On to this week’s topic. Dun Dun Dun… antibiotics…… This isn’t to discourage from them, as some are lifesaving…. I just wanted to share some light on how antibiotic overuse can actually be harming our ability to even use them. I’m going to quote from an article I read recently, then give you some of my tips at the end.
“The era of antibiotics, where deadly bacterial infections are knocked out completely in a matter of days, may be coming to an end soon, according to more than a handful of media headlines referring to a new paper in the Lancet Infectious Diseases medical journal.
However, all hope is not lost. The paper, by Professor Tim Walsh and colleagues, refers to a type of gene called NDM 1, which easily transfers between enterobacteriaceae bacteria (which includes E. coli and other types), making such bacteria resistant to antibiotics. NDM 1 is already widespread in other areas of the world, such as India, but it’s now showing up in the United States as well.
Walsh told The Guardian: “In many ways, this is it … This is potentially the end. There are no antibiotics in the pipeline that have activity against NDM 1producing enterobacteriaceae. We have a bleak window of maybe 10 years, where we are going to have to use the antibiotics we have very wisely, but also grapple with the reality that we have nothing to treat these infections with.”
Without antibiotics, not only would common infections become far more deadly, but numerous medical procedures would be next to impossible, or incredibly dangerous, due to the high infection risk, and lack of a viable option to treat them.
This includes:
Transplant surgery
Immunosuppresant cancer drugs
Abdominal surgery
Removal of a burst appendix
All of these surgeries and treatments require antibiotics to prevent potentially lifethreatening infections … but one day they may no longer be an option… if those that overuse antibiotics are not stopped!
Antibiotic Resistance: “The World’s Most Pressing Public Health Problem”
Antibiotic resistance develops when bacteria change in some way to resist the effects of an antibiotic. They may, for instance, “learn” how to neutralize the antibiotic before it can do harm, or pump the antibiotic out before it can do any damage. Others can even change the site the antibiotic attacks so it doesn’t affect the bacteria’s function.
Bacteria can even become antibiotic resistant because of a mutation in their genetic material or by acquiring parts of DNA from resistant bacteria. If even one bacteria is able to survive an antibiotic, it can quickly multiply and replace the bacteria that were killed off. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Antibiotic resistance has been called one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Almost every type of bacteria has become stronger and less responsive to antibiotic treatment when it is really needed. These antibioticresistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, schoolmates, and coworkers threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat. For this reason, antibiotic resistance is among CDC’s top concerns … If a microbe is resistant to many drugs, treating the infections it causes can become difficult or even impossible. Someone with an infection that is resistant to a certain medicine can pass that resistant infection to another person. In this way, a hardtotreat illness can be spread from person to person. In some cases, the illness can lead to serious disability or even death.”
Antibioticresistant bacteria are now all around us. One of the most well known is MRSA, which kills up to 20,000 Americans each year. Not only is MRSA resistant to methicillin, which includes penicillin and related antibiotics, but it’s beginning to become resistant to newer antibiotics as well. For instance, one particularly lethal strain of MRSA, USA600, which causes bloodstream infections and is five times more lethal than other strains, is now showing some resistance to vancomycin, a powerful antibiotic that is used to treat it. Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is another bacteria that is rapidly becoming resistant to antibiotics. C. diff causes intestinal disease and cases have been increasing for years. An analysis of infection rates in 28 hospitals over a two year period found its prevalence is even higher than MRSA. Further, according to the CDC, a growing number of diseasecausing organisms are now resistant to one or more antibiotics.
These include: Acinetobacter Anthrax Gonorrhea Group B strep Klebsiella pneumoniae Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Neisseria meningitides Shigella Streptococcus pneumoniae Tuberculosis Typhoid Fever Vancomycinresistant Enterococci (VRE) VancomycinIntermediate/ Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA/VRSA)
What is Causing the Rise in AntibioticResistant Disease?
The problem with antibiotics is that they are often prescribed to treat viruses against which they are useless. Viruses like upper respiratory infections, measles, mumps, chickenpox, flu, and gastroenteritis are all viral infections, for which antibiotics are doing nothing. Using antibiotics unnecessarily not only kills of beneficial bacteria in your body, it is also leading to the increase of antibioticresistant bacteria.
As the CDC states: “Antibiotic use promotes development of antibioticresistant bacteria. Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant germs may be left to grow and multiply. Repeated and improper uses of antibiotics are primary causes of the increase in drugresistant bacteria. While antibiotics should be used to treat bacterial infections, they are not effective against viral infections like the common cold, most sore throats, and the flu. Widespread use of antibiotics promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance. Smart use of antibiotics is the key to controlling the spread of resistance.”
