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Herbal Antibiotics – 15 Natural Infection Fighters

Herbal antibiotics have long been used to fight infections and speed wound healing.

Now, they are gaining interest as treatments for bacteria that have become resistant to synthetic antibiotics. Many antibiotic herbs also fight viruses, like colds and flu.

drying herbs

This post is based on the book “Herbal Antibiotics” by Stephen Harrod Buhner, and related materials.

Mr. Buhner has a first and second edition of this book. The first is out of print, but easier for the layperson to follow.

We'll start with some background information and then discuss antibiotic herbs and their use.

Note: Not all bacteria are harmful – many are essential to our health and well-being. Always exercise caution with the use of herbal antibiotics, just as you would with pharmaceutical antibiotics.

In food doses, they are generally benign, but in therapeutic doses they can have side effects just like any medication.

Please see a trained healthcare provider for severe or prolonged illness or injury. 

What is an antibiotic?

MedicineNet.com defines an antibiotic as:

A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. Originally, an antibiotic was a substance produced by one microorganism that selectively inhibits the growth of another.

Synthetic antibiotics, usually chemically related to natural antibiotics, have since been produced that accomplish comparable tasks.

Most of us think of antibiotics as liquid or pills you pick up at the pharmacy. Originally, they came from naturally occurring sources.

Plants have antibiotic substances serving a beneficial role around their root systems. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.

Many foods and herbs act as antibiotics, such as honey, garlic, onions, licorice root, ginger, sage and many others.

How do bacteria become antibiotic resistant?

Antibiotic resistance is a genetic trait, like brown hair or green eyes. Unlike human traits, antibiotic resistance transfers very quickly between one bacteria and another.

Bacteria communicate with each other extremely rapidly, and through this communication they are able to transfer survival traits.

The TED talk below by Bonnie Bassler gives examples of some of the rapid communication abilities of bacteria.

Back in the 1970s, Dr. Stuart Levy and his team tested adding antibiotics to chicken feed. They found that antibiotic resistant bacteria quickly showed up in the chickens' intestinal tracts. Those bacteria also spread to the intestinal tracts of the people working with the chickens.

The chickens' guts changed within a week, the farm workers in 3-6 months. Further, the bacteria were not only resistant to tetracycline (the antibiotic used), but several other commercial antibiotics. They had learned and adapted.

After they stopped using the antibiotic laced feed for six months, the problem corrected itself. No detectable levels of tectracycline resistant bacteria were found in the farm workers or chickens.

You can read more about this study at “The Spread of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria from Chickens to Farmers“.

*Note: The FDA finally banned the use of therapeutic antibiotics in animal food in 2017.

How are herbal antibiotics different from pharmaceutical antibiotics?

Many pharmaceutical antibiotics are isolated chemical constituents. They are one compound/one chemical – penicillin is penicillin, tetracycline is tetracycline and so on. This makes them easier for bacteria to adapt to and counteract.

In contrast, herbs are much more complicated. Garlic has over 33 sulfur compounds, 17 amino acids and a dozen other compounds. Yarrow has over 120 identified compounds. (This makes me look at my herbs with a new appreciation.)

In plants, the whole appears to be more than the sum of its parts. The different compounds work together to combat bacterial infections, often to produce better than expected results.

Herbal antibiotics may be one of our best options for fighting methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

(See Chapter 2 of Herbal Antibiotics for a more detailed explanation.)

Top 15 Antibiotic Herbs

Stephen lists the following as his top 15 antibiotic herbs.

  • Acacia
  • Aloe
  • Cryptolepsis
  • Echinacea
  • Eucalyptus
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Goldenseal
  • Grapefruit Seed Extract
  • Honey
  • Juniper
  • Licorice
  • Sage
  • Usnea
  • Wormwood

The use of each of these is detailed in the book. I'll share a few that I use regularly. (The post Honey as Medicine goes into detail on the use of honey.)

Note: 80% or more of urinary tract infections are caused by E coli bacteria. Herbal antibiotics that fight E coli are likely to help with UTIs.

