Antiseptic herbs for the skin. Antimicrobial and antiviral herbs

Almost all medicinal plants have several healing properties at once - this is their advantage over chemical preparations. There are a lot of herbs that have an antiseptic, that is, antibacterial, cleansing effect. Therefore, I will tell you about a few, but about those that can be easily found everywhere with us or which are sold in almost every pharmacy.

If grass and flowers are used, an infusion is prepared from it - medicinal raw materials are poured with hot boiling water and infused for 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Roots, rhizomes and bark are used to make decoctions. They are poured with cold water and boiled in a water bath for 30 minutes.

Alcohol tinctures for washing, rinsing and irrigating the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, as well as the ears, are not recommended - they can cause burns. In extreme cases, they can be diluted with water.

Marshmallow (root)
The antiseptic effect of marshmallow is not as strong as that of other plants, but it contains a lot of mucus, so it is good for them to treat the mucous membrane of the nose and throat with their increased dryness. Marshmallow also relieves coughs and relieves irritation. It is not necessary to prepare a decoction of marshmallow roots - 2 tsp is enough. crushed raw materials pour a glass of warm water and let it brew for half an hour, stirring occasionally.

Oak (bark)
A decoction of oak bark, on the contrary, is used in cases where the mucous membrane needs to be dried and a lot of pus is released. Oak well relieves inflammation and disinfects the mucous membrane. 1 st. l. boil the bark in a glass of water for 20 minutes.

Willow (bark)
Willow bark contains salicylic acid and tannins. Before the invention of aspirin, it was willow bark decoctions that were the main anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent in medicine. Willow bark tea can be drunk as an antipyretic. To prepare a decoction 1 tsp. bark pour a glass of water and boil for 15-20 minutes.

St. John's wort (herb)
If for internal use with this plant you need to be careful (in large quantities it has a toxic effect), then there are no contraindications for rinsing and washing the nasopharynx and ears. St. John's wort also has a wound-healing effect and relieves inflammation well. For infusion 1 tbsp. l. herbs pour a glass of boiling water.

Calendula (flowers)
To prepare the infusion 2 tsp. flowers are poured with a glass of boiling water in a thermos and infused for 2 hours (you can cook in a water bath for 10-15 minutes). Calendula, in addition to antiseptic, has a wound-healing and anti-inflammatory effect, it is not toxic, so if you swallowed the infusion when rinsing, nothing bad will happen. Calendula tincture can be used to treat the skin around ear boils.

Plantain (leaves)
This is one of the most popular medicinal plants. If there was no iodine or peroxide at hand in the country, then you can always attach plantain leaves to the wound. For the treatment of diseases of the ear and nose, fresh juice is used, which can be instilled without harm. An infusion of leaves (1 tbsp per 0.5 cup of boiling water, leave for 1 hour) is used for gargling and washing the nasal cavity.

Chamomile (flowers)
The undisputed leader in the list of natural antiseptics. Chamomile tea helps with intestinal infections, and many skin diseases are treated with its infusion. Rinsing with chamomile infusion is an excellent remedy for fighting sore throats and even a runny nose.

Licorice (root)
As well as marshmallow, licorice is used to treat mucous in cases where it is too dry. Licorice forms a protective film while fighting microbes. With laryngitis, a decoction of licorice roots relieves cough and sputum discharge. To prepare a decoction 1 tbsp. l. boil the roots in a glass of water for 15 minutes in a water bath.

Yarrow (herb)
This plant is rich in tannins, flavonoids and essential oils, one of which - azulene - makes it an excellent disinfectant and anti-inflammatory agent. In infectious diseases, you can use yarrow infusion not only for rinsing, but also as tea - this helps to quickly cope with the infection. For infusion 2 tsp. dry herbs pour a glass of boiling water.

Thyme, or thyme (herb)
It is better to use its essential oil. For rinsing, it is diluted in warm water, and for treating the nasal cavity and ear, you can apply it with cotton swabs. You can also use the infusion (1 tablespoon per glass of water).

