Natural Antibiotics
We tend to forget that nature has been there to protect us for years – long before penicillin was discovered. Many medicines of today are made up from natural substances such as aspirin (from willow bark), digoxin (from foxglove), quinine (from cinchona bark), and morphine (from the opium poppy).
Here’s a list of some natural antibiotics with contraindications where applicable!
1. Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is truly a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic, capable of killing a wide variety of pathogens. Highly active against protozoa, bacteria, yeast and some viruses, it has been used for quite some time in the treatment of parasitic infections. It is nontoxic, generally hypoallergenic and can be administered for up to several months, which may be required to eliminate stubborn infections.
The extract of the inner rind and seeds of grapefruits (Citrus racemosa) is becoming known as one the best topical and internal antiseptics one can find. Popularized by the trade name Citricidal, grapefruit seed extract is bacteriostatic as well as bacteriocidal at various concentrations. It is active against a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. It has also been shown to be very effective against parasitic organisms such as giardia.
Counter-Indicators and Warnings
In much the same way that synthetic antibiotics can kill off the naturally occurring flora which exists in one’s body, so might Grapefruit seed extract. Consequently, if this herb is to be used long-term in the treatment of a chronic infection, supplemental acidophilus may need to be taken. However, while one study found that GSE significantly inhibited E. coli, another normal inhabitant of the GI tract, it left the important and beneficial Bifidobacteria unchanged, and only slightly reduced the Lactobacilli species.
People using GSE should be aware that they may have, or may develop an allergy to this preparation. Persons with a known citrus allergy are at higher risk. Should you develop a rash or experience any other symptoms while using it, discontinue use immediately.
2. If garlic had been created in the laboratory instead of by nature, it would probably be a high-priced prescription drug. Garlic has been used medicinally for at least 3,000 years, but until recently its benefits were considered little more than folklore. Medical studies have shown that garlic can lower cholesterol, prevent dangerous blood clots, protect LDL cholesterol and the endothelial lining of the arterial system against oxidation, reduce blood pressure, prevent cancer, and protect against bacterial and fungal infections.
Scientific research has confirmed garlic’s role as a natural antibiotic. Garlic extract has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against many types of bacteria and fungi. Garlic holds a promising position as a broad-spectrum therapeutic agent because many of the microorganisms susceptible to garlic extract are medically significant. [Medical Hypotheses 1983;12 pp.227-37]
One way garlic enhances the immune system is by promoting phagocytosis, the ability of white blood cells to fight infections. Another is by stimulating other immune cells, such as macrophages and T-cells to fight bacterial and viral infections and to scavenge for cancer cells. One report described how garlic enhanced the body’s natural killer cell activity against the AIDS virus. [Deutsche Zeitschrift fuer Onkologie, April 1989;21 pp.52-3]
3. Oil of Oregano is a potent antiseptic used both topically and internally. Research demonstrates that it is effective in killing a range of organisms, especially yeast and bacteria.
Oregano leaves have been used traditionally for almost every ailment concerned with the respiratory and digestive system.
Oil of oregano is not to be confused with common oregano in the kitchen spice cupboard, which is usually Oregano marjoram rather than true oregano (Oregano vulgare).
The essential oil distilled from oregano leaves contains varying amounts of thymol and carvacrol which can constitute as much as 90% of the oil. One should be sure to get oregano oil from a reputable company, for it has been suggested that many of the oils available commercially are derived from non-oregano species, particularly various types of marjoram and thyme. Furthermore, there are different concentrations of oregano oil available that are being made with different extraction techniques which may involve the use of solvents.
* Oil of oregano at relatively low doses was found to be efficacious against Staphylococcus bacteria and was comparable in its germ-killing properties to antibiotic drugs such as streptomycin, penicillin and vancomycin. [Science Daily 10/11/2001]
* British researchers reported oregano oil had antibacterial activity against 25 different bacteria. [Journal Applied Microbiology, Volume 88, February 2000]
* Researchers at the Department of Food Science at the University of Tennessee reported that, among various plant oils, oil of oregano exhibited the greatest antibacterial action against common pathogenic germs such as Staph, E. coli and Listeria. [Journal Food Protection, Volume 64, July 2001]
* Vancomycin is considered to be the most potent antibiotic available and is withheld from use as a drug of last resort. Drug resistance does not develop against naturally-occurring antibiotics such as garlic and oil of oregano.
Side-Effects; Counter-Indicators and Warnings
Side-effects are minimal, but allergic reactions to oregano oil and a sensitivity to plants in the same family (thyme, basil, hyssop, marjoram, mint, sage) can occur. It should not be applied in full strength to the skin.
