The French word antisepsie came to our language as antisepsis. The concept refers to the process that allows the elimination of microorganisms that can cause different kinds of infections or prevent their appearance.
For the development of antisepsis, antiseptics are used. These are chemicals that prevent the development of microbes or destroy them, protecting the body’s tissues. Antisepsis is essential to minimize the chances of infection in the context of a surgical intervention.
As the term itself suggests, antisepsis is the opposite of sepsis or septicemia: the infection that is generated by microbes or their toxins that affect the blood. When antisepsis is performed, there is no sepsis.
Antisepsis combines the use of disinfectants (which are responsible for eliminating microorganisms found in non-living elements) and antibiotics (they attack microbes in the body). These antiseptics, in turn, can inhibit the development and / or eliminate microorganisms, as appropriate.
The most effective antiseptics are those that act quickly, have a broad spectrum, and their effects extend over time. This facilitates antisepsis and prevents different types of infections.
The spirit, the hydrogen peroxide, the iodine and soaps are the most common antiseptics. These are elements of daily use, both to eliminate pathogens from the body (by washing your hands with soap before eating, for example) and to disinfect objects (when alcohol is applied to rings or earrings that go through the ears).
The best natural antiseptics
Lovers of home remedies and natural products do not need to have endless medicines, since many of the fruits, vegetables and flowers that abound in the home have antiseptic power, and are ideal for treating different situations, from wounds to dirt. Furthermore, its effects are more intense than those of its industrial equivalents.
Let’s look at some of the best natural antiseptics:
* carrot: if we have to face a postulance problem or disinfect a wound, one of the most effective products is carrot. Regarding its application, it is enough to boil it and grate it, to make a simple paste that we must then spread over the affected area and let it rest for a few minutes before removing it with lukewarm water;
* onion: another of the products that we commonly have at home, and that has more applications than the mere preparation of food. The onion is among the most powerful bactericides, and that is why it serves to prevent the typical winter colds. It can be used boiled, similar to the carrot, or also raw, applying to the area to be treated the fine tissues that it has between layers;
* Lavender: This plant is a favorite of many for its aroma and appearance, but it also has antibiotic and astringent properties that make it an ideal product to practice antisepsis. For this we must make an infusion with a handful of branches or flowers, and apply on the body;
* garlic: it is one of the most versatile natural products, and in this case we are interested in its fungicidal action. To prevent a wound from becoming infected, it is enough to peel some garlic cloves, crush them until they form a paste, and then apply it to the skin. It also serves in problems such as athlete’s foot and onychomycosis (an infection that takes place in the nails);
* laurel: far from being just a condiment, laurel is a perfect antiseptic and disinfectant, thanks to a series of compounds found in its leaves that create a barrier against bacteria and viruses. Its application can be made by means of an infusion or essential oil.