Aloe – Herbal Antibiotic Long Used for Burns and Other Skin Trauma

Aloe vera is active against:

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Pseudomonos aeruginosa
  • Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2

Honey and aloe vera are two of the most effective treatments for burn victims when applied externally.

They help to speed wound healing and prevent infection. Manuka honey is particularly effective for fighting bacterial infections.

To use aloe, slice open the leaves of the fresh plant to get at the sap. Apply the aloe gel to the wound or burn until well covered, repeating as necessary.

You may also juice or puree the pulp for internal use. (Read more about medicinal use of aloe.)

garlic cloves and bulb

Garlic – Eat Your Medicine

Microbes that respond to treatment with garlic include:

  • Tuberculosis
  • Shigell dysenteriae
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Pseudomonos aeruginosa
  • Candida albicans
  • Escherichia coli (E.coli)
  • Streptococcus spp.
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Campylobacter spp.
  • Protues merbilis
  • Herpes simplex
  • Influenza B
  • HIV

Garlic cloves make be taken fresh (as juice or chopped), in capsules, as tincture, or in food. Start with small doses and gradually increase.

Be careful – raw garlic may cause stomach upset and vomiting. Small, frequent doses are generally easier to take than large doses (1/4 to 1 teaspoon juice as needed).

If raw garlic is too strong, try capsules of dried garlic. Ample garlic in food is also helpful. Avoid using large amounts of garlic if you are on blood thinning medication.

Echinacea (Echinacea augustifolia, E. purpurea) – Cold and Flu Care

Echinacea is active against:

  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus spp.
  • Mycobacterium (tuberculosis)
  • Abnormal cells (direct application necessary).

It's not only an herbal antibiotic, but also antiviral and antifungal. Stephen particularly recommends it for abnormal pap smears, strep throat, and very early onset of colds and flus.

For strep throat, colds and flu, he recommends the use of echinacea tincture, 30 drops (full dropper) each hour.

I have also had success fighting off a cold with a steady stream of echinacea tea.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Licorice works to fight diseases and bacteria, including:

  • Malaria
  • Tuberculosis
  • Bacillis subtilis
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Streptococcus sobrinus
  • S. mutans
  • Salmonella typhimurium
  • Escherichia coli
  • Candida albicans
  • Vibrio cholera
  • Trichophyton mentagrophytes
  • T. rubrum
  • Toxocara canis

Licorice is a powerful immune system stimulant and antibiotic, and works well with other herbs. It does have side effects, especially with overuse.

Stephen notes, “I have found that the use of the whole root produces fewer side effects than the extracts.

However, some of the same side effects still occur: higher blood pressure, water retention. These occur with less frequency and generally occur in those of middle age – i.e. those who have gone through menopause.

I have used licorice for over 20 years now. I treat it more like a drug now, due to its potency. Licorice should be used with caution in those with high blood pressure.

This herbal sore throat syrup combines licorice root with other soothing herbs.

Stephen suggests a tea using 1/2 to 1 teaspoon powdered licorice in 8 ounces of boiling water. Steep the tea for 15 minutes and then strain. Use up to three times per day.

ginger root

Let Your Food Be Your Medicine and Your Medicine Be Your Food

There is so much more to learn about herbal antibiotics. My goal is let you know that herbs can provide effective treatment for drug resistant bacteria.

Infectious diseases and strains of bacteria keep changing, so we need to find the best of old and new solutions.

Always exercise caution when using herbs as medicine, and be doubly careful if you are on any prescription medication.

Eating probiotic food such as raw sauerkraut or probiotic supplements can help rebuild populations of healthy bacteria in your body. This is especially important if you have taken synthetic antibiotics.

You may also enjoy our other Herbs and Wildcrafting and Natural Health posts including:

Originally posted in 2012, last updated in 2020.

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129 Comments

  1. My son is 4 years old and he gets flus very frequently, could someone please help why this could be happening and how I could treat this

    1. It’s impossible to say what is going on from one sentence on the internet.

      If your son is regularly ill, something is going on that weakens his defenses to illness. Good health comes from within.

