thanks for that holistic information mgarvey.

On Nightline during the Town Meeting, experts responded to a question about hoarding antibiotics and buying gasmasks by saying "don't." He thought hoarding antibiotics (the portin of their earlier scenario they showed portrayed looting of pharmacies for people desperate to get their hands on antibiotics which would do no good) would simply lead to abuse of antibiotics and reducing the body's natural resistance.

Natural antibiotics which do NOT compromise the immune system include: (many of these mentioned already) garlic, cranberry juice (not with sugar), antimicrobial essential oils like tea trea and naiouli, thyme (a bit toxic), and colloidal silver.

Gargling with good old Listerine is great, too. You can put a couple drops of tea tree or naiouli in water and gargle with it; excellent for preventing respiratory infections and guarding against infectious agents which attack via the throat. If used early enough tea tree can prevent strep infection from taking hold; but one mustn't mess with it, strep can be dangerous.

Spraying antimicrobial essential oils diluted in water (ten drops per quart) around the home also helps clear the air of bacteria: including tea tree, lavender, lemon, grapefruit, (any of the citrus oils ae good), cinnamon or clove, thyme, lemongrass, etc. Spray directly on areas like bathrom surfaces, phones, doorknobs, etc.

Will it save lives? Perhaps not but it beats taking antibiotics orally, which can deplete valuable bacteria in the body and thus leave us even more susceptible to illness.