Natural Preventative Options & Natural Infection Fighters

Natural Disease Prevention

One of the ways in which natural infection fighters really shine is in their ability to strengthen the body’s natural defenses. This means that they up-regulate immune responses to prevent disease and not just treat it. The remedies in this section can help you avoid getting sick in the first place and increase your ability to recover if you do.

Essential Oils for Prevention

There’s a popular story about four thieves who used a vinegar extract of certain aromatic herbs to protect themselves while robbing victim of the black death epidemic. A variety of recipes of herbs and/or essential oils have been created out of this story. It’s also true that Native Americans burned aromatic herbs to purify their environment.

There is a truth behind these practices. Essential oils kill airborne microbes when infused into the air in parts per million. So, a good way to prevent the spread of infection is to diffuse essential oils into the air in your home a couple of times a day during the winter months when people are shut indoors. Good oils for this purpose include eucalyptus, pine, fir, spruce, cajeput, tea tree, myrrh, lemongrass, lemon, rosemary, and lavender. They make so many great essential oil diffusers these days!

You can also use these essential oils to make a disinfectant spray to carry with that you can mist around your face when traveling to prevent the spread of airborne microbes. Combine 3/4 cup of pure water with two Tablespoons of vinegar or glycerine and add 30 drops of any of essential oils previously mentioned. Put this in a spray bottle and shake thoroughly before using. You can also add colloidal minerals to the spray.

You can also use them topically! Contact me for ideas and options on how to use topically and/or internally.

Herbs for Prevention

A few herbs that are well known to help as natual infection prevention - (again this could be a long blog with information about the options - just a few ideas as examples. Links for others below)

Astragalus

If you tend to get sick in the wintertime, astragalus has long been used as a tonic for the lungs to fortify them against the cold, dry air of wintertime. Astragalus can help to prevent and fight viral infections such as colds, flu, COVID-19, shingles, and mononucleosis. It can also help with respiratory problems like bronchitis, asthma and dry coughs. Take 2 or 3 capsules three times a day during the winter months.

Echinacea

Echinacea is known as a powerful immune stimulant. In addition to activating the immune system to make a person less susceptible to contagious disease, it also helps prevent the spread of infection. Although commonly used for viral conditions, it actually works better on bacterial infections. It can be helpful for blood poisoning, strep throat, tonsillitis, infected wounds, scarlet fever, and other serious infections.

For prevention take 1-2 capsules per day during cold and flu season. For fighting active infections take 2 capsules three or four times daily. You can also use 30-60 drops of a liquid extract three to six times a day. Echinacea works best when doses are spaced about 3-4 hours apart. Combine with red root for lymphatic infections; baptisia for infections with a foul odor; and goldenseal for GI tract infections.

Medicinal Mushrooms

Many mushrooms, such as reishi, maitake and cordyceps also have the ability to act as non-specific immune stimulants. The beta-glucans in mushrooms enhance natural killer cell (NK) activity, which helps the body destroy cells infected with viruses. Take 2 capsules of a blend containing several varieties of medicinal mushrooms two or three times daily to boost your immune system to fight bacterial and viral infections. You can also add powdered mushrooms to soups and broths during the winter months to help prevent illness.

Natural Infection Fighters

The discovery of antibiotics has saved many lives, but the overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Overuse of antibiotics also disrupts the intestinal microflora causing yeast overgrowth, leaky gut, and SIBO, all of which ultimately weaken the immune system.

Given these problems and the fact that antibiotics only work on bacterial infections they should be reserved for serious bacterial infections and avoided with all viral infections. Most sinus infections, ear infections, and bronchial infections are viral or fungal rather than bacterial and could be better treated with herbs, such as the ones listed below, which often work on all three types of infections—bacterial, fungal, and viral.

Garlic

Garlic is one of nature’s most potent (and inexpensive) natural antibiotics. When you crush raw garlic, an enzyme called allinase creates a compound called allicin, which is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Crushed fresh garlic is particularly helpful at fighting infections in the digestive tract and lungs. Unfortunately, allicin degrades rapidly, so dried garlic powder doesn’t work very well as an infection fighter, although it still has many benefits for the cardiovascular system.

Garlic is particularly helpful for respiratory or GI tract infections, and can also be applied topically to prevent infection in wounds. Eat 1-2 cloves of freshly crushed garlic twice daily with some type of food to avoid digestive upset. One way to ingest it is to put it on crackers or toast with a little butter. Another way to get it down is to blend 2 cloves in a pint of water with a Tablespoon of honey and one whole peeled lemon.

You can get garlic tablets that contain allicin in a stabilized form. They are coated with chlorophyll to reduce the odor. One tablet is equivalent to one clove of crushed raw garlic, so take 1-2 tablets twice daily. You can also give 20-30 drops of garlic oil to children. Garlic oil can also be rubbed on the chest for respiratory infections.

