I was really anxious to try this Natural Antibiotic Tea and when I felt a bit of a sore throat coming on today, I knew it was the perfect day for it.
I was really impressed with it. It tasted yummy, it was soothing on my throat, and just felt good to drink.
The jury’s still out on the natural antibiotic properties, but I will say that an extended family member of mine has been sick this week and has been drinking it and it’s seemed to really help.
Have you tried the Natural Antibiotic Tea before? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
(And yes, the ingredients for it are pricey. I used Swagbucks credit to buy the items on Amazon. I figured that it could potentially save money on doctor’s visits/prescriptions if it did indeed work!)
Are you participating in the Make It From Scratch Week? If so, link up your blog post about today’s Make It From Scratch Project. Don’t have a blog? Tell us about what you made in the comments.
Not sure if anyone mentioned this yet, but if you are brand loyal and love Young Living Oils the OnGuard is pretty much like Thieves. The only difference is that OnGuard uses orange oil while Thieves uses lemon.
I am not a doterra consultant, but I am currently getting into essential oils. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do some research on essential oils and taking them internally- preferably some research that is not related to ANY MLM essential oil company (because there are many out there). It has nothing to do with what company produces them or how “pure” they are. It has to do with what an essential oil is, at the core of it (I have nothing against doTerra or Young living or any of the other essential oil companies. I have not been burned by them or want to do harm to them. I am merely concerned by the overwhelming advice to take these things internally, when most other aromatherapy or essential oil sources say not to.)
After doing some research and math, one DROP of Lemon essential oil is equal to roughly 6 whole lemons. I certainly would not put 6 lemons into one glass of water and drink it. Oils can also burn internal tissues. Diluting in water is not enough. (Oil and water don’t mix, remember?) I just want people to please do some good diligent research before ingesting even natural products. As for my house, we don’t take essential oils internally. We do use them. Last time I felt sick, I made a blend of lemon, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree, diluted it in oil, and rolled it on every few hours. My cold never really got going, and it was gone within 48 hours. My baby was much worse off (because she is a baby and I didn’t apply as often to her), and even her cold seemed a lot shorter than they have been in the past.
For sore throats, I make a vinegar tea. Warm water, a tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon or more of raw honey, a splash of lemon juice. Ginger (fresh or powdered) or cayenne powder are also recommended additives.
Ooooh, On Guard, I have friends who swear by it. I really, really like doTerra’s essential oils. I’ve tried the Geranium and Wild Orange essential oils. I want to try Frankincense and Melissa.
If you choose to ingest essential oils (which isn’t recommended by certified aromatherapists, only by MLM companies and reps….) you may want to make sure to also add some type of carrier oil to the mix as well. (Olive, coconut,etc)
EOs are super potent and while natural, natural doesn’t always mean safe. (They actually sent my friends daughter to the hospital) Using them with only water causes the oils to be a sorbed more rapidly whereas a carrier oil will slow it down to an amount the body can tolerate better. And they shouldn’t be taken internally (or used undiluted) on children unless you’re working with someone certified in their proper usage.
Thanks so much for mentioning this!
I love on guard! I am a consultant for do Terra and there oils are Awesome!!! They also have a on guard toothpaste, cough drops, hand soap, consentrated cleaner. And the new on guard beadlets! They are awesome I carry them with me all the time.
Raw manuka honey is the most amazing thing I have ever used. It has literally cured me many times of illnesses, usually in 24 hours.
When I even feel a hint that I am getting sick, I take a teaspoon of the honey straight every hour. I keep this up until I have felt better for a day or so. I also take elderberry syrup, probiotics and a multi-vitamin.
I have done this for the past 5 years and I have only been sick like 2 times. Every other time I start to feel sick- this cures me within a day of starting the routine.
You can give this to kids over 1 year old and it works great too!
I LOVE IT!!!
You can get it pretty cheap online (at the vitamin shoppe, etc.). Try to get the highest active honey you can afford. I would take it everyday, but I can only afford it when I feel like I am getting sick. Or I take it if I am having a stressful week and know I might get sick from the crazy schedule.