      Look at his diet. Could he be reacting to specific foods, or not getting enough nutrients?

      Has he had antibiotics? Antibiotics destroy good bacteria as well as bad. The average human body contains 10 bacteria cells for every human cell. We need bacteria to function – they are critical for digesting food.

      Has he been vaccinated? Many children develop health problems after vaccination that can be difficult to treat because the doctors don’t know what to look for or even acknowledge that there is a problem.

      What about activities? Does he get time outside in nature in contact with the earth? Does he get enough sleep in a completely dark room? Nighttime lighting can disturb sleep rhythms, making it difficult to heal.

      Has he been through some trauma? Oftentimes accidents or other trauma can negatively impact the immune system. He may need to heal mentally and spiritually as well as physically.

      There are many factors that help us be strong and healthy. Keep asking questions, and if possible, worth with a health care provider who is willing to work with you to help find the root of his illness.

    1. I’m sorry, Eddie. I have no way of knowing what happened to your ear over the internet. Do you remember an impact, or did it get bit or stung? If pain is severe or long lasting, please visit a trained medical professional.

    2. well i guess u found the answer since then.othrs may want sum info.i think if u lk up ear- body map stuff.there’s sum connections with both.they xplain it well.

  2. Laurie, this is a beautifully written piece with so much fantastic information. I am an herbal health and wellness practitioner and am really impressed with your wealth of knowledge and how you address people’s questions and issues. Thank you for putting yourself out there. <3 your newest loyal follower.

  3. The fun part is that we mystery health disaster people are still on our feet and excited about learning how to do a better job of it!

  4. Dear Sir

    Thank you for the good post

    Please if you know the natural antibiotics for Ureaplasma and mycoplasma hominims, list for me please

    Thanks in advance
    John

    1. Early this fall I watched a number of interviews on an online parasite summit organized by Jay Davidson, a holistic practitioner whose wife had suffered severe illness associated with Lyme’s Disease. At that time, information resources on the disease and its treatment were difficult to find. Dr. Davidson has since networked with numerous practitioners who are developing strategies and knowledge about conditions that arise in parasite infestation and how to manage diets and lifestyles to reduce the effects of these parasites. A number of the practitioners commented that the parasites are actually a natural immune defense present in our bodies to clean up toxins, but when our immune systems become weak from an overload of toxicity, the metabolites from parasites gobbling up our toxic load can itself become so toxic we experience greater illness.

      My own physician used diagnostic tools that indicated that when I was around strong electric fields or an excess of electronic equipment, my mitochondria were suppressed, and mycoplasma would proliferate to an overwhelming degree. This was during a period when I knew only a little about how I became so ill. Most of the Parasite Summit presenters commented that a healthy gut flora would aid in lowering the toxicity level in our bodies and aid in keeping parasites in balance. Kefir, a food that can easily be cultured at home, was often discussed as an aid to healthy gut flora.

      Antibiotics are becoming recognized as destructive to our necessary and natural variety and quantity of gut flora, and can in themselves result in toxicity that interferes with a healthy immune system. I was treated with an excess of antibiotics as a child and teen. and it has taken decades to learn how to correct the problems that arose from these errors.

      Kefir (cultured with live culture a.k.a. “grains”, rather than powdered culture) is one of the key foods that have brought me to a much greater level of health. Dr. Davidson has posted numerous interviews with practitioners on the topic of immune protection and parasite management on his website: drjaydavidson.com Good Luck! The good news is that you have so far survived what is probably a series of complicated immune challenges, and having had the will to survive these, must surely have the will to learn strategies that will strengthen your body and set yourself on a much less toxic and far more vital path.

      1. Thank you, Laurie. I told my adblocker to “trust site”, reloaded, and then I was able to see the signup box. Looking forward to reading more of your posts!

          1. I get that! Having a blog is sort of like having never-ending homework. (Except I enjoy it.) BTW: I also tried to pin one of your posts (on Probiotics) and that also did not work. Not sure if it was on my end or yours, but FYI.

