It is that time of year again! As the days grow short and cold more and more of my clients come in with coughs, fevers all kinds of "flu season" symptoms. It would be nice if they would stay home but no one wants to miss their color appointment so, Lucky me, I Get to stand really really close to them for hours. Yay!!!
There are a couple of things you can do to stay healthy. First, make sure you have enough vitamin D3. Get it from the sun if it is warm enough and take a supplement if you need to. Somewhere between 1000 and 5000 IU is about right depending on your skin color and what size of a person you are. If you only do one thing for your health do this. Second, keep your body alkalized. Easy ways to do this are drink lemon water in the morning and eat your leafy greens. (stay away from those holiday sweets) With a little prevention on your side you may not even need the following information.
Many herbs have historically been used to treat the infections caused by bacteria that are now antibiotic resistant. Medical research outside the united states has been exploring plants that can treat antibiotic-resistant disease. From before recorded history, plants have been used as the primary healing medicines for human beings.
There is a great deal of promise in addressing the problem through the use of plant medicine instead of antibiotics because plants have a much more complex chemistry than antibiotics. Garlic, for instance, has been found to contain at least 33 sulfur compounds, 17 amino acids, and dozens of other compounds. Pharmaceuticals, in contrast, are usually made from One chemical constituent only. Penicillin is penicillin, tetracycline is tetracycline. Pharmaceutical antibiotics are, in fact, simple substances, not complex, and because of this bacteria can more easily figure out how to counteract the effects. Herbs on the other hand are very complex. If you take Yarrow, for instance, it contains over 120 different compounds that have been identified so far. These compounds exist in a powerful evolutionary balance with each other. They potentiate, enhance, and mitigate each other's effects in the human body. Faced with this complex chemical makeup, invading bacteria find it much more difficult to develop resistance.
Today I am going to take a look at 5 different natural antibiotics. I have chosen these because 1. they work and 2. there is very good chance that you have one, if not all, of them in your kitchen right now.
Aloe
Parts used: the fresh juice: in some cases, the dried plant.
Actions: antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti viral, wound healing accelerator, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer.
Active against: staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, herpes simplex 1 and 2.
Aloe is most well known for its ability to heal a burn but should be your go to plant for any wound on the skin. A mixture of Aloe and Raw honey is my favorite thing for any kind of cut or burn. It is almost impossible for staph infection to get started when either substance is used on open skin.
Aloe is very simple to prepare. Just slice or break open the leaves of a fresh plant and apply liberally to any wound or burn.
Side effects: Externally: None Internal use: Don't take it if you are pregnant because it can cause contractions and in some people Hemorrhoids.
Garlic is a well known culinary herb that has been used medicinally for some five thousand years. this is by far the Most powerful herb for the treatment of antibiotic resistant disease. (followed by grapefruit seed extract) No other herb comes close to the multiple system actions of garlic, its antibiotic activitiy, and immune potentiation power.
For stimulating immune function and for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol counts, Garlic works well either raw, cooked, or encapsulated. For treating active bacterial infection, it should be consumed either in uncooked whole form or as juice.
Use in food as much as you want. When fighting infection take 1 clove 3 times a day or 1/4 to 1 teaspoon juice 3 times a day.
Side effects: the most common side effect of Garlic is nausea. Garlic is not recommended for nursing mothers because it will affect the taste of the milk.
Ginger
Parts used: the root is used for medicine as well as food. Harvest in the fall when the leaves and stem have begun to dry.
Actions: Antibacterial, antiviral, circulatory stimulant, anti inflammatory, diaphoretic, antifungal, hypotensive, anti clotting agent, carminative, antiarthritic, anelgesic, antitussive.
Active against: Malaria, shigella dysenteriae, staphylococcus aureus, pseudomoniae, aeruginosa, candida albicans, E coli, Klebsiella, pneumoniae, Streptococcus spp., salmonella spp.
Ginger has traditionally been a primary herb of choice for treating colds and flu. It is especially useful for children in that it is safe in large doses and yet tastes good. ***Arelitively unknown fact is that Ginger's antitussive (anti cough) action rivals that of codeine, and its strong expactorant and antihistamine actions help thin bronchial mucus and move it up and out of the system. this makes it perfic for upper respiratory infections. Ginger relieves pain, stimulates immune activity, reduces inflammation, and stimulates sweating, thus helping to lower fevers.
Take ginger in your food, in a tea or in capsules.
Honey
Parts used: The honey syrup itself.
Actions: antibiotic, antiviral, anti inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, expectorant, anti allergenic, laxative, antianemic, tonic, antifungal, immune stimulant, cell regenerator.
Active against: staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus spp., enterococcus, helicobacter pylori.
Honey contains, among other things, a complex assortment of enzymes, organic acids, esters, antibiotic agents, trace minerals, proteins, hormones, and antimicrobial compounds. One pound of average honey contains 1.4g protein, 23 mg of calcium, 73 mg of phosphorus, 4.1 mg niacin and 16 mg vitamin C and vitamin A, beta carotene,the complete complex of B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, sulfer, chlorine, potassium, iodine, sodium, copper, manganese, high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, and formic acid. Honey in fact contains 75 different compounds.
For External use just apply directly at full strength and cover with a bandage. For Internal use take 1 tablespoon either undiluted or in some tea.
Side effects: bees sometimes make honey from poisonous plants so make sure you get it from a reliable beekeeper. Sometimes honey can contain botulism so never let a child under One year of age eat it. Also people who have bad reactions to bee stings should not eat honey.
Sage
Parts used: the leaves. Harvest the leaves before flowering and dry in the shade.
Actions: antiseptic, antibacterial, astringent, tonic, expactorant, diaphoretic.
Active against: streptococcus pneumoniae, staphylococcus aureus, haemophilus, influenzae, pseudomonas aeruginosa, E coli, candida albicans, Klebsiella, samonella spp.
** The essential oil is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Sage is especially good for dysentery, throat and upper respiratory infections, or any infection with excess secretions; used externaly for infected wounds. though not as strong as other herbs it is great for children because it tastes good and can be used in cooking.
Tea can be drank as well as used as a gargle. It is good as a steam in a sauna or sweat lodge or just boil the leaves. The powdered dry leaves can be put directly on wounds.
Side effects: Sage will decrease or even stop lactation in a nursing mother.
Turn on the mixer on high and walk away. You have plenty of time to do some house work or put your feet up. Make sure the cream is not going to splash all over. Toss a towel over the top if the splash gaurd isn't enough protection. 
At some point it is going to look like scrambled eggs. Your butter is just about done. Keep mixing till you see that the liquid has separated. That is the butter milk. Pour it out and save it for cooking or a Potion.