Sage (leaves)
Tips to gargle and rinse your nose with sage infusion are found in all recommendations. It has very strong antimicrobial properties, so it is indispensable for tonsillitis and sinusitis.

fir rinse
When a sore throat appears, rinsing with fir water helps. Pour several branches of fir with boiling water. When the water has cooled, gargle every 2 hours. They also do inhalations with fir, which also help with a runny nose.

soap root
There is such a plant - soapwort, which grows right outside the outskirts or in the meadows. Its root is very good at relieving swelling with a runny nose and inflammation with tonsillitis. Since the plant is toxic, its decoction should not be swallowed. It’s okay if a little gets into the stomach, it won’t happen, but if you swallowed a lot, then it’s better to rinse.
The remedy is done like this: 1 tsp. crushed soapwort root I insist overnight in a glass of cold water, after which it is boiled for 3-5 minutes, cooled, filtered. A warm solution is poured into a palm folded in a boat and holding the nostril, the other draws in the liquid, spitting it through the mouth. Alternately draw in the liquid of each nostril several times.
Do the procedure 2-3 times a day for 5 minutes at short intervals. With angina, the same decoction should often gargle.

Who among us has never been injured, we all remember broken knees from childhood. And the first thing we saved ourselves with was iodine and brilliant green! These are antiseptics! And there are many!

Let's get to know them!

Antiseptics in medicine are used to destroy microorganisms in the wound, organ systems and tissues, any pathological focus.

Also, antiseptic agents can be used to disinfect rooms, medical instruments, secretions and linen of patients.

By their nature, antiseptics are very diverse. So, there are the following groups of antiseptics:

This list is far from exhaustive: the most famous drugs are mentioned. They act differently on bacteria, which is due to their different toxicity and spectrum of antimicrobial action.

The spectrum of action of antiseptics is very wide: they kill bacteria, bacilli, fungi. To achieve the desired effect, it is very important to know the properties and characteristics of a particular disinfectant.

The use of antiseptics for the treatment of wounds

After receiving a wound, whether it be a cut, burn, frostbite or a bite, it is very important to treat its surface with an antiseptic.

Of course, it is better to treat the wound within the first two hours: this will speed up the healing process, reduce the likelihood of scarring and suppuration.

Even shallow cuts and scratches need to be treated.

Antiseptics do not participate in accelerating the healing process, but only eliminate microbes. Using the wrong antiseptic for a specific wound healing process can slow that process down.

How to decide what kind of antiseptic is needed?

Antiseptic preparations:

1. Iodine. This drug is produced in the form of an alcohol tincture. To avoid tissue burns, it is applied only to the edges of the wound. Iodine should not be used by people with individual intolerance, increased thyroid function, dermatitis and kidney diseases.
2. Hydrogen peroxide. For the treatment of wounds, only a 3% solution is used, and it is desirable to apply it to the wound with a jet, and not with a cotton swab or gauze soaked in the solution. Peroxide is used to treat fresh wounds on the skin and mucous membranes (cannot be used to treat wounds in the mouth). There are two important points that you should know about this antiseptic: you cannot treat already healing wounds with peroxide (this will burn young new epithelial cells), and you should store peroxide only in a closed form and in a dark place, since when exposed to sunlight, its antibacterial properties disappear after a day.
3. An aqueous solution of furacilin is used for the primary treatment of wounds on the skin and mucous membranes, with suppuration or its likelihood. A solution of furacilin is also used to facilitate the removal of a bandage bandage: it is poured with a solution and, having soaked, is painlessly removed.
4. Zelenka or brilliant green. The drug has a pronounced drying effect, therefore it is applied only along the edges of the wound. Do not apply to healing wounds to avoid burns.
5. Miramistin preparations. Available in the form of ointment "miramistin" or solution "miramidez". Used to disinfect purulent wounds. This drug fights almost all microorganisms, without affecting the cells of the human body.

