ANTIBIOTICS versus SUPERBUGS

 

Antibiotics have been around for decades, and are beneficial to society in many ways such as wiping out infectious diseases. However, it is a known fact that extended usage can upset the natural balance in our eco-systems. True they are capable of wiping out some of the harmful bacteria but most of the good, life-supporting bacteria are not spared too. Some equate it to weapon of mass destruction. In the ancient West, it is a legal offence for a medical practitioner not to prescribe probiotics after a course of medicated drug.

 

History
    
Alexander Fleming is credited with discovering penicillin, considered the first modern antibiotic drug in 1928. In those days, natural substances derived from molds and fungi were generally free from serious side effects but could work only against certain types of bacteria. In fact, just four years after producing penicillin in 1943, microbes began appearing that could resist it. Its known side effects include a rash, swelling of the tongue and face, and difficulty breathing. In fact, penicillins, cephalosporins and some other antibiotics may undermine the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.

 

In modern times.....

To combat the wide range of bacteria, more and more powerful synthetic drugs have been developed over the years. Given their potencies to eliminate all bacteria in the large intestine, they tend to produce drastic side effects like allergic reactions, nausea, gastro-intestinal upsets, diarrhoea, headaches and yeast infections. It is found that up to 1 in 5 people on antibiotics stop taking their full course of antibiotic therapy due to diarrhoea. In extreme cases, the side effects can be as serious as kidney damage, cancer and liver toxicity.

For the past few decades, only a handful of antibiotics have been developed and new ones have yet to be discovered to treat with emerging, mutating infections as new ‘superbugs’ evolved resistant to existing drugs. The fear is that when one admits to hospital for minor surgery may die due to an ordinary infection that cannot be treated by antibiotics anymore. Cases of totally drug resistant tuberculosis and gonorrhoea are spreading like wildfire round the world in recent years.

Cold treatment?

Most upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold and sore throats are generally caused by such viruses. There are more than 200 types of virus, of which the most common one is rhinovirus, known to attack the mucous membranes of our ear, nose and throat to give rise to infection.

Antibiotics has the ability to kill and inhibit the growth of such bacteria. However, to handle the common cold virus, it is not appropriate. Though cold can simply go off after a week duration, people are unable to wait given their work and familial responsibility. Also, it can be mistaken with bacterial sinus infection sharing common symptoms like dark mucous, toothache, one-sided facial pain and headache, which requires drug medication.

As much as the patient fearing to recover fast enough, doctors are scared to lose their patients to other medical practitioners. Hence to avoid losing the business, doctors would succumb to the patients’ demands for antibiotics. Patients may not realise that by consuming too much antibiotics, they can develop antibiotic resistance, meaning the body gets accustomed and the medicine loses its effect. The Evolution theory demonstrates that any organism, bacteria included, is capable of withstanding an antibiotic attack over time.

How antibiotic works?

Although there are a number of different types of antibiotic they all work in one of two ways:

• A bactericidal antibiotic usually either interferes with the formation of the bacterium’s cell wall or its cell contents.

• A bacteriostatic stops bacteria from multiplying.

Side effects

To combat the wide range of bacteria, more and more powerful synthetic drugs have been developed over the years, causing more side effects. Below is a list of the most common ones:

• Diarrhea
• Allergic reactions
• Nausea
• Gastro-intestinal upsets
• Feeling and being sick
• Fungal infections of the mouth, digestive tract and vagina
• Formation of kidney stones (when taking sulphonamides)
• Abnormal blood clotting (when taking some cephalosporins)
• Sensitivity to sun (when taking tetracyclines)
• Blood disorders (when taking trimethoprim)
• Deafness (when taking erythromycin and the aminoglycosides)
• Cancer
• Liver toxicity
• Obesity for babies who are exposed to antibiotics

What to do next?

Medicine should serve the purpose of treating a host of healthy problems. Hence, when prescribed unnecessarily, it can end up doing more harm than good. You may like to consider taking probiotics and prebiotics to compensate for the error made and focus on building a stronger health foundation.

Replenishment of Probiotics cultures of “good” microorganisms similar to those normally found in the gut need to be promoted to restore the microbial balance disrupted by antibiotics and infections. The effects of probiotics doses are short-lived and thus it should be taken throughout a course of antibiotic therapy. To keep yourself healthy at all times, prebiotics and probiotics should be a daily affair.

As antibiotics only “beat up” the bacteria, why not let the body’s natural antibodies do the actual killing? If your immune system is unable to handle the load, consider adding natural antibiotics which are found in foods such as garlic, radish, olive leaf extract, tea tree oil, coconut oil and bee propolis. They are effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as against viruses, yeast, protozoa and other micro-organisms. Like antibiotics, they wipe off both the good and bad bacteria, and therefore re-population of the good ones is necessary too.

Recommendation

If you are taking an antibiotic do not take other medicines or herbal remedies without telling your doctor first. OTC (over the counter, non-prescription) medicines might also clash with your antibiotic.

VIVA corner

+ VIVA Biogarlic with 33 different types of sulfur compounds and other potent nutrients is a natural substitute for antibiotics. In concentrated form, it is anti-bacteria and anti-viral, prevents cold and flu. Scientific experiments show that 100 mg of garlic extract has similar effect as 10 mg of penicillin of anti-bacterial action.

+ Scientists found that antioxidant nutrients – Vitamin A, C, E and selenium, when combined have synergistic effect in combating free radicals, inhibiting or slowing down their attack on cells. Vivashield is the first product in the world to boast this 4-in-1 combination as a fast remedy to a common cold.

+  As the digestive system is lacking in friendly bacteria, make up the difference by introducing a scoop of VIVA Floraguard daily containing 10 billion CPU with both prebiotics and probiotic present to provide full coverage.