Alternative, natural antibiotics
| ITEM | LATIN NAME | INFO | PROS | CONS |
| American Goldenseal | Hydrastis canadensis | A perennial herb in the buttercup family native to southeastern Canada and the eastern United States. Often used as a multi-purpose remedy. | Treat resistant infections of the GI tract, urinary tract and skin. Also active against most food poisoning bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella. Has the ability to soothe the linings of the mucous membranes of the digestive, respiratory, genitourinary tracts while effectively clearing bacterial invasion. | Rarely, side effects can include diarrhea, nausea and skin irritation. It’s anitbacterial action can destroy good as well as harmful bacteria if used over a long period of time. Not recommended for use in children. |
| Juniper | Juniperus spp. | Coniferous plants widely distributed throughout the Northern hemisphere, from the arctic south to tropical Africa and to the mountains in central America. | Treat resistant infections of the GI tract, urinary tract and skin. | Not to be used on a long term basis and to be used sparingly on skin. Not recommended to use on large, open wounds. Increases the need to urinate when taken internally. |
| Usnea | Usnea spp. | Pale, greyish/green fructose lichen that grow anchored to trees or shrubs all over the world. | Treat resistant infections of the GI tract, urinary tract and skin. Inhibitor of gram-positive bacteria including tuberculosis, streptococcus, and pneumococcus. It functions as an antibiotic by blocking oxidative phosphorylation, an essential part of bacterial metabolism. | Has not been fully evaluated but could contain toxicity if used in high dosages. Recommended as a topical application as opposed to internal. |
| Honey | Apis mellifera | Substance produced by bees from the nectar of plants.Considered one of the oldest known wound dressings. Healing properties mentioned in the Bible, the Koran and the Torah. | Treat resistant infections of the GI tract, urinary tract and skin. Also active against most food poisoning bacteria such as E.coli and salmonella. Has the ability to soothe the linings of the mucous membranes of the digestive, respiratory, genitourinary tracts while effectively clearing bacterial invasion. Some studies have shown that topical honey works better than systemic/ oral antibiotics in treating infected wounds. | Best if organic and raw. Not suitable for use in infants and children. Overuse can cause gastric upset and abdominal discomfort. |
| Licorice Root | Glycyrrhiza glabra and G. uralensis | A legume native to southern Europe,India and parts of Asia. Traditionally usedin Ayurveda as a medicine for rejuvenation. | Increases the activity of other herbs. Boosts inactive resistant bacteria mechanisms, increases the presence of antibacterial agents in the body and enhances immune function | Many licorice products in the US do not actually contain any licorice. The actual root interacts with many prescription medication. Not safe when consumed in high doses for more than 4 weeks. Not for use for those with high blood pressure. Interacts with estrogen in the body and may cause absence of menstruation. |
| Ginger Root | Zingiber officinale | The root of a flowering plant native to China and India. | Increases the activity of other herbs. Boosts inactive resistant bacteria mechanisms, increases the presence of antibacterial agents in the body and enhances immune function | May cause irritation when applied to the skin. Not for regular use by diabetics because it may lower blood sugar. |
| Black Pepper | Piper nigrum and P. longum | Made from the fruit of the piper nigrum plant which is dried and ground up. | Increases the activity of other herbs. Boosts inactive resistant bacteria mechanisms, increases the presence of antibacterial agents in the body and enhances immune function | May decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. |
| Oregon Grape | Berberis aquifolium | The root of a plant native to western North America. | Contains a substance known as berberine, which can stop bacteria from adhering to the walls of the intestine and urinary tract. Berberine can stop bacteria dead in it’s tracts. | Not proven safe for children or pregnant mothers. Berberine in the root can cause brain damage in newborns. |
| King of Bitters | Andographis paniculata | Leaves and root of a plant widely cultivated in Southern and Southeastern Asia. Used in traditional Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine. | Disrupts the quorum-sensing system of bacteria. This system helps bacteria to attach to eachother and thrive as a community. Andographis basically helps break up the bacterial ‘party’. Beneficial to treat symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and sinus problems. Numerous studies report its ability to reduce upper respiratory symptoms infection such as fatigue, sore throat, cough and headache. It’s potent antibacterial properties provide protectiona gainst most pathogens. | Is widely known as an abortifacient, not for use by pregnant women. |
| Manuka Honey | Specifically produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the manuka bush. | Used in hospital protocols for wound care. Most honey has antibacterial activity but manuka honey has a compound called methylglyoxal which is especially potent. Studies have confirmed it’s activity against a wide range of medically important bacteria including MRSA | Best if medical-grade or has a high AMF/UMF rating. | |
| Garlic | Allium Sativum | A bulbous plant native to central Asia. Used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years. | Effective against antibiotic resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Studies have also showed garlic extract reduced the viability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in mice and lowered inflammation associated with the infection. Russian soldiers used it as an antibiotic in WWII after running out of penicillin. Contains Allicin, a powerful compoung which can fight superbugs such as VRE and MRSA that have shown resistance to traditional anitbiotics. Garlic’s broad antimicrobial spectrum incorporates antifungal, antiparasitic, antiprotozoan, and antiviral attributes in one food source | Known for causing bad breath and pungent sweat. Care must be taken when applying topically, as garlic has been known to cause burns. |
| Weeping Forsythia | Forsythia Suspensia | The fruit of a flowering plant native to Asia. One of the 50 fundamental herbs used in TCM. | Oral extracts from dried forsythia fruit have proven effective in killing antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus suis, both alone and when combined with amoxicillin. Quite often referred to as a broad specturm antibiotic compound, could possibly have systemic affects. | May cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Not known if safe for pregnant and breast-feeding women. |
