There are times when antibiotics are necessary - in people with severely compromised immunity, newborns or overwhelming infections, antibiotics are life-savers.
But for chronic or less serious infections, and for viral and fungal illnesses, there are herbal options that can help. Antibiotic resistance is a massive problem worldwide - pathogens can outsmart antibiotics because unlike herbs, pharmaceutical drugs don't contain hundreds of biologically active compounds.
So here are a few of my favourite herbal medicines that have potent anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and/or anti-fungal activity. Please note that herb quality is paramount, so it is best to consult with a Naturopath or Medical Herbalist to ensure you are taking an extract that is lab tested for purity and quality.
Herbal Anti-virals include:
Hypericum perforatum (St Johns Wort - caution with this herb due to its ability to interact with some pharmaceutical drugs - consult a practitioner)
Eleuthrococcus senticosis (Siberian Ginseng - but not in acute infections)
Astragalus membranaceus
Phyllanthus amarus
Lentinus edodes (the medicinal mushroom aka Shiitake)
Allium sativum (Garlic)
Thuja occidentalis
Herbal Anti-Bacterials include:
Citrus seed extract
Andrographis paniculata
Thymus vulgaris (Thyme)
Allium sativum (Garlic)
Vaccinium macrocarpa (Cranberry)
Herbal Anti-fungals include:
Citrus seed extract
Horopito
Pau D'arco
Thymus vulgaris (Thyme)
Allium sativum (Garlic)
So for infections that don't require antibiotics, or where antibiotics have not resolved the illness, then consider your Herbal medicine options more closely...
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