Leading naturopath shows how to supercharge① your immune system and fight infections without relying on antibiotics.
There are natural ways to boost your body’s defense system. In the right circumstances antibiotics② are invaluable, but we have to use them selectively.
As a result of overusing them, we are gradually seeing the rise of drug-resistant bacteria—superbugs that are a real danger to our health. Even when antibiotics are used against the “bad” bacteria that infect us, “friendly” bacteria, which we need for optimum③ health, are also damaged or killed. The solution is to help yourself.
The key is to help strengthen your immune system and modify symptoms without taking them away because they are part of the recovery process. There are natural ways of doing this very effectively, for adults and children.
Sore throatThis tells you an infection is on its way. It could be viral or bacterial, but the first course of action is to take zinc lozenges④（from chemists and health－food shops）.
If your lymph glands are swollen, showing your waste disposal mechanism is blocked, lymphatic drainage massage will help. You should also try to avoid breathing through your mouth rather than your nose because this means not only is the air not filtered, but you are also drying up the mucous membrane⑤, part of your body’s defence mechanism.
Enhance your immune function by taking care over your diet. High levels of refined carbohydrates, high-fat foods, alcohol and caffeine all affect efficiency. A good multivitamin and mineral supplement will act as insurance against any deficiency but probiotics⑥ also help. The herb extract Echinacea has immune-enhancing properties. Gargling with one or two drops of tea tree oil mixed with water helps；it is a powerful anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral agent.
ToothacheIf you have an infected tooth, you need to take antibiotics. Here, the alternative is not about what to do instead of taking them, it is about what to do as well as taking antibiotics and how to protect yourself after you’ve finished the course. The key is to take a supplement of the two main probiotics we need for the intestine, lacto-bacillus acidophilus and bifido-bacterium bifidum. Both help to detoxify the bowel, manufacture B vitamins and keep yeasts and undesirable bacteria in check, but are damaged by antibiotics.
Ear infectionA short fast will help. Stick to water and juice for the first 24 or 36 hours and because the body is not distracted by the digestive process, you will fight the infection more efficiently. Hot packs and cold compresses ease symptoms. Both garlic and echinacea are antiviral and antibacterial and liquorice is a good immune system enhancer. Studies show treating otitis⑦ with antibiotics leads to more ear problems, more frequently. The best option is usually no antibiotics at all, except in the case of acute otitis. Instead, after visiting the doctor, concentrate on easing your child’s symptoms while their immune system fights the infection on its own. Along with painkillers and medical decongestants, lymphatic drainage massage, cold compresses and hot packs are all soothing and will ease the pain.
