There is no doubt that antibiotics are truly a wonder of modern medicine. Beginning with the discovery of penicillin in 1928, the rapid resolution of bacterial infections from antibiotics caused many in the medical profession to become completely enamored with the drug-based approach to illness erroneously thinking that the danger to human life from infections was a thing of the past.
Not so fast.
By 1940, antibiotics had come into widespread use causing both doctors and people to gradually forget about natural antibiotics for resolving infections and the age-old remedies like cod liver oil. This change in the medical paradigm has led in recent decades to abuse of drug-based antibiotics and the worrisome rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs such as the “TDR”(totally drug-resistant) strain of tuberculosis and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, particularly in babies and children.
The over-reliance on a drug-based resolution to infections has also triggered an epidemic of children and adults with compromised gut function and autoimmune diseases of all kinds due to an imbalanced intestinal environment and the consequential scourge of leaky gut syndrome.
Beyond the problem of antibiotic resistance, however, are the long term effects of even a single round of antibiotics. The expectation in the health community that you can just fix the damage with probiotics and/or fermented foods and that gut flora magically returns to normal seems to be far from accurate.
Evidence is now emerging from multiple sources that gut flora may actually be permanently altered by drugs or, at the very least, the damage persists for several years.
The Journal Microbiology, for instance, reports that the generally acknowledged precept that the use of antibiotics only causes disruption of the gut flora for a few weeks is highly flawed.
Gut flora does not quickly return to normal after a round of antibiotics.
Even a short course of antibiotics can lead to resistant bacterial populations taking up residence in the gut that persist for up to 4 years – maybe even longer (source)
The bottom line is that drug-based antibiotics really should only be used for life-threatening situations – as a last resort if you will.
For bothersome everyday infections that are not life-threatening, however, nature provides some very powerful and effective alternatives. Here is the list of the best of these natural antibiotics which have succeeded in keeping my own family of five off all drug based antibiotics for colds, flu, skin and sinus infections for over 20 years (and counting!). This list of the best natural antibiotics on the planet is in no particular order although I make note of which one is my personal favorite.
Best Natural Antibiotics
Note that the natural antibiotics listed below frequently possess anti-viral and antifungal properties too unlike pharmaceuticals.
They also should not be confused with remedies that help with the prevention and/or easing of symptoms. The benefits of elderberry syrup for this purpose come to mind here.
Oregano Oil
There are over 40 different oregano species, but the most beneficial one to maximize the therapeutic antibiotic effect you need is the oil produced from wild oregano, called Origanum vulgare. Thymus capitatus, a variety that grows in Spain, is also very powerful.
Quality brands of oregano oil are made from these species. The oil is golden to dark yellow, with a strong spicy odor.
According to Dr. Mercola, the best uses for oregano oil as a natural antibiotic are the following:
- Foot or nail fungus. Put a few teaspoons of oregano oil in a small tub water and soak your feet. The oil can also be diluted (one drop of oil with a teaspoon of olive oil) and then apply directly to nails or skin.
- Parasites and infections: Dilute the oil as described above 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.
- Sinus infections: Put a few drops of oregano oil in a pot of steaming water or neti pot. Then, slowly inhale the steam.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper also called capsicum is a strong spice used for thousands of years for its healing power and antibiotic effects. It’s not just an anecdotal, folklore remedy, however. Science is validating its use as a natural antibiotic as well.
Cayenne pepper is particularly effective at resolving vulvovaginitis, a common infection in women. One Czech study found capsicum essential oil works as a strong skin antifungal with additional antibiotic effect on this condition. It is important to properly use a carrier oil such as olive oil and thoroughly dilute cayenne pepper essential oil, however, as capsicum is quite burning upon initial contact with the skin.
Cayenne pepper is also very effective to use as a home remedy for strep throat.
