Key Takeaways
Medical honey fights infections and helps heal wounds.
Garlic has strong antibiotic properties and can fight bacteria like E. coli.
Natural antibiotics should not be substitutes for prescription antibiotics.
Natural antibiotics like garlic, honey, and ginger possess antibacterial properties that can help in fighting various infections. While results are promising, they are not a replacement for prescription antibiotics. Talk with your healthcare provider to ensure comprehensive care for infections and prevent serious complications.
- Honey
Medical honey fights infection, helps form a protective barrier, and moistens wounds. Honey contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other compounds with health benefits.1
Medical honey products like Manuka honey fight infection, form a protective barrier, and keep wounds moist. It contains beneficial vitamins, minerals, and proteins.2 In a medical setting, honey is used to treat:3
Postsurgical wounds
Skin diseases, ulcers, burns, and necrosis (tissue death)
Eye diseases
Oral mucosa (mucous membranes in the mouth) problems
Raw honey provides therapeutic benefits, while heated honey loses its antibacterial properties. More research is needed to determine effective honey types and amounts for specific wounds or infections, and how factors like growing conditions or contamination affect its use.45
Avoid giving honey to children under 12 months due to the risk of botulism. Always consult a healthcare provider before using honey on wounds.6
Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infection but they are not useful for viral infections like the flu or the common cold.7
- Garlic
Several compounds in garlic have antibacterial properties, including allicin, ajoene, and allyl sulfide. Researchers have studied garlic in various forms, including powders, pastes, oils, and extracts, showing its antibiotic properties are generally safe.8
Lab studies suggest garlic can fight:9
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Eshcerichia coli (E. coli)
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)
Research suggests garlic may help treat certain bacterial ear infections.10 However, researchers have not settled on dosing or the best way to administer garlic as an antibiotic substitute.
You can buy garlic extracts or allicin supplements over the counter. Note that garlic supplements can increase the risk of bleeding or interfere with some medications.11 Consider speaking with a healthcare provider about whether this is a good option.
- Ginger
Ginger contains compounds offering broad antimicrobial protection. It may defend against bacteria causing periodontal diseases, E. coli, and staph infections.12 You can find ginger in extracts, tinctures, oils, capsules, and in foods like tea, juices, candies, and lozenges.1314
Safety Note
Don’t give ginger to children under age 2. Typically, adults should not take more than 3 or 4 grams (g) of ginger supplements daily or 1 g if pregnant.15
- Echinacea
Echinacea is a perennial herb flowering plant. Its extracts may have antibacterial properties and act as a immunomodulators, meaning they change the body’s immune system response.1617 It has long been used to treat wounds and infections such as UTIs. Beyond resolving UTI, research suggests it may also be effective against bacteria that lead to respiratory infections, but results are mixed and more evidence is needed.18
Echinacea supplements may boost the immune system but there’s not enough evidence to recommend their use. You can get echinacea in many forms, including ointments, which you can apply as needed. It’s also available in extracts, tinctures, tablets, and capsules. Generally, the dosage is three times a day for no more than 10 days. Avoid using it with children until you first talk to a healthcare provider.19
- Myrrh
Antibiotic compounds in myrrh (also known as commiphora molmol) may fight infections that include:20
S. aureus
E. coli
Candida albicans (yeast infection)
Myrrh is used in mouthwash products to prevent gingivitis and, among other uses, it may act on bacteria that cause Lyme disease.2122
Studies also have shown properties to promote wound healing. Laboratory studies note that it doesn’t appear to cause antibiotic resistance.23 However, clinical research is needed to confirm these benefits, and there are no clear guidelines on dosing and administration.
Myrrh has demonstrated antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies, but there is insufficient clinical evidence to support its use for treating infections such as Lyme disease.
- Thyme
Research on thyme suggests it may offer protection against bacteria such as:24
E. coli
Listeria monocytogenes
Pseudomonas putida
S. aureus
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)24
Kowalczyk A, Przychodna M, Sopata S, Bodalska A, Fecka I. Thymol and thyme essential oil—new insights into selected therapeutic applications. Molecules. 2020;25(18):4125. doi:10.3390/molecules25184125
Thyme may have therapeutic applications, but clinical research is needed to determine best practices. Some studies suggest it may offer benefits when used with antibiotics, perhaps requiring a lower drug dosage or reduced risk of antibiotic resistance.25
There are currently no dosage guidelines for thyme or thyme supplements as an antibiotic.
- Goldenseal
The bioactive compounds in the herb goldenseal have antibacterial properties. Some people use goldenseal to treat digestive disorders and skin diseases. Research suggests that goldenseal may help treat UTIs by preventing bacteria from sticking to the bladder’s walls.26
Research on the health benefits and risks of goldenseal in humans is limited. It’s available as a dietary supplement, but scientific evidence doesn’t support using goldenseal for any health-related purpose.27
- Oregano
Research suggests that oregano oil has an antibiotic effect, likely due to a compound called carvacrol.28 One study indicates that oregano oil may be effective against Streptococcus mutans, a type of bacteria that leads to dental cavities.29
Oregano oil is available as a dietary supplement or essential oils. Scientific evidence for specific types of oregano or how to use oregano’s antibiotic properties is lacking.
- Cloves
In clove essential oil, the compound eugenol acts as an antibacterial. Research shows that eugenol is effective against S. aureus and E. coli.30
Antibiotic substitutes may use cloves in the future, but more vigorous human studies are needed. There’s not enough information on how to use cloves for antibacterial purposes.
- Turmeric
A 2023 study of turmeric and its antibiotic properties found potential benefits in suppressing the growth of bacteria that included S. aureus and E. coli. It did not appear to have an effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a common infection in healthcare settings).3132
Other studies have confirmed antimicrobial properties, and researchers are focused on how turmeric can be integrated into wound healing, food safety, and other uses.3334 These findings are lab-based rather than confirmed by clinical research in humans, and more study is needed to better understand potential benefits before their use can be recommended.