Natural Alternatives to Neosporin

Majority of people take over the counter drugs without carefully thinking about what its side effects are to the body. One very common OTC drug is Neosporin.

What is Neosporin?

Neosporin is the most popular over the counter topical antibacterial drug in the US. This medication is used to treat minor cuts like scrapes or burns. It can also be used to treat mild skin infection. It also contains an antibiotic that prevents the growth of bacteria thereby allowing the wound to heal much faster.

Side Effects

There are several reported cases of allergies caused by Neosporin. When used for prolonged period it could lead to fungal infection or other bacterial skin infection.

If your cut is not that deep, you can always opt for natural alternatives to Neosporin.

Proper Cleaning

This is very important because if the wound is not cleaned properly, there will surely be infection which cab delay the healing of your wound.  Use a mild soap when washing but don’t put the soap directly on the wound. Use the soap to clean the surrounding skin. Make sure that you remove any visible dirt or debris before applying anything. Wash the area thoroughly with water.

Turmeric

Turmeric has antibacterial and antiseptic characteristics that can help in fast healing of wounds.

After thorough cleaning of the wound, pat dry the area before you sprinkle a small amount of turmeric on the wound. Apply bandages afterwards.

Honey

Honey provides a humid healing environment. It rapidly reduces inflammation and it clears infection. This is why honey is used to treat wounds and burns through-out history.

Directly apply 1 tbsp. of honey on your wound and its surrounding tissue. Add more honey for deeper cuts for more potent antibacterial effect.

Cover the honey with dressings making sure that the bandage covers the entire wound. Use an absorbent, water proof bandage to prevent leakage of honey.

Change the dressing 3 times a day. Since the honey is moist, changing dressings won’t be a problem because the bandage won’t stick to your skin preventing pain and trauma to the area.

Garlic

For thousands of years garlic has been used as herbal remedy for numerous conditions. It has antibiotic and antimicrobial property.

To treat wounds with garlic, mash and grate 20 cloves of this herb. Mix the grated garlic with clean water until it has a paste like consistency. You then need to spread the garlic paste on a sterile gauze or bandage.

Cover the wound using the bandage with garlic and secure it with another bandage. Leave it there for 2 days. After 2 days, wash the area with soap and warm water then repeat the process again.