naturally why not use nature to help your body heal?
Prescribed antibiotics kill all bacteria – both the good and the bad – leaving your body stripped of its natural ability to fight infection and ward off illness. You are designed to heal yourself in most cases. By adding these natural antibiotics to supplement your life, you can actively work to keep your body healthy and in balance for a better, healthier and longer living you!