EVERYONE DO IT!! I am obviously a huge fan!!
I highly recommend Apple Cider vinegar. The minute I feel a sore throat coming I start taking it 2-3 times a day. It’s cheap and it does the trick. I have started to put it in apple juice so its more tolerable to take but it still works.
So I’m wondering I perhaps a drop or two of tea tree oil, and raw honey rather than the Manuka honey would work. Since Manuka honey is from bees foraging the tea trees… Time for some research I guess! 🙂
Crystal,
The manuka honey is great, we use it for cuts and bug bites, etc. I keep it in the medicine cabinet instead of neo-sporin. (The bees pollinate medicinal herbs, hence the scent)
Does it have to be that particular honey or will any raw honey do?
The manuka honey is special. All honey is great- but the manuka honey has healing properties that make it the super honey!
Love, love OnGuard! We’ve been fighting colds in our house all week. While mine was fairly mild (I feel because I use OnGaurd regularly) I had a very dry, scratchy throat that worsened at night. I mixed a drop of OnGuard with local, raw honey and took it before bed. Worked like a charm!
I haven’t tried the remedy you mentioned with the On Guard oil and Manuka honey – but I do use honey as a remedy for lots of things including colds/flus/strep, burns, stings, and bites. It WORKS! As a beekeeper I’ve studied a lot about honey and other hive products and why they have the antibacterial, antibiotic, & antiviral properties and how they work. All honey has these properties, some just have been studied a bit more, and some have a higher concentration of things like antioxidants based on the plant that they bees take nectar from. So those of you reading if you want to try a remedy don’t worry about just getting manuka honey – try raw local honey 🙂 Or even the store bought stuff in an emergency (though not as effective has its been heated and ultrafiltered). I’m speaking on this soon 🙂 and hope to have it up on my blog soon too 🙂 Get well fast Crystal!
Hot drinks in general seem to lessen the duration of cold/flu bugs for me. I usually do ginger tea (amazing on sore throats!) by putting powdered ginger into hot water, bringing to a boil, and then adding a little extra water if it’s too strong. I drink probably 5-6 cups of it a day when I’ve got head cold symptoms, and I don’t usually get nearly as sick as I used to. I’ve also done the same thing with green tea, peppermint tea, lemon and honey water, or just plain hot water. I think the hot liquid must wash out a lot of the bad stuff or something 🙂
I’ve never tried the antibiotic tea, but a man I used to work with turned me on to Turmeric tea. I’d had an awful cold for weeks, and he suggested I try taking 1/4 tsp turmeric in a mug of warm milk (I use almond milk) every night before bed. Worked like a charm! I take it whenever I feel a little under the weather, but it is a bit gritty, especially towards the end! I’m definitely going to try the antibiotic tea this winter, though!
I haven’t made this tea specifically, but I did purchase and use oil of oregano after reading about it. You can use it by putting a few drops in a spoonful of lemon juice, to get it down (oregano is very strong). I am happy with the results, but plan to try the tea because I’m sure it’s much tastier! I’ve read a lot of good stuff about oregano, so I highly recommend it. As for the priciness, I think it’s worth it. First, you only use a few drops at a time, so it’s important to consider what the actual cost is. Second, compare the price to pharmaceuticals, which are expensive (unless your insurance pays for all of it) and come with side effects, and usually aren’t effective long-term. Oregano will kill an infection, done. How many times do illnesses recur with antibiotics?
You can put that into a small glass of water too or put it on the bottoms of the feet. Oils rubbed on the bottom of the feet are very quickly taken up into the entire body. In fact you may begin to taste it a bit after 5-10 minutes! Don’t use oregano if you are nursing! It can quickly diminish the milk supply!
My academic, nerdy mind kicks in. ‘antibiotic’ means it works on bacteria, whereas all colds and flues are caused by viruses. Now, it might be that this tea will ‘fortify’ your immune system and make it stronger, enabling you to fight off both bacterial infections and viral infections, but then calling it ‘antibiotic’ is a misnomer.