Antiseptics for wounds do not cause (unlike) bacteria to get used to them and, as a result, the effect of use does not worsen.

Antiseptics for the treatment of the oral cavity

To maintain oral hygiene, you need to use antiseptics for the oral cavity. It is important here to know which mouth antiseptics are used so as not to harm the teeth and mucous membranes.

With stomatitis, gingivitis and periodontal disease, rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic solution is simply necessary. Modern antiseptics for the treatment of the oral cavity:

1. Chlorhexidine. It is used both separately and as part of various toothpastes and rinses. Its use leads to an 80% reduction in the number of harmful bacteria and microorganisms in the mouth. In addition, the drug has a mild analgesic effect.
2. Triclosan is a phenol that has excellent antimicrobial activity. Actively fights fungi, pathogenic bacteria, but has some side effects. Before use, it is better to consult a doctor.

If triclosan has side effects, and prolonged use of chlorhexidine can lead to oral dysbacteriosis and the appearance of tartar, then the use of natural antiseptics is safe.

The best antiseptics of natural origin

Many plants are known for their antimicrobial activity, the ability to prevent bacteria from entering and spreading into the human body.

In folk medicine, many types of medicinal plants, trees, vegetables with antiseptic properties are used. What are these plants and what are they used for?

The plant, herbs and, have antiseptic properties. Follow the relevant links.

The composition of antiseptics, the condition of the patient or wound, the time of its treatment are different, therefore, in modern medicine, mixed antiseptics are most often used to obtain the maximum disinfecting effect.

List of plants with the most powerful antimicrobial activity.
Phytoncides are usually called plant antibiotics. These are special volatile substances and juices produced by plants. They have the ability to destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.
Plants rich in phytoncides are successfully used in the treatment and prevention of many viral infections.

The death of microorganisms from the action of plant antibiotics occurs very quickly. So, for example, within a few minutes, the volatile substances of the bird cherry branch kill bacteria in a glass of water standing nearby.

What plants have the most powerful antimicrobial activity?

The best-known herbal antiseptics for treating colds include ledum, calendula, elecampane, juniper, pine buds, thyme, oregano, sage, echinacea, and eucalyptus. Food products include garlic, onion, horseradish, red capsicum and black radish.

In case of kidney ailments, preference is given to those plants whose phytoncides are excreted in the urine. These include lingonberry, birch, elecampane, kidney tea, eucalyptus, cornflower, bearberry, and St. John's wort.

St. John's wort, chamomile, plantain, erection cinquefoil, sage, cumin, wormwood and yarrow have the best effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Of the vegetables for bowel diseases, radishes, radishes, onions, garlic, horseradish, carrots, celery are recommended.

Of the fruits and berries, citrus fruits, raspberries, strawberries, black currants, chokeberries, pomegranates, cranberries and lingonberries have the highest antimicrobial activity. Rich in antibacterial substances and spices: cloves, cinnamon, basil, thyme, marjoram and bay leaf.
Cranberries and lingonberries have unique phytoncidal properties. These berries contain benzoic acid, which, when excreted in the urine, inhibits the growth of microorganisms.

The most potent natural antibiotics that you can prepare yourself include 40% alcohol extracts from garlic and onions, as well as an alcohol tincture from calendula flower baskets.

For room disinfection

Along the perimeter of the house, you can hang bouquets of dry plants (lavender, savory, cistus (labdanum), myrrh, opoponax (sweet myrrh)), use scented balls, smoke the rooms with incense, styrax, galbanum, mint sprigs of pine, spruce and juniper

Many of these herbs are culinary spices, such as garlic, ginger, thyme, and cinnamon.

This means that no matter where you are, you may be more likely to find these antimicrobial herbs at your local grocery store. They do not act as quickly or as powerfully as drugs. For serious infections, antibiotics can save lives. On the other hand, herbs have fewer side effects and are not strongly associated with microbial resistance, unlike antibiotics.