  5. Laurie, you have the patience of a saint!!!!
    I am taking (still) the intermediate herbal course I asked you about last year at this time. With a new job working nights and a move this year…I’ve had to delay it. I would love to be a nutritionist/herbalist but after working with some folks and of course, seeing how folks comment here…I would no sooner do that then take up pole vaulting.
    I AM a health care professional and I still wouldn’t recommend anything to anyone as to do so without a full workup and hands/eyes on exam would be foolish. You are so smart to be so careful. And yet someone still had the temerity to try to take you to task on your article. Sheesh!
    I can’t make a living on a blog here in my home state. Laws prohibit affiliate links and other types of home-based businesses. Such a drag but then, I wouldn’t have the patience you do when it comes to ridiculous comments.
    On another note….I made my own elderberry tincture from our own elderberry bushes. I was delighted to discover them while they were in bloom. Getting them was hard because the bushes were so tall but we used a combination of limb trimmer and butterfly net to harvest the umbrels. I am so looking forward to putting in my own herb garden both medicinal and culinary.
    So much to do this coming spring. I am going to have to plan both the veggie and herb garden in phases or stages as to do it all at once would be staggering.
    Sorry to be so wordy today.
    Thanks for sharing what you do.

    1. Hi Pam!

      It seems, unfortunately, that the internet removes filters and common sense from far too many people. Thank you for understanding.

      We’ve had two sub-par growing years in a row, but I’m hoping that 2017 will be the year that our elderberries finally take off. We wild harvested some last season, but were a little late picking. We also in vested in a 3 point picking ladder this season, so we can now better access the trees in our different orchards. Slowly but surely, it’s all coming together.

      And no need to apologize for being wordy! It’s nice to “hear from” old friends.

  6. Based on the long and uncompleted list, I’m guessing garlic will be the answer, BUT I’ll ask anyway – any recommendations for treating acute bronchitis and pneumonia?

  7. Just returned from a long trip that got longer due to weather adding a stuck-cation day to my flight time. Since exposure to food mold can be so common while traveling, I keep a little baggie of dried organic rosehips in my carry-on. It looks like a bit of dried, not too appetizing fruit to TSA. To me it is a guaranteed antidote to the sneezing, itchy sinuses and irritation associated with allergens or mold. I nibble the equivalent of about one rosehip on exposure and again before bed, and in my case, there have been no symptoms the next day.

      1. The organic rosehips I have been eating were purchased from the bulk section of our local coop. I am growing my first rose bush from a cutting my neighbor gave me. My idea was to see if I could grow a rose in a spot that looked likely. The little bush produced 3 beautiful blossoms late this summer, two of which produced rosehips, both got chomped by one of the big critters that commute through here. I had expected to buy a variety of rose valued for its hips. Am wondering how to protect it from the competition and if a location inside my 8 foot high garden fence is sufficient. I tried netting off my strawberries, felt awful about the mice strangling themselves on it. Maybe bagging the hips once they appear?

  8. I made an antibiotic using a mixture of few salts and a delivery liquid. Works every time . A perfect project after retirement . It was design for post operations conditions, Then I found so many uses.
    Stops pain also.
    Soon I’ll start giving free samples.
    It’s more universal than medical antibiotics. Medical antibiotics are dinosaurus !

  9. Realy amazing,your best to kick out this devastating so called MODERN,but in reality killing coventional medication.

  10. What works best and is safest for cold/flu/allergies when you’re pregnant? I know garlic and Echinacea are great, but they are also on the not safe list when pregnant. I hate taking otc meds for anything and currently have my husband and children on daily doses of vitamins/supplements during the fall/winter season to keep them from bringing home illness and spreading germs , but without a PCP or OB/GYN that specializes in natural/herbal remedies it’s hard to know what is recommended and safe in what doses if/when I do catch a bug. Any advice?

    1. The safest option is to work with a trained healthcare provider, since every individual is unique. When I was expecting my guys, I stuck to solutions like steam and hot tea with lemon and honey, just to be extra safe.