Colloidal Silver
The remarkable antibiotic nature of silver has been known for centuries. In the early 1900′s, the founder of Searle Pharmaceuticals, Alfred Searle, wrote in his book The Complete Use of Colloids in Health and Disease:
Applying colloidal silver to human subjects has been done in a large number of cases with astonishingly successful results…it has the advantage of being rapidly fatal to microbes without toxic action on its host. It is quite stable. It protects rabbits from ten times the lethal dose of tetanus or diphtheria toxin.
In the 1970′s, Dr. Robert O. Becker at Syracuse Medical University began to intensively research colloidal silver. He discovered that silver not only kills bacteria, but it actually killed bacteria that were resistant to all known antibiotics with no undesirable side effects.
While colloidal silver is highly antibiotic in nature, I suggest only using it for external uses such as gargling, ear infections like swimmers’ ear and skin.
The reason is that the ingestion of colloidal silver does damage the delicate gut microbiome by killing beneficial bacteria though not as extensively as drug-based antibiotics. If you need the assistance of natural antibiotics to consume internally, choose another one on this list, not colloidal silver.
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE)
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) has been reported to be a highly effective, natural antibiotic in combating a variety of common infectious agents. In one study, drops of concentrated grapefruit-seed extract were tested for antibacterial properties against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. The researchers concluded that GSE was comparable to “proven topical antibacterials. Although the GSE appeared to have a somewhat greater inhibitory effect on gram-positive organisms than on gram-negative organisms, its comparative effectiveness against a wide range of bacterial biotypes is significant.”
Used full strength to combat warts, properly diluted GSE has a variety of uses to combat pathogens in your home environment. The only caveat is that commercial preparations of GSE have a chemical in them called diphenol hydroxybenzene that is of questionable safety and other chemicals like triclosan and cancer-causing parabens that are definitely to be avoided.
Therefore, if you intend to use GSE especially internally, it is best to make it yourself by grinding the grapefruit seeds and the juiceless pulp and then mixing with pharmaceutical-grade glycerin. I recommend this brand.
Garlic
Of all the natural antibiotics, garlic is my personal favorite and my family’s go-to for internal use. The reason is that it kills the pathogens, not just bacteria but also fungus and viruses too without harming beneficial gut flora.
- Garlic packs a punch with phytochemicals and healing sulfur components. These sulfur compounds even chelate toxic heavy metals (like lead & cadmium), binding with them for excretion out of the body.
- It has antibacterial, antifungal, and even anti-viral qualities.
- It promotes the growth of healthy intestinal microflora by acting as a prebiotic (food for probiotics).
- Garlic helps keep fats from oxidizing.
- Garlic acts as a strong antioxidant and guards against DNA damage.
- It protects against radiation & sunlight damage.
- Garlic fights worms and parasites.
- It benefits digestion, which is good for the whole body.
- It contains many nutrients such as vitamins (C, B1, B2, B3), minerals (calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, and phytochemicals (Allicin, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, diallyl-disulfide, ferulic acid, geraniol, kaempferol, Linalool, oleanolic acid, p-coumaric acid, phloroglucinol, phytic acid, quercetin, rutin, s-allyl-cysteine, saponin, sinapic acid, & stigmasterol).
The allicin in garlic is so powerful that it is one of the best natural antibiotics effective against MRSA.
This article on MRSA natural remedies describes how to use it appropriately for this purpose.
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD suggests consuming a whole head of garlic a day when using for natural antibiotic purposes. She also outlines how to make garlic-infused olive oil as a remedy for ear and other external infections.
- 1 crushed clove of garlic
- 1 – 2 tablespoons cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
Place the crushed garlic in the oil and let sit for 30 minutes, then strain. The oil can be warmed slightly by placing it in a cup and setting the cup in warm water (don’t overheat or this will destroy beneficial properties). Use a few drops of this oil hourly in the ears to treat an ear infection. It is a better choice than ear wax candles, although that approach could provide some temporary relief.
Garlic oil is a safe remedy for children and can also be used daily (just a couple of drops) to soften ear wax buildup.