Oil of oregano may reduce the absorption of iron, so take the oil at least two hours before or after consuming iron supplements.
4. Goldenseal, like barberry and Oregon grape root contains significant amount of berberine alkaloids like berberine, hydrastine and canadine. These berberine alkaloids are excellent, non-specific, anti-microbial and anti-fungal agents. Goldenseal has been shown to have potent anti-protozoal and broad-spectrum anti-bacterial effects.
In addition to its antiseptic properties, goldenseal has general bitter properties which have been shown to increase bile secretion and improve digestive complaints. Goldenseal is also immunostimulatory and is a general aid to most infectious conditions.
The use of Goldenseal in eye and mouth-washes (antiseptics) is quite a common use. Goldenseal is a strong digestive stimulant, and tonic to the digestive tract.
Counter-Indicators and Warnings
Goldenseal products should not be consumed by individuals who are pregnant without consulting a healthcare professional. Do not take goldenseal on a daily basis for more than a week at a time. Do not give goldenseal to children under two. Do not use goldenseal without consulting a physician if you have had heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, a stroke, or high blood pressure.
5. The active components of Echinacea have not been positively identified although large polysaccharides, as well as isobutylamides and cichoric acid have been implicated. Essentially, Echinacea has been shown to stimulate phagocytosis (engulfing of bacteria/viruses by certain white-blood cells), increase respiratory activity, and increase the motility of the white-blood cells.
Echinacea boosts the immune system and fights viral and bacterial infections.
6. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
A water-soluble antioxidant vitamin essential to the body’s health. When bound to other nutrients, for example calcium, it would be referred to as “calcium ascorbate”. As an antioxidant, it inhibits the formation of nitrosamines (a suspected carcinogen). Vitamin C is important for maintenance of bones, teeth, collagen and blood vessels (capillaries), enhances iron absorption and red blood cell formation, helps in the utilization of carbohydrates and synthesis of fats and proteins, aids in fighting bacterial infections, and interacts with other nutrients. It is present in citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, potatoes and fresh, green leafy vegetables. [Top tip for Lymies - try effervescent vitamin C for maximum absorption]
Sources: http://www.diagnose-me.com/condindex.html
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Drug interactions checker
Look up supplements, herbs & vitamins, over the counter meds as well as prescription meds to check for any interactions:
http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Treating CFS / Lyme with Allicin:
What is Allicin?
http://www.cfs-allicin.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=14
Allicin is extracted from garlic. It is the substance in garlic which has the most powerful antibacterial properties. Allicin is manufactured by Allicin International, a UK-based company which uses a patented process, guaranteeing a high yield of allicin in a form that is quickly absorbed by the body. You will not get the same result taking garlic capsules or eating garlic – and allicin doesn’t smell!!
Allicin is sold in the UK as “AllicinMax” and is available in capsules, liquid and cream. AllicinMax capsules contain 180mg of allicin powder. Allicin International reports it is safe to take up to 777 AllicinMax capsules in one day!
AllicinMax can be used as a substitute for an antibiotic. It is also antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic.
How does Allicin work?
Allicin disrupts the cell membrane biosynthesis – this means that it disrupts the system that is responsible for replication of the cell. It does this by inhibiting DNA polymerases and RNA synthesis.
When antibiotics are used against specific bacteria they tend to target one metabolic pathway, if the bacteria cannot ignore the destroyed pathway then the cell is killed. However, sometimes the bacteria can adapt – mutate – by using or developing an alternative pathway, and become resistant to the antibiotic’s effect.
Allicin destroys a large part of the bacteria, not just one pathway. The bacteria cannot adjust to this sort of destruction and so cannot become resistant to allicin in the way they can develop resistance to antibiotics.
How Do I Take the Allicin?
There is no definitive programme to follow. Using Allicin to treat CFS is a very new discovery and as far as we are aware, no-one has yet successfully healed themselves from CFS using Allicin. What we have seen, over the last seven months, has been a massive, constant improvement.
We can only relate our experiences and our knowledge based on our own reading and researching. If you plan to embark upon a similar treatment programme, we would recommend reading as much information as possible, enabling you to make informed decisions with regard to the treatment.
We believe it is best to start off taking one AllicinMax capsule a day – one capsule contains 180mg of allicin powder. If the dose is strong enough to begin killing the infection, it is likely that it will elicit a Herx reaction, this is an indication that the treatment is working. Some people may require a stronger dose to elicit a reaction. There is the possibility that some people will not experience any reaction, but the allicin may still be helping, at the moment this is very much trial and error.
