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Herbs with Antibiotic Properties
Acacia, Aloe, Cannabis*, Chaparral,
Cryptolepsis, Echinacea, Eucalyptus,
Garlic*, Ginger*, Golden Seal*, Grapefruit Seed Extract*, Honey*, Hops*, Iceland Moss*,
Juniper Berries*, Licorce*, Myrrh, Rosemary Oil*, Sage*, Sundew*, Thyme*, Usnea,
Wormwood.
 Cannabis
- (See Analgesics)
Garlic -
Allium
sativum - CAUTION: While garlic is the most
powerful herb for the treatment of antibiotic resistant disease, nausea and vomiting
can result in using too much fresh garlic too fast. Even though a bulb doesn't
produce much juice, garlic is a very strong emetic even in very small
quantities. The juice is quite potent and should be taken with food or juice in
small quantities over a period of time to get the best results from its use. The
fresh cloves can be diced and mixed with honey in order to avoid nausea and
enhance the taste. Try juicing the bulbs and adding to either carrot or tomato
juice 1/4 tsp. to 1 tsp. as needed.
Ginger -
Zingiber
officinale - Caution: Avoid large doses during
pregnancy.
Golden
Seal - (See Alteratives)
Grapefruit Seed Extract -
Citris
paradisi - Caution: GSE must be diluted before use.
Over time, extended use can kill off all intestinal flora, much like
broad-spectrum antibiotics will. Undiluted, this extract can cause skin and
mucous membrane irritation and severe eye irritation. It should not be used for
eye infections. Keep out of the reach of children. Caution is also indicated
during pregnancy.
Honey - Externally, there are
no cautions. Internally, Cautions:
1) In rare instances, honey is sometimes made from poisonous plants. Buying
honey from reputable or local beekeepers who know what plants are being used by
the bees to make the honey will help to minimize this risk.
2) Children under 1 year old should not be given honey due to the possibility of
botulism spores being present in the honey. These spores can be quite dangerous
for young children with under developed digestive systems.
3) Occasionally, those who are allergic to bee stings may have adverse reactions
to honey.
Hops
-
(See Analgesics)
Iceland
Moss - Cetraria islandica - CAUTION:
Gastrointestinal irritation and liver problems can result from excessive usage
or use over prolonged periods.
Juniper
Berries - (a) Juniperis communis (b)
Juniperus oxycedrus
- CAUTION:
With prolonged usage or in excessive amounts this herb can cause irritation to
the kidneys and the urinary tract. It is not recommended for those with kidney
problems or for pregnant women. The oil of these plants is an irritant and can
cause inflammation and blisters. If you suffer from gastric inflammation, avoid
this herb as well.
Licorice -
Glycyrrhiza
glabra - CAUTION: Licorice has many strengths, and
because of this it is often overused. Long term use or overdose can cause
potassium depletion, high blood pressure, decrease in plasma renin and aldosterone
levels, edema, and in very large doses decreased body weight and blood cell
counts. Licorice has strong estrogenic properties and can cause breast growth in
men, especially if combined with other estrogenic herbs. One good thing is that
after 2-4 weeks of non-use these conditions will abate. Those on estrogen
therapy should avoid this herb as should those with hypertension or hypokalemia
or those who are pregnant. Most references to these contraindications are from
the use of extracts. This would seem to support the use of the entire plant
which contains other compounds that help to negate the side effects of the
extracted constituents.
Rosemary
Oil - Rosmarinus officinalis - CAUTION:
Rosemary, when taken internally in excessive amounts, can cause fatal poisoning.
Sage -
Salvia
officinalis - Caution: If pregnant, do not use in
large quantities. If nursing sage can decrease or completely stop lactation.
Sundew
- Drosera rotundifolia - CAUTION:
This herb should be used only in small quantities as it contains substances that
are irritant.
Thyme
- (See Anthelmintics)
Usnea -
Usnea spp.
- Caution: Can be irritating to mucous membranes of the
mouth and throat. It should be diluted before taking. No toxicity has been noted
in humans, but usnic acid, one of usnea's components, is toxic to animals. Usnea
readily absorbs heavy metals in potentially toxic amounts, so in order to avoid
this, only harvest Usnea at least 300 feet from roadways, factories, or polluted
areas.
Wormwood -
Artemesia
absinthium - Caution: Avoid large dose during
pregnancy. The essential oil is never considered safe taken internally. Small
dose of the oil can cause acute renal insufficiency and even death. This is a
very strong herb and its strength should be respected and not abused. Overuse
for years can result in nervous system damage from the high levels of thujone (a
narcotic poison) in the plant.
*(Herbs
in which a Caution exists. For those herbs whose Cautions do not appear on this
page, a link has been provided to its description.)
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