| Coconut Oil | The oil of the fruit from the coconut palm tree. | Coconut fat contains high amounts of lauric acid, a medium-chain triglyceride. In the body, lauric acid turns into monolaurin, a monoglyceride with antibacterial properties also found in human breast milk. Nature’s antibiotics. Has the ability to kill harmful bacteria such as H.pylori. Research shows it’s also effective at fighting C.difficile, a strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and one of the leading causes of diarrhea in hospitals worldwide. Considered safe for children and pregnant/breastfeeding mothers. | None known. | |
| Oregano Oil | Origanum Vulgare | Oil made from the leaf of the plant. | High in antioxidant activity, contains antimicrobial properties that support your immune and respiratory systems. When used aromatically, can decrease airborne pathogensand boost immunity. Studies have shown that a combination of monolaurin and oil of oregano is effective against staph infections in mice, even more so than vancomycin, a type of antibiotic. An in vitro study showed that oregano oil makes conventional antibiotics more effective against E.coli, lowering the the effective dose and and subsequent side effects. Even some poultry farms have found success in using oregano to reduce the use of antibiotics in animals. | May cause mild stomach upset. May lower blood sugar levels, people with diabetes should use with caution. Not for use with anyone taking lithium-based medications. |
| Vitamin D | Can be found in small amounts in some foods but the highest concentration is obtained through exposure to sunlight. Often made in the laboratory as medicine. | Short term, megadoses of Vitamin D has antibiotic potential due to it’s expression of the gene involved in producing endogenous antimicrobial peptides, our body’s own antibiotic. | Extremely high doses can cause excessively high calcium levels in the blood. Can also increase the amount of aluminum the body absorbs. | |
| Olive Leaf Extract | Olea Europaea | Extracts from the leaf of the olive tree. | Helps defend against a wide variety of viruses and bacteria. Has the ability to cut off the amino acid supply to viruses, which helps keep them from spreading. ONe study has found that exposing E.Coli to a 6% olive leaf extract completely destroyed it. | May cause temporary worsening of symptoms before it becomes effective. May cause dizziness in people who have low blood pressure. Must start with low doses to gauge effect. |
| Pau D’Arco | Tabebuia impetiginosa | The bark of a tree that grows primarily in the rainforests of Central and South America. | Rich in lapachol and beta-lapachone, two compounds with anti-viral and antibacterial properties. Shown to have effect where drug-resistant infections reside. | Possibly unsafe at high doses. Commercial teas containing Pau D’arco may not have effective dosages to treat symptoms. Not for use by people with bleeding disorders or pre/post-surgery. |
| Colloidal Silver | Mineral-based colloid consisting of silver particles suspended in liquid. | One of the most effective agents in the battle against antibiotic-resistant super pathogens. Low doses of silver can make antiobiotics up to 1000 times more effective and may even allow an antibiotic to combat an otherwise antibiotic-resistant bacteria. | If solution is not optimized for small particle size or unpure silver salts are used in the process of making colloidal silver, a rare condition called Arghyria may cause blue coloring of the skin. | |
| Chelated Silver Oxide | The silver is chelated with amino acids – the building blocks of proteins – making it more bioactive and bioavailable unlike any other silver compound. Chelated Silver oxide ointment has successfully treated jellyfish and scorpio stings, sore throats, urinary tract infections, cold sores, even a food poisoning, aside from common topical infections. | Compared to colloidal silver, chelated silver oxide binds up to 2.5 hours on the skin – in comparison with 10 minutes for normal silver compounds. This is all time spent on reducing and eliminating bacteria, which makes it a much more powerful bug killer – without causing resistance or issues with immune system. | Scarce availability. | |
| Echinacea | Echinacea Angustifollia | A perennial herb often used in conjunction with goldenseal to bolster the immune system. | A great general remedy for helping the body rid itself of microbial infections. May be used for infection and inflammation anywhere in the body. Is often effective against both bacterial and viral attacks. | When taken by mouth it can cause nausea, sore throat, and numbness and tingling in the mouth. Not effective alongside immunosuppressive medication. |
| Myrrh | Commiphora myrrha | An aromatic natural gum (resin) harvested from a number of small, thorny tree species native to Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. | Touted for it’s antiseptic, antibiotic and antiviral properties.Most commonly recommended for bacterial oral infections,bronchitis and sore throats | May cause skin rash if applied directly to the skin. Large doses are considered unsafe. Can also increase a fever. |
| Thyme | Thymus Vulgaris | The flowers, leaves and oil of a popular herb,sometimes used in combination with other herbs. | Expectorant and antibacterial properties. Frequently used in preparations to support and protect the respiratory system. Considered safe for children and pregnant/breastfeeding mothers. | Can upset the digestive system. Can act like estrogen in the body and should be used cautiously by those who may be sensitive to this. |
| Bovine Colostrum | Milky fluid that comes from the breasts of cows the first few days after giving birth,before true milk appears. | Rich in immunoglobulins which strengthen your immune system and help fight off harmful bacteria and viruses such as E.Coli, Cryptosporidium parvum, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella Staphylococcus and rotavirus. Was the main source of immunoglobulins used to fight off disease before the development of antibiotics. Also proven helpful against herpes viruses and HIV and difficult to treat bacterial and fungal infections like Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis , cryptosporidosis in AIDS patients and candida. | Rare reports of problems with HIV positive people. Not to be taken by anyone who is allergic to cow’s milk or milk products. |
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