Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria (56 page)

By the way, this list was compiled from a number of sources:

Michael Moore, King's Eclectic Dispensatory, several Chinese materia medicas, various lists I have received over the years, and my own work with a number of plants that either were on no lists at all or whose formulations in the literature I found to be ineffective. Michael Moore's work is the most comprehensive and valuable, and you can access it on the website for his school, the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.
Note:
Plants are listed here by botanical name. If you're searching by common name, check the index to cross-reference.

Abies
(the firs).
Tincture, fresh needles (must include spring growth), 1:2; dried needles, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–20 drops. Infusion: internal, 1–3 fluid ounces; external, as needed.

Acacia greggii
(catclaw acacia).
Standard infusion, pod/leaf: 2–4 fluid ounces.

Achillea
(yarrow).
Tincture, fresh plant in flower, 1:2; dried plant, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol (note: not preferred, as the volatiles are lost). Dosage: 10–30 drops up to 4x daily. Infusion: 3–6 cups daily as needed.

Acorus calamus
(calamus, sweet flag).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 15–45 drops up to 4x daily.

Actaea rubra
(baneberry, red cohosh).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 80 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–20 drops up to 3x daily.

Adiantum
(maidenhair fern).
Infusion, dried herb: 1–3 fluid ounces.

Aesculus hippocastanum
(horse chestnut).
Tincture, dried bark or nut, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 3–10 drops daily.

Agave
(century plant).
Tincture, fresh leaf, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops up to 4x daily.

Agrimonia
(agrimony).
Tincture, fresh leaf, 1:2; dried leaf, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: ¼–1 tsp up to 4x daily.

Agropyron repens
(couchgrass).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops up to 6x daily. Cold infusion: 2–4 fluid ounces.

Ailanthus altissima
(tree of heaven).
Tincture, dried inner bark, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: ½–1 tsp up to 6x daily for acute diarrheal conditions, ½–1 tsp up to 3x daily for giardia, 30–90 drops up to 3x daily for everything else. Cold infusion: 1–2 ounces up to 5x daily.

Alchemilla
(lady's mantle).
Tincture, fresh plant, 1:2. Dosage: 30–90 drops up to 3x daily. Infusion: as needed.

Alchornea
(alchornea).
Tincture, dried leaf or bark, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: ¼tsp every 4 hours.

Allium sativum
(garlic).
Fresh juice of the bulb: ¼–1 tsp. Tincture, fresh bulb, 1:2. Dosage: 15–40 drops. Caution: Fresh juice is emetic in larger doses.

Alnus serrulata
(tag alder).
Decoction, bark (fresh or recently harvested only): internal use, ½–2 tbl up to 3x daily; external use (as a wash), as needed.

Alpinia
(galangal).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 65 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–90 drops as needed.

Althaea
(marsh mallow or hollyhock).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root (the fresher the better), 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: as needed.

Ambrosia
(ragweed).
Tincture, fresh or recently dried plant only, 1:2. Dosage: 20–40 drops up to 4x daily.

Ammi visnaga
(khella, bishop's weed).
Tincture, seed, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 60–120 drops up to 4x daily.

Anemone hirsutissima
(pulsatilla ludoviciana, pulsatilla patens, anemone patens, pulsatilla hirsutissima, pasque flower, eastern pasque flower).
Tincture, fresh plant in flower, 1:2. Dosage: 10–15 drops, as needed, not more often than each hour. May cause vomiting in large doses.

Anemone tuberosa
(desert anemone, desert pasque flower).
Same as for
A. hirsutissima.

Anemopsis
(yerba mansa).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 20–60 drops up to 5x daily. Cold water percolation: 2–4 fluid ounces up to 5x daily—if you can stand it.

Angelica
(angelica).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 65 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops up to 4x daily. Tincture, seed, 1:2. Dosage: 10–30 drops up to 4x daily.

Angelica sinensis
(dong quai).
Tincture, cured Asian root, 1:5, 70 percent alcohol. Dosage: 15–30 drops up to 3x daily.

Anisum
(anise).
Tincture, seed, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 3–15 drops on the tongue as needed. Infusion: 2–4 fluid ounces as needed.

Antennaria
(cat's paw, pussy toes, mountain everlasting).
Standard infusion, whole plant: 3–6 fluid ounces up to 4x a day.

Anthemis nobilis
(Roman chamomile).
Tincture, fresh flowering herb, 1:2, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30 drops in water as needed. Infusion: 2–4 fluid ounces.

Apium
(celery).
Tincture, fresh seed, 1:2. Dosage: 15–80 drops in water up to 3x daily. Infusion, dried seed: ½–1 tsp seeds in 1 cup hot water up to 4x daily.

Aralia californica
(California spikenard, elk clover).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–30 drops up to 3x daily.

Aralia hispida
(bristly sarsaparilla).
Tincture, dried root or bark, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–25 drops up to 3x daily.

Aralia nudicaulis
(sarsaparilla).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 15–30 drops up to 6x daily.

Aralia racemosa
(spikenard).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–30 drops up to 3x daily.

Aralia spinosa
(devil's walking stick).
Tincture, dried root or bark, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–25 drops up to 3x daily.

Arctium
(burdock).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–90 drops up to 3x daily. Tincture, seed, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–25 drops up to 3x daily.

Arctostaphylos
(uva ursi, bearberry).
Tincture, dried leaf, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops in 8 ounces water up to 3x a day.

Argemone corymbosa
(prickly poppy, Mojave prickly poppy).
Tincture, fresh herb in seed, 1:2. Dosage: 5–15 drops as needed.

Argemone mexicana
(prickly poppy, Mojave prickly poppy).
Same as for
A. corymbosa.

