The Most Potent Herbal Tincture Acting as Antiviral and Antibacterial

Viruses and bacteria are pathogens known to quickly “evolve around” antiviral and antibacterial drugs. This phenomenon happens due to a one-dimensional action of the drugs against viruses and bacteria.

Viruses consist of a nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA wrapped in another protein. Being so primitive, most biologists do not regard them to be living things. They reproduce insides the cells of living hosts, because of which they are considered infectious particles or biological agents.

Some doctors are said to prescribe antibiotics to viral infectious diseases, some of which shows similar symptoms to that of bacterial infectious diseases. As antibiotics are specifically designed to fight bacteria, they are useless against viruses. For viruses, doctors rely on drugs called antivirals, which are said to be not so effective.

Mutation

Viruses mutate very easily due to their primitive (simple) structure. That’s why antiviral resistant strains can appear in a matter of weeks or months. Scientists have detected that phenomenon happened to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in 2009.

Many governments stockpiled it as the best possible remedy for bird flu. Unfortunately, when bird flu arrived, it was found useless against the flu as the viruses had developed resistance to the drug.

Antibacterial-resistant

As far as antibiotics are concerned, penicillin-resistant strains of pneumonia, gonorrhea and hospital-acquired intestinal infections were detected four years after mass-produced penicillin was introduced.

Each class of antibiotics kills bacteria in its unique way. Penicillin, the first true antibiotic discovered, kills bacteria by attaching and followed by rupturing their cell walls, consequently killing the bacteria. Conversely, tetracycline, erythromycin, and streptomycin kill bacteria by attacking the vital structures inside the bacteria ie, ribosomes that allow them to produce proteins, of which action also destroying the bacteria.

As each antibiotic is a single chemical compound and one dimensional in its action, it’s not that hard for bacteria to “evolve” around such attacks. For example, penicillin-resistant bacteria have developed cell walls different from their previous ones. In effect, that prevents the penicillin from binding.

Similarly, other variants prevent antibiotics from binding to ribosomes, thus makes them ineffective.

Natural antipathogens, on the other hand, are different in term of their action against pathogens that include viruses and bacteria compared to that of antiviral and antibacterial drugs. As explained above, antiviral and antibacterial drugs usually consist of a single compound which functions in a one-dimensional manner.

Multi-dimensional

Conversely, natural antipathogens are multi-dimensional due to their many bioactive compounds that prevent viruses or bacteria to “evolve.” Non-active compounds are believed to potentiate the antipathogenic effects of the active ones besides offering many possible combinations with each other.

This complexity results in a phenomenon thought not only produce synergistic killing actions but also suppresses the bacteria in their attempt to “evolve.”

Surprisingly, when you combine several herbs and spices in one formula, the possible synergistic actions of different types of chemical compounds are beyond counting. Quite simply, as for antiviral and antibacterial cases, microbes cannot “evolve” around them.

Natural Antiviral and Antibacterial Formula

The following are nine antipathogens found in nature that can function as antiviral and antibacterial.

Materials                                               Quantity

1. Garlic                                                                  10 oz


2. Ginger                                                                 10 oz


3. Onion                                                                  10 oz


4. Olive leaf                                                               5 oz


5. Clove                                                                      5 oz


6. Lemon (whole)                                                   10 oz


7. Pomegranate (juice)                                          10 oz


8. Wild mountain oil of oregano                   1 teaspoon (equiv. 100 drops)

9. Apple cider vinegar                                         300 fluid oz

Individually, their effectiveness is astounding.

Garlic

Garlic is available all-year-round culinary herb that can be easily bought from grocers. It is considered by many herbalists as one of the best antiviral and antibacterial alternatives. It is found to stimulate the immune system by stimulating the activity of the macrophages (white blood cells), which engulf foreign organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and yeast.

Apart from that, garlic improves the activity of the T-helper cells which are the core of the activity of the entire immune system. Garlic can be effective in alleviating upper respiratory viral infections including colds, flu, and sore throat due to its immune-stimulant, antioxidant, antihistaminic, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties.

