Risks of Using Antibiotics and What You Should Use Instead
Antibiotics are prescription drugs that are commonly used to treat a wide variety of infections caused by bacteria, in people of all ages. These infections include, but are not limited to urinary tract infections, sinus infections, ear infections, skin infections, open wounds (infected or not), and respiratory tract infections (pneumonia and whooping cough). Antibiotics are also often used prophylactically (as a preventive measure) for people preparing for surgery. Antibiotics work by blocking necessary processes in bacteria which either kills them or stops them from multiplying. This process of killing and stopping the bacteria can help the body’s natural immune system to fight off the bacterial infection. In theory, this may be appealing, but actually this process may be doing more harm than good to our bodies.
ANTIBIOTICS ARE HARMFUL TO THE BODY
Like most pharmaceutical drugs, antibiotics have side effects that include yeast overgrowth, an increase in asthma, food allergies, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, allergic reactions, such as hives, fever, and breathing problems. Additionally, antibiotics predispose one to having a reoccurring infection, such that if you are taking an antibiotic to address a urinary tract infection, instead of your UTI being resolved, you end up with a yeast infection.
Antibiotics Disrupt Our Gut Bacteria:
One of the biggest problems with antibiotics is how they disrupt our gut bacteria. In our gut, beneficial microbes grow in an anaerobic (absence of oxygen) environment while pathogenic (harmful) bacteria, like salmonealla, need oxygen to thrive. One of the negative effects of antibiotics is that they promote disease by creating an oxygen-rich environment that favors the growth of pathogens. Simply put, antibiotics enable pathogens in the gut to breathe. Does that make sense? It’s counter-intuitive to what we have all been taught antibiotics do—kill bacteria. Additionally, antibiotics kill off the good bacteria in the gut, which has a damaging effect on our immune health. Eighty percent of our immune system dwells in our gut. If we are constantly or even sparingly using antibiotics to treat infections, our immune system is being weakened and is not able to do its job of fighting off infections in the first place. This turns into a vicious cycle.
Antibiotic Over-Prescribing is Leading to Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs:
Antibiotics are seriously over-prescribed and have been for a very long time. This is resulting in antibiotic-resistant superbugs that kill millions each year, and the problem continues to worsen each year. Unfortunately, bacteria are smart and can and will eventually overpower the antibiotics that were once so effective at killing them.
SOLUTIONS: BUILDING IMMUNITY AND FIGHTING INFECTIONS NATURALLY
- Prevention: We must build up our immune system before an infection even starts. This begins with eating a clean healthy diet that includes organic meats and produce, taking a probiotic, drinking bone broth and consuming the appropriate smart supplements. These are great starts. If you want to learn how to improve your immune system with diet, supplements and lifestyle, manage your weight, and nourish your overall body, become a wellness program member where you will learn how to become your own best doctor for life.
- Natural Remedies: when infection does occur there are many great natural alternatives to fighting infections and bacteria without having to resort to taking antibiotics. Some foods and supplements that have antibacterial and antiviral properties include garlic, olive leaf extract, berberine, andrographis, and Manuka honey. And one of the most effective natural antibiotics is **colloidal silver**, that has been used since the late 1800’s. See below for guidelines on how to use colloidal silver.
- Nipping cold and flu in the bud: cold and flu can not just make us feel awful for a week or more, but can make us more susceptible to bacterial infections, as well. Check out our blog post for guidance in reducing and eliminating cold and flu symptoms.
- Have an IV Drip: an intravenous administration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, electrolytes and fluid, will definitely improve your immune system, improve your energy levels, nourish your body and hydrate you. In cases of illness, our gastrointestinal tract is not working effectively and thus our supplements and nourishing foods may not be absorbed as effectively as when we are well. Schedule your next IV Drip to prevent, treat or if you are beginning to feel illness come along.
BEWARE of Counterfeit Supplements
WHAT TO DO IF YOU MUST TAKE AN ANTIBIOTIC
- If you must take an antibiotic, make sure you also take a strong yeast-based probiotic, such as Saccharomyces boulardi, at oppositite time of the day you take the antibiotic, and double the dose. This will help to restore the good bacteria that the antibiotic is killing off. A good probiotic for children is FloraBoost.
- You can request to have a culture done to find out what antibiotic will work the best against your bacterial infection. Culturing normally takes about 3 days to get the results back, but this will enable you to be sure that the antibiotic you are prescribed will actually work against the type of bacteria you have.
- By waiting on the culture results, your body may be able to combat the bacterial infection itself, eliminating the need for you to have to take the antibiotic after all.
I hope this post helps you understand that protecting our immune system at all cost, by eating well, taking the right supplements, living well and making wise health choices, is in the long-run, the best medicine. We can prevent illness, and we can prevent the potential negative side effects of these powerful pharmaceutical medications that pretend to be medicines, but unfortunately often cause us more harm than good.
**USING COLLOIDAL SILVER**
- Colloidal silver can be taken orally, nasally, topically, or nebulized. During flu/cold season, consider adding Sovereign Sliver to your water bottle (1/2 dropper for children, 1 dropper for adults). Use the gel for first aid injuries, and nasal spray when traveling (around crowds).
- For lung/sinus and viral infections, as well as urinary tract infections, nebulizing colloidal silver is a smart way to go. Nebulize 5-15 mls of Sovereign 10 PPM, 3-4 times over the day. (Also, add elderberry syrup.) If no improvement over 24 hours, switch to Argentyn Silver 23 PPM. If Covid is in the picture, nebulize 15 mls with 1-2 drops 3% hydrogen peroxide. Here is a good nebulizer.
This was very informative and helpful! Thank you.
I am so glad you found it helpful, Mr. Bell. Thank you.
How to get Sovereign Silver? Or Argentyn Silver
Hello Ms. Heimer: You can obtain these products through the Fullscript dispensary. Go to this link to register for a free account: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/drcherylwinter You can find the products through a search or you can click the hilighted links in this article. Hope that helps.
This is the kind of information we’ve needed for the past 3 years. Too bad you aren’t writing for the major media’s health columns.
HA! Thanks Donna! I would probably be blocked as fake news, if so, sadly! Unfortunately, you have to be so careful today with the truth!
What is a good probiotic for kids?
Thank you for asking this question, Evelyn. I have updated the post in light of your question. FloraBoost by OrthoMolecular is a good probiotic for children. You can also get this on FullScript.