Happy New Year @tracy111869 @pattysyarns and @ina
First, let's talk about Tracy's results - it is possible that her 3 drug regimen of azithromycin, ethambutol and Arikayce are the reason her most current cultures are negative, not the wholistic approach she is now using. I say that because her first two negative cultures had to be taken VERY soon after she switched. So the conversion to negative is more likely from the many months of medication than the few months of her new regimen.
We ALL want a safe and effective alternative to the difficult 3 or 4 drug regiment that is the current standard protocol. We ALL want to believe there are some simple, natural substances that will kill this infection. However, there is, as yet, not good way to figure out what natural substances to use, in what quantity (and how to measure the amount of the effective chemicals) and what avenue to use to get them to our lungs.
Here is what we do know so far ---
GARLIC - There is good evidence that the allicin in garlic may be helpful in reducing tuberculosis infectious load in the lungs - there have been some studies, but it was generally used in conjunction with antibiotics. There is more limited and older information about garlic and MAC. Please note that there are specific protocols they followed, and it is possible to inhale too much of the fumes and cause problems. There is less clarity about whether eating garlic cloves has an effect.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30537531/

CLOVES - There is limited, preliminary research about eugenol, the active ingredient in clove buds in outside-the-body studies regarding TB. I cannot find any recent scientific research about using ground cloves, or about cloves and MAC.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbdv.202300895

OREGANO - Again, there is a study describing the use of the essential oil in fighting MAC - specifically using it to safely decontaminate surfaces to prevent biofilm formation.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167701220305455

VINEGAR - 6% Ascetic Acid - the active component in vinegar - kills mycobacteria ON SURFACES with 30 minutes of exposure. Ther is NO EVIDENCE that consuming vinegar, in any quantity, has any effect on Mycobacteria in the lungs.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24570366/

There were some other highly technical studies of regarding clove, cinnamon & oregano essential oils in bovine mycobacteria that seem promising, but no mention of crossover to human studies.

Please note that none of these studies talked about safe dosage in humans for these essential oils, nor how/whether they survive the digestive tract to provide any benefit.

So, what can we do that doesn't involve antibiotics?
Here is a recent publication that evaluates and summarizes 50 other studies of "non-pharmacologic" treatments and their effectiveness.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620302035

What is the takeaway? You can see it below.

Please think hard about adding more substances to your body without proof that they are effective. Even ordinary things like herbs and spices, taken in therapeutic quantities can have side effects or interact with other medications.
Sus