Is There Really Such A Thing As An All-Natural Antibiotic?

Natural antibiotics are a term we hear a lot in integrative and functional medicine community, but it's difficult to understand exactly what they really are. Are they a replacement for your Z-Pack? Something you can use in conjunction with other conventional treatments? For which types of conditions do they work best? Understandable, there are a lot of questions to be answered.

So what does the term "all-natural antibiotic" really mean? Well, it's used to describe plants, herbs, supplements, or other natural substances that display very strong antimicrobial properties (meaning they can help fight viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections) and functional and integrative medicine experts often recommend them for infections like mild UTI's , travelers diarrhea, candida infection in the gut, or to use right at the first sign of a cough, sore throat, or cold.

Oregano oil is one my favorite go-to natural antibiotics, especially when dealing with bacterial, parasitic, and fungal overgrowth in the gut—especially candida overgrowth. Research has shown that it targets1 both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, which makes it a well-rounded broad-spectrum antibiotic to start with for a wide variety of infections. I also suggest it to patients with upper respiratory infections and colds because it has the ability to fight2 viruses, inflammation, and allergies as well. It’s my go-to supplement during the winter season to fight all those pesky seasonal infections.

Many people are aware of garlic’s positive impact3 on heart disease, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, but not many people are aware of its antibacterial properties4. Allicin, a compound found in garlic, has profound antimicrobial5 properties, and it's a wonderful first-line broad-spectrum natural antibiotic agent as well. It has been used in traditional Chinese and ayurvedic medicine for its healing properties for centuries and I tell my patients to increase their intake of garlic at the first sign of illness.

Uva-ursi, also known as bear’s grape or Arctostaphylos, is traditionally used to treat6 urinary tract infections. In fact, it is very similar to the antibiotics that treat urinary infections, specifically drugs in the quinolones family like ciprofloxacin. Uva-ursi has this bioactive metabolite that is eliminated in the urine that prevents bacteria from sticking to the cell wall in the bladder, which makes it an effective7 urinary tract infection treatment. Of course, if you’re allergic to quinolones, chances are uva-ursi may not be a good option for you.

This is another natural8 antibiotic8 I recommend a lot to my patients with GI issues who have bacterial, candida, or parasite overgrowth. It helps them tremendously due to its strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It’s great for travelers’ diarrhea and acute food poisoning, too. It is not recommended for moms to-be or lactating moms because it has the potential to be harmful to the baby.

Colloidal silver (essentially, colloidal silver is silver particles suspended in water) is frequently used in the integrative medicine world when warding off bacterial infections. Historically, silver has been used as a broad-spectrum antibiotic9, and although studies have shown that it's great at attacking antibiotic-resistant bugs like MRSA10, the food and drug administration (FDA) does not recognize it as an antibiotic. It also has antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Honey is one of the most natural antibiotics you can get, and the use of honey to fight infection dates all the way back to 2000 B.C. This natural elixir has been used for burns, skin infections, bed sores, and more! Manuka works as an antibacterial agent because of its high sugar content and low pH, which inhibits11 the growth of bacteria. Not all honey is the same, and Manuka honey, specifically, has properties that make it a more active antibacterial12, so look at the UMF (unique Manuka factor) to ensure you’re getting something high quality. Aim for those that are labeled somewhere between 12 and 16; these are the most therapeutic. These properties also get denatured with extreme heat, so I encourage patients when using them in tea to let the drink cool down before mixing the honey in; otherwise, you lose some of the immune-boosting, antibacterial properties. Avoid giving this to children under a year old or to people who are allergic to bees.

How to use Manuka honey: You can add Manuka honey to your tea or look for products like cough drops or syrups made with it. Manuka honey is great topically as well, especially on wounds and acne, as it works to decrease inflammation and repair tissue. For a Manuka honey face mask, just spread the honey on your face and leave it for 10 minutes, then wash it off with warm water.

One last thing, make sure you don’t take even these natural antibiotics for a long time since they, too, just like antibiotics, can negatively affect your gut microflora.