Antibiotics, Asthma and Allergies
Unfortunately, modern medicine learns that hard way that sometimes modern medicine has an undesired effect.
Asthma is a growing problem in our modern world and new research is linking this to the overuse of antibiotics to treat viral illness in youngsters. The proliferation of allergies is also being linked to antibiotics.
Homeopathy views illness as a sort of semaphore system from the body. It is a language the body speaks but we do not listen. The body is invaded by a virus and so it responds with a fever. When the temperature of the body reaches a certain high, the virus is extinguished and the body recovers. Remember how many years we had to survive before the advent of modern medicine? We are the survivors of the survivors and it has been a hard path for homo sapiens sapiens, but we have survived and now we flourish.
However, not all survive. Nature is very hard. What do we do in such circumstances? Let Nature take its course? Give the antibiotics and put up with the asthma? There are some very difficult choices here.
Many people turn to homeopathy which will treat these infant illnesses by listening to the body and trying to understand the language of the body. High fever, red cheeks, bright eyes, shortness of breath, intense thirst for cold water which is soon vomited? The case is studied intimately and then matched to a remedy. In this case phosphorus. Why? Because we give back the same signal to the body that it is transmitting. This cancels out the signals from the body and the child’s fever abates. Weird? Huh?
However, we respect the language of the body. We listen and react accordingly. We do not impose antibiotics upon the body which kills all the virus and bacteria inside the child. Bodies contain many friendly bacteria, especially in the gut. If these are wiped out, then the immune system is compromised. It is not surprising that it has to begin all over again to assemble friendly bacteria which will help the body fight illness. Antibiotics wipe these all out. If this process occurs in very young children, especially as they are vaccinated repeatedly before the age of six months, three months even, that they can never develop a healthy immune system. So we see the child survives but is sickly. The child survives but is increasingly at risk of asthma.
Homeopaths believe that by listening to the body and talking to it in its own language, that we are strengthening the bodies immune system, ‘increasing the vital force‘, in our language. We do not wipe out the gut bacteria. We try to assist the body in what it is attempting to do anyway which is overcome the virus or the bacteria. This enables the immune system to recognise and overcome the infection in the future.
I know this is contentious. I also know it works. I kept my son off inhalers this way, and by steaming with menthol crystals when he got chesty as a child. I was an asthmatic child who used to get winter bronchitis every winter. I was on inhalers for many years. I do not use them any more. My son never developed asthma.
I also know this is very difficult terrain. Our children are very precious and asthma is a small price to pay for life, when so many children would die if Nature was left to its own devices. Nature is seemingly not very interested in anything but the survival of the fittest. You could argue it hasn’t done a bad job over the years because we are indeed a prolific species. Good diet and good hygiene do a great deal but this is still very difficult territory. There are also some very dangerous bacteria out there because of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics which our immune systems cannot fight anymore because we are a medicated population who have not been given the chance to develop ‘cave men’ immune systems. So are we getting weaker and weaker?
If our world collapsed tomorrow and we could no longer obtain antibiotics or vaccinations, what sort of immunity would we be left with? How many of us would survive?
I do not claim to have all the answers, just some very good questions.
Sue :: Jun.16.2007 :: homeopathy, pathology :: 4 Comments »
Hi sue..its very well written piece..just wanted to add one thing out here in my practice when we get chronic asthmatics,;we do let them use inhalers for a while till a substantial result is achieved..in other we wean them off the inhalers.not passing any value judgment on your feature ., i feel if only you would add such a mention it would encourage people to use homeopathy without much fear.
regards
Dr. SHARMA
http://www.drhomeo.com
Hi Dr. Sharma - Thank you for this point. As an asthmatic myself I always tell people to keep their inhalers and I apologise for not making this clear. Years after I stopped needing inhalers, I went to a circus without one, and was unlucky enough to sit too close to the ring. I was within about 12 foot of a massive tiger, and I soon discovered that my allergic response to such a beast was to have some nasty consequences. I was in bed and breakfast accomodation at the seaside and I sat up all night breathing with my neck muscles until the landlady rescued me the next morning by getting me an emergency inhaler. I have not needed them for years now, but this taught me a valuable lesson and I never go anywhere without one now. Safe is better than sorry!
i ve read it again its great piece…
Here is a testimonial of a young man I met in Vancouver by accident. My web designer also a young man was traveling with me when I launched the Hollywood Survival Kit and stayed with this long time friend.
Testimonial
The Board of Health
Jeremy Shell, Age 20, Toronto/Vancouver March 1, 2005
I am part of an ever-ailing, over medicated generation. Born in 1984, I found myself in a numbed state where pain was thought avoidable and loving parents could not abide suffering. And so my place was set in an empathy-fueled whirlwind of modifiers.
At age 18 I found myself groggy, weighing 356 pounds at 5′7″. I had severe Eczema, causing unconscionable discomfort and leaving me swollen and irritated. The suffering Eczema caused was a major factor in my obesity. I would often go to school in shorts in winter, as the sensation of burning on my skin was eased by the fierce cold.
I had Asthma, worsened by my obesity. Strange as it seems, I was still quite a good athlete, playing high school rugby and experiencing a AA hockey career as a child.
Three doctors saw me a combined eight times annually: my general practitioner, for illness and referrals, a dermatologist for my skin and a specialist for my Asthma.