As the Herx reactions become less (this may be more tolerable, slightly less, or they may disappear completely) an additional allicin capsule can be added in. This may cause the Herx reactions to escalate again, indicating that the treatment is successfully killing the bacteria.
Some people may find they are able to increase the dose quite quickly, others may find that they build up the dose over a longer period of time. The literature suggests that as long as the Herx reactions are being experienced, the bacteria is dying. It is therefore safer to take a cautious approach than to try and rush the treatment. It is unlikely that trying to build up the treatment too quickly will beat the infection any faster, it may cause more problems in the body due to an overload of toxins.
The most important thing is to pay close attention to your body, be aware of any emerging patterns and try to read as much of the research as possible in order to understand what is going on in your body.
Time Scale
This should be a finite treatment – it should not be something that will have to be taken forever. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing, at the present time, how long the treatment will take.
Combined Antibiotic Protocols, such as the Marshall Protocol and the Wheldon Protocol estimate it will take up to three years to entirely rid the body of infection. They both also estimate that a return to a normal lifestyle will be possible in a much shorter time – the estimate is 12-18 months, although this may vary for each individual. On the Marshall Protocol website (www.marshallprotocol.com), Dr. Marshall makes a distinction between optimum health and a pre-CFS state of heath, believing that people will be even healthier after completing such a treatment protocol.
As Allicin works in a different way to antibiotics, it is difficult to say how accurate these estimates may be. For many of us, the most important thing is that we are seeing improvements, after being ill for so long, seeing a light at the end of the tunnel – even a very long tunnel! – is a fantastic feeling.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Grapefruit Seed Extract is a Powerful In Vitro Agent Against Motile and Cystic Forms of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato by Brorson & Brorson
http://www.siv.no/webpro/dokument/564000_Citrosept.proof.pdf
__________________________________________________________________
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is truly a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic, capable of killing a wide variety of pathogens. Highly active against protozoa, bacteria, yeast and some viruses, it has been used for quite some time in the treatment of parasitic infections. It is nontoxic, generally hypoallergenic and can be administered for up to several months, which may be required to eliminate stubborn infections. GSE is sold both as “Grapefruit Seed Extract” and “Citrus Seed Extract”. Unless otherwise indicated on the label, these products are usually made from grapefruit seeds only. GSE has been shown to be effective in treating hundreds of different organisms including: Shigella, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Giardia lamblia, Diplococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium species, Campylobacter, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Cholera, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Legionella pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, Herpes simplex 1, Influenza A2, and measles virus. GSE has been shown to kill both gram-negative and gram-positive strains of bacteria
Different products may vary in strength so you should follow the label or your doctor’s directions for any particular product. As concentrated solutions, they almost always require dilution, and a different dilution for different forms of application. Its bitter taste may be avoided by mixing it with carrot, vegetable, orange or grapefruit juice, or by taking it in capsule form usually just after a meal.
GSE preparations can be used both internally and externally.
* External Use: GSE can be used externally as a disinfectant for both intact skin and to prevent infection in wounds. A study in Brazil found it to be 100% effective (at 100ppm) for skin disinfection when used as a pre-surgical prep compared to an effectiveness rate of 72% for alcohol and 98% for commercially available surgical soap.
* Internal Use: GSE can also be used internally to treat chronic infections. It is often recommended at a rate of 3 times per day. Dosage should not exceed a total of 1500mg per day.
* Nasal spray: Spray or use an eye-dropper to get several diluted drops into each nostril, and then swing the head quickly forward and down (so head is upside-down), forcing the liquid up into the nasal passages. Use up to six times per day.
* Douche: GSE is added to one pint of water. Use twice a day as a douche for up to a week, in the treatment of yeast infections.
CAUTION
In much the same way that synthetic antibiotics can kill off the naturally occurring flora which exists in one’s body, so might GSE. Consequently, if this herb is to be used long-term in the treatment of a chronic infection, supplemental acidophilus may need to be taken. However, while one study found that GSE significantly inhibited E. coli, another normal inhabitant of the GI tract, it left the important and beneficial Bifidobacteria unchanged, and only slightly reduced the Lactobacilli species.
People using GSE should be aware that they may have, or may develop an allergy to this preparation. Persons with a known citrus allergy are at higher risk. Should you develop a rash or experience any other symptoms while using it, discontinue use immediately.
http://www.digitalnaturopath.com/treat/T223665.html
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Some interesting facts about garlic:
What’s It Made Of?:
There are several important components of garlic that have been identified, and
many more that have not. Alliin is an odorless sulfur-containing chemical
derived from the amino acid cysteine. When garlic bulbs are crushed, alliin is
converted into another compound called allicin. Allicin appears to be one of the
primary active compounds that gives garlic its characteristic odor and many of
its healing benefits. However, allicin is not absorbed effectively by the human
body.
