Explaining Antibiotic Resistance + Natural Alternatives That Work!

In 1942, Anne Miller was dying of a streptococcal infection.

Then, literally overnight, a single injection of an experimental drug saved her life.

The medical community predicted the elimination of all infectious diseases in the near future. What was her miracle drug?

The first true antibiotic: penicillin.

Explaining Antibiotic Resistance

At that time, the entire world’s supply of antibiotics amounted to only 64 pounds. Today, the United States uses over 60 million pounds of antibiotics each year. (Herbal Antibiotics, page 7.)

Additionally, much of the population now uses antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers, and cleaners daily. And yet, this tidal wave of antibiotic use — and misuse — has not eliminated infectious disease, but rather kindled a new war against antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

As a result, antibiotic-resistant infections are now the 4th leading cause of death in the United States (Herbal Antibiotics, page 11).

Definition: Antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacterial microbes to grow in the presence of a chemical (drug) that would normally kill it, or at least limit its growth. Note that it is the bacteria which are resistant to the drug — not the host itself.

Why has this happened?

From the moment bacteria first encounter antibiotics, they begin to adapt. Once this happens, they share this knowledge — actually communicate it, even to different species. They also encode the adaptability information into their DNA to pass along to the next generation.

Dr. Alexander Fleming, the man who discovered penicillin, warned of the potential for resistance during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1945:

It is not difficult to make microbes resistant to penicillin in the laboratory by exposing them to concentrations not sufficient to kill them, and the same thing has occasionally happened in the body.

The time may come when penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops. Then there is the danger that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to non-lethal quantities of the drug make them resistant.

What Cows Have To Do With It…

What is the most effective way to create resistant bacteria?

Joel Salatin explains:

First, we’d raise only one species of something so we only need one kind of pathogen friendly to our host. Second, let’s crowd this one species together so pathogens can easily find a great host habitat. Third, let’s make sure the animals don’t exercise. We wouldn’t want muscle tone or healthy cardiovascular systems. Fourth, shoot carbohydrates into their rations to make them grow faster than anyone ever thought imaginable. Fifth, deny them fresh air and sunshine: nature’s #1 sanitizers. Sixth, let’s give them drugs to override their immune systems, making them more susceptible to those pathogens. Seventh, feed them nutritionally-poor food that would never be a part of their natural diet. (Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World, pages 216-217)

In other words, the most effective way to create resistant bacteria is the modern American Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). One large CAFO contains 700 to 125,000 confined animals.

Fully half of all antibiotics used in this country are used on livestock (Herbal Antibiotics, pages 7-8).

What About People?

People are also over-prescribed antibiotics.

According to a CDC study released in 2013, 4 out of 5 Americans take antibiotics annually. Azithromycin, commonly used to treat bronchitis, was the most frequently prescribed. However, bronchitis is usually caused by a virus. Antibiotics don’t kill viruses.

Not to mention, Vitamin C is just as effective in treating bronchitis as azithromycin.

Where Do Antibiotics Go?

Unfortunately, once antibiotics are released into the environment, they don’t biodegrade. They continue their antibiotic activity wherever they go.

Cattle feedlots, swine barns, poultry and egg houses, dairy lots, and even fish farms all pour sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics into their animals. Consequently, these antibiotics end up in the environment via animal waste.

Antibiotics even leach into the soil when sprayed on crops.

To quote Stephen Buhner, author of Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria,

… [T]he amount of pure antibiotics being dumped into the environment is unprecedented. And that has had tremendous impacts on the bacterial communities of Earth, and the bacteria have set about solving the problem they face very methodically.

These include the microflora inside humans and animals that are receiving resistance information from the outside environment. Bacteria can learn resistance to brand new antibiotics in just 6 months (Herbal Antibiotics, page 14). Resistant bacteria even exist in wild animals (Herbal Antibiotics, page 27).

Are There Alternatives To Antibiotics That Work?

Yes!

Alternatives to antibiotics are already available for use in animal husbandry. Phytobiotics, or plants and plant extracts, and antibacterial essential oils are especially important.

The medical communities in many African, Asian, European, and South American nations are researching alternatives to pharmaceutical antibiotics. Their discoveries include potent weapons against bacteria as well as synergistic companions to enhance the antibacterial action.

Their sources for these “new” discoveries? Valuable plants and herbs that have been in traditional use for a long time.

Why Do Plants Work When Drugs Fail?

