Total Health Breakthroughs: Free Natural Health Newsletter and Alternative Health Articles

Part 1 of a 2-part article

The real truth is that unless you live in a bubble, it is impossible to avoid germs. And, germs, bacteria, viruses, fungi, are EVERYWHERE.

Remember your morning train ride into work? That guy sitting next to you just kept coughing and didn’t cover his mouth. You were unfortunately exposed to any number of common cold viruses or worse, bacterial pneumonia.

Prescription antibiotics have been around since the 1940s. Antivirals and antifungals came later. All of these medications have been greatly overused, allowing germs to “outsmart” modern science and become resistant. The medical establishment is currently running out of ways to treat many types of infections.

Since you are constantly being exposed to all kinds of bacteria, viruses and fungi, you are at risk to get all kinds of internal infections including colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, stomach bugs, gum disease and the flu. Skin infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, dandruff, oral herpes, and nail fungus are also very common.

Many people do not want to take the traditional anti-infectives. As stated above, many infections are resistant, and there are other serious concerns about side effects, cost, and reactions to these drugs. So, what can you do?

Mother Nature to the Rescue…

Look no further than your kitchen counter for a100% natural antibiotic — garlic! Garlic has a long proven history in treating bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. Its active compound is allicin, which is similar to penicillin.

Garlic helps staph and strep infections, germs that are resistant to traditional antibiotics. It also covers a broad spectrum of bacteria. You can add one clove of chopped raw garlic to food two to three times a day. Garlic oil can be used for ear infections, 10-20 drops three times per day in the ear, and can be applied topically to the skin for scrapes, burns and abrasions.

Garlic capsules can be taken if you don’t like the taste and smell of the oil or raw preparation. Aged garlic supplements have been shown to be particularly effective.

Echinacea works in a similar fashion to garlic, fighting bacteria, fungi and viruses. It stimulates the immune system by increasing production of the cells that attack infection. It can be taken in a liquid (3-4 mL), tablet (300 mg) or capsule (300 mg) form every 2 hours for the first day of an illness. It is then taken three times per day for 7-10 days. Echinacea should not be taken for more than 10 days.

You’ll probably find both cinnamon and honey in your kitchen cabinet. These can be combined to help a number of infections and illnesses.  The daily use of honey and cinnamon powder powers the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viruses by strengthening the white blood cells. Make sure you use pure, unpastuerized honey (raw honey) because pasteurization kills some of its active ingredients.

One teaspoon of lukewarm honey and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon once a day for 3 days will help your cough and cold and clear your sinuses. For a toothache, make a paste with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 5 teaspoons of honey. Apply to the painful area three times per day. Bladder germs are killed by 2 tablespoons of cinnamon and 5 teaspoons of honey in 8 ounces of water.

For skin infections, eczema, ringworm, insect bites, and burns, use equal parts of cinnamon and honey to make a paste and apply as needed.

Acne can be helped with 3 tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon applied overnight and washed off of the next day. Do this daily for 2 weeks and to get deep inside the skin where acne starts.

It’s phenomenal that olive leaf can fight almost any type of infection — bacterial, viral, fungi and parasites. Use olive leaf extract capsules, 250 mg, three times per day with meals to treat the flu, colds, sinusitis, herpes, psoriasis and allergies.

Wild Indigo is a powerful natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory herb. It will help your sore throat, swollen glands, tonsillitis, bronchitis and mouth sores. Take 30-40 drops of the liquid, 3-4 times per day for up to 6 weeks. It also can be combined with echinacea.

In Part 2 of this article, I’ll tell you about some natural substances that have amazing healing properties when applied to the skin or mouth area.

[Ed. Note: Lisa Forgione, MD, is an Emergency Medicine Physician practicing in Wadesboro, North Carolina.  She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Forgione participated in the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and has received several Physicians Recognition Awards for teaching from the AMA and AAFP.]