If you are concerned about the heat and odor potential on breath and sweat from consuming raw garlic cloves, you can use this pickled garlic recipe to substitute fermented garlic cloves instead. Do not use commercial pickled garlic as it has no therapeutic value.
Ginger
Have you ever wondered why pickled, raw ginger is nearly always served with sushi? This is likely because of historical folklore concerning ginger’s natural antibiotic effects which help prevent food poisoning.
Studies have shown that fresh ginger really does have an antibiotic effect against foodborne pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, and Campylobacter. Fresh ginger also increases stomach acid production and helps calm indigestion when a meal just doesn’t agree with you.
So, if you are going to eat something that has the potential for foodborne illness such as sushi or raw oysters, always best to eat some fresh ginger (raw and pickled is most potent) too in order to make use of its natural antibiotic properties.
The Master Tonic, a powerful anti-viral and herbal antibiotic, includes plenty of fresh ginger as well as fresh cayenne pepper and garlic. This tonic is a highly effective concoction to make and take with you when traveling overseas in order to have a handy formula available that packs the punch of several natural antibiotics synergistically combined and fermented for maximum potency.
Properly made ginger tea is helpful for digestive ailments such as the inability to absorb food properly and an overabundance of pathogens in the gut. Malabsorption of food can cause nutritional deficiencies that lead to disease over time. “Everything good is found in ginger” declares an ancient Indian proverb.
Olive Leaf Extract
Most people are aware of the health benefits of pure, 100% extra virgin olive oil. However, many in the health community are still in the dark about the antibiotic effects of olive leaf extract coming from the very same trees!
According to Dr. Ronald Hoffman MD, founder and Medical Director of the Hoffman Center in New York City, olive leaf extract as a healing modality was first realized in the 1800s for malaria. Olive leaf extract may be best known for its ability to reduce fever even due to severe illness.
Early in the last century, oleuropein was isolated from olive leaf extract as this phytochemical was thought to give the olive tree its resistance to disease. Researchers from the Netherlands then learned that elenolic acid, a component of oleuropein, acted as a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic, which safely and strongly inhibits the growth of not only bacteria but also viruses and fungi.
Dr. Hoffman MD’s suggestion for use of olive leaf extract for long-standing infections or candida is two 500 mg capsules (20% oleuropein) three to four times per day, preferably with meals.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice widely used in traditional Indian cooking that has been used holistically for centuries.
Dr. Kelly Brogan MD uses turmeric holistically in her psychiatry practice. She writes,
This wonder-spice is a mainstay of my anti-inflammatory work with patients in my practice where I use liposomal preparations of curcumin, the natural phenols responsible for turmeric’s yellow color, when I suspect their symptoms stem from a challenged immune system.
In research, the curcumin in turmeric was shown to be effective against Helicobacter pylori common in gastroduodenal ulcers regardless of the genetic makeup of the strain. The administration of curcumin also resolved any gastric damage caused by the infection. Turmeric is also highly effective in providing allergy relief from the symptoms of allergic rhinitis or hay fever.
If you wish to use turmeric as a natural antibiotic, Dr. Weil suggests to look for extracts in dosages of 400 to 600 mg, and take three times daily or as directed.
Echinacea
Echinacea is an herb widely used to fight infections and has been the subject of wide scientific research. Even WebMD is positive about it concluding that:
Echinacea is widely used to fight infections, especially the common cold and other upper respiratory infections. Echinacea is also used against many other infections including the flu, urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, genital herpes, bloodstream infections (septicemia), gum disease, tonsillitis, streptococcus infections, syphilis, typhoid, malaria, and diphtheria.
German scientists have studied echinacea using double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, the gold standard for scientific research on drugs. One of these showed that echinacea users experienced less frequent and less severe virus infections by one-third to one-half with no toxic effects compared to the group that took a placebo.
According to Dr. Sears, MD, echinacea studies on adults suggest 300 mg three times a day for a total of 900 mg a day as a recommended regimen. For children, half the adult dose for ages 6-13, and one-quarter the adult dose for those under age six.