One of the biggest reasons for the success of plant-based medicines is that they contain multiple substances that each play a role in fighting infections. This complexity also equips them to wage war against resistant bacteria.

Additionally, the very people who need plants and herbs can also grow them — when and where needed.

What Else Can We Do?

1. Stop using commercial antibacterial soaps, sanitizers, and cleaners. Even the CDC says plain soap and water is best.
2. Boost internal microflora by eating fermented and cultured foods and probiotic supplements daily.
3. Finally, learn how to grow, harvest, and prepare herbal products such as tinctures, salves, lotions, infusions, and teas.

I Recommend…

The book Herbal Antibiotics is the best resource for in-depth explanations of antibiotic resistance and plant alternatives I’ve ever seen. The author has a comprehensive encyclopedia of systemic, localized/non-systemic, and synergistic plants and herbs. It is full of practical instruction on which herbs to use, where to find them, and how to use them.

Some suggestions include:

• How to use oil infusions with fresh or dried herbs on sunburns, dry skin, skin infections, and as salves for wounds
• How to make nasal sprays for sinus infections from tinctures, pure water, and essential oils
• How to create recipes to treat ear infections and diarrhea in children
• And, how to make decoctions and syrups for colds and flu

Systemic antibacterial herbs spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. They are active against a wide range of bacteria. They include the 20 or 30 species of Cryptolepis, Alchornea, Sida (including the fanpetals and mallows), Bidens (beggartick), and Artemisia (such as wormwood). Many of these are native to, or grow easily in the United States.

Localized/non-systemic antibacterial herbs work most effectively externally, or in the GI and urinary tract. They include goldenseal, Oregon grape, lichens, juniper, and raw honey. (Honey isn’t exactly a plant, but it is a plant product.)

Synergistic herbs either enhance the antibacterial action or make the bacteria more vulnerable. They include licorice, ginger, and black pepper.

Many books and eCourses detail the best ways to find and prepare these powerful plant medicines. Many are used as tinctures, teas and infusions, or powdered into capsules. Some reputable companies also sell prepared tinctures.

So, do you want to begin incorporating these helpful plants into your daily routine? Here’s an easy recipe to get you going.

Ginger Root Tea

• 1/4 cup fresh ginger root, chopped or grated
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• pinch (or up to 1/4 tsp) of cayenne pepper
• slice of fresh lime

Steep ginger root in hot water for at least ten minutes. Once ready to drink, add honey, cayenne pepper, and lime. Enjoy up to 6 cups of this drink every day. Be warned, it’s spicy!

Other Natural Antibiotic Alternatives

Organic Raw Honey

While not exactly an herb, raw organic wildflower honey is a well-researched potent substance. It effectively treats antibiotic-resistant skin ailments as well as burns and wounds. Use full-strength directly on the skin and cover with a clean bandage. Or, dilute with a little water and use as a wash for skin, hair, and other surface areas.

Garlic

Garlic is actually a mild broad-spectrum antibiotic. Although not necessarily powerful enough to fight resistant infections, it is useful as a daily immune booster.

If you can tolerate it, 1/4 to 1 teaspoon a day of fresh garlic juice is quite potent. You can also tincture the garlic or chop and mix it with a little raw honey.

Essential Oils

The majority of essential oils are antiseptic and antibacterial.

Diffuse them into your home or office environment to easily take advantage of these qualities.

Or incorporate them into your household cleaning routine. Replace the antibacterial soaps and cleaners with essential oil-based solutions.

Cinnamon, clove, lemon, eucalyptus, lavender, pine, thyme, grapefruit, and lime are all especially useful. Also, eucalyptus actually gets stronger as it ages, thus increasing its disinfectant qualities.

Additionally, check out our Ultimate Guide to Essential Oil Properties {and which oils do what} for more information!

Balance Is Key

Like the legendary Achilles, we are vulnerable in spite of our medical system’s sophistication and technological advancements. The lowly bacteria teach us humility. We depend on the beneficial ones for good health even while combating the dangerous ones.

And armed with tools from nature’s medicine chest, we can keep our bacterial world in balance.

More Helpful Resources

• A Peek Into Our Medicine Cabinet: Fighting Illness With Food
• Natural Remedies for Burns, Bites, and Stings
• 6 Natural Strategies to Fight Off Flu Season

Are you familiar with the dangers of antibiotic resistance? Have you tried herbs and other plant-based medicines instead of antibiotics?

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You are responsible for your own health and for the use of any remedies, treatments, or medications you use at home.