“We are heading rapidly towards a world in which our antibiotics no longer work”

An ongoing trial among NHS family doctors, due to report later this year, is testing andrographis to see if both patients and doctors regard it as an acceptable alternative to antibiotics. If the findings are positive, the next step will be “a well-designed trial in the UK to evaluate the effectiveness, efficacy and safety to confirm these findings”, explains Michael Moore, professor of primary care and population science at the University of Southampton where the research is being carried out.

Other herbal remedies are also being tested – with a handful already showing promise as an alternative.

The researchers have shown that pelargonium, an extract of geranium, is effective in treating long-lasting coughs. And a number of Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal remedies appear to combat the symptoms of urinary tract infection, another common disorder for which antibiotics are widely prescribed.