Arnica
(arnica).
Tincture for external use, fresh plant in flower, 1:2, 70 percent rubbing alcohol; apply as needed to affected area. Tincture for internal use, fresh plant in flower or fresh root, 1:2. Dosage: 1–5 drops up to 3x daily. Do not exceed recommended dosage.

Artemisia absinthium
(wormwood).
Tincture, fresh plant in flower, 1:2; dried plant, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–90 drops up to 6x daily. Cold infusion, fresh plant in flower: 1–3 fluid ounces up to 3x daily.

Artemisia annua
(sweet Annie).
Tincture, fresh plant in flower, 1:2. Dosage: 30–90 drops up to 6x daily.

Artemisia tridentata
(sagebrush).
Same as for
A. absinthium
.

Artemisia vulgaris
(mugwort, California mugwort).
Tincture, fresh plant, 1:2; dried plant, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 15–30 drops up to 3x daily.

Asarum
(wild ginger).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 20–50 drops in water up to 3x daily.

Asclepias asperula
(immortal root).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–30 drops up to 3x daily. Best if used in combination tinctures.

Asclepias cornuta
(common milkweed).
Same as for
A. asperula
.

Asclepias incarnata
(swamp milkweed).
Same as for
A. asperula
.

Asclepias subulata
(desert milkweed).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–20 drops in water up to 3x daily.

Asclepias tuberosa
(pleurisy root).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–90 drops up to 3x daily.

Asparagus officinale
(asparagus).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops up to 3x daily.

Aspidosperma
(quebrache bark).
Tincture, dried bark, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 15–30 drops up to 3x daily.

Astragalus membranaceus
(astragalus).
Tincture, dried sliced root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops up to 4x daily. Cold water percolation: 2–3 fluid ounces up to 3x daily.

Avena
(wild oats).
Tincture, fresh milky seed top, 1:2. Dosage: 10–30 drops up to 4x daily. Infusion, dried plant: 4–8 fluid ounces daily.

Balsamorhiza
(balsam root).
Tincture, fresh root, 1:2; dried root, 1:5, 65 percent alcohol. Dosage: 25–45 drops up to 4x daily. Note: Cut the root well before grinding it as it contains tough threads that will wrap around your blender blades and freeze them up.

Baptisia tinctoria
(wild indigo root).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 65 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–25 drops up to 3x daily.

Berberis vulgaris
(common barberry).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–60 drops up to 3x daily. Infusion or cold water percolation: 1–3 fluid ounces to 3x daily. More in acute GI tract conditions.

Bidens
(same insulting names as for
B. pilosa
).
Same as for
B. pilosa
except most species will be weaker.
B. pinnata
dosage should be 50 percent more than that of
pilosa
.

Bidens pilosa
(beggar's ticks, Spanish needles).
Best if fresh. Tincture, fresh herb, 1:2. Dosage: 45–90 drops in water up to 2x daily, or in acute conditions ¼–1 tsp on up to 1 tbl in water up to 6x daily. Fresh juice: dosage is same as for tincture; stabilize with 20–25 percent alcohol if you intend on storing it.

Brickellia grandiflora
(brickellia).
Tincture, dried herb, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–60 drops up to 3x daily. Infusion: 2–4 fluid ounces, to 2x daily.

Bursera microphylla
(elephant tree).
Tincture, small twigs and dried leaves (such as they are), 1:5, 70 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–30 drops daily. Best if used in combination formulas. Tincture, gum, 1:5, 80 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–20 drops daily.

Calendula officinalis
(marigold).
Tincture, fresh flower, 1:2; dried flower (must be brilliant orange/yellow), 1:5, 70 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–30 drops up to 4x daily.

Capsella bursa-pastoris
(shepherd's purse).
Tincture, fresh whole plant, 1:2; very recently dried plant (would not recommend unless desperate), 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–30 drops up to 2x daily.

Capsicum
(cayenne).
Tincture, dried seed pod, 1:5, 95 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–15 drops, normally in hot tea of some sort.

Cardamomum
(cardamom).
Tincture, seed, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–10 drops.

Carum
(caraway seed).
Tincture, seed, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 10–20 drops in liquid of one sort or another.

Castela emoryi
(holacantha emoryi, chaparro amargosa).
Tincture, dried plant, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 20–50 drops up to 2x daily.

Caulophyllum
(blue cohosh).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol. Dosage: 5–20 drops. Rarely used alone; best in combination formulas.

Ceanothus
(red root).
Tincture, dried root, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 30–90 drops up to 4x daily. Best if used in combination unless you are using it specifically for lymph problems. Cold water percolation: 2–4 fluid ounces daily.

Centaurium
(centaury).
Tincture, fresh plant, 1:2. Dosage: 10–20 drops before meals.

Centella asiatica
(gotu kola).
Tincture, fresh plant, 1:2. Dosage: 15–30 drops up to 3x daily. Tincture, dried plant, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 20–40 drops up to 4x daily.

Cercocarpus
(mountain mahogany).
Tincture, twigs/stems, 1:5, 50 percent alcohol. Dosage: 15–45 drops in water up to 3x daily. Decoction: 2–3 fluid ounces to 3x daily.

Cereus grandiflorus
(night-blooming cereus).
Tincture, fresh plant, 1:2. Dosage: 5–25 drops up to 4x daily.

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
(Lawson's cypress).
Tincture, fresh needles/stems, 1:2, 5 percent glycerine. Tincture, recently dried needles, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol, 5 percent glycerine. Dosage: for diarrhea, 20 drops as necessary, usually not for more than 3 days; for gum infections, 5 drops in water, used to wash mouth. Not for long-term use internally. Infusion, dried needles/twigs: 2–4 fluid ounces, generally for GI tract problems.