Antibiotics since the very beginning have help save millions of lives, helping very serious infections become non-threatening issues. However, with this comes a price: Microorganisms are now adapting to our techniques. This is has been described as a “superbugs”.

The Problem of Superbugs

Superbugs don’t respond to regular prescriptions of medicinal antibiotics- in fact they’re resistant to them. While our methods for killing off unwanted bacteria in our bodies developed, their methods for fighting back grew stronger. Today, we need to take serious measures to deal with the problem of antibiotic resistance so that we can once again gain the upper hand against pathological microorganisms.

The New Wave of Natural Treatments

Many people are now turning to natural antibiotics to fight milder infections and so limit the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bugs. To do it properly, however, it’s important to understand what types of antibiotics there are and what they actually do.

Choosing a Natural Antibiotic

Antibiotics can fight bacteria, fungi, and some parasites, but not viruses. That’s why doctors won’t prescribe you antibiotics for a viral infection or flu. In the same way, you shouldn’t attempt to use natural antibiotics to fight viruses- they simply won’t do anything. Natural antibiotics can be further divided into antibacterials and antifungals. While medicinal antibiotics are usually designed to do both, nature’s variety usually has pretty specific functions.

Make sure you talk with your medical practitioner about what kind of natural antibiotic is appropriate to help treat your specific health condition. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions about your medical condition and/or current medication. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking advice or treatment because of something you have read here.

Natural Antibacterials

Antibacterials are used against E. Coli or Salmonella, H. pylori, ear infections, strep throat, or wound infections.

Apple Cider Vinegar (1)

Ginger extract (2)

Peppers (5)

Turmeric (6)

Garlic extract (7)

Raw Honey (9)

Oregano Essential Oil (10)

Natural Anti-Fungals

Anti-fungals are used against candida albicans overgrowth, athlete’s foot, skin rashes or yeast infections.

Echinacea root extract (8)

Apple Cider Vinegar (11)

Ginger extract (12)

Turmeric (13)

Raw honey extract (14)

For treating a specific condition,  these ingredients are usually available in supplement or tincture form. Be sure to see your medical practitioner to get the right dose. You can also eat all of these whole foods on a daily basis to help with prevention. Use these recipes to get started:

Apple Cider Vinegar Vinaigrette Recipe

Powerful Honey-Garlic Recipe

Turmeric Golden Milk Recipe

Sources:

1. http://www.oooojournal.net/article/S1079-2104(11)00077-1/abstract?cc=y=
2. http://docsdrive.com/pdfs/medwelljournals/ijmmas/2005/411-417.pdf
3. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0944501311800522
4. http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/17515295
5. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168160500002166
6. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.465.2909&rep=rep1&type=pdf
7. http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/ArticleFullRecord.jsp?cn=SPGHB5_1996_v28n4_730
8. http://mmy.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/7/949.full
9. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/btri/2011/917505/abs/
10. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf049033e
11. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jopr.12207/full
12. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.1335/abstract
13. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0378874195013202
14. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10942910903453355

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