Antibiotics: Friend or foe? Part III

In addition to "bad" yeasts, molds and fungus, our bodies also have beneficial yeasts, bacteria and other microbes that do wondrous things in our body. But the "good" yeasts and microbes are supposed to keep the "bad" ones in check. About 85 percent should be good, 15 percent bad. When this delicate balance sways towards the bad microbes, illness or disease results. The good ones (commonly referred to as microflora), have many benefits: they support digestion, produce certain vitamins, fatty acids and proteins that the body needs, boosts immune function, and as already mentioned, protect the body from an overgrowth of potentially harmful bacteria, molds, yeasts and fungus. Some of these harmful pathogens that we would otherwise be protected against include Salmonella, cholera, the bad E. coli and candidiasis.

Unfortunately, antibiotics tend to kill the good with the bad, upsetting this wonderful system. This causes the pathogenic microbes to proliferate and take over (called dysbiosis). These microbes, especially yeast (candidiasis), damage the intestinal lining, causing conditions such as "leaky gut," gluten intolerance, and allergies. NSAIDS (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs) such as naproxen and ibuprofen, have also been linked to gut damage or imbalance in the microflora.

In Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 2000, it says that a "single injection of streptomycin can eradicate the protective effect of the normal flora."

Johns Hopkins researchers are now agreeing that most of these conditions [see Part II] are fungal, and recommend consumers to stop taking antibiotics for them and instead use an antifungal medication or natural remedy.

Many doctors believe that weight gain can be a telltale sign of antibiotic damage and subsequent yeast overgrowth. That sounds odd, but there are a couple of reasons for this. It has been found that the frequent use of antibiotics fed to American livestock is as much about encouraging weight gain in the animals as it is about infection control. The greater the animal weight, the more the profits. In fact, antibiotic use in our meat supply is one of the big contributing factors to antibiotic resistance in the first place!

The second reason why it contributes to weight gain in humans is because when there is an overgrowth of yeast in the body, there is an excessive craving for sweets. The more the cravings, the more the sweets consumed, and the more the waistline grows.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves and our civilization from antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

According to the CDC, we should not: "demand antibiotics when our health care professional says they are not needed; do not take an antibiotic for a viral [or fungal] infection; and do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The antibiotic may not be right for your illness. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to grow." Further, only use antibiotics when they are likely to be beneficial! In a report on antibiotic resistance in Consumer Reports, it says that "antibiotics should be used sparingly and with caution in all situations; whenever possible, topical therapies are preferred to pills; and the patient must decide, along with her or his physician, whether the risks of ongoing therapy are outweighed by the severity of the condition."

Fortunately, there are more things you can do to avoid contributing to this worldwide potential fiasco. These will be discussed in Part IV of Antibiotics: Friend or Foe?

Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with more than 35 years of experience. She is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Carling's website at www.vitalhealthcda.com to learn more about her, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.