Many antiviral herbs and oils are natural antibacterial agents, but in fact the category is so broad that we can only list some of the more well-known antibacterial herbs here. Many of them can be used as teas and skin washes, herbal oils and ointments in order to cure infections. Herbs that contain aromatic essential oils are also antibacterial and antiseptic.

Calendula officinalis
Calendula can be used in first aid to heal wounds, prevent infections, and treat irritated eyes. Calendula can be used in several different ways, including infusions, tinctures, lotions, and ointments. There are no data on any precautionary measures.

Cinnamon
Warms the body, promotes digestion and has antibacterial properties. Cinnamon can be taken as a tea, added to food, or used as an essential oil.

Carnation
While cloves are commonly used as a local pain reliever, clove oil or clove essential oil can also be used to kill bad gut bacteria. Can be applied internally, used in cooking, or made into a cup of clove tea. When used topically, always dilute with oil.

Garlic
Garlic is more effective against several types of bacteria than penicillin. Garlic is also friendlier to the body than antibiotics because it attacks bacteria without destroying the body's normal flora. Garlic can be used as a tincture, in capsule form, added to oil, or simply added to your diet.

Yarrow.
The tiny yarrow flowers have a number of different uses. In powder form, it will quickly stop bleeding. Diluted in water, it will speed up the healing of the ulcer. Like a tea, yarrow is used to fight urinary tract infections. Avoid using it during pregnancy because it may cause uterine contractions.

Althea root.(Marshmallow officinalis)
Marshmallow Root soothes, lubricates, softens and heals. It also contains tannins effective against bacteria found in urinary tract infections. Marshmallow root can be taken orally as a tea.

Precautionary measures!!!

Be sure to check with your doctor before using herbs.

The most comprehensive list of antimicrobial herbs

Avran
Adoxa musky
Air
Quince

Anise
Orange
wild rosemary
badan
Thistle is common
Siberian hogweed
Cowberry
Budra
initial letter
basil
Watch
Coined loosestrife
Common loosestrife
Veronica
Grape
Cherry
water pepper
Volodushka
Voskovnik
harmala
Geranium
Gentian yellow
Gentian cross-leaved
Gorichnik Russian
Sarepta mustard
River gravel
Pomegranate
Mushroom puffballs
Hairy breast
Pear
British elecampane
Elecampane high
Elecampane willow
Elecampane splayed
Elecampane rough
Descurainia Sophia
Oak
Common cocklebur
Oregano
Blackberry
tenacious
Honeysuckle fragrant
Chickweed medium
St. John's wort
strawberries
golden rod
Centaury umbrella
Willow
figs
Iceland moss
Capers prickly
Cabbage
Dogwood
Kirkazon clematis
red clover
plowed clover
Clover medium
Maple
Cranberry
Salsify
Coriander
Field barnacle
Nettle
Burnet
Potentilla goose
Potentilla bifurcate
Potentilla erectus
Potentilla silvery
Lemon
Larch
parmelia lichen
Victorious Bow
Onion
Bow Tatar
Buttercup multiflorum
Mary antihelminthic
Mary whole-leaved
Lungwort
pungent caustic
Juniper Cossack
Common juniper
Carrot
Marigold
Norichnik gnarled
Comfrey
Alder
Paznik
parnolistnik
Nightshade black
coppice
Tansy
Ivy
Plantain
Wormwood
Wormwood
Poskonnik
Meadow lumbago
radish
Turnip
Hornhead
cattail
Rhododendron
Sundew
Ruta odorous
Celery
Sivets meadow
Skumpia
Smolka
Morel
Pine
Sumac
Sphagnum
meadowsweet
Tatarnik
Tkmyan
Marshall
thyme
bearberry
yarrow
Physalis
Horsetail
Horseradish
Chicory
Tsmin sandy
Thyme
Tea mushroom
Chernogolovka
Garlic
spadeweed
Chistets forest
Chistets direct
Celandine
sneeze grass
wild sage
Mulberry
Rose hip
Sorrel sour
horse sorrel
curly sorrel
Eucalyptus
Echinacea
Apple tree
Ulcer
Woodruff

