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What you may not know about Antibiotics!

Antibiotics have transformed modern medicine and if used properly can save lives!  However, there are some serious side effects to taking antibiotics and it’s commonly over-prescribed.  In fact, In one year the Center for Disease Control reported that out of the 154 million prescribed antibiotics, 30% were unnecessary.  People may feel better off taking antibiotics “in case”, but are we causing our bodies more harm than good?

Now I am definitely no doctor, so please do your own research and consult with your primary physician or other qualified health care professional before making any decisions.  However, before rushing  to the doctor for antibiotics consider these facts.

Antibiotics Only Treat Bacterial Illnesses Not Viruses!

This is a common misconception and can be confusing because both bacterial and viral infections often have the same symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, fever, diarrhea and vomiting.  However, there are huge differences between bacteria and viral infections!

According to Lauri Hicks, DO, medical director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work campaign.  She says ““Most upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses. A very small percentage of upper respiratory infections are caused by bacteria, and antibiotics are completely ineffective for treatment of viral infections.”

Some of the most common viral infections that shouldn’t be treated with antibiotics are the common cold, Flu (influenza), cough, bronchitis, some ear infections, and some sinus infections.  Most of these viral infections get better on their own without antibiotics.

bacteria pathogen slide

Serious side effects of Antibiotics!

Since the discovery of antibiotics and the over-prescribing of them, antibiotic resistance has grown.  Taking antibiotics when they are not needed or misusing them, increases the risk that an infection you get later will resist antibiotic treatment.  According to the World Health Organization “The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis, more and more governments recognize (it is) one of the greatest threats to health today.”

Among other things, antibiotics kill disease-causing bacteria and our friendly gut bacteria!  In fact only one week of antibiotics can change the makeup of your gut microbiota for up to a year!  Recent studies have also shown that mothers given antibiotics during child-birth, can delay the growth of healthy bacteria in the infant for up to the first 12 weeks of life!

If you choose to take antibiotics

Take a probiotic during and after antibiotic use!  A number of studies have shown that taking a probiotic can reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.  However, because probiotics are also bacteria, they can be killed along with the harmful bacteria when you take antibiotics, so it’s important to take the antibiotics and probiotics a few hours apart.

In addition, Probiotics can help restore the microbiota to its original state after taking antibiotics. Choosing a probiotic can get a little tricky, so make sure to choose one that contains a mixture of different beneficial bacteria, rather than just one.  Check out “Everything you ever wanted to know about choosing a good probiotic,” to get detailed information about how to choose a good one!

Personally I use The Garden of Life Raw Probiotic, because It contains 34 probiotic strains with 100 billion CFU, plus it’s only one pill a day which makes it easy for me to remember.

garlic onions natural remedies for infection

Instead of antibiotics

Hippocrates couldn’t have said  it better, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.”  Instead of using an antibiotic, why not opt for a much easier and cheaper way that nature provides!  The following is a list of the most powerful antibiotics that nature provides.

  1. Garlic and Onions can be used to treat an earache, pneumonia, the flu, common colds, and MRSA.
  2. Echinacea can strengthen your immune system to fight the flu, colds, and bacterial infections.
  3. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can be used topically or internally to treat bacterial infections.
  4. Oil of Oregano has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties making it great for sinus infections.
  5. Manuka Honey kills bacteria, removes toxins, boosts the immune system, and soothes the digestive tract.  Learn more about this amazing honey here!
  6. Grapefruit Extract  is high in antioxidants that boost immunity and strengthen the beneficial gut bacteria.
  7. Colloidal Silver has been used for centuries as a natural antibiotic, it destroys bacteria, viruses, and fungi.  However, be careful not to use it over long periods, because it can be harmful to your body.

Try these natural antibiotics instead of relying on what your doctor prescribes for you, they wont harm your body and they taste great!  As well as natural antibiotics, what we eat is extremely important to our immunity also! Check out Why You Should Eat a Plant Based Diet!

I love to hear your comments below =)

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What is Manuka honey? The Benefits and Uses!

Manuka Honey

Not all honey is created equal!  Manuka honey is one of the most unusual and beneficial forms of honey in the world, and that’s because it’s produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the Manuka tree.  Most good quality honey contains some hydrogen peroxide. However, Manuka honey also has Methylglyoxal (MG), known for its antibacterial effects, which is in high concentration on the nectar flowers of the Manuka tree.

Benefits and uses of Manuka honey

  • Heals Wounds.  Because of its antibacterial and antioxidant properties, Manuka honey is great for healing wounds, plus it helps maintain a moist environment and protective barrier from infection.  When my dog Buddy accidentally bit my nose, piercing down to my nasal cavity, I used MediHoney Gel on the wound, and I was in awe at how fast it worked to heal the pretty deep gash. It is now a staple in my medicine cabinet!  No wonder that in 2007 the FDA approved Manuka honey as an aid to wound treatment.
  • Soothes a sore throat.  Manuka honey can provide relief when your throat is achy and sore, the antiviral and antibacterial properties in the honey will reduce inflammation and coat the lining of the throat, soothing your pain.  Try this simple and easy,  Natures Flu Buster if your coming down with a cold or flu.
  • Treats acne.  Most often acne is caused by hormonal changes, but it can also be a reaction to poor diet, stress or bacteria growth. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of Manuka honey, can help keep your skin free of bacteria and expedite the healing process.
  • Improves digestion.  Irritable Bowel Syndrome includes constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and research has shown that the regular consumption of Manuka honey can decrease these symptoms. Research has also shown that it attacks the bacterial infection Clostridium difficile, which is what causes severe diarrhea and inflammation of the bowel.

Choosing Quality Honey

Because of industrialization honey is not what it used to be, unfortunately most products at your local grocery store are not much different then high fructose corn syrup.  So it’s important to select quality Manuka honey, the higher the concentration of MG, the stronger the antibiotic effect.  Manuka honey producers use the “Unique Manuka Factor” (UMF) scale for rating the concentration of MG.  Obviously, the higher the number, the more antibacterial properties.

I prefer to purchase Manuka honey with a 15 UMF or higher, this makes it a little pricey, but totally worth it!  Here is a link to a local New Zealand Manuka Honey that is exceptionally good!  Overall Manuka honey is the best choice of honey when it comes to medicinal uses.

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