Natural antibiotics

As more bacteria become antibiotic resistant, natural antibiotics are proving themselves effective against them.

Medical science seems to be losing its battle against infectious diseases, with bacteria developing into new strains that resist even the most powerful antibiotics. But there is hope yet -- in herbs and other natural remedies that act as natural antibiotics.

One of them is garlic. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have found an extract of fresh garlic to be effective against some of the most dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including those that cause staph infections and pneumonia.

Across the globe, drug trials on the border of Thailand and Cambodia found a traditional Chinese herb to be more effective against malaria than conventional drugs.

The trials showed that injections of artemether -- derived from extracts of the Chinese herbs “qinghaosu” or Artemisia annual -- saved the lives of 87 percent of patients with severe malaria. Intravenous quinine, the standard therapy for severe cases, saved only 64 percent.

The results of this study are considered particularly important because it was conducted in an area where malaria has grown resistant to most of the commonly used drugs, including quinine.

Click here to read about the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses.