The Best Antibiotic Alternatives For Your Family
Antibiotics, although necessary in many circumstances, have become one of the most popularity prescribed medications in Western medicine today. Whether you’re suffering from a throat infection or a urinary tract infection, you’ve undoubtedly been prescribed antibiotics at one point or another. With that being said, there are plenty of families that prefer to stray away from modern medicine and would rather rely on herbal and natural remedies for their ailments.
Below are a few of the best antibiotic alternatives that your whole family can use to their advantage. However, it is important to remember that if you are suffering from a dangerous infection it is best to talk to a medical practitioner to ensure herbal remedies would be an effective cure.
1. Garlic
Garlic is a phenomenal ingredient that you can add to relatively any meal from hamburgers to spaghetti sauce. Luckily, it is also jam packed with a variety of different nutrients that you can enjoy tastefully and without having to eat it raw!
Garlic offers antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibiotic properties and was used during the 1700s to prevent people from contracting the plague. The more garlic you eat, the healthier your internal system will become as it helps to get rid of free radicals which are harmful elements that can bring forth cancer and other illnesses. Garlic’s active ingredient, allicin, is also filled with antioxidants that are phenomenal for removing bacteria and other unfriendly components in your system.
2. Oil of Oregano
One of the most interesting features of oil of oregano is that it not only targets harmful bacteria, but it also helps to prevent your body from losing all of its beneficial bacteria. Similar to garlic, it is also packed with natural antifungal and antiviral properties, which can help you to ward off seasonal illnesses and other infections. What makes this particular ingredient different from generic antibiotics is it helps your body to battle infections without building a resistance to antibiotics.
The active ingredient in oil of oregano is known as carvacrol and in order to ensure that it’s an effective treatment for your medical concern, the oil of oregano should have at least 70% of this ingredient.
3. Echinacea
If you’ve ever suffered from a generic cold, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Echinacea, as it’s not only available in capsule form but also in tea form and even in an essential oil. As one of the most interesting antibacterial ingredients in the world that has been used for upwards of 200 years, it has been known to help alleviate symptoms of blood poisoning, diphtheria, and to minimize infections in open wounds.
If there’s one thing to know about Echinacea in today’s society it’s that it is still used by medical professionals to help the body fight off staphylococcus aureus while suffering from the flu or the cold.
4. Goldenseal (Hydrastis)
As a herb that is primarily derived from the United States, goldenseal is a phenomenal antibiotic that is naturally occurring and has been used by Native Americans over hundreds of years. What makes it so fascinating is that you don’t have to eat a plant or cook with it, in fact, all you need is a couple of drops of its oil and you’ll be well on your way to recovery.
With goldenseal, its oil will soothe all of the mucous membrane linings in your body, which includes your respiratory, genitourinary, and digestive tracts. This lining is what not only prevents bacteria from entering your system but it also helps to clear any invasive items from your system.
5. Oregon Grape (Berberis aquifolium)
As another phenomenal herb that can be cultivated in the United States, Oregon grape includes an active ingredient referred to as berberine. Berberine is essential for preventing bacteria from making its way into your urinary tract by means of your intestines. This is why it is one of the best at-home remedies for dealing with urinary tract infections and diarrhea and it can easily be consumed in capsule form or even in a tea.
6. Changes of Lifestyle
Instead of focusing on specific items to implement into your daily diet in an effort to ward off illnesses and kill bacteria, one of the most important at-home antibiotics you can use to your advantage is a change in lifestyle. It’s true, all of the ingredients on this list have been used over the years to treat illnesses, but you need to be as healthy as possible prior to being sick in order for them to be effective treatments.
A few of the most important lifestyle changes you should make include:
Getting Enough Sleep: The majority of people in the world don’t get enough sleep either as a result of a poor diet, stress, or poor sleeping habits. You should be getting at least 8 hours every night; otherwise, your body won’t have the strength to fight off harmful bacteria.
Regular Exercise: It’s also important that you give the body the foundation it needs to remain strong and this is easily achieved with regular exercise. Now, there’s no need to spend a few hours in the gym every day as a 30-minute walk after dinner will suffice. The more exercise you do, the more toxins will be removed from your body and the more energy you’ll have throughout the day.
Eating a Healthier Diet: It’s easy for people to understand that they need to start eating better, but in a more specific fashion you need to start focusing on whole foods and reducing the amount of sugar you’re eating throughout the day. The more run down your body is prior to becoming sick, the less effective your herbal remedies will be.
Do Natural Remedies Work?
At the end of the day, if you think you’re dealing with a bacterial infection there isn’t any harm in testing out a few of the natural antibiotic remedies on this list as they may work far better than antibiotics. Instead of allowing your body to become resistant to lifesaving medication, it is sometimes best to rely on what nature has provided as a reliable remedy. With that being said, always talk to your doctor prior to beginning a new health regime to ensure it won’t conflict with your livelihood or any previously prescribed medications.