Recent Report: Too Many Antibiotics – Alternative Choices May Help

Antibiotics began as a kind of miracle cure for many bacterial infections. The first successful test was recorded in 1909 by Paul Ehrlich and Alexander Fleming when an antibiotic strain cured syphilis in rabbits. By the 1940’s penicillin was invented and from there a snowball effect of stronger strain after stronger strain was introduced until we have ended up where we are today, over prescribed.

It was recently reported on Monday, September 19, in a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine that overprescribing of antibiotics in the U.S. is still a major concern. According to lead author of the study, James Baggs a CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) epidemiologist,

“Because inappropriate antibiotic use increases the risk of antibiotic resistance and other side effects, continued monitoring of antibiotic use is critical to future improvements in patient safety,”

Co-author Dr. Ateev Mehrotra an associate professor at Harvard Medical School’s department of health care policy in Boston added,

“We’ve known for decades that there are too many antibiotics being used. We still give a lot of people antibiotics they don’t need, and doctors know they are prescribing too many antibiotics.”

Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the nonprofit Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy commented,

“In fact, we now have many multi-drug resistant infections that are not treatable with any antibiotics we have, and consequently there is now a call for global action to solve the problem, We need investment in new diagnostic tools, antibiotics and alternatives to antibiotics,”

Of course we need antibiotics as they are still highly effective in treating a multitude of conditions but there could be alternatives that may work just as well.

Natural Antibiotics

For centuries various cultures have been using natural forms of antibiotics to fight infection. However, with modern society moving at lightning speed using these remedies proved to be too slow. Pharmaceutical antibiotics have been able to get most people back on their feet in mere days while easily lining the pockets of Big Pharma. Yet, the overall cost is showing to be a dangerous disadvantage as super bacteria are developing that antibiotics cannot fight. Maybe going back to natural antibiotics will be the answer once again.

These are some natural antibiotics that just may help without the side effects associated with pharma antibiotics such as diarrhea, nausea and rashes.

Oregano Oil

Carvacrol is the active compound found in oregano oil which has been linked to treating drug-resistant bacterias. Georgetown University Medical Center published a study in 2001 that showed the significant effectiveness of this herb.

Don’t wait, use oregano at the first sign of illness. For sinus or bronchial infections put a few drops of oregano oil in a pot of boiling water, put a towel over your head and inhale the steam once or twice daily until the infection clears. Add a few drops under your tongue or in a small amount of water and drink three times per day.

This remedy is also good for nail infections by soaking the affected area in oregano oil infused in warm water.

Turmeric (Curcumin) 

The orange spice turmeric aka curcumin, often found in Indian food, can be found in capsule form to treat inflammation as well as perform as an effective anti-microbial.

Published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Indian researchers reported positive findings of using turmeric to combat stomach bacteria concluding that,

“Curcumin showed immense therapeutic potential against H. pylori infections and H. pylori-associated gastroduodenal diseases”

Take 400-600 mg capsules twice daily or mix 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder with 5-6 tablespoons of raw organic honey, store in an airtight jar and eat half a teaspoon twice daily.

Olive Leaf Extract

Long used to fight microbes, olive leaf extract has proven to be a powerful alternative to antibiotic drugs. Laboratory studies literally show how the compounds in olive leaf aggressively kill bacteria and in some cases may even be an excellent antiviral remedy.

An Israeli study published in the journal Mycoses (4/03) stated that,

“Olive leaf 0.6% (w/v) water extract killed almost all bacteria tested, within 3 h…Escherichia coli cells [bacterial intestinal spores], subjected to a similar treatment but exposed to only 0.6% (w/v) olive leaf extract showed complete destruction.”

250-500 mg capsules twice per day particularly at the onset of symptoms could be highly effective. Also, olive leaf extract tincture under the tongue twice daily could also be a beneficial application.

It may not be best to choose antibiotics as your first line of defense. When symptoms appear reaching for these or other natural antibiotics may do the trick. Other considerations include cinnamon capsules (1000 mg each), garlic and raw, organic honey particularly the Manuka brand.