  11. Hi, do you have any suggestions on a herb that could kill a urinary tract infections that never go s away .My mother has been suffering from them for years and no antibiotic will work. If you could help in any way it would greatly be appreciated. Thank you Judy

  12. I’m an older male and just found out I have what is called diverticulitis of the lower colon. My Doctor gave me a round of antibiotic pills , But had side affects . What herbal antibiotic can a person take as a replacement .

  13. Hi there. I hope it’s ok, but I shared this article on my Facebook page for Holistic Housewives. I think it’s a great article and think that it’s definitely worth sharing. I love your blog, thanks for all the hard work and research!
    ~ Cari

  14. Are there any herbal remedies for UTI’s? Pharmaceutical antibiotics make me nervous so I try to take them as little as possible, but sometimes I have no choice. I’d LOVE it if I could replace them with herbs

    1. Yes, there are herbal treatments for UTIs, but it is not legal or safe for my to prescribe treatment for specific conditions, as they may be others factors involved that are not obvious and I am not a trained healthcare provider. If the infections are a regular occurrence, there is some underlying factor that is triggering them, and that should be addressed as well as the treatment of the condition itself. Introducing probiotics into your diet is generally a good course of action to build up the good bacteria in your body, whether you use standard antibiotics or herbal antibiotics.

  15. Does anyone out there have an herbal antibiotic recipe for diverticulitis. I have a flare up about every six months and it always effects my right side(i have been diagnosed with this). i don’t want to go to the doc every time this happens. If I could start taking something at the first onset, and I can usually tell when it starts, it would be wonderful and save me a doctors visit just to get antibiotic.

  16. I use Oil of Oregano daily when I swish (oil pull). My doctor recently prescribed 3-4 drops twice a day in water as an anti-fungal treatment.

    Thanks for the informational post.

  17. Oregano oil has been left out, its a miraculous antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal , and so many other health benifits. I used to get bronchotis 2-3 times ayear, but ive only gotten sick once in 2 yrs and it didnt last long at all… Look it up, it truly is miraculous!! :):)

  18. Olive leaf extract from Ameriden patiented process truley works sorry have no studies or back up guess its not even an herb
    This really works

    1. Oregano is not specifically addressed in Herbal Antibiotics 1st or 2nd Editions. Typically, when oregano is used as an antibiotic, it is used as oregano oil or “oil of oregano” (oregano essential oil), which is much more concentrated. Wellness Mama has a good post on oregano and oregano oil here: http://wellnessmama.com/8409/herb-profile-oregano/

      There has also been some work done using oregano oil to help keep chickens healthy: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/science/chicken-farms-try-oregano-as-antibiotic-substitute.html?_r=0

      1. I agree!! I use it, and i could not believe how much better i felt!! There are benefits too numerous to count!!

  19. This article starts out strong with facts but then just says garlic fights this and aloe fight that. Where did this information come from? How do you give us references for the background and not for your actual point? Why should I believe you? Explain how the bacteria of garlic works with viral attacks? I’m not disagreeing with the article, but without references or backing your claims are invalid.

    1. Nicole,

      As noted in the first paragraph of the post, “This post is based on the book “Herbal Antibiotics” by Stephen Harrod Buhner, and related materials.” Just under the subtitle “Top 15 Antibiotic Herbs”, I note that these are the herbs that Stephen lists as his top choices, and just below the list I note that the herbs listed with a little more detail are ones I use regularly, personally. The specific actions of the herbs listed is summarized from “Herbal Antibiotics: 1st Edition”.

      I’m not sure what is meant by “the bacteria of garlic works with viral attacks”. In the paragraph labeled “How are herbal antibiotics different from pharmaceutical antibiotics?”, it is noted that herbs contain a wide variety of compounds, not a single, isolated chemical compound. As such, many herbs have both antibiotic and antiviral qualities.

      This material in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any illness or take the place of a trained herbalist or medical practitioner. I highly encourage you to do additional research. I shared what I learned from the referenced text and what has worked for me.