Manuka Honey
What would this list of natural antibiotics be without raw honey which has been used as an infection fighter since ancient times? Of all the honey on the planet, manuka honey from New Zealand that is UMF certified is the best when it comes to resolving infections. Just be sure it has never been heated (source)!
I began using manuka honey regularly after my first child was born to resolve a breastfeeding-related infection. It worked so well I was able to avoid using antibiotics. I have also used it to very quickly heal strep throat without antibiotics for my tween daughter.
According to Dr. Mercola, clinical trials have found that Manuka honey is effective against more than 250 strains of bacteria, including:
- MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
- MSSA (methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus)
- VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci)
- Helicobacter Pylori (which can cause stomach ulcers)
In 2007, the FDA even approved Manuka honey-based wound dressings.
The great thing about Manuka honey is that it is food. I’ve personally found it most effective for skin-based infections (just slather on as needed), but the research indicates an internal infection-fighting benefit as well even reducing the cavity-causing bacteria responsible for dental plaque.
Pau d’Arco
The overuse of drug-based antibiotics frequently leads to an overgrowth in the gut of a large family of yeasts or fungus known as Candida.
Pau d’arco is an herb that is highly anti-Candida and significantly reduces the resultant sugar cravings that come with it. Repressing Candida and ingesting plenty of probiotics in the form of fermented foods and/or supplements will over time allow beneficial gut microbes to regain control of the gut environment.
While Pau d’arco has been used as a medicine for centuries as one of the best antifungals to counteract yeast overgrowth, science is also validating these anecdotal observations. The Brazilian Journal of Biology found in 2010 found that Tabebuia avellanedae, one tree species that is the source of the Pau d’arco herb, does indeed exert an inhibitory effect on yeasts.
The form Pau d’arco is most often used is as an herbal tea, which I must admit, is an acquired taste! Even after drinking it as needed for the past 2 decades, I still don’t like it much! The good news is that the taste isn’t so terrible that you can’t drink a cup or two for a few days to a week or more. This will help you get back into the routine of healthy eating with sweets kept in moderation if Candida has gotten out of control during off the wagon eating while on vacation or due to a round of antibiotics.
Which of the natural antibiotics on this list are your favorites? What do you use them for and when? Please note that if you absolutely have to use pharmaceuticals due to a very serious infection, repairing the gut after antibiotics is a very important process that should be undertaken immediately.
Sources and More Information
The Impact of Short Course Antibiotics on the Gut Microbiome
Dr. Ronald Hoffman and Olive Leaf Extract
Antifungal Effect in Natural Compounds in the Treatment of Vulvovaginitis
Long Term Impacts of Antibiotic Exposure on Human Intestinal Microbiota
Bactericidal properties of plant essential oils
The Best Vegetables for Boosting Immunity
Why Antibiotics Today Could Threaten Your Life Tomorrow
Elderberry Syrup Benefits
I really appreciate the first commenter sharing her experience. Some folks are so passionate about going natural which is exciting, but no testing has been done on them and you never know if they can be harmful. I’ve had to learn many things the hard way when dealing w/ natural cures. I now try to treat natural cures like any medicine — cautiously.
Rachel, where do you get the notion that “going natural which is exciting, but no testing has been done on them?”
Just Google it, and there’ll be thousands of articles come up that prove that testing HAS been done
on them!
I love this post with recommendations for natural anti-biotics. I’m all for it and use them regularly. My doctor even recommended that I take oregano oil capsules when I was dealing with candida. I do have one concern, though. You suggested using oregano oil in a netti pot. That is a bad, bad idea. We were out of state when my son came down with sinusitis. I had been having him flush his sinuses with a netti pot, but didn’t seem like we were getting anywhere. Since I didn’t have my regular resources and eo’s with me I headed to the health store in town that is owned by an RN, thinking I could get some good advice on an eo to add the netti pot to kick my son’s infection more quickly. She recommended oregano. I bought the oil, added a drop to the netti and had my son flush again. He immediately began screaming and crying, “My head! My head!” This was not like him to react so strongly. His face turned purple and he stared throwing up from the pain he was in. I thought I was going to have to take him to the ER. It was terrifying. I have never before or since seen him throw up from the pain of something. I still think that there are eo’s that are safe to use in a netti pot, but after that experience I would warn everyone that oregano is not one of them.