Antibioticresistant superbugs are one of the greatest human threats, as even pharmaceutical companies along with universities are recognizing their presence that’s growing dramatically by the day. You’re exposed to antibiotics not only by prescription but also through the food you eat. About 70 percent of all antibiotics produced in the United States are given to livestock and poultry, which you then feed to your family. Meats and other animal products that contain antibiotics are actually a major source of antibiotic exposure to you and your family. Further, when drugs are excreted in animal waste, the compounds linger in the environment. In the case of livestock waste, the antibioticlaced manure is spread directly onto farm crops as fertilizer.
From there it may run off into nearby streams. The result is antibiotic residue not only in animal foods, but also in your fruits and veggies and even your drinking water. When you visit the doctor, don’t pressure them to prescribe antibiotics for your kids if they’re not necessary. According to the CDC, doctors will prescribe antibiotics 62 percent of the time if parents expect them, compared to only 7 percent of the time they don’t.
For instance, research from the University of Iowa found a new strain of MRSA in 70 percent of hogs and 64 percent of workers on farms that routinely use antibiotics. Experts are now realizing that this drugresistant bacteria can spread via the food supply, water runoff and other methods, potentially putting the entire population at risk. Antibiotic Dangers Beyond Superbugs … Antibiotics do kill bacteria, and they do this quite well. The problem is that they not only kill the bad bacteria that may be causing your illness, but they also kill ALL bacteria, including the good kind in your digestive tract that your body needs, leaving barren territory for all sorts of trouble to brew.
If you have taken antibiotics unnecessarily, for a virus, for instance, you have therefore killed off all of the good bacteria in your system and may be more vulnerable to MRSA, C. diff and other infections. Antibiotics are also linked to side effects in their own right, including tendon rupture, allergic reactions, diarrhea, upset stomach and vaginal yeast infections in women. T
hat said, when prescribed for bacterial infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis and meningitis they can be, and often are, lifesaving, which is why antibiotics are medications that we would not want to see go extinct.
How Can You Help Reduce Antibiotic Overuse?
First, cut down on your exposure to antibiotics by only taking them when they’re absolutely necessary and do not pressure your health care provider to prescribe antibiotics if you do not have a bacterial infection. If you are taking antibiotics, be sure you take them as prescribed and finish the entire treatment. If you stop too soon, some bacteria may survive and reinfect you.
Next, purchase organic meat and dairy products (which are antibioticfree). This will not only help your family directly, but you’ll also be sending a message to agribusiness that you won’t support farming practices that endanger the environment and public health. You can also trade in your antibacterial soaps and cleansers for natural varieties, as these harsh chemicals may be contributing to the spread of antibioticresistant bacteria.
A Simple Tip to Protect Yourself and Your Family from AntibioticResistant Disease
The key to protecting yourself against these pathogens is to build your own natural immunity, and one way you can do this is by changing your inner environment so no unfriendly bacteria would want to live there. And the way to do this is to make sure you have enough good bacteria present to keep the bad bacteria at bay. Studies have shown that probiotics may be helpful with both immune system modulation and allergies, plus they’re imperative if you’ve recently been on antibiotic therapy. It’s a simple step that may help keep you and your family in the best health possible. Cultured foods like kefir (a fermented milk drink that tastes like tart yogurt) and traditionally fermented sauerkraut, natto and other fermented vegetables are also among the best sources of probiotics around. So in addition to taking a high quality probiotic, adding these probiotic rich foods to your diet is also important.”
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Whew… long article but worth the read. Basically, we use them WAY too much, they are even in our food, and now we have all these mass amounts of superbugs. Thankfully, there are other options. My recommendation is just don’t use them unless it’s absolutely necessary. First, keeping your immune system healthy is key. It talked briefly about your gut…. Yes, you need to keep your gut healthy. This includes a well maintained diet, stress reduction, cleaning out toxins and parasites, exercise, and making sure your nervous system is working adequately. Probiotics are helpful yes, but eating them is more beneficial, and eating adequate fiber. When your gut is unhealthy, not only are you more prone to get sick, but also other immune system disorders, low back pain, headaches to name a few….
I’ve also treated many appendicitis, which is usually just the appendix artery spasmed. Either due to stress, food sensitivity, and sometimes yes bacteria. There are ways to calm the reflex, and then work on why it was spasmed in the first place.
Instead,
Keep your nervous system checked is #1. If you do get sick, essential oils are amazing tools, or coming in for a CBT treatment. I cannot stress enough the amazing health benefits of pure essential oils, for instance Oregano is amazing at killing bacteria, and does not create resistance. Cool right? Also, no side effects. I wish every single patient could have an oil kit in their medicine cabinet, but in reality you can, it’s very easy to have natural options instead of running to the doctor. Just ask me how. Herbs are also amazing for killing viruses and bacteria. I use many in my practice in combination with oils and silvercillin. Silvercillin is like natures antibiotic.