  20. Love this site! Thank you! I bought Elderberry syrup, oil of oregano and echinchea ….we hardly use over the counter drugs now! All natural herbal products really work! What a blessing.

  21. I am very confused here, wormwood (artemesia absinthium) is pretty toxic. How can it safely be used as an antibiotic?
    I’m also surprised that Uva Ursi is not on the list, it is toxic in very large doses, but has been used as an antibiotic for a VERY long time, before sulfa antibiotics were invented. It’s especially good for urinary tract infections, but can be used as a general antibiotic, as well.

    1. More on the historical use of wormwood – http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/w/wormwo37.html

      Like uva ursi, wormwood can be toxic in large doses, but has a long history of medicinal and general use.

      The herbal antibiotics on this list were those listed in the first edition of Herbal Antibiotics. The material listed is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to be used for dosage instructions or to take the place of a trained healthcare provider. I shared the information with the intention of letting people know that herbal alternatives exist, but they should work with a trained herbalist. There is an updated version of Herbal Antibiotics that is on my reading list, but I haven’t gotten through it yet.

  22. what would be your recommendation to fight off a sinusitis (the ones above the eyes seem to be infected)?
    I’m using niaouli essential oil but that does not seem enough…

  23. I learned about garlic from an older Chinese scientist, he treated himself with so much garlic it came out of his pores but it stopped a large growth on his forearm. I use it and love it, the best and most delicious way for me is to buy a large jar of olives stuffed with cloves of garlic.

    Also, elderberry is great for boosting the immune system and fighting colds and flu. I used to buy sambucus but it is so expensive this year I made my own 3 cups of water boiled with ½ cup dried berries and 1 cup of honey. It stopped a cold in its tracks and I’ve been taking a spoonful daily since. I bought my dried elderberries online from a company that sells wine supplies!

    1. After I finish using my stock of elderberry syrup in the freezer, I plan on buying the berries and making my own syrup also…I have the recipe already.
      Care to share where you get your berries??
      I would choose amazon but not for your input….thanks.

  24. Also, cordyceps mushroom contains an active substance that imitates adeosine, which viruses use to replicate. Thus the virus attempts to replicate, but lacking the adeosine, fails.

  25. I had understood that Chaga mushroom and wild honey (especially manuka) were some of natures strongest antibiotics.. any opinions on them?

  26. I have bacterial vaginois and have been on three antibioctics and still have it . Please I
    respond with a solution for me. thanks

  27. I’m surprised at licorice being so powerful. Funny that something you think of as candy can have such a powerful effect.

    1. Many, many herbs and spices (and even natural substances such as wood, bamboo and copper) have antimicrobial properties. The posts covers some that are more readily available for most people and have been tested and widely used.

  28. I live in an area that has a lot of wild flowers, weeds, etc. I don’t know what a lot of the useful weeds or plants look like. I would like to learn how to identify the wild plants that can be used in herbal medicine. I know some of the basic herbs & weeds. Is there a book or something available to me, that will help me to identify these plants? I have fyibromalgia & I’m finding that herbal remedies are helping re-leave some of my symptoms.

    1. Hi Denise,
      Get a copy of “The Book of Herbal Wisdom”, by Matthew Wood. It’s a great book for anyone ready to learn about herbs n so much more. It’s my Bible the past many years n has helped me share with many other folks, it’ an amazing book. Matthew introduced me to the use of Black Cohosh tinctures for whiplash & fibro-myalgia. The keynote symptom calling for Cumin if ughIis tightness n hardness in the trapezeus muscles, where they attach to the shoulder-blades.
      He is a great Herbalist, I have learned much from him.
      Hope some of this brings you wellness.
      Many Blessings
      Mary

    1. Perhaps you can grow it inside. Dr. Marc Crawford is a plant pathologist and he is growing Eucalyptus here in South Georgia at Loch Laurel nursery in Valdosta. .

  29. Kathy have you tried nasal rinses? Humidifier? Oil pulling? Ear, nose, throat specialists? My mom has very large sinus cavities and she has very large roots on her molars that are dangerously close to a sinus area. Cold really mess her up too. She ended up with double vision and vertigo for about a year.

