Antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of infections, they are used to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and certain parasites. However the use of antibiotic have now been linked to deprivation of gut bacteria. Basically antibiotics work like an atomic bomb in your body, it wipes good and bad bacteria and it takes a long time to recover. It might take up to six months for your body to fully recover after exposure to antibiotics. Its shocking.
Our guts need good bacteria, there is a lot of research done now linking our gut to anxiety and even depression. We now know that our brains are connected to our guts. Its fascinating.
So if you decide to take antibiotics because there is no other way please make sure you take probiotics to go with them, they will help your gut to recover quicker. You know its easy to get depressed because you are sick and if we destroy our gut it will take much longer for us to recover. So when you take a course of antibiotics make sure you eat a lot of natural yogurts, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso, any pickles (go to your closest polish shop and you find it all in there). If you are soy or lactose intolerant then you are screwed, JUST KIDDING! There is enough probiotic pills out there to fix you up quickly too. I just think that if you are actually eating / drinking the products your whole body benefits from it. You chewing, creating juices, signals are sent to your stomach/brain, then the food hits your stomach everything is working how it should be, pills are just too easy!
Few years back I got infection, throat infection. I had no temperature and I felt fine. I called my doctor and they gave me antibiotics. In the same time my South African friend has given me this horrible tasting tonic. She said that its all organic and natural and to try this to clear the infection. Because I was feeling fine in general and because I tried not to take antibiotics I decided to take this magic potion instead. I was amazing within two days my throat was cleared! I took three shots a day every few hours. It stunk, it burnt me, it was disgusting. But I looked in to its properties more closely and it all made perfect sense. It’s a magic cure for EVERYTHING 😉
Now, four years later, I love it! For kids I will mix it with honey, I will use one tablespoon of tonic and one tablespoon of honey. You see that’s what my kids get with me, we do not use calpol or paracetamol or nurofen. We use tonic or onion juice. Even my partner uses it as soon as he feels cold coming on.
How to make it? Easy! I use all organic ingredients, you don’t have to but I guess if you are doing something that you use as medicine you may as well use the best of products. This tonic doesn’t expires either. I make few jars each time so I can share with friends as well and it last me for a year. Best to make it in summer when everything is in its season. So you will need:
- Half a cup of Ginger
- Half a cup of Turmeric – remember it stains, so maybe use gloves.
- Half a cup of Onion
- Half a cup of Garlic
- 4 x Jalapeno – please remember to wash your hands after cutting!
- Half a cup of Horseradish
- Raw and organic apple cider vinegar
Chop it all roughly, mix it well, put it in a jar/s and pour vinegar over it, completely covering everything. And there you go, here is your natural antibiotic. Leave it in cool and dark place for at least 4 weeks. Shake it daily if you remember, but its ok if you forget it. I have tried it on myself and it DOES work. You will actually learn to love it, I promise! How often to take? If I feel that something is odd, I just have a small shot of it. Some people strain the liquid. I leave it all in. I use the solids in salads, stir fry, on the toasted bread, marinating meat, this tonic even helps cure hangovers! If you have coldsore, mouth ulcers use it. You have nothing to lose, just try it.
You just cannot go wrong with these ingredients, together they create a super duper boosting recipe which is good for you and your body:
its well known that Ginger works as anti-inflammatory agent and stimulates circulation. Reduces nausea, its often used in aid digestion and helps fight flu and common cold. It also helps with joint pains and stiffness. It also has anti-cancer properties (6-gingerol). Turmeric – remember this baby stains! Like his sister ginger- they come from the same family – it has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Its linked to improve brain function and lower risk of brain diseases. Its good for your heart, prevents cancer and Alzheirmers, depression.
Onion – my gorgeous onion – there is a separate article on here about onions but to cut long story short it also helps to control blood sugars, reduce lung tightness in people with asthma, helps with depression and aids sleep and appetite, its good for your hair and skin.
Garlic – you can write a book about how good garlic is for you. Just one clove of garlic contains Manganese and Vit B6 (2%), Vit C and Selenium (1%) fiber, calcium, copper, potassium, iron and Vit B1. It literally contains a little bit of everything your body needs daily! Nothing but love garlic.
Jalapenos – highly rich in Vitamins: A, B, C, K, potassium, it can prevent stomach ulcers, helps fight infections. There is a lot of magic in chili extract – did you know… it can even stop cholera bacteria from producing toxins, helps treat food poisoning, bacterial tooth decay and even chlamydia- I mean this is just a research in progress I read about, but who would have thought that chili can do that all!
Horseradish – early studies suggest that it may prevent the growth of colon, lung and stomach cancer cells. Its also used for rheumatism, kidney stones, fluid retention, gallbladder disorders and sciatic never pain, gout and intestinal worms in children.
Apple Cider Vinegar – not my favourite but so good for you. Hippocrates used it to clean wounds and cure coughs, however its high acidity damages the teeth. Try not to sip it, just drink it avoiding the teeth. It does help kill harmful bacteria, contains a substance called mother (full of protein, enzymes and friendly bacteria). Its been used in my family for bites like: bees or mosquitoes. It helps swallowing to go down quicker.
The bottom line is, all these above ingredients have been used for thousands of years, and they are Mother Nature gift to us, so why would you want to take supplements? Its so easy to use each and individual ingredient from this recipe daily. Even if you don’t want to use the tonic, just use these fresh beauties in your cooking and your health is boosted! You seriously cannot go wrong.