And one reason antibiotics are so ineffective (I didn’t read her links, though, so I could be repeating) is that a good number of infections we deal with are not bacterial in origin. They are viral, and antibiotics do nothing against a viral infection.
All that said, honey is excellent at soothing throats, and if you like the tea its always nice to have something like that when you aren’t feeling well.
When I had a sore throat a few weeks ago, I gargled with essential oils diluted in coconut oil. I chose oregano, tea tree, and clove. Within 24 hours my throat went from flaming red to mildly irritated. By the next day, my throat was better.
Many essential oils are very effective against viruses. I am not familiar with this blend because I use Heritage Essential Oils but I have used Plague Defense and Warrior blends from Heritage with great success against viruses. I would recommend rubbing them on the bottoms of the feet because the oil will be taken up into the entire body that way.
The manuka plant (and the honey that the bees make from pollinating it) has both antibacterial and antiviral properties. Do a quick google search and you can read up on how great it it. It is used by doctors to cure the MERSA virus and other such infections.
You’re not repeating. I was underwhelmed with the scientific accuracy of the linked article. The “antibiotic” part in the name of this recipe really bugged me too.
Crystal, I do hope you feel better and I’m glad it’s yummy, but I’m afraid I consider this recipe to be not “from scratch.” The “On Guard Protective blends” it calls for seems like a proprietary blend – a “boxed mix,” if you will. I’d rather you had found a recipe where you could buy your essential oils from any supplier and know what they were (e.g. plant of origin).
It’s been fun to follow along this week! While not every day has been a total success for me, I am realizing how much I enjoy making things from scratch. At the same time, I am seeing that other priorities can and should take precedence over my DIY impulses at various points in my week. I am reminded again of your post “Why I Don’t Make Homemade Tortillas.” Wisdom and discernment are needed as we choose what to do with our time each day.
Thanks so much for following along!
Hmm, I would be willing to give this a try. Thanks for posting the idea.
Hope you feel better soon and don’t come down with anything severe. Please keep us posted as to what you think of its effectiveness for you and your family…it’s getting to be that time of year, and we all want to avoid pricey doctors visits! Thank you! So nice of you to share.
For a sore throat we use raw honey, that I get from Azure and lemon in hot water. It seems to soothe the throat really well. But I have never heard of the On Guard product. I will have to check this product out. We usually will use zinc to ward off a cold. I hope this tea works well on your throat.
OnGuard is an essential oil blend that is made by the company doTERRA. I love all their oils – enough that I signed up as a consultant (if you knew me you would know how out of my comfort zone this is…) I’ll copy the info about that particular blend below, and if you are curious about the company or other essential oils my name is clickable through to my consultant website.
On Guard®
Protective Blend
On Guard is dōTERRA®’s unique, proprietary blend formulated to support healthy immune function. Wild orange essential oil, combined with clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary offer a fragrant, natural and effective alternative to synthetic options for immune support. On Guard, with its unique aroma, is one of our most versatile blends. It is also safe to use on counter tops, as a non-toxic way to cleanse surfaces, or to purify the atmosphere by diffusing. For aromatic, topical, or dietary use.
We love OnGuard! I heat about 1/2 c. water to just warm, add 1-2 drop of OnGuard, juice from half of a lemon, 1 TBS of honey and about 1/2 TBS (up to 1 TBS for an adult) of Apple Cider Vinegar. With the honey, OnGuard and lemon covering the flavor of the ACV, my kids will even drink it – we call it “Hot Tea Water” – not sure why but that’s it’s name and it does seem to help when we wake up feeling a cold coming on. You can make it without the OnGuard as well, I just feel that it helps fight off whatever is attacking.
I haven’t tried the tea you’ve made, but the manuka honey (from my homeland, I see) was what we always put in our lemon honey drink for a cold cure-all when I was growing up! For the purposes of ‘make it from scratch’ week: juice of 1 lemon, 1-2 tsp honey, top up with hot water, stir to dissolve honey – sometimes a dash of grated fresh ginger if you wanted, or half a soluble pain-killer if you were desperate!
Thanks so much for sharing this!