antibacterial herbs

Hello eKa CIRCLE

All the way from chile south america! And yes unfortunately just after we arrived the current pandemic has broken out worldwide. We travelled this time prepared with our natural anti-flu kit of black garlic tablets, thieves essential oils for hands courtesy of Ma, my homemade charcoal and salt toothpaste and aloe hand gel. Threw in a few masks as well to set others minds at ease. With all of the panic happening in the west for stockpiling all types of hand sanitizers (many with petro chemicals in plastic dispensers) it has been delightful to see the South Americans sensible and natural approach.

It is times like this that I feel mother nature begging us to take things back to the beautiful God given gifts we have at our fingertips for good health. Most of them completely free and able to be shared with others. Every culture on earth has something to share with regard to these natural secrets; most were commonly used only a short generation ago. How quickly so much wisdom has been lost with the slick advertising pull to try and buy something “more superior” that rarely is. I feel this is the perfect opportunity to open dialogue with others from different cultural backgrounds and learn together what we might try for the benefit of sustainable health and wellbeing and teach this to our families.

It is just delightful to see sellers selling what they have from their gardens in south america. The practise of using natural herbs for medicinal, preventative and antibacterial purposes is not at all foreign here. You will see local cafes stock their own dried herbs from the garden and herbalists are on most corners. Most people, even apartment dwellers grow something fresh within reach.

Today we saw two young girls pull over their car in the main street and reach up for some branches of Eucalyptus which is wonderful for inhaling over boiling water or rubbing onto your hands. A sprig in the shower for the hot water to run over will work wonders too to release the medicinal oils. There is an interesting reset happening with everyone stopping their day to day business and having a “spring clean.”

Here is a top 10 list of herbs and spices with antimicrobial and natural antibiotic qualities to try.

1. sage- brew as a tea, rub fresh sage onto hands, place fresh sage leaves or a mix of herbs in a spray bottle with water and a few tbs of vinegar for a spray cleaner

2. rosemary- brew as a tea, chop and add to some himalayan salt and soak in the bath, boil some water and infuse with salt and rosemary- set aside to cool and gargle after brushing your teeth

3. aloe- use a hand sanitiser, blend into your smoothie

4. thyme- use as a tea, make a tincture with vinegar or alcohol or an infused oil

5. eucalyptus- soak the leaves in boiling water and breathe the steam with a towel over your head. Hang a branch in your shower under the running water, rub the crushed leaves on your hands.

6. clove- brew as a tea, infuse into manuka honey,  in oil and use to cleanse your hands

7. cinnamon- brew as a tea, mix some ground cinnamon into coconut oil and rub onto your hands

8. ginger- brew as a tea, blend in a fresh juice, make a grated ginger poultice to assist with congestion tape it to the chest area and to the bottoms of your feet.

9. oregano- a few drops of oregano oil is a wonderful natural antibiotic, brew fresh leaves as a tea, make a tincture with vinegar or alcohol

10. garlic- brew as a tea, infuse in oil and use as ear drops, eat as much raw garlic as you can for natural antibiotic properties

Please let us know if you have anything from your cultural background and share the wisdom with the circle. We would love that.

light & love

M + E