Herbs with Berberine

Berberine is an alkaloid found in many herbs traditionally used to fight infections. Herbs containing berberine include goldenseal, Oregon grape, barberry, amur cork tree, Chinese goldenthread (coptis), and yellow root. Any of these herbs can be applied topically to infected wounds or taken internally for fungal or bacterial infections in the GI tract, lungs, or urinary system. Because over-harvesting has endangered goldenseal use Oregon grape or barberry wherever possible. You can also find isolated berberine as a supplement.

Andrographis

Andrographis has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for diarrhea, dyspepsia, malaria, pneumonia, and tonsillitis,. Research has shown that extracts of andrographis inhibit a variety of bacteria including E. coli and Staphylococus. They also help shorten the recovery time for viral infections like colds, flu, sinus infections, earaches, and sore throats. It has also been used to combat Lyme disease. Take 20-40 drops of the tincture three or four times a day or 1-2 capsules two or three times a day.

Elderberry

One of the most popular antiviral herbs is elderberry. Research has shown that elderberries inhibit the replication of viruses inside the cell, thus helping bring the infection under control. Elderberry can be used to prevent and treat most cold and flu like viruses and combines well with immune boosting nutrients like vitamin C and zinc. Take 2 capsules or about 30 drops of a liquid extract three times daily at the first sign of infection.

Oregano

Oregano is a broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal agent. It is helpful for respiratory infections where there is excess mucus production and GI tract infections with bloating and bad breath. It is also helpful for yeast overgrowth in the small intestines. Oregano can be taken in capsules or as a tea or tincture. The essential oil can be used internally, 1-2 drops diluted in one Tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil, taken twice daily for no more than two weeks.

Tea Tree and Cajeput

Both tea tree and cajeput are trees in the Melaleuca genus. The leaves were traditionally used by aboriginal people to heal cuts, wounds, and skin infections. The essential oils from both species are great topical disinfectants and can be applied neat or slightly diluted to wounds, burns, and other damaged skin to prevent infection and speed healing. They can be inhaled for respiratory infections or diffused to help reduce the spread of infection. To use internally for yeast or bacterial infections dilute 1-3 drops diluted in olive oil, coconut oil, or honey and take once or twice daily for no more than two weeks.

Myrrh

Myrrh has been used for thousands of years to treat infection and was used in the Egyptian’s embalming process. It is a helpful remedy for infections in the gums, mouth and throat: gingivitis, canker sores, and sore throats. It has also been used for skin infection and vaginitis. Dilute a few drops of the essential oil in water containing a small amount of alcohol and use the mixture as a gargle or mouthwash. You can also use the tincture of myrrh topically or take 15-30 drops internally three times a day to help fight bacterial infections.

Pau D’Arco

Pau d’arco bark contains naphthaquinones which are antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral. It helps regulate the intestinal flora and is very helpful for chronic fungal infections and vaginal yeast infections. Take 2-3 capsules three times daily. It also works well as a decoction. Put 4-6 teaspoons of the bark in one quart of water, simmer for 15 minutes, let stand for 15 minutes; and then drink one cup two or three times daily. You can also take 20-50 drops of the tincture two or three times daily or apply it topically for skin infections.

Usnea

Usnea is a lichen, which is a combination of algae and fungi functioning as a single organism. It has been used for over 1000 years by Native Americans to fight infections. Usnea contains usnic acid, an antibacterial compound that works against both gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria. It is also antifungal and can be used for ringworm, athlete’s foot, trichomonas, and candida.

SILVER - Nano Silver (commonly known as colloidal silver)

We cannot forget to mention Silver! It has so many uses, we dare not try to share them all here. It is antimicrobial, antiviral, anti ______, plus it has so many healing benefits. I have handouts about the many uses for silver. Contact me if you would like more info or the handout. Many different types of silver can be purchased from my links, liquids, sprays, gels, lotions…. I always make sure to have plenty of the silver options in my purse, home, and office!

Homeopathic Natural Infection Fighters

This section could go on and on! I am a huge fan and use so many homeopathic combinations personally, with family, and with clients!! Homeopathics are the medicines we use to use before we had pharmaceuticals. They have been around for a really long time, and have proven themselves effective! Sadly they are not taught in medical school anymore. To be able to order the stronger potency formulas you will need to use my practitioner link to set up an account to order. Contact me if you would like me to make recommendations for products specific for you or your family. https://calendly.com/myvitalforce

DesBio Homeopathic supplements — https://dbscript.com/?invite=L3Bhby1hY2NvdW50LWFjY2Vzcy8_cHJhY191cmw9NWM2NDMyOWI

Or for Professionsal Formulas — https://professionalformulas.com/patientcode/?doctorname=Kari Rene&doctor_code=CLA281O

There is so much more to it, and that we could write pages about this topic. But this is some good starter information. If you would like a more detailed conversation about immune system support, products that would be helpful for yourself or for your family contact me for a phone consultation and we can take about more individual information for you. https://calendly.com/myvitalforce

Below are some of my links to order products from me online (thank you for supporting me through my links!!)

FullScript online orders for hundreds of supplement companies and supplement options — https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/karirene?preview=true

Nature Sunshine supplements — www.MyVitalForce.mysnp.com

Young Living Essential Oils — https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/1597475