Antibiotic Alternative - A Natural Way to Fight Infection
Every day, parents take their children to the doctor's office hoping to leave with a prescription for an antibiotic. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been urging doctors for several years now to lessen the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions. With so much use, more and more antibiotic-resistant bacteria are coming onto the scene. And with so much use, we ourselves are becoming resistant to antibiotics. So what's an alternative we can use with our children when the need to fight infection arises?
Nature has provided us with a natural way to fight infection - a probiotic. It's called acidophilus. Acidophilus is the good bacteria that makes yogurt - well, yogurt. When taken, it multiplies in your digestive tract and replaces our own bacterial flora. With enough of these guys around, things like sinus infections, yeast diaper rashes, and thrush have no choice but to disappear. They are also capable of reducing inflammation and improving immune function. Antibiotics, on the other hand, kill not only the bad bacteria but the good bacteria that naturally occurs and should remain in our bodies.
To give acidophilus to an infant, Dr. Sears (www.askdrsears.com) recommends making a paste of the powder-formed acidophilus with water or breast milk and rubbing it on the infant's gums once a day, or putting a teaspoon in a bottle once a day if you bottle feed. I've taken the acidophilus tablets myself since I nurse, but that may lessen the amount passed on to baby.
There's no questions antibiotics are sometimes very necessary and even life-saving, but acidophilus is an alternative that is safe and effective; your child won't build up a tolerance, and there are no nasty side-effects. A health decision you can definitely feel good about!
2 comments:
Great advice. You are standing on one of my own personal soap boxes. I work in nursing homes. I see first hand every day what illnesses we are dealing with as a result of overprescribing of antibiotics. Society underestimates the disaster that has arrived from 40 plus years of antibiotic abuse. Never take antibiotics unless the M.D. has a pretty definate idea that your problem stems from a "bacteria". Also, give your body a chance. Don't underestimate your body's immune system. If it's not crippled by antibiotic use, it can do some amazing things!
Amen, sister! I was surprised to learn that most children's ear infections will go away on their own in about 10 days - the same amount of time they go away with antibiotics! Very few of these illnesses are even bacterial issues! I bet you see a lot of people in the nursing home who just can't even take an antibiotic anymore because they don't work. Thanks for your insight!
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