Question

What should we do about antibiotic use that is not health-related? A lot of antibiotics are used to keep crops from spoiling and to increase the growth of livestock. These practices have important economic benefits to farmers and to consumers who buy their products. But they increase the levels of antibiotics in our environment and lead to resistance. What do you think should be done about using antibiotics in this way?

Answer 1

There is no doubt that antibiotics occupy a very important place in our lives, not only as medicines to cure diseases but also in other spheres like preventing crops from spoiling, killing harmful microbes in plants, soil and water and in keeping animals healthy. However, too much use of antibiotics has several side effects, the most dangerous of which is the development of antibiotic resistance in the pathogens. The necessity to reduce the use of antibiotics and to find an alternative for them is becoming more important day by day.  

We need to find biological and herbal alternatives for antibiotics wherever it is possible. Like in preserving crops in granaries, herbal plant leaves can be used to prevent microbe growth. Biological control of pests and weeds have been found to be extremely effective in many parts of the world.

Garlic, ginger, honey, clove, oregano, turmeric etc are the traditionally used medicines in cultures all over the world. These plant products can kill bacteria without causing any sort of side effects in the body.

So, use of plant food and herbal tinctures can provide an effective alternative for use of antibiotics. There should be a very judicious, limited and careful use of antibiotics. In fact, antibiotics should be used when there is no other way left to get rid of the germs and in extreme cases where treatment with antibiotics is necessary to save life or materials.

The use of antibiotics should be slowly phased out and use of natural antimicrobials should be encouraged to reduce the levels of antibiotics in our environment and to prevent antibiotic resistance in humans as well as animals.