Struggling with candida or bacterial overgrowth?

You might have these ingredients in your kitchen ready to combat your dysbiosis. When looking for a great supplement to support bacterial overgrowth, these are some killer combinations (pun intended) to get you back on track.

Coriander/Cumin Seed

A 2015 study reviewed coriander and cumin seed oil extracts, concluding that used in combinational therapies, the herbs were significantly synergistic for anti-bacterial and antioxidant therapeutic interventions (Bag, 2015). Together, coriander and cumin seed extract considerably reduced bacterial colonization, bacterial overgrowth time-frame, and bacterial-induced oxidation compared to individual herb interventions (Bag, 2015). The herbs didn’t show any cytotoxic activity against human cells or damage to cellular membrane activity. This may be a promising intervention to utilize with food poisoning and as a food preservation system (Bag, 2015).

Melissa officinalis with antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) has been utilized for centuries for anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, carminative, spasmolytic and sedative therapeutic properties (Stefanović, 2012). Lemon balm has shown significant therapeutics in combination with pharmaceutical antibacterials on gram-negative bacterium; leading to an enhanced anti-bacterial effect and continuation time of antibacterial pharmaceutical interventions (Stefanović, 2012). The mechanisms for these actions are to be determined, however, they may find useful for those taking antibacterials for resistant bacterium (Stefanović, 2012).

Thyme, Clove, Oregano Combinational Therapy

Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme), Syzygium aromaticum/Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove) and Oreganum Vulgare (Oregano) all show to be highly therapeutic in antibacterial therapeutic properties and in particularly show significant synergistic antibacterial properties (Liu, 2017) (Otoni, 2014). Thyme inhibits microbe proliferation thorough inhibition of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), disrupting plasma membrane integrity and signalling (Liu, 2017). These 3 herbs used in combinational therapy have shown significant improvements for Escherichia coli (E. coli) (Sakkas, 2017).

Oregano’s main active constituents’ thymol and carvacrol have shown to inhibit nonmucoid and mucoid clinical isolates in a pathogenic bacterium (Coccimiglio, 2016). A 2016 study demonstrated antibacterial effects through bacterial membrane integrity depletion and increasing pH gradient interferences (Coccimiglio, 2016). Oregano’s phenolic isomers also protect against hydrogen-peroxide induced cytotoxicity proving potent antioxidant activity (Coccimiglio, 2016).

Clove is another potent antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antiseptic, carminative and aromatic digestive herb with significant fast-acting therapeutic interventions (Nuñez, 2012). Eugenol the main active constituent of clove, specifically targets the pathogenic membrane integrity, increasing cellular permeability and reducing intracellular signaling. Energy metabolites are thus decreased, increasing pathogenic cytotoxicity due to DNA/mRNA inhibition (Xu, 2016).

You can crush these herbs and add them to your food, drinks, or even make your own herbal tinctures...(more on how to do that soon!).

If you're suffering from candida overgrowth or bacterial infections, it's time to book in a consultation to eradicate the infection. They can be quite stubborn if ignored.

Book a consultation here

References

Bag, A. &. (2015). Evaluation of Synergistic Antibacterial and Antioxidant Efficacy of Essential Oils of Spices and Herbs in Combination. . PLOS ONE, 10(7), e0131321.

Baker, F. C. (2015). Insomnia in women approaching menopause: Beyond perception. . Psychoneuroendocrinology, 60(1), 96 - 104.

Bone, K. P. (2007). The Ultimate Herbal Compendium. Warwick, QLD, Australia: Phytotherapy Press.

Coccimiglio, J. A.-H. (2016). Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Activities of the Ethanolic Origanum vulgare Extract and Its Major Constituents. . Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 1–8.

Fernandez-Mendoza, J. &. (2013). Insomnia and its Impact on Physical and Mental Health. Current Psychiatry Reports, 15(12).

Hechtman, L. N. (2012). Clinical Naturopathic Medicine. QLD: Elsevier.

Liu, Q. M. (2017). Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Spices. . International journal of molecular sciences, 18(16), 1283 - 1295.

Nuñez, L. &. (2012). Microbicide activity of clove essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata). Brazilian Journal of Microbiology .

Otoni, C. G. (2014). Edible Films from Methylcellulose and Nanoemulsions of Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oils as Shelf Life Extenders for Sliced Bread. . Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 62(22), 5214–5219.

PonJola, C. M. (2018, June 06). Menopause. Medscape.

Sakkas, H. a. (2017). Antimicrobial Activity of Basil, Oregano, and Thyme Essential Oils . J. Microbiol. Biotechnol, 27(3), 429-438.

Stefanović, O. a. (2012). Synergistic antibacterial interaction between Melissa officinalis extracts and antibiotics. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 2(1), 1-5.

Xu, J.-G. L.-P.-M. (2016). Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Properties and Mechanism of Action of Essential Oil from Clove Buds against Staphylococcus aureus. . Molecules, 21(9), 1194 -1209.