My history with antibiotics is extensive. Between my childhood history of recurring strep throat, bronchitis, and ear infections, along with my hormonal imbalance that led to severe acne that “required” a permanent antibiotic in my adult years, I have had more than enough to last me a lifetime (and probably some antibiotic resistance). Thankfully, I took my last antibiotic dose in December of 2018 and have never looked back.

If you’re reading this, like me, you’ve probably taken your fair share of antibiotics. Maybe you reacted or read an alarming article online and are looking for a safer option for yourself or your child(ren). When fighting an infection, we must remember the two main types of germs that cause most infections – viruses and bacteria.

Viruses cause the common cold, seasonal flu, runny nose, and most bronchitis, sore throat, and cough cases. Antibiotics cannot kill viruses or help you feel better when you have a virus; they’re useless. Contrarily, bacteria causes strep throat, urinary tract infections, most ear infections, and some sinus infections (1). Bacterial infections are when antibiotics should be used, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should fill a prescription.

Risks of Antibiotics

In 2015, healthcare providers prescribed 269.4 million antibiotic prescriptions – equivalent to 838 prescriptions per 1000 persons. Azithromycin was the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, with 46.2 million doses prescribed (2). And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Livestock accounts for approximately 50% of all antibiotic usage worldwide (3). Some sources even claim that the percentage is as high as 66% to 70% (4,5). No wonder antibiotic-associated adverse events account for about 150,000 emergency department visits annually in the United States (6).

Like all medications, antibiotics have a long list of side effects, so let’s discuss the side effects of the most commonly prescribed antibiotic, Azithromycin (7):

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain (severe)
• Abdominal or stomach tenderness
• Agitation
• Black, tarry stools
• Bleeding gums
• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• Bloating
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Blurred vision
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Chills
• Coma
• Confusion
• Constipation
• Convulsions
• Cough
• Darkened urine
• Decreased urine output
• Depression
• Diarrhea (watery and severe, which may be bloody)
• Difficult or labored breathing
• Difficulty with swallowing
• Dizziness
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• Fainting
• Fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• Fever with or without chills
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
• Headache
• Hives or itching
• Hostility
• Increased thirst
• Indigestion
• Irregular heartbeat recurrent
• Irregular or slow heart rate
• Joint pain
• Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• Lethargy
• Light-colored stools
• Loose stools
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle pain
• Muscle twitching
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain
• Pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• Rapid weight gain
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Red, irritated eyes
• Skin rash
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• Stupor
• Sweating
• Swelling of the face, mouth, neck, hands, and feet
• Swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
• Tightness in the chest
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Yellow eyes or skin

Antibiotic Resistance

Aside from a long list of side effects, antibiotics increase antimicrobial resistance, driven by a combination of germs exposed to antibiotics, the spread of those germs, and their resistance mechanisms (8). In other words, every dose of antibiotics taken can contribute to the antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance pandemic.

Although the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) claims antimicrobial resistance doesn’t mean our body is antibiotic-resistant, the World Health Organization (WHO) admits the misuse (or overprescribing) of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process (9). With that said, more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year, resulting in more than 35,000 preventable deaths in the United States (10).

Yeast & Candida Overgrowth

According to the CDC, doctors prescribe about 47 million antibiotic courses annually for infections that don’t need antibiotics (11). The unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics has resulted in about 1 in 3 people suffering from yeast-related symptoms or conditions like yeast and candida overgrowth (12). Additionally, the overuse of antibiotics has also resulted in their loss of effectiveness and an alarming increase in untreatable gonorrhea cases.

Diminished Gut Health

Antibiotics can lead to long-term changes in the gut flora (13). Studies have found most bacteria return within several weeks after completing a round of antibiotics, but their numbers usually don’t return to the prior levels (14). Another study discovered that a single dose of antibiotics diminished the diversity of Bacteroides, one of the most dominant bacterial strains, and boosted the number of resistant strains. These consequences remained for up to two years (15)!

Toxin-Free Alternatives for Antibiotics

Of course, sometimes antibiotics are necessary to fight infections and diseases. So what can we do when we need an antibiotic but are uncomfortable taking pharmaceuticals? I recommend natural, safer alternatives, like fermented garlic honey and oil of oregano, which are just as effective (if not more) as traditional antibiotics (6,17).

Oregano oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, among many other beneficial properties (18,19,20). It is made by infusing extra virgin olive oil with dried oregano leaves, creating a robust and ingestible natural antibiotic.

Fermented garlic honey has immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, relieving upper respiratory tract infection symptoms (21,22,23,24). It is made by fermenting garlic cloves in honey, creating a natural antibiotic.

I highly recommend making fermented garlic honey (recipe coming soon) and/or homemade oil of oregano. If you’re not quite ready to start creating your own herbal remedies, some premade oil of oregano recommendations are:

• Gaia Herbs’ Oil of Oregano Capsules contain antioxidants and phytochemicals that help support the body’s natural resistance to immune challenges. Gaia Herbs’ supercritical CO2 extract of oregano volatile oils contains phenols, including carvacrol and thymol. These oils help support the intestines and a healthy immune response.
• Garden of Life’s Oil of Oregano Drops offer traditional support with modern convenience. They deliver 34mg of organic oregano leaf extract in a cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil base and mixed tocopherols from non-GMO sunflower.
• MaryRuth’s Oil of Oregano is concentrated and diluted with organic extra virgin olive oil and has a 60% carvacrol content. These potent herbal drops contain 200 servings per bottle to support overall health and wellness.

I do not recommend brands that use oregano essential oil, as they’re unsafe for consumption. Learn more about essential oil safety in my post, How to Practice Essential Oil Safety!

Like traditional antibiotics, natural alternatives target good and bad bacteria, so it is important to take probiotics during a natural antibiotic course. Probiotics should not be taken simultaneously but at least 1-2 hours after taking any antibiotic. To learn more about probiotics, check out my blog, The Importance of Probiotics.

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