  30. @Kathy,

    I had the same problem for years when I’ve caught a cold. Now, at the very onset of cold (or allergy) symptoms I will flush my sinuses with sterile saline spray daily. Insert saline bottle tip into one nostril and pinch off the other. Leaning head over sink, squeeze the bottle and breath in the saline (I was told to do this rapidly and deeply to get the fluid up into the sinus cavity).

    Do it to both sides. You can then blow out the saline. Normally for me I’ll have fluid dripping from my nose for up to 15 minutes due to inhaling so deeply. No more sinus infections.

    1. You can also use a neti-pot, like I do. It works wonders especially if you alternate with ACV/salt /hot water gargle. I get more “junk” out for the gargle if I do a low to high range tone in my throat. The ‘high’ notes will reach areas that are loaded with the mucus and flush them out. I usually use a 12-16 oz glass for this and use it all. Literally rotate the neti pot and the gargle and it takes about 30 minutes to do a good job, but WELL worth it!

  31. I need to know more about this so I’ll have to look into getting that book. If I get a regular cold it always goes into my sinus cavities and then messes with my ears to the point where I am dizzy and get sick with any movement. I end up on clindamycine (sp?), anti nausea drugs and antivert (meclazine). I need to know what to do if I don’t have these medicines available. I have lost three days of work this week after being infected with a cold. It’s horrible and no one really understands why it’s only colds that do this to me.

    1. If you’re struggling with recurrent infections like this, something’s buggering up your immune system to keep it from doing its’ job. You may want to take a look at the other cold and flu posts, too, which may give you a multi-point strategy for boosting your immune system.

      Cold and Flu Remedies

      Preparing for Cold and Flu Season: Step 1 – Probiotics

      Preparing for Cold and Flu Season with Essential Oils

      The Best Vitamins and Minerals for Fighting Colds and Flus

      The Best Herbs and Spices for Colds and Flus – Plus a “Secret Weapon”

      Stomach Flu Treatment(Why the BRAT diet may not be your best choice)

      Elderberries: How to Make Syrups and Jellies

      1. I am a firm believer that, aside from all the good things we can do, any one mineral deficiency can cause a host of issues including chronic or recurring health issues. Add a real sea salt to your diet like Celtic.

          1. No it’s not. Stick with the pink stuff it’s helped my family in numerous ways. I’ll never go without it again, I even buy it online in 50 lb bricks

          1. There are many uses for salt besides consumption, and too little salt is just as bad as too much.

    2. Hi Kathy,
      Great site aeh 🙂 I am just a visitor here though I read your comment above…and I wanted to share what helped me with the sinus thang….Ocean brand ..natural salt water drops..or easier= use real sea salt… teaspoon mixed in a good quarter cup of clean warm water..eye dropper into the nose or if ya have a good nasal spray bottle…go for this however many times it takes till green goos gone( sinus infection flush ) Yogi tea makes a everydat Detox tea..thats lovely …and have ya ever heard of tigers balm ( any drug store has it) magic in a small jar ladie let me vouch for this…rub on your chest..a little dose a lot ! Also massage~ into the bottoms of your feet real good and cover with some warm booties before bed Keep aloe tissues handy cuz the infection will just drip outta ya physically…Wahlah and a guru asked me “Who” are you irritated with.!!..? Who…is Irritating…or are you feeling that way with in… if this Emotionally fits for you as it did me …either ya have to do some inner psyce work with yourself…or remove yourself from the Irritation…./person /place or ? Only You can answer this ..Okay and hey let me know how ya come out 🙂 my e mail is above..with love Becca

    3. Years ago, I was getting sinus infections so often that my physician assistant finally sent me to an ENT; it turned out I had some kind of malformed bone/cartilage. Since it was removed, I haven’t had a single infection.

      Perhaps you have something similar?