I’m sorry that yoiur son went thru that. I can imagine how badly you felt when it happened.
You are so right on this one. I have used oil of oregano and have even mixed a few drops with a few ounces of water and sip it because the taste is so strong! My Naturopathic Dr told me not to use it in my nose because it would burn terribly. I use Premier Research Labs Oil Of Oregano.
I’m sorry your son had such a bad time. It’s good to point out not to put it in your nose!
To clarify, Sarah isn’t recommending putting the liquid through your nose, she said to inhale the steam. Although, just inhaling the steam will be burning to the sinuses for some people.
I’m not blaming Sarah. She’s quoting a reputable source. Actually, I’m not blaming anyone. But the article actually does say it can be used in a neti pot. …
Sinus infections: Put a few drops of oregano oil in a pot of steaming water or neti pot, and inhale the steam.
I just wanted to give people a heads-up so they don’t have to unwittingly go through what my son did.
Mild probiotics can do wonders in the nasal irrigation. Start very slowly. I’ve had no pain or bad reaction from the infantis strain.
Oregeno essential oil is different than oregeno oil
This is helpful, and I use a lot of these. However, with some infections we really are dealing with extreme consequences. I choose antiobiotics then. If it is just bothersome, then yes all for natural treatments! But sometimes natural treatments are not enough.
thankyou for this article, we use garlic a lot. But today my 21 yr old son is going to have his wisdom teeth out, (2 at a time). I’m sure the dentist will recommend taking antibiotics, I was thinking to probably go with it but also tell him to take garlic and vitamin e (wheatgerm oil) at the same time, then the pau d’arco afterwards and then fermented foods.
can you tell me your thoughts on this and what you would do.
A suggestion! Arnica is very effective for oral surgery especially if you go for a strength of at least 1M or 200C. I know of others who dose back and forth between Arnica and Hypericum.
My son also had all 4 of his wisdom teeth out under anasthesia. One was extremely close to a nerve. That was about 2 yrs ago. Knowing what I know now I would have counseled him to have only had that one extracted. And instead of antibiotics I would have used the Arnica and Hypericum. Ins spite of it all he recovered very well. Best wishes!
When my younger daughter had her wisdom teeth out, I had her use coconut oil gently swishing with it maybe twice a day. She had no problems at all. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about this 15 yrs ago when my oldest had hers out. She took antibiotics for the first time at 16 and she didn’t even have an infection. I could kick myself for that.
One time when you cannot avoid antibiotics is post surgery. They will be put right into your bloodstream through the IV. I want to give you some good news about this. I had a very very bad bacteria taking up 25% of my gut population, and it was causing chronic diarrhea. I discovered it from taking one of the gut biome studies and getting my results. It took months to get rid of, and I continued for a full year fighting it with soil based probiotics and small amounts of fermented foods.
Then I knew I was going to have major surgery, so I ordered another gut biome testing kit to arrive before surgery, WH en I knew I’d be given IV antibiotics. It didn’t arrive on time. I had to take my second gut test a week or so after surgery. After all the antibiotics (2-3 IV doses) I’d had. Well, my gut biome came back wonderful. I will never know if it would have been MORE wonderful if I hadn’t had surgery, but it did not “ruin” all my hard work of improving my gut biome!
Maybe that will be of comfort to someone needing surgery.
After all, when youve been cut open in the one place where all the bad germs like to hang out (hospitals), you’d better damn sure take that antibiotic!
u have to watch it with garlic though. It is a natural blood thinner. So be careful using too much before any surgery. They recommend you not to use it before a surgery.
