Antibiotics are substances that allow us to eliminate the bacteria that cause many of the infectious diseases that attack our bodies. However, not all antibiotics out there are created equal. In fact, it is increasingly common for bacteria to be resistant to artificial antibiotics, mainly due to their misuse and abuse in their use. However, nature produces these substances in large quantities and different types, which will allow us to strengthen our immune system in an easy and natural way by including them in our diet. If you want to know which are the best natural antibiotics, keep reading Green Ecology and we will tell you about it.
What are antibiotics
Antibiotics are substances that kill bacteria when they come into contact with them. Its name derives from the Greek prefix anti- (contrary to) and from the Greek word bios (life).
That is to say, its literal meaning is “contrary to life”, a name it receives for its effects when it comes to eliminating infectious bacteria that are dangerous to health.
Most artificial antibiotics only affect bacteria, so antibiotics are not the same as viricides (which kill viruses) or fungicides (which kill fungi). For this reason, it is important to use each of them correctly, as improper use will be counterproductive and probably useless.
How Natural Antibiotics Work
However, in the case of natural antibiotics, these are substances that, in general, tend to fulfill a triple function when it comes to eliminating bacteria, viruses and fungi , since they are produced by other organisms (generally plants) to protect themselves. of any type of infection.
In this way, natural antibiotics are of great help when it comes to treating certain mild diseases or to protect our immune system , as well as to prevent seasonal infectious diseases, such as colds or flu.
Likewise, these natural antibiotics are especially useful when treating skin diseases such as herpes or some types of warts, since they are less aggressive with healthy tissues than synthetic antibiotics, but many of them are very effective.
Can synthetic antibiotics be substituted for natural ones?
It is important to understand that both natural and artificial antibiotics must be used appropriately and according to the type of ailment suffered in each case.
In this way, if our doctor has prescribed a specific type of treatment, this treatment should be followed according to his indications , since they should never be replaced without the approval of the professional in question.
In fact, natural antibiotics, when ingested, tend to serve a general protective function of our immune system rather than fighting a specific infection.
It must be taken into account that there are certain specific bacteria that are resistant to this type of antibiotics and, consequently, it is necessary to combat them with synthetic antibiotics that are only available in hospitals. Therefore, they should not be substituted for each other when prescribed by a doctor.
The best natural antibiotics
There are many natural antibiotics that we can incorporate into our diet and, even, that we can use externally to treat some skin diseases, such as herpes or the smallest warts. Here are some of the best natural antibiotics that you can find in any herbalist or supermarket.
Propolis
Propolis, or propolis, is a natural substance made by bees from plant substances. This substance has antibacterial, virucidal, fungicidal and anti-inflammatory properties.
It can be used both ingested and cutaneously. Consumed ingested, it can help us fight the common cold, flu, respiratory diseases such as asthma or bronchitis, or otitis and sinusitis in milder cases. On the other hand, used against skin diseases, it can be useful when treating abscesses, boils, chilblains, or warts.
Garlic
Garlic is another of the most powerful natural antibiotics out there. It is a condiment widely used in the Mediterranean diet and, in addition, has the advantage that, when consumed, it helps to eliminate harmful bacteria without having negative effects on the good ones of the intestinal flora. Likewise, it can be applied on the skin to combat diseases of bacterial origin. In fact, garlic is one of the best household fungicides for plants.
Onion
Another of the most powerful natural antibiotics that we can find is onion. Its antibiotic properties are used to treat and prevent diseases of many types, although those related to the respiratory system or the presence of parasites in the digestive tract are the most prominent. Its main benefit comes from its high content of sulfur, a substance that is naturally antibiotic.
Tea tree oil
This oil is obtained from a tree of Australian origin that, despite its name, has nothing to do with the tea plant. It is an oil with antibiotics, virucidal, and fungicidal properties.
Its use should be limited only to the external and cutaneous since it is a quite toxic oil if ingested. It is an especially useful oil when treating skin herpes or warts.
aloe vera
Specifically, we refer to aloe, that is, the inner juice of the aloe vera plant. This substance is especially effective when it comes to eliminating germs that can affect our skin or our digestive system.
A simple use that can be made of this antibiotic and virucidal is to use it to gargle during catarrhal processes, which will greatly improve the sore and itchy throat associated with this type of disease. In the following EcologíaVerde article we explain how to make aloe vera gel.
Related Topics:
