There’s no doubt that antibiotics have made a profound difference in the treatment of otherwise fatal diseases since their discovery 80-odd years ago. However, experts have shown that as many as 20% of patients treated with antibiotics experience adverse side effects that range from mild allergic reactions to severe gastrointestinal disturbances. Because of this, more people are turning to folk medicines that include the use of natural antibiotic remedies.
Here are some natural antibiotics—aromatic plants, herbs, spices, and their derivatives—that have been proven effective in clinical trials.
Goldenseal
Commonly consumed as a tea or taken as a supplement, the herb goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is often combined with echinacea for the prevention or treatment of the common cold. It is also used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various infections related to the eyes, skin, and urinary tract, as well as for diarrhoea, vaginitis, and canker sores—despite the lack of direct evidence supporting its use for these conditions.
Pau d’arco
Derived from the inner bark of several Tabebuia tree species, pau d’arco—also known as taheebo or lapacho—is endemic to South America, Due to its reported antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, pau d’arco is often consumed as a herbal tea for a wide range of inflammatory ailments and infections, including arthritis, fever, prostatitis, candidiasis, bacterial infections, parasitic diseases, dysentery, boils, and ulcers.
Myrrh ( Gandharas/ Hirabol)
This russet- or golden-coloured resin had a variety of historical uses that ranged from religious incense and insect repellent to facial treatment and kohl eyeliner. Old-world medical practitioners valued myrrh for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and considered it to be an effective remedy for an array of ailments, including indigestion, toothaches, and even leprosy. They also used myrrh in combination with frankincense as a purifying agent to stop the spread of airborne disease and bacteria—a practice some experts believe actually has some merit to it.
Today, myrrh is still used in Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and aromatherapy, and is included in many natural mouthwashes and toothpastes as an FDA-approved additive. According to some research, myrrh oil may aid in pain relief and the healing of mouth sores.
Oregano
Most of us are familiar with the culinary uses of oregano in olive oil-based and tomato-centric dishes, but did you know that this Mediterranean herb also has important medicinal utility as an antibacterial and antifungal agent? In a review of studies focusing on the antibiotic and antimicrobial activities of several spices and their derivatives, researchers found that oregano was among the most effective natural antibiotics against several strains of bacteria and fungi—including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis—and was especially effective as an essential oil.
Thyme
Like oregano, thyme is another culinary gem that has been shown to have strong bactericidal activity as an essential oil. In a study that examined the antibacterial activity of thyme and lavender essential oils on strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Pseudomonas genera, researchers found that “thyme essential oil demonstrated a good efficacy against antibiotic-resistant strains of the tested bacteria.” In another study that focused exclusively on the effect of thyme essential oil on standard bacterial strains and 120 clinical strains derived from patients with infections.
Neem oil
Neem oil is derived from the fruits and seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Although neem oil has a gamut of uses in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, it is largely prized as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, and is used for the treatment of ringworm, head lice, bacterial infections of the skin, and other skin conditions like hives, eczema, psoriasis, and scabies.
Neem has a remarkable effect on chronic skin conditions. Acne, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm and even stubborn warts are among the conditions that can clear up easily when high-quality, organic neem oil is used.
Anise
Anise, or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), is a spice with a distinct licorice-like taste that is often used as a flavouring additive in desserts and beverages. Among its many health benefits, anise has been shown to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth, making it a powerful antimicrobial agent. In a 2017 study, for instance, researchers assessed the antibacterial and resistance modulatory activity of aniseeds waste residue extract (ASWRE) and star anise waste residue extract (SAWRE) against 100 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They found that both ASWRE and SAWRE demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against all of the bacterial strains tested and were notably synergistic when used with conventional antibiotics.
Read more about Antibiotics in Ayurveda Here -
https://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/antibiotics1.html
Here are some natural antibiotics—aromatic plants, herbs, spices, and their derivatives—that have been proven effective in clinical trials.
Goldenseal
Commonly consumed as a tea or taken as a supplement, the herb goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is often combined with echinacea for the prevention or treatment of the common cold. It is also used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various infections related to the eyes, skin, and urinary tract, as well as for diarrhoea, vaginitis, and canker sores—despite the lack of direct evidence supporting its use for these conditions.
Pau d’arco
Derived from the inner bark of several Tabebuia tree species, pau d’arco—also known as taheebo or lapacho—is endemic to South America, Due to its reported antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, pau d’arco is often consumed as a herbal tea for a wide range of inflammatory ailments and infections, including arthritis, fever, prostatitis, candidiasis, bacterial infections, parasitic diseases, dysentery, boils, and ulcers.
Myrrh ( Gandharas/ Hirabol)
This russet- or golden-coloured resin had a variety of historical uses that ranged from religious incense and insect repellent to facial treatment and kohl eyeliner. Old-world medical practitioners valued myrrh for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and considered it to be an effective remedy for an array of ailments, including indigestion, toothaches, and even leprosy. They also used myrrh in combination with frankincense as a purifying agent to stop the spread of airborne disease and bacteria—a practice some experts believe actually has some merit to it.
Today, myrrh is still used in Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and aromatherapy, and is included in many natural mouthwashes and toothpastes as an FDA-approved additive. According to some research, myrrh oil may aid in pain relief and the healing of mouth sores.
Oregano
Most of us are familiar with the culinary uses of oregano in olive oil-based and tomato-centric dishes, but did you know that this Mediterranean herb also has important medicinal utility as an antibacterial and antifungal agent? In a review of studies focusing on the antibiotic and antimicrobial activities of several spices and their derivatives, researchers found that oregano was among the most effective natural antibiotics against several strains of bacteria and fungi—including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis—and was especially effective as an essential oil.
Thyme
Like oregano, thyme is another culinary gem that has been shown to have strong bactericidal activity as an essential oil. In a study that examined the antibacterial activity of thyme and lavender essential oils on strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Pseudomonas genera, researchers found that “thyme essential oil demonstrated a good efficacy against antibiotic-resistant strains of the tested bacteria.” In another study that focused exclusively on the effect of thyme essential oil on standard bacterial strains and 120 clinical strains derived from patients with infections.
Neem oil
Neem oil is derived from the fruits and seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Although neem oil has a gamut of uses in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, it is largely prized as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, and is used for the treatment of ringworm, head lice, bacterial infections of the skin, and other skin conditions like hives, eczema, psoriasis, and scabies.
Neem has a remarkable effect on chronic skin conditions. Acne, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm and even stubborn warts are among the conditions that can clear up easily when high-quality, organic neem oil is used.
Anise
Anise, or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), is a spice with a distinct licorice-like taste that is often used as a flavouring additive in desserts and beverages. Among its many health benefits, anise has been shown to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth, making it a powerful antimicrobial agent. In a 2017 study, for instance, researchers assessed the antibacterial and resistance modulatory activity of aniseeds waste residue extract (ASWRE) and star anise waste residue extract (SAWRE) against 100 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They found that both ASWRE and SAWRE demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against all of the bacterial strains tested and were notably synergistic when used with conventional antibiotics.
Read more about Antibiotics in Ayurveda Here -
https://ayurveda-foryou.com/clinical_ayurveda/antibiotics1.html