Another way to effectively clean out pesky toxins in your gut to boost your immune system is coffee enemas. I know not so glamorous, but they really do work, and are super easy to do at home.
“The very last part of the colon, before reaching the rectum, is in an “S” shape and called the sigmoid colon. By the time stool gets to this part of the colon, most nutrients have been absorbed back into the bloodstream. Because the stool contains products of putrefaction at this point, there exists a special circulatory system between the sigmoid colon and the liver. There is a direct communication of veins called the enterohepatic circulation. Have you ever felt sick just before having a bowel movement, when stool material has just moved into the rectum for elimination? As soon as the material is evacuated, you no longer feel sick. This is due of the toxic quality of the material and the enterohepatic circulation coming into play. Because of this, it is important to evacuate when you have the urge. The rectum should usually be empty.
This circulatory system enables toxin to be sent directly to the liver for detoxification, rather than circulating them through the rest of the body and all of its vital organs including the brain. This system of veins carries rectal / sigmoid toxins directly to the liver for detoxification.
When a coffee enema is used, the caffeine from the coffee is preferentially absorbed into this system and goes directly to the liver where it becomes a very strong detoxicant. It causes the liver to produce more bile (which contains processed toxins) and moves bile out toward the small intestine for elimination. This seems to free up the liver to process more incoming toxic materials that have accumulated in the organs, tissues and bloodstream. The coffee does not go into the systemic circulation, unless the enema procedure is done improperly.
The coffee contains some alkaloids that also stimulate the production of glutathione-S-transferase, an enzyme used by the liver to make the detox pathways run. It is pivotal in the formation of more glutathione, one of the main conjugation chemicals, enabling toxins to be eliminated via bile into the small intestine. So in other words, a coffee enema speeds up the detoxification process and minimizes the backlog of yet to be detoxified substances.”
Here is what you need:½ quart (about 16 oz or 2 cups) – Purified water (not tap water) –for heating ½ quart (about 16 oz) – Purified water for cooling the heated water
2 Tablespoons – Organic coffee (whole coffee beans)
Other Items
Enema bag. Use a large volume, disposable type. These can be found through a variety of online sources.
Old towels (to use when kneeling/laying on the floor); don’t use good towels as coffee stains
Instructions
1) Grind Coffee Beans. Fresh-grind the coffee beans to a powder. DON’T do this ahead of time so you get the most active phytonutrients from coffee. Pre-ground coffee is not to be used!
2) Simmer Ground Coffee Beans for 5 Minutes. Add the freshly ground coffee to ½ quart of water and bring to simmer (small, rolling bubbles) for about 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
3) Let Sit for 5 Minutes.
4) Strain Mixture. Strain the coffee with a fine metal strainer to remove any large particles that could clog the enema tube.
5) Add Cool Water to Mixture. Add the ½ quart of room temperature water to the hot coffee mixture – then pour into enema bag. The idea is to cool the hot coffee mixture to a ‘gentle warm to the touch’ temperature. Too hot can damage, and if cold, it can cause cramping.
6) Take Enema. Although not necessary, a good time is after bowel elimination. The best place is on the floor in the bathroom, somewhat near the toilet. Lay a large towel down. Good positions are either on your knees with head down, or lie on your side. The enema bag should be elevated about 2-4 feet off the ground, hung on a towel rack or shower curtain.
Remove enema tip cover and gently insert nozzle into rectum about 3 to 5 inches. Go slowly and do not force it. If you feel resistance, back it out slowly and retry at slightly different angle. Once inserted, slowly release contents by using white control clasp. You may have sensation of warm liquid gurgling or flowing into the colon. If flow seems too fast, close clamp, wait a minute, then release again. Try to take about ½ the liquid into the bowels; then hold for 10 minutes before expelling. During this time, you can close the clamp, remove from the rectum, lay on side and read or just relax. After expelling, take in the second ½ quart and repeat. You’re done!
Initially, you may not be able to hold ½ contents, or hold it the full 10 minutes. Later, after several enemas and toxic elimination, it will be easier to hold longer. Just hold ¼ contents or so, and if nature calls, even if after a minute or two, expel and repeat.
7) Best Enema Time. During the day before 8pm. It can help to be near a toilet if some liquid needs to be expelled. This is not uncommon, as the enema liquid can reach high in the colon and take longer to be expelled. Drink plenty of pure water after the enema to re-hydrate.
Special Notes
Some may initially experience slight nausea due to release of stagnant toxins. Over time, this clears and should not discourage you from the enema. The number of coffee enemas varies by person and condition, but generally a ‘series’ is best to fully clear the system: 2 per week for 4 weeks; then 1 per week for 4 weeks. This is a highly efficient method to eliminate stubborn toxins.
I think that’s enough to get your heads spinning today…. Until next week:)
Have a great week. And please stop by my booth this weekend at the BABI even if possible!