It is not only destroying bacteria but inhibiting bacterial cell growth (prevent replication) as well. Exerting antibacterial action equivalent to 1% penicillin, garlic is effective against staph, strep, and even anthrax bacteria.

Ginger

Ginger has been traditionally used to treat viral infections including colds and flu in many cultures. An Indian report indicates that it promotes the immune system’s ability to fight infection and can be effective to help alleviate swine flu symptoms. Moreover, preliminary Indonesian study based on red ginger (Zingiber officinale var. rubra) oil on Avian flu virus can be implied that whole ginger may also be effective against many types of flu.

Onion

Onions and garlic share many similarities in term of biological activities due to their powerful sulfur-bearing compounds that function as potent antiviral and anti-bacterial.

Olive Leaf

Olive leaf has long being used traditionally against infectious diseases. Studies have shown that the olive leaf extract possesses antiviral as well as antibacterial properties.

Clove

Cloves are dried flower buds of the clove tree which is native to India and Indonesia. The buds emit a very strong aromatic odor, one of which is due to eugenol, a potent compound that acts as antiviral and antibacterial. Many Western herbalists and alternative medicine practitioners are said to overlook the great potential of using cloves as antiviral and antibacterial agents that might due to too focus on using local herbs.

Lemon

Lemon (and lime as well) juice is reported to decrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body, reduce the cold and flu duration, and reduce phlegm.

Pomegranate

Pomegranates have been known for hundreds of years for their multiple health benefits, including antimicrobial activity. Studies have indicated that pomegranates and their extracts may serve as natural alternatives due to their potency against a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens.

Oil of Wild Mountain Oregano

Oregano is a herb native to the Mediterranean region that has been used for culinary purposes for centuries. An oregano species which is known as wild oregano has been highlighted in recent years as having potent antimicrobial (antibacterial) properties. It has been shown to be beneficial as antiviral and antibacterial and is said better than penicillin, streptomycin, vancomycin, nystatin, and amphotericin in its ability to annihilate pathogenic bacteria.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Besides containing acetic acid as a major organic acid, apple cider vinegar (ACV) is also believed to contain similar compounds found in fresh apples including bioflavonoids, carotenoids, vitamin C, many types of organic acids, esters, soluble fibers, and insoluble fibers, some of which may be changed to become compounds such as esters.

ACV is said to be able to remove toxic wastes (metabolites) harmful to the body and many of its phytochemical constituents are believed to act as potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiflu.

Making ACV Tincture

Follow the following instructions to make a potent antiviral/antibacterial ACV tincture:

• Fill your jar to the top with room temperature, not boiling, ACV.


• Put all ingredients (see Natural Antiviral and Antibacterial Formula section) in a pint (dark glass) jar.


• Add ten fluid ounces of ACV.


• Use cork to cap your ACV tincture.


• After two weeks, the tincture is ready for use


• Shake well before use as the oregano essential oil may always float on top


• For preventive measures, the usual dose of this ACV tincture is one teaspoon per hundred pounds of body weight. When having a cold or flu, take 2-3 times daily on an empty stomach.

The Most Potent Herbal Tincture Acting as Antiviral and Antibacterial

Debt, homelessness, domestic violence: the GP practice acting as a one-stop shop

Lisa Baxter*, a mother of three from Oldham, was trapped with a violent partner, difficulties controlling her children, threats of homelessness and frightening debt. Her only ways of coping with her desperation were by abusing drugs and alcohol, and frequent appointments with her GP for antidepressants – until she was referred to community nurse, Ruth Chorley.

I don’t know what I would have done without Ruth. Without her, I think I would have had my children taken off me

Since the 28-year-old started seeing Chorley five years ago at Hill Top surgery, in Fitton Hill, Oldham – as part of a groundbreaking scheme aimed at helping the most deprived families – she has stopped abusing drugs and alcohol, is securely rehoused, her ex-partner is in prison, her children attend school and she manages her finances with only occasional support. Her mental and physical health are transformed and her GP attendances are a fraction of what they once were.