Since ancient times, people have known that many plants have a unique antimicrobial effect. They are able not only to disinfect the skin, but to prevent the ingress, as well as the further spread of infection within the body. In this article, we will consider the main natural antiseptics that can be safely used at home.

pharmacy chamomile

One of the cheapest and most common folk remedies. This plant has many beneficial properties, as it has anti-inflammatory, astringent and antimicrobial effects. Easy to prepare, it is great for gum inflammation, sore throats and sore throats.

Essential oil of bergamot

It is used to treat acne, as well as to eliminate many other skin diseases. It also helps to increase the body's resistance to various viral infections and helps with coughing, runny nose or inflammation of the tonsils.

Horseradish

Horseradish has a powerful bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect. Its regular use in food helps to strengthen the immune system. In addition, the use of horseradish is considered an effective prevention of colds and flu.

Eucalyptus

This plant is used in skin care. It has pronounced wound healing properties and helps with acne. A decoction of eucalyptus is recommended to wipe the face in the presence of acne, as well as wash your hair to eliminate dandruff. indicated for owners of oily and problem skin. With its help, the skin becomes elastic, and also acquires elasticity and a healthy color.

Tea tree oil

It is this oil that is called the best way to combat pathogens. It wonderfully cleanses abscesses and wounds from pus. In addition, with its help, furunculosis is effectively treated. It relieves irritation, redness from the skin, and also effectively eliminates itching.

Onion

Everyone is well aware of the bactericidal properties of onions. It can be used as a prophylactic during the spread of viral infections and influenza. Saucers with slices of sliced ​​\u200b\u200bplaced around the apartment will not allow pathogenic bacteria to multiply and enter the human body.

common heather

Heather has a diuretic, diaphoretic, bactericidal and sedative effect. It is used for arthritis, bronchitis, coughs, rheumatism and nervous disorders. Decoctions from this plant are used as an external remedy for eczema, purulent wounds, and allergic reactions.

The unique medicinal properties of this plant have been known to mankind for many centuries. It is great for coughs and colds, relieves inflammation of the bladder. Effectively acts in diseases of the kidneys and digestive organs. In addition, cornflower is a wonderful antihelminthic and anti-febrile agent. It is often used for various eye diseases.

plantain leaves

This is the most famous remedy used to disinfect wounds. Even in childhood, we all applied plantain leaves to broken knees, which prevented the infection from getting under the damaged skin.

pine buds

Tinctures prepared from pine buds have a therapeutic effect in diseases of the upper respiratory tract. A decoction of these kidneys can be used as a remedy for flu and colds. Also today there are many pharmaceutical preparations, which include an extract from pine buds. They effectively help with complex skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis.

A decoction of sage leaves has a pronounced antiseptic effect. used for colds, stomatitis and sore throat.

Thyme

Thyme essential oil can have antiviral and antimicrobial effects. It is often used for inhalation during colds.

Cedar and pine

These trees are rightly called excellent natural antiseptics. They secrete special healing substances - phytoncides, which are an effective tool for the treatment of many respiratory diseases and especially tuberculosis.

Cranberry

There are pyrocitamones. This substance is able to effectively prevent the growth of bacteria. Regular consumption of cranberries helps to get rid of many diseases of the urogenital area and diseases of the prostate gland.

Propolis

This is the most popular and sought-after remedy, which is widely used in modern pharmacology. It is difficult to overestimate its analgesic, antiviral and antibacterial effect. It is used to treat sore throats and various infections of the oral cavity.

Calendula

Various healing tinctures are made from calendula. They rinse the throat and mouth with inflammation of the tonsils. Also, these tinctures are applied to burns, small wounds and cracks. Medicinal substances contained in calendula contribute to their speedy healing and disinfection.