To combat this problem, aged garlic is fermented to break allicin down to usable
compounds. These compounds are water-soluble sulfur compounds (S-allyl cysteine
and others) and a small amount of oil-soluble sulfur compounds. The sulfur
containing compounds in aged garlic give the supplement its reported benefits in
cholesterol levels, heart disease, and cancer.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm
Made from 65% water, contains sulfur compounds & alliin:
Probably the most beneficial compound is allicin, which is made by the enzyme
alliinase breaking down alliin to allicin. This process is essential to garlic’s
potency. Heating or cooking garlic inactivates the enzyme, but if garlic is
chopped first and allowed to sit for 10 minutes before cooking, the enzyme has a
chance to do its job and enough allicin is formed to maintain the healthful
benefits.The same is true when roasting garlic bulbs. The top should be cut off
and the bulb stabbed a few times and then left for 10 minutes before roasting.
Of course, using garlic raw ensures its health qualities.
http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new00106.html
Garlic can repel bugs:
http://www.garlicbarrier.com/facts.html
Garlic helps target MRSA:
The killer superbug MRSA can be beaten with garlic, scientists have claimed.
Trials showed that allicin, a natural compound which gives garlic its
distinctive smell, can cure patients suffering from the antibiotic-resistant
infection.
In a trial, all 52 patients who took allicin capsules or sprayed a liquid on to
their wounds recovered fully within four to 12 weeks. Leader Dr Ron Cutler, of
the University of East London, said: “This is a breakthrough in the fight
against MRSA.”
The infection officially kills almost 2,000 hospital patients a year, although
experts believe the true toll is closer to 5,000.
Derek Butler, of the charity MRSA Action UK, said: “We welcome any new
developments in the fight against infection.”
Helps Aids patients:
Certain compounds in garlic have been found to be effective at inhibiting the
production of HIV. This is important because the rate of production of the virus
is a factor that makes the disease so deadly. While the virus may remain dormant
for many years after infection, once it becomes active, it takes on average only
nine weeks to overwhelm a patient if left untreated.
Patients suffering from AIDS should definitely consider using garlic in their
fight to control and slow the progression of this terrible disease. Of the many
studies conducted, many have found that aged garlic extract has the most
benefits for AIDS patients. Patients can make use of this type of extract along
with other garlic supplements—and even fresh garlic—to help them in their fight
against AIDS.
http://www.a1nutrition.com/reviews/garlic-used-in-the-treatment-of-aids-hiv/
GOOT Garlic Oil Treatment:
Anti-infective/Anti-fungal/Anti-parasites
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
GOOT, rubbed into the skin, transfers raw garlic oil directly into the blood
stream. Raw garlic is a natural antibiotic that does not carry the bad flora
that a Rx antibiotic will put into your intestines.
Apply on the feet of children or infants to fight infections. Rub on chest
for chest colds, pneumonia or rub into nostrils for sinus infections. Place on
cotton swab for ear infections. Apply directly to sores inside the mouth. Rub on
Athlete’s foot or genital area for jock itch. Insert GOOT into affected area for
yeast or other related infections. Apply on rashes any place. GOOT kills
Candida, parasites, bad bacteria and virus by direct application.
In addition, it treats systemic infections by absorption through the skin
into the blood supply and travels throughout the body. After two weeks, make a
new batch of GOOT.
MAKING GOOT
You will need:
3Tbs Virgin Coconut Oil
3 Tbs Olive Oil
3 Tbs fresh, chopped garlic
If the coconut oil is not liquid, you will have to warm it until melted. I
warm it under hot water, not on the stove. Then you will add three tablespoons
of olive oil and mix them together. Next, add three tablespoons of fresh chopped
garlic. I chop up my garlic in the blender a bit with a bit of the oil, then add
the rest of the oil and blend at high speed for two minutes. Another suggestion
is to use a coffee grinder. Pour mixture through a screen to remove chunks of
garlic that the blender may have missed. Pour into a wide mouth jar and label it
“GOOT.” Place in a refrigerator.
Freshly made, the mixture is a milky color and runny. GOOT turns into a
thick soft paste after one hour. After being in the fridge for several hours, it
is just hard like a salve easy to spread.
Don’t worry if your GOOT melts. The oils will not stay hard when warmed.
It’s fine. You can use it as the oil or you can put it back in the fridge and
cool it again.
http://jacquedixon.com/?p=28
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Also check out our other posts, lyme supplements & alternative treatment