Baxter says: “I don’t know what I would have done without Ruth. Without her, I think I would have had my children taken off me. I would not have been able to cope with social services. Before I started seeing her, I was just being seen by the doctor, given tablets and sent away, but it wasn’t any help, so I would be back again.”

Chorley is a focused care practitioner – one of four employed by Hope Citadel Healthcare, a not-for-profit community interest company, to lead a pioneering approach to delivering healthcare to the most needy families in its four Greater Manchester NHS GP practices, by filling in the gaps between health and social care.

A visit to Hill Top surgery overlooking the former mill town of Oldham, perfectly illustrates how this transformation in Baxter’s life has come about. Chorley emerges with Baxter, having been on the phone for more than an hour on her behalf. She has arranged food vouchers and funds to pay for three school uniforms, and has prevented the cancellation of Baxter’s child tax credit. She has also helped Baxter write a letter of appeal against the cancellation of her housing benefit.

Chorley: ‘How can you expect patients to look after their health, when they don’t know where they will be living next week?’ Photograph: Jason Lock

Passionate about her work, Chorley says: “How can you expect patients to look after their health, when they don’t know where they will be living next week? You can not separate people’s physical health from their psychological, social and spiritual health.”

The reality of doctoring in Oldham is stark. Oldham is the most deprived town in England, according the Office for National Statistics, with 65.2% of its local areas in the most deprived 20%. Men and women in these areas can expect to die more than 10 years sooner than inhabitants of Trafford – Greater Manchester’s most affluent suburb.

Clinical director of Hope Citadel Healthcare and GP at Hill Top surgery, Dr John Patterson kick-started the Focused Care scheme from a belief that social conditions determine heath and that those in greatest need are the least likely to receive it. Patterson says: “In areas of deprivation you need more multifactorial medicine and psychosocial support.”

He asked Chorley – because of her reputation as an energetic champion of families in poverty – to design a scheme in 2010 operating from the Fitton Hill practice, to support frequent attendees at the surgery with complex problems.

Recent figures show something of the scale of human need she and her colleagues face. Of the 120 families on Focused Care in 2014-15, 92% presented with mental health issues, 58% of households had housing problems and 17 women disclosed domestic violence.

The scheme took off and Patterson was astonished by the two-year figures. Of the initial 50 to 60 households dealt with by Chorley, 24 had stopped using A&E inappropriately, 25 no longer had parenting problems, 10 had stopped abusing alcohol and 12 homes no longer had a domestic violence problem.

Seven years on, Focused Care has expanded into eight practices.

Chorley has supported a man through insolvency and encouraged him to stop smoking and drinking. Photograph: Jason Lock

Audits of the 160 families receiving Focused Care over the four Hope Citadel surgeries show that they visit A&E 57% less in the year following intervention. Smear rates over the four practices have rocketed from around 40% to 94%, while at Hill Top surgery alone, 91% of over 65s have had their flu vaccine, outstripping the target of 80%.

A patient can be referred to Focused Care by health staff, social care workers or even police. In each case a patient is seen, problems identified and a care plan drawn up, tackling anything from immigration to parenting and benefit problems. The practitioner then contacts or visits the family on a regular basis and supports them in whatever way is most appropriate for their wellbeing.

It’s usually a painstaking task unpicking the problems. Chorley has supported Baxter through the trial and jailing of a former abusive partner. In another case, she helped a man through insolvency and encouraged him to stop smoking and drinking, enabling him to become a mover and shaker in his local housing association.

Just occasionally Chorley’s job can be short and simple – accessing £20 from a Hill Top practice fund to pay the taxi fare to enable a woman refugee to leave her violent husband with her children.

Hope Citadel is now working with Shared Health – a charity centred on identifying good practice and using the Greater Manchester health devolution agenda to roll it out into the most deprived parts of the conurbation.

Patterson says: “We call Focused Care the ‘Macmillan Service for deprivation’. We want to have an impact on the whole community – not just our patients.”

*Name has been changed

Doctors Working in Deprivation will be held on Wednesday 28 September at Gorton Monastery in Manchester from 8.30am to 4.30pm. To book a free place please register.

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Debt, homelessness, domestic violence: the GP practice acting as a one-stop shop