Natural Antibiotics That You Can Grow In Your Vibrant Garden
I don’t know about you but I find it is scary knowing that there are antibiotic resistant super bugs out there. Today i am going to look at what kind of natural antibiotics we can use to help us when we are sick.
After all, as Hippocrates said, “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Garlic
Even though garlic is such small vegetable, it packs a huge punch when it comes to antibiotic properties. Garlic also transforms meals into a aromatic, bold and healthy experiences. I have even eaten garlic in ice cream… and it was delicious!
Garlic is a "bulb," it is a couple of inches in height and diameter and has numerous small separate cloves. You can plant garlic cloves in the fall and cover with straw and it will come up in the spring, it will spiral around and produce beautiful scapes that can be eaten just like the garlic itself.
When garlic is crushed, chewed or chopped it allows the sulfur containing compounds to mix and create a new compound called allicin. Allicin is very valuable in terms of health benefits. It has been associated with having antibacterial and anticancer properties, along with cardiovascular benefits.
Crushing the garlic and allowing it to sit for 5-10 minutes will allow the compounds to interact and create the valuable allicin.
You can purchase dried, powdered and fresh garlic in markets throughout the year, however, fresh is best! And if you are growing it yourself, bundling it and hanging it in a cool spot, it will keep for the year until your new crop sprouts up in the spring!
Echinacea
This is a popular wildflower and garden plant, the purple coneflower as it is also known as, is also a popular herbal products. It has been used to prevent and treat the colds, influenza and infections. Echinacea is one of the most researched of immunostimulants.
It was also one of the most popular herbs used by Native American Indians. They used Echinacea for coughs, colds, sore throats, infections, inflammations, tonsillitis and toothaches just to name a few.
Some people can experience an allergic reaction to echinacea if they are already allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or any other members of the daisy family.
You can also grow this in your vibrant garden and harvest it to make teas, tinctures and compresses.
Oregano and the Oil of Oregano
Oregano… not just a spice for tomato sauce and pizza. This versatile herb has long been used as a medicine as well.
It has been used for respiratory disorders like coughs, asthma and bronchitis. It has also been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders like heartburn and bloating. Other uses include treating menstrual cramps, urinary tract infections and headaches.
Amazing right? Well that is not all!
Oil of oregano is a staple in my medicine cabinet. It is known to be taken orally for parasites, allergies, sinus pain colds and flu. Just a few drops under your tongue is usually enough to do the trick.
The oil can also be used topically to relieve the itch of insect and spider bites as well as to relieve athlete's’ foot, canker sores and dandruff. I like to mix it in carrier oil for massages to relieve muscle pain.
All of this and you can grow it in your own backyard! In the fall you can trim it, bundle it and let it dry, then store it in a glass container to have on hand throughout the winter season!