I agree that these methods can work though recently a family member tried many of them and had to resort to antibiotics in the end. Also, getting kids to adhere to a protocol that includes these ingredients would be extremely challenging in my home for sure. Lastly, our local health food store and family chiropractor both recommend and use Water Oz Silver. It’s non-colloidal and works exceptionally well. Have you heard of it? Thanks for your highly informative posts.
This is such wonderful information to have. My pediatrician kept diagnosing my youngest child with strep every time we came in her office and kept giving me antibiotics to fight it. The antibiotics prescribed were increasingly stronger each time and my child was miserable. I felt in my gut that antibiotics were not helping and might be destroying her gut health. I thought “I’m not doctor so, I guess I just keep doing what I’m told to do”. I talked to a specialist that explained how easy it was to test positive for strep and that seeking alternative treatment would be a good idea. I can’t tell you how upset I was but relieved to have the ok to look for healthier alternatives. Your list has been that much more of a help as I try to find a better way to take care of my family.
WOnderful information! Sarah, I was just wondering regarding strep and garlic… how do you know that the infection was completely cured with the garlic?And which method did you find successful with giving it to children? It’s a very strong taste.
Garlic/allicin pills are best for children in my experience. Allicin drops are also available for children who can’t swallow pills yet. I would only recommend this brand. https://amzn.to/37vNkZ6
I just don’t get it. How can garlic pick and choose which bacteria it is going to kill???
Even when I make ferments with garlic, they ALWAYS come out different from the ones that I didn’t put garlic in.
Garlic HAS to be killing good bacteria too!?
The very fact that garlic can be successfully fermented is indicative of its friendliness to a probiotic environment.
I use most of these already and it is amazing what they have done for me. Oh, I just took my third mole off with oregano oil. I was charged $500.00 to take one off, and it came back. It’s gone now and don’t expect it to return. Colloidal Silver is just like a miracle. It’s about time people started using time tested and proved natural medicines.
Hi Donnie!
Please tell me what your protocol was with the oregano oil to remove a mole.
Great article, Sarah!
Thanks so much,
Stacey
Hi Stacey,
It is always recommended to cut the oregano oil or any oil for skin use but I didn’t. I wanted them gone and in a hurry. I was afraid they would on day become malignant. One hurt all the time and I asked several doctors about it and they always said it was okay. I didn’t trust their opinion so I heard about oregano oil and it worked. Take a Q-tip with a small amount of oil on it and apply to mole at least five times a day. I had one to come off in four days but it usually takes six to eight days. Do not get in the sun or it will hurt bad. The area around the mole will turn yellow and start flaking off. In a few days the mole will be gone! In a place where your close will come in contact and wipe the oil off, get one of those small round band-aids and put a small amount of oil on it and stick it on the mole. This is in no way medical advice but good old wisdom that has been lost. The American public puts too much faith in doctors. It’s not their fault, it is the way they have been taught.
If you are worried about a Nevis (mole) malignancy, one should really get a punch biopsy. They check the Breslow depth which is on the cellular level. Depending on the depth determines if it is likely to have metastisized. I speak from experience as an experienced oncology RN and as the wife of man who has metastatic melanoma in remission after surgery natural treatments like turmeric, coq10, fish oil vit d and probiotics qucerine. Per a naturopaths recommendation since the 5 year survival
Rate was unchanged with bio therapy.
Can colloidal silver be used directly on the skin or does it have to be mixed with an oil first? I’m looking for the fastest/strongest way to get rid of a rash from yeast on my face. Would silver be the best topical solution?
As always, thanks for the excellent information!
So I have a friend that had been lower stomach pains, went to the hospital and found out he had a bad infection in his colon – of course they put him on antibiotics. However, I believe this was a case where they were needed. However, it has made me thing – how do you know when you can get away with not doing antibiotics? Any benchmarks we can all follow?
Elle, you just get onto one or more of the above natural suggestions
before your problem reaches too high an intensity – as soon as the
problem starts is best 🙂