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Beyond Antibiotics: Are There Healthier Options?

by Dr. Michael Schmidt

For decades, antibiotics have been the cornerstone of treatment for bacterial infections. Antibiotics have saved many lives during this time. However, doctors have come to rely too heavily on these miracle drugs and the overuse of antibiotics has led to serious problems.

For all of the potential benefits of antibiotics, a growing list of adverse health consequences has emerged because of overuse. A sample of these is listed below:

  • Children with chronic earaches who take many series of antibiotics experience 2-6 times more recurrent ear infections.
  • Antibiotic overuse can upset intestinal integrity.
  • Antibiotic overuse can suppress immune function.

Factors that Lower Immunity . We know that there are many factors that lower immunity and thus make the body more susceptible to infection. These include:

  • Nutrition: Low vitamin C and zinc lead to sluggish Immune response.
  • Diet: Excess sugar consumption slows the ability of white blood cells to engulf and destroy bacteria.
  • Lifestyle: Sedentary people tend to have more sluggish immune systems than active people.
  • Environment: Solvent chemicals and heavy metals such as lead increase susceptibility to infection.
  • Psychological: People under stress are more likely to have frequent infections, while those with better coping skills are less sensitive to the effects of stress on their immune systems.

Are there Natural Remedies that can Help? For many common ailments, scientific research is confirming time-honored traditions.

  • Ear infections: The vast majority of children with recurrent ear infections improved after removing food allergens from their diets. Warm sesame oil drops can help ease the pain.
  • Bladder infections: Unsweetened cranberry juice clears bacteria from the bladder. Yogurt and acidophilus are also helpful.
  • Respiratory infections: A sauna once a week can reduce respiratory problems by one- half.
  • Intestinal infections: Homeopathic medicine has been helpful in reducing diarrhea in children.

Live Healthfully and Be Informed. Remember, antibiotics can save lives and reduce suffering. They are vital components of the healing arsenal. However, they must be used wisely. Your goal should be to optimize the health of your family to reduce the need for drug intervention and to make wise, informed decisions should drug intervention become necessary.

Are Antibiotics Being Overused in Your Care? Does your doctor:

  • Prescribe antibiotics over the phone?
  • Refill a prescription without an examination?
  • Prescribe without taking a blood count?
  • Neglect to ask about diet, nutrition or lifestyle factors?- Prescribe after only a cursory examination?
  • Write off or ignore concerns about negative side effects?
  • Remark that antibiotics are harmless?
  • Try to intimidate or frighten you into following orders?
  • Prescribe several courses of antibiotics when there is no improvement?
  • Prescribe antibiotics when illness is viral such as a cold?
  • Seem overworked or overbooked?
  • Cut your visit short by handing you a prescription?

If you answered “yes” to more than five items, you or someone in your family may be receiving antibiotics needlessly. Ask your doctor for a full re-evaluation or seek another opinion.

Dr. Schmidt‘s books Beyond Antibiotics: Strategies for Living in a World of Emerging Infections & Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria -Third Edition and Healing Childhood Ear Infections: Prevention, Home Care, and Alternative Treatment . Both can both be ordered through DDR‘s Amazon Associates account which provides financial support to the organization.

If you would like more information call 565-7474. Or go to our website: www.nevadachiro.com

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ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IS A SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEM, SAYS FDA COMMISSIONER

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be increasing its push for more research into antibiotics, says FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, because of escalating antibiotic resistance among many, if not most, bacteria that cause infectious disease in humans.

Use of antibiotics is widespread for common colds and ear infections in children, and they are added to chicken and livestock feed which are then consumed by people. The results are whole new populations of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that do not respond to even the most modern antibiotics, turning formerly ordinary infections into life-threatening diseases.

Also, because antibiotics are destructive to the immune system, taking them year after year has weakened the defenses we have to fight these illness and diseases on our own.

Research and development of new drugs is low, and the range of new antibiotics is limited. “We no longer have effective ways to treat serious infectious disease. Clearly we must encourage more judicious use of these important drugs,” Dr. Hamburg said.

The commissioner said that the agency has increased its internal discussions about the antibiotic resistance problem, and is talking to consumer health groups and the food industry about regulations regarding the use of antibiotics in animal feed and new guidelines on the use of antibiotics for patients. The FDA will increase its collaboration with outside groups in academia and government-industry health organizations next year, she said.

Experts have been warning for years that we are heading into a “post-antibiotic world” when antibiotics will no longer work. The World Health Organization calls antibiotic resistance one of the three greatest threats to human health.

Because of the improper use of antibiotics, strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are now killing hospitals patients around the world. If efforts to combat the problem are not launched now, even more infections that are still curable will make a dangerous comeback. Just like 100 years ago, and thousands of years before that, doctors will be unable to treat a host of common infections.

Here are a couple of relevant ideas:

While the scientists are trying to come up with new antibiotics, we can help avoid illness by maximizing our immune system health and bodily defenses ourselves. A balanced diet of healthy organic foods and regular exercise, along with high-quality vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, can go a long way to healing and to prolonging health.

Regular Chiropractic treatment also helps fend off illness by maintaining positive spinal alignment, ensuring proper nerve communications with the entire body, restore proper blood flow and encourage the body to heal naturally and improve overall function.

Want more information? Check out our website at www.nevadachiro.com

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