    4. Hi Kathy, you may want to look into Olive Leaf Oil(20% Oleuropein) it is highly antibiotic and antiviral. Many people around the world have used it for centuries and it is very effective. 1 Table spoon a day is the dosage. If you have an acute illness, then you need at least 100mg of oleuropein.

      So if you get the 500mg dose capsule of Olive Leaf Extract(or oil if you get the liquid form) off amazon that’s 20%. 500 * .20 = 100mg of oleuropein per pill. You can always increase to dose, just make sure you spread it out. Try 1 in the morning, 1 at night. If you get common side effects such as headaches, stop using it for a couple of days and then get back on it. There is a “die-off” effect where your body is flushing to toxins out while you take it. Nothing to worry about though.

      Take care and be healthy,
      Vick

    5. Elderbery Syrup taken daily boosts the immune system.
      PuritanPride has the best price I’ve found. I keep several 8 oz. jars in the freezer.

      No, I’m not connected..just rely on herbs, etc. and at 66 years old am prescription free…not even hormone therapy.

    6. I also have the same issues. I keep Echinacea with goldenseal around but I find that Oil of oregano works well too. 1 dropper full squirt into back of throat & swallow. Don’t taste good at all so try to miss tongue/taste buds. Works for sore throat among other ailments also.

    7. Hello! I would like to know if there’s anything that would help someone with prostate cancer? I’m trying to help someone out with this issue. I know that Mmilk thistle helps.

      1. Small flower willow herb tea. I pick and dry them myself, 2 cups a day. Also, 2 Tbs pumpkin seeds a day. These products dropped my dads prostate numbers to zero.

      2. Oh Yes prostate can be healed, Look up “Be In Health” in Georgia. They also have a book called “A more excellent way by Henry Wright.

      3. Black seed. Make a tincture with either vodka or apple cider vinegar. These and dosage you can find online.

    8. I found that when I switched to an all organic diet, my immune system perked way up! I haven’t had a cold or flu in years. I regularly use organic ginger, garlic, onions and fresh herbs from my garden in my cooking. Herbs should always be organic – for optimum quality and power.

    9. NasaFlo Neti Pot. Comes with small packets of premeasured salt. Doctor recommended. Gross, but safe and very effective for treating a variety of sinus issues.

    10. Floss your teeth twice a day and use a mouth wash. Natural or otherwise. Drink a bit of lemon with water daily and take vitamin d and c. Have your tonsils checked.

    11. I have this almost every spring and fall. My doctor told me to take allergy medications right before the last freezeof the year to stave it off. This year so far is beginning out with no dizzy or cold symptoms. I have two friends having the colds, dizzy, nauseous thing. They ask me what I did to combat it. Hope this helped.

    12. I used to get a sinus infection every year & each year it lasted longer & was harder to get rid of. Many doctors just gave me antibiotics & sent me away. The last time I was getting deathly ill, dizzy, vertigo, fever, & months of antibiotics, didn’t help much. One of them told me I had a lot of ear wax, but didn’t offer to do anything about it, & didn’t seem to think it had anything to do with the infection. I tried several times with those ear cleaning kits of different kinds, but it didn’t feel like to me it was getting it out much. Then I went to a an old country doctor who cleaned out the huge amount of wax in my ears (he had the right tool) & instantly the vertigo & fever was gone. Haven’t been sick in my sinuses since. I don’t know if that helps, just might be something you could maybe get a doctor to look into for you.

    13. Sounds more like sinus and middle ear issues. Probably caused by allergies. An ENT should be able to help you with everything listed.

    14. At the first sign of itchy ears (starts in the ears) put peroxide on a qtip in your ears, breathe salt water in through your nasal passages diwn to your throat and also gargle with it. Think ear, nose, throat. That will prevent anything from going anywhere. Not too salty or it will burn. Cup it in your hand and gently breathe it in. It will kill everything!
      That’s the external part. But you can take 2-3 capfuls of apple cider vinegar (with the mother) in about 4oz water with a vitamin c pak or with honey (if you don’t have a c-pack) until you feel better 2-3 x a day.
      It will stop it all in it’s tracks! It’s a miracle.