Another Prescription for Antibiotics
For the past couple of weeks I’ve been exhausted. I’ve suffered with a cloudy head and out of body feelings of tiredness. The glands in my throat have been swollen and a couple of days ago I noticed a patch of red spots on the top of my mouth in the back, also on my uvula and tonsils.
When I saw the spots I knew it was time to suck it up and go to the doctor. So I made an appointment late Friday afternoon to see my primary care physician. She did an exam of my throat and did a culture, as well as a blood draw.
Her instant conclusion from the culture — strep throat. She asked me if I have had strep before and if this was a recurring thing. I said “No.” I don’t recall ever having it? If so, then I must have been a young child.
So I left the office with a prescription for antibiotics. I folded it up and put it in my wallet. Two days later, I have yet to fill this prescription and I am very resistant to do so.
In the past, I would not have questioned, I would have gone straight away and filled the antibiotic prescription. Then I would have fought through all the side effects they cause me — most of the time worse than the condition I was being treated for.
Long-Term Effects of Antibiotics
After traveling so far on my natural healing journey, I am reluctant to take the prescribed antibiotics, because I now understand the long term effects of doing so. Antibiotics take out both the good and bad bacteria in the gut. Check out a post I did recently about the importance of healthy gut flora.
A study funded by the Finnish Academy found that the negative effects of antibiotics lasted up to a year, with even long term changes in the makeup of the gut microflora. Subsequent studies done by Dr. Martin Blaser of New York University’s Langome Medical Center found that with even one dose of antbiotics most of the time our friendly gut flora never fully recovers.
Long term damage to the gut flora makes the body more susceptible to infections and disease. Overuse of antibiotics has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome and contributes to leaky gut, which affects absorption of nutrients that the body needs to heal. Also frequent use of antibiotics can cause bad bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of antibiotic treatment.
My research found that many endometriosis patients are overdosed on antibiotics as a child up until young adulthood — prescribed for issues common with endo — UTI’s, yeast infections, etc. I know that I have taken my fair share. The reality is that antibiotics are prescribed way too frequently, and this practice is leading to an increase in immune system issues.
Natural Alternatives to Antibiotics
So I’ve been weighting the risks and benefits of taking the prescription still folded up in my wallet. I am prone to believe that there are other natural methods that will allow me to overcome this bacterial infection.
I posed this question to my fellow classmates at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and received a lot of different natural suggestions with the conclusion that antibiotics only play into the sickness, weakening my immune system further, and making me more susceptible to a recurring infection. (This cycle is why my doctor asked me if I had recurring infections.)
Some of the natural suggestions offered to me were collidial silver, grape seed extract, oregano oil, garlic and gargling with apple cider vinegar (ACV) and water.&
One student played into my fears relaying the fact that step can advance into other parts of the body leading to rheumatic fever, meningitis, otitis media, etc. Of no doubt, these complications get me wondering if I should just take the antibiotics, but it seems these conditions are rare and are the backlash of the antibiotics worth it?
I continue to weigh the risk and benefits today. I do know that with the liver cleanse that I did last weekend, that my body is weaker than normal, so I don’t really want to add more burden to my body with antibiotics. I want to fight off the bad guys but don’t want to kill off the good guys too.
Thus far I’ve treated myself naturally with high does of Barlean’s Olive Leaf Extract — a natural antibiotic that is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. It is also a super ORAC antioxidant. I’ve been taking a Tablespoon every six hours. I plan to do this for the full 10 days I would be taking antibiotics. I’ve also gargled with ACV and water — ouch, LOL.
I have noticed a decrease in the red spots in the back of my throat and a slight decrease in the swelling in the glands of my throat, but my fatigue persists. I have cancelled all obligations today — with plans of rest and lots of naps 🙂
I have also spent time in the sun — soaking up the immune promoting benefits of Vitamin D.
To further increase the ability of my immune system, I ordered some red reishi mushroom powder and organic camu camu powder from Amazon. This should arrive on Tuesday. Red reishi mushrooms are great for stimulating the immune system and camu camu is a berry with the highest amount of vitamin C.&
On the Positive Side?
I am so grateful to have a community of like minded people from IIN at my fingertips, ready and willing to share their own successes with natural healing. They helped keep my hope alive that I could kick this strep naturally.
Yesterday I started reading a highly recommended book by Dr. Lissa Rankin called Mind over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal Yourself. It is all about how the body has the ability to heal itself when the mind believes it so.
So I am remaining optimistic with hard belief that my body will be able to fight off this foreign bacteria and return to my vibrant self soon. I have belief that natural antibiotics, that don’t kill off the good guys in the gut, is a viable solution and a better choice than the little pills that make me a bit crazy and kill off the good bacteria — perhaps forever.
Have you had success warding off strep with a natural method? I would love to hear how you accomplished this, what worked for you? Is it worth it to just take the antibiotics? Please feel free to comment below.
With much love,
Aubree.