I was prescribed a cocktail of medications. I took two puffers, one for daily use and one for emergencies. In addition to this, I took daily pills; Singulair to improve breathing and Claritan. Several Eczema remedies including Bethamasone cream, Protopic cream, Nivea cream, Vaseline, Atarax Pills (fatigue agent) and Polysporin were used in combinations daily. Additionally, I used Advil for headaches and soreness and cough syrup when ailing with a cold.
Miraculously, I decided to move out to Vancouver to attend UBC after high school. The Western climate, far more accommodating to my skin, provided me a life of greater comfort than I had ever known. My skin became far less agitated, although still constantly itchy, and did not bother me nearly as severely. Periods of sweating or wearing irritating material (which can be cotton at times of agitation) remained problematic. I ceased to ever use Atarax and my cream consumption decreased drastically. Suffice it to say, I still had breakouts and constant itch, but at far more tolerable levels. Also, my skin did not appear as bad, with less visible dryness, redness and abrasions everywhere. This vastly improved my self-esteem.
I joined the UBC Rugby program, the country’s best, and was allowed to stay, upon agreement to get in shape. Coupled with an improved diet, my exercise regime allowed me to lose 118 pounds in two years. My breathing had improved drastically as well as my skin.
Although my health had greatly improved, I still wheezed and was restricted in my play by Asthma and Eczema, which hurt my concentration on the field and cause me to scratch viciously.
Having come so far already and feeling as if I had so much farther to climb, I hit a wall. Eczema and Asthma remained bitter realities in my life. And then I met John Board 6 months ago.
Through a caring mutual friend, John and I were introduced. We spoke at great lengths about my afflictions and John suggested that I try his Hollywood Survival Kit. Willing to experiment, I undertook the expense. I was certain that the potential benefits outweighed the cost of the product.
An honest trial was in order. I ceased to use my Asthma puffers entirely for a period of two weeks, replacing them with the Kit’s Mystic Air Spray whenever Asthma became an immediate issue. For the same period, I replaced Cortisone creams with Calendula cream from the Hollywood Survival kit. I also employed a smattering of the Kit’s other remedies in appropriate situations. I was off conventional remedies and into the house of Board.
At the end of two weeks, my rugby game-minutes had increased from 40 to 72. I had never felt fitter and was ceasing to hyperventilate as easily. I wheezed slightly, when waning off of puffers, but that stopped after the first days. To this day I use Mystic Air Spray and no pharmaceuticl puffers.
I quickly found the Calendula cream had a soothing texture and consistency. It relieved itch and dryness. I appreciated it‚s non-greasy nature greatly, as did my cleaning bills. I use this product to this day, although I still require strong Cortisones for period of harsh skin outbreak. Unfortunately, Calendula cream is scarcely available in large quantity. The best value I’ve found for the product is in Board‚s Hollywood Kit.
The Coffea remedy proved a favourite of mine. It claims to hold properties of calming the mind and allowing one to focus. I began taking them while restlessly battling impending schoolwork. I do not know if this drug is a placebo or not, but it worked for me. It seemed to allow me to focus, by what nature I do not know. I use this product weekly.
Arnica Gel was the most pleasant surprise of the kit. The soothing gel relieves soreness from bruises and sore muscles. I enjoyed the healing properties of this gel so much I bought a sample for the rugby team. Several members of the team now keep it on hand, as well as the training staff.
I found that treating colds with a combination of Aconite from the Kit and Echinacea throat spray was most effective. Usually, my Asthma worsens dramatically with cold or flu. However, the Echinacea throat spray relieved the tension in my throat and eased the congested feeling of my lungs allowing me to fend off worsening Asthma due to cold.
As I would increase puffer dosage, when sick, I did the same thing with Mystic Air with excellent results. In addition to this, Arnica gel and Arnica pills aided in keeping sore muscles caused by illness at bay.
In my pursuit of rugby glory, I have employed the Hollywood kit as a major first aid player. As mentioned before, the Arnica gel is a wonder, calming inflammation and pain in bruising and light sprains. Calendula cream proved excellent for soothing irritation from medical tape. As well, Dr. Bach‚s stress formula proved its worth when it calmed a player emerging into shock from a combination of a severe knee sprain and cold.
In my daily life, where I am a common offender against my own body, several remedies have made my life better. Firstly, Carbo Veg. In my constant endeavour to overeat dramatically, Carbo Veg. aides in settling my stomach and easing the bloated feeling.
Aside from food, drink is another vice of mine. Being a university student and a rugby player to boot makes the bar a second home. The Kit’s, Nux Vomica is the best hangover relief out there. It alleviates a great deal of the mental fatigue I feel after doing the town, as well as lessening the physically ill feeling in my stomach.
I currently find myself in better health than I have ever known, under the influence of drastically less medicine and subject to less expenditure. I still use prescription medications to treat Eczema, but I require them far less frequently. I have also begun to see a Homeopathic doctor to see if he can help. John Board told me that his brand of homeopathy could compliment modern medicine, not have to replace it. This brand of moderate thought has allowed me to add homeopathic weapons to my treatment arsenal and to realize a better state of being than ever before.
Upon reflection of my experiences over the last six months, I can state wholeheartedly that I am feeling better because of the properties of the Kit. I suggest it to anyone as an excellent first aid tool or as an effective treatment for Asthma. I make this suggestion because today, I feel good.