Overuse of antibiotics can lead to fatal diarrhea in children, upset the gut flora, teach good bacteria to go bad, and unfortunately help drive up drug and hospital costs, according to Healthline.

Dr. Ellen Kamhi, PhD., author of The Natural Medicine Chest, tells Newsmax that oil of oregano is one of nature’s finest antibiotics. Oregano, according to herbalist and author Barbara Pleasant, means “joy of the mountains” and is widely used in Mediterranean and Mexican cooking.

It was first used for medicinal purposes by the Greek physician Dioscorides and today researchers tell us that it is rich in antioxidants which help prevent cancer and may also be effective in regulating high blood pressure and reducing inflammation from arthritis.

But oil of oregano also has powerful antibacterial powers that can help stave off and treat everyday illnesses without the potentially harmful side effects of prescription antibiotics.