What Everybody Wants To Know About Antibiotics

by Glen Depke, Traditional Naturopath Before we get into discussing antibiotics, let’s first look at the definition of this word. Anti is defined as “opposed to; against.” Biotic is defined as “of, relating to, or resulting from living things, especially in their ecological relations.” So on a level we can simplify the word antibiotic as “opposed to life.” On one level this makes sense and on many others it does not. Where this does make sense is for the person that is prescribed an antibiotic for an essential need, such as a detrimental bacterial infection that cannot be addressed naturally. Having an “opposed to life” in regard to a detrimental bacteria that is creating challenges and potentially hurting you makes all the sense in the world. As mentioned just previously, when you cannot address a detrimental bacteria naturally or if you have a bacterial infection that would create further harm or potentially kill you, an antibiotic is often a good idea. After all, I am not the holistic guy that bashes conventional medicine and ALL use of antibiotics. After all, there is a time and a place. As example, I once had a client email me a picture of her arm exposing a staph infection that started on her hands and was moving up her arm. She sent the picture because she was curious of my opinion of what she can add to her tea tree oil to address the staph infection. I simply, yet quickly replied to her to go to her doctor or a hospital to address this with an appropriate antibiotic because this could potentially create serious issues and even death. That was not a time to experiment with a natural treatment on it’s own. On the flip side of that, I personally had minor surgery to remove a cyst near my armpit that would occasionally become infected. I was prescribed an antibiotic from the surgeon for precautionary reasons. I discussed my desire to address this naturally with the surgeon and he gave me a thumbs up to address this naturally. Hopefully you can see that these are two completely different circumstances and address accordingly as well as taking every aspect of your personal situation into account. And always include your doctor in this decision. With all this said, we keep hearing about the dangers of overuse of antibiotics. So what are some issues with antibiotics?

First off antibiotic resistance is a widespread problem, and one that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls “one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.”
Antibiotics does not just destroy bad bacteria, this also destroys good bacteria.
This is one of the reasons that many people can develop yeast/Candida issues after antibiotic use or even Leaky Gut.
As mentioned above, may types of bacteria are now antibiotic resistant, which means you can be using an antibiotic with little to zero efficiency.
Another problem is that often antibiotics are simply prescribed for almost and health issue. Antibiotics are for bacterial infections, yet can be recommended for people challenged with a viral infection. This makes no sense what-so-ever.
As an example, here is a list of challenges where antibiotics are often prescribed, yet they are not beneficial.
- Cold
- Flu (influenza)
- Bronchitis
- Most coughs
- Most sore throats
- Some ear infections
- Some sinus infections
- Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)

So one of the important aspects is to determine if you have a bacterial infection or is your infection of a non-bacterial source. If it is not a bacterial infection, don’t use an antibiotic. It’s pretty simple. While is sounds simple, this is not addressed appropriately. The other challenge is that many bacterial infections are also highly antibiotic resistant. As example I have viewed many GI stool test kit results showing an Enterobacter infection. This is an example of one of many bacterial infections that are highly antibiotic resistant. So how the heck to you deal with this? I have seen many clients in the past use natural therapies in the past to assist their body in overcoming these type of infections. Yet there is one more area to address these days. The secondary challenge is tied into the evolution of bacteria. Many species of bacteria have now been found to work together as a “community.” Upon formation of this community, they can form what is known as a biofilm. This biofilm is a protective barrier that assists with the survival of the bacteria. After all, they are simply trying to survive, just as you and I are. When addressing any bacterial infection, regardless of using natural therapies or antibiotics, addressing the biofilm will also be an important part of your recovery. If this is missing, you could end of still suffering with the bacterial infection and the symptoms and challenges with this, even though you are attempting to address this personally. Also look at many avenues to understand the potential infection you are dealing with. Of course use conventional testing, yet also use less conventional methods, such as stool testing and the use of the art and science of muscle testing such as A/K which is Applied Kinesiology. To satisfy your interest in muscle testing follow this link now. After all, everyone wants to learn the secrets their body is telling them! So what are some natural options for antibiotics that can assist your body in overcoming bacterial infections naturally? When I used the natural protocols post surgery I used the combination of two products called Kidney Chi and Bamboo Extract, which are both Chinese herbal combinations. There are many other natural options that may help you though.

Garlic
Onion
Turmeric
Curry powder
Ginger
Cinnamon
Cardamon
Various oils such as oregano, thyme, basil, lavender, and more.
Raw Honey
Pau d’Arco
Olive leaf extract
Grapefruit seed extract
Echinacea
Goldenseal
Colloidal silver

The use of these along with proper supplementation to assist with breaking down biofilm can go a long way in assisting your body in overcoming a bacterial infection naturally. I also want to note the importance of supporting underlying systems when you are dealing with a detrimental bacterial infection. With the thought of assisting your body in naturally overcoming this, you also want to address these areas below.

Gut health
Gut, brain, immune connection
Immune system function
Adrenal function

These areas are important because they will all play an essential role in overcoming your bacterial infection naturally. As mentioned earlier in this article, there is a time and a place for antibiotic use, so please be sure to assess this with both your conventional medical doctor as well as holistic practitioner. I do not advise self-diagnosing and self-medicating when you have infections, yet my hope with this article is to empower you with the information to discuss with your wellness and medical team.If you have any comments or questions regarding this article please post this on our Facebook page or on our Twitter page for us to address personally. Contact Depke Wellness directly here. “The products on this page have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”