There’s no doubt that prescription antibiotics, such as penicillin, erythromycin, or sulfa drugs, have made a profound difference in the treatment of otherwise fatal diseases since their discovery 80+ years ago.
However, research has shown that as many as 20% of patients treated with antibiotics experience adverse side effects that range from mild allergic reactions to severe gastrointestinal disturbances to dysbiosis (the disruption of healthy gut microbes that can lead to chronic illness).
There is also the overuse of antibiotics that has led to many microorganisms becoming resistant. Now doctors and patients are turning towards natural or herbal medicine for some answers.
Here are seven natural antibiotics (or antimicrobials) —aromatic plants, herbs, spices, and their derivatives—that have been proven effective in clinical trials.
Goldenseal
Commonly consumed as a tea or taken as a supplement, the herb goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) often combined with Echinacea for the prevention or treatment of the common cold and other viruses. Also, in traditional medicine for the treatment of various infections related to the eyes, skin, and urinary tract, as well as for diarrhea, vaginitis, and canker sores—large, robust placebo-controlled clinical trials are lacking in number, but observational case reports support the use.
The reasoning may be due to berberine, a substance in goldenseal that has killed some strains of bacteria and fungi in vitro studies. In one such study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4527992/) examining goldenseal’s efficacy, researchers showed that goldenseal extracts were able to stop methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from damaging tissue.
The authors concluded that their “data lend support for the traditional use of H. Canadensis to treat skin infections,” adding that “H. Canadensis leaf extracts possess direct antimicrobial activity that is due in part to the alkaloid berberine, but not canadine or hydrastine.”
Pau d’Arco
Derived from the inner bark of several Tabebuia tree species, Pau d’Arco—also known as taheebo or lapacho—is endemic to South America, where its earliest reported medicinal uses date as far back as 1873. Due to reported antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, pau d’arco is consumed as an herbal tea for a wide range of inflammatory ailments and infections including; including arthritis, fever, prostatitis, candidiasis, bacterial infections, parasitic diseases, dysentery, boils, and ulcers.
In an in-vitro study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19674905) naphthoquinones, the active compounds found in some Brazilian medicinal plants including Pau d’Arco demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria. These findings support those from other laboratory studies of the efficacy of Pau d’Arco on infections. However, further in-vivo studies in humans are needed.
Myrrh
Myrrh (extract from Commiphora sp. resin) has a rich history, dating back to ancient times, even mentioned in Holy Scriptures. Described in both the Bible and Talmud as one of the primary ingredients in holy anointing oil, this golden-colored resin had a variety of historical uses that ranged from religious incense and insect repellent to facial treatment and kohl eyeliner. Old-world medical practitioners valued myrrh for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. They considered it to be an effective remedy for an array of ailments, including indigestion, toothaches, and even leprosy. They also used myrrh in combination with Frankincense (Boswellia serrata) as a purifying agent to stop the spread of airborne disease and bacteria.
One study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22288378) has, for instance, the combined use of frankincense and myrrh oil showed to be effective against select pathogens. In another more recent paper (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29530608), burning myrrh and frankincense incense decreased airborne bacteria by as much as 68%. The findings from these studies and those from other laboratory studies over the past two decades lend credence to myrrh’s reported antibiotic profile.
Today, myrrh is still used in Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and aromatherapy, and included in many natural types of mouthwash and toothpaste as an FDA-approved additive. According to a paper in 2016 (http://www.usa-journals.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Albishri_Vol51.pdf), myrrh oil may aid in pain relief and the healing of mouth sores.
Oregano
Most of us are familiar with the culinary uses of oregano in Italian olive oil-based and tomato-centric dishes, but did you know that this Mediterranean herb also has important medicinal utility as an antibacterial and antifungal agent? In a paper on the antimicrobial effects of herbals (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5486105/), researchers found that oregano was among the most effective natural antibiotics against several strains of bacteria and fungi—including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis.
Thyme
Like oregano, thyme (Thymus vulgaris in the mint family Lamiaceae) is another culinary gem that has shown strong bactericidal activity as an essential oil. In a study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22313307) that examined the antibacterial activity of thyme and lavender essential oils on strains of Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Pseudomonas genera, researchers found that “thyme essential oil demonstrated a good efficacy against antibiotic-resistant strains of the tested bacteria.” In another paper (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22103288) that focused exclusively on the effect of thyme essential oil on standard bacterial strains and 120 clinical strains derived from patients with infections, “thyme essential oil strongly inhibited the growth of the clinical strains of bacteria tested,” according to the authors.
Neem
Neem oil, derived from the fruits and seeds of the spiked trunk neem tree (Azadirachta indica), is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. Although neem oil has a gamut of uses in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, it is prized mainly as an antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is used for the treatment of ringworm, head lice, bacterial infections of the skin, and other skin conditions like hives, eczema, psoriasis, and scabies.
Recently, researchers have begun to study neem oil’s impact on health and disease, with a particular focus on its antiseptic properties. In one review (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3695574/) of neem oil’s medicinal uses from prehistoric to contemporary times, researchers found evidence supporting neem oil’s active antibacterial and antiviral profile, citing its efficacy against parasitic diseases and some sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea. Concerning skin diseases, they concluded that “neem has a remarkable effect on chronic skin conditions. Acne, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, and even stubborn warts are among the conditions that can clear up easily when high-quality, organic neem oil is used .”
Furthermore, in a 2016 paper (http://www.plantsjournal.com/archives/2016/vol4issue1/PartA/3-6-33.pdf) in which researchers studied the antibacterial effects of neem oil on 107 strains of MRSA, they found that all strains were killed upon exposure to neem oil within 12 hours, with 56 strains killed after only 1 hour of exposure.
“… results are suggestive of antibacterial effect of Neem oil on multidrug-resistant MRSA. Since neem oil exhibited a bactericidal effect on MRSA, it may find clinical application as a topical antibiotic for MRSA infections,” concluded the authors. Neem oil is oftentimes used in toothpaste.
Anise
Anise, or aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), is a spice with a distinct licorice-like taste that used as a flavoring additive in desserts and beverages. Among its many health benefits, anise has shown to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth, making it a powerful antimicrobial agent. In a 2017 research study (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687850716300620), researchers assessed the antibacterial and resistance modulatory activity of aniseeds waste residue extract (ASWRE) and star anise waste residue extract (SAWRE) against 100 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They found that both ASWRE and SAWRE demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against all of the bacterial strains tested and were notably synergistic when used with conventional antibiotics.
“The combination of anise waste extracts and the test antibiotics could be useful in fighting emerging drug-resistant bacteria. These results suggest that both aniseeds and star anise waste residue methanolic extract (post-distillation) could be good economic sources of multidrug resistance inhibitors…Their use, in combination with conventional antibiotics, should be further studied for in vivo activities. This may lead to the development of much-needed drug enhancing preparations,” concluded the authors.
The adverse side effects of prescription antibiotics coupled with the rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria and antibiotic stewardship philosophy have led many patients—and physicians—to look to the plant kingdom for answers. But while natural antibiotics may offer healthier alternatives to prescription antibiotics, they are not entirely without risk. After all, just because something is natural doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe. Natural antibiotics should be used in moderation to reduce the risk of toxicity and should only be used following clinical consultation to avoid any potential adverse herb-drug interactions. If there is a failure to cure with natural medicinals, then one should resort to the prescription synthetic antibiotics as a 2nd resort.
Reference: Edited by JP Saleeby, MD from a recent article by Melissa Sammy, MDLinx | December 17, 2019 blog posting.