We’ve arrived at a place where the short-comings of drug-based medicine are all too plain. Nothing demonstrates that fact more than our growing issue with antibiotic resistance. Now, more than ever in mankind’s history, we must find reliable, affordable, and effective antibiotic alternatives.
Antibiotics are gradually losing their ability to protect us against common bacteria. When this realization is coupled with the very real side effects and the rocketing expense, the need for other options becomes an actual emergency.
Before antibiotics, there were holistic options that worked for thousands of years. The pursuit of the perfect “miracle” drug to fix everything has overshadowed basic principles (such as hygiene, quality rest, and nutrition) that keep people from getting sick in the first place!
Common sense seems forgotten. It seems everyone wants it “easy” rather than “correct” but that’s not a long-term solution. Eventually, the repercussions of “easy” catch up.
A good example of this is diet soda filled with cancer-causing chemicals and artificial sweeteners. The soda industry played a big part in the obesity and diabetes epidemics.
They presented an “easy” solution to their consumers who could no longer consume their full test goods. The advice was not, “Don’t drink soda because it’s bad for you.” Instead it was, “You can still have this horrible thing without the calories and sugar!” Now numerous scientific studies have linked diet sodas to a higher risk of diabetes.
There are countless such examples. It is critical that we start thinking about the entire body or our health will continue to decline. Let’s talk about a few common sense alternatives to antibiotics that will help to slow down antibiotic resistance (if we start now)!
Top 5 Natural Antibiotic Alternatives
- WATER: What’s cheap, plentiful, non-patented, and very effective for eliminating bacteria? Plain water. I’m not talking about saline or antiseptic scrub! Water is very cleansing. It can dilute toxins and wash away contaminants and organisms. That helps your body fight infection.
Doctors, pharmacies, and hospitals use saline – a salt solution at the same concentration as body tissues. In a pinch, water will do fine. If it’s healthy enough to drink, it’s healthy enough to use on an open wound and was shown to be as much or more effective than saline in adults. Also, you must wash your hands regularly! This is the easiest way to prevent the transmission of germs (even the fearsome MRSA). More on that below!
- DRAWING: This is an ancient technique that can be an amazing antibiotic alternative! There are times it works alone and others where it might be used in conjunction with the methods above. It simply means to draw the fluid out of a swollen infected sore, boil, wound, or abscess.
A highly concentrated substance (such as ichthammol or zinc oxide paste) is smeared over the infected site and kept in contact with a bandage or poultice. One of the simplest is 25% zinc oxide paste found at your local pharmacy. It sucks out the moisture by the scientific principle of osmosis.
The dehydration effect has two benefits. First, bacteria don’t like it (drawing sucks moisture from them and they die). Second, it draws moisture from the inflammation site, which lessens the pressure and makes it less painful. The use of a drawing salve alone will often eradicate an unpleasant boil or infection resulting from a splinter or small wound. However, those with diabetes or compromised immunity must exercise caution.
- LIGHT: This is a pretty simple method of sterilization courtesy of the world of physics. Most of the electromagnetic spectrum is very hostile to life (such as microwaves, ultraviolet light, and gamma rays).
The very narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum (what we call “light”) is not only friendly, it is essential to life. However, even light is part of that dangerous spectrum, and can have destructive effects on living organisms. Blue light, being close to the ultraviolet range, can be quite harmful. Used properly, it has been shown to kill resistant bacteria (even MRSA). They sell hand-held versions to consider.
Additionally, your mother always recommended fresh air and sunshine…and that’s still effective. These have traditionally been recognized for their healing powers. To expose an infected wound to bright sunlight would do far more good than covering it with bandages, especially if the organism is one of these resistant types.
- HONEY: This is one alternative to antibiotics that has been known and used (with great success) for thousands of years. From the ancient Greeks all the way to soldiers during World War II, honey was being used for its antibacterial properties in treating wounds. Then along came antibiotics, and it was promptly forgotten.
There’s been a sort of renaissance in the use of honey in the past decade. The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine stated, “The therapeutic potential of uncontaminated, pure honey is grossly underutilized.” Bandages soaked in manuka honey were given to patients at the Christie Cancer Hospital in Manchester to reduce their chances of contracting the MRSA superbug and lessen wound inflammation following surgery. Honey is used routinely at the Manchester Royal Infirmary for dressing wounds, and other research has found it can fight gum disease, ease digestive problems, and soothe sore throats.
Honey sucks the water out of bacteria so they can’t grow (diluted honey has the opposite effect). What’s especially interesting is that honey allows wound healing with little or no scarring. It seems that honey can restrain the excessive growth of collagen which takes place during wound healing.
- ALCOHOL: Antibiotic soaps are terrible so don’t use them! Unfortunately, poor hand-washing habits makes the spread of bacteria, viruses, and parasites so efficient. Colds, flus, gastrointestinal disorders, pneumonia, and food-borne illness are spread through contact.
Access to instant hand-washing (even without water) is important. Plain rubbing alcohol is cheaper, safer, and more effective. Carrying it in a small bottle, you use it just like hand sanitizers – using much less – rubbing it all over your hands until it dries naturally.
Alcohol fell out of favor as an antibiotic alternative because it burns if you have an open wound. The sensation is temporary and the results are worth the discomfort. I can’t imagine there might be a question of when to wash your hands but just in case, these are the times when you mustn’t forget!
- Using the toilet
- Changing a diaper
- Blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- Picking up or touching animal waste
- Before, during, and after food preparation (more often with raw meats)
- Handling trash
- Before removing or inserting contact lenses
- Before and after caring for a wound or a person who is sick or injured
There are safe, inexpensive, and highly effective antibiotic alternatives that you can start using in your daily life to limit your overexposure to antibiotics found in food and products.
Each of these 5 natural alternatives to antibiotics is readily available to everyone (no insurance required) and easy to afford. I discuss many more in my book A World Without Antibiotics.
Stay healthy!