Beyond Antibiotics - Michael A. Schmidt (Orthomolecular Medicine)
Beyond Antibiotics - Michael A. Schmidt (Orthomolecular Medicine)
Beyond Antibiotics - Michael A. Schmidt (Orthomolecular Medicine)
Antibiotics
50 (or so) Ways to
Boost Immunity and
Avoid Antibiotics
Michael A. Schmidt
Lendon H. Smith
Keith W. Sehnert
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation
https://archive.org/details/beyondantibiotic00schm_0
/
“Abounds with clues to the healthy life. Makes me want to take a walk,
laugh more, pass a copy to a friend.”
Mothering Magazine
“Excellent book. Conclusions are discussed in detail in a clear and easy-
to-read manner. But, even better is the description of how we can diag¬
nose our own ills, the reasons for them, and what we can do about them.”
Abram Hoffer, M.D., author of Orthomolecular Nutrition
“Beyond Antibiotics sends a clarion warning to the consumer—change
your microflora at your own peril! Chemical solutions to problems of
internal balance are always risky—and Drs. Schmidt, Sehnert, and Smith
amply document the dangers of overuse of antibiotics.”
Marc Lappe, author of When Antibiotics Fail
“It is excellent to see such a comprehensive approach to patient care by
experienced physicians who are interested in helping their patients as
much as possible, without having to resort to potentially toxic pharma¬
ceutical preparations, but at the same time not denying patients avail¬
able effective drug treatment where there is no obvious nutritional
alternative.”
Dr. Stephen Davies, author of Nutritional Medicine
“The scope of this book reflects the newer and better trend in regards
to 20th century medical care. More and more informed adults realize
that the best answers for children and adults is to find out exactly why
they are ill and try to eliminate the cause. This is particularly true if
antibiotics are repeatedly required to treat recurrent infections.
“I can hardly wait to see this book in print and I will definitely rec¬
ommend it for my allergic and environmentally-ill patients because so
many are sensitive to antibiotics, or to the dyes, sugar, corn, and artifi¬
cial flavors used in many drugs.”
Doris J. Rapp, M.D., Environmental Allergy Center,
author of Is This Your Child?
©
North Atlantic Books
Berkeley, California
Beyond Antibiotics:
50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics
Published by
North Atlantic Books
P.O. Box 12327
Berkeley, California 94712
Beyond Antibiotics: 50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibi¬
otics is sponsored by the Society for the Study of Native Arts and Sciences,
a nonprofit educational corporation whose goals are to develop an edu¬
cational and crosscultural perspective linking various scientific, social, and
artistic fields; to nurture a holistic view of arts, sciences, humanities, and
healing; and to publish and distribute literature on the relationship of
mind, body, and nature.
6 7 8 9 / 98 97
Dedicated to the spirit of holism
in medicine and to all those who strive
to bring about meaningful change.
Acknowledgements
*
Foreword
xv
Beyond Antibiotics
XVI
Foreword
XVII
Beyond Antibiotics
how is startling. Critics will also argue that to consider our advice
would be to risk taking us back to the pre-antibiotic era when infec¬
tious diseases were rampant. The paradox in this argument is that
the reverse may be true. Organisms associated with staph infec¬
tions, gonorrhea and other diseases, once easily treated with antibi¬
otics, are now resistant to almost all antibiotics typically used.
According to Harvard professor and Nobel Laureate Walter
Gilbert, “there may be a time down the road when 80 percent to 90
percent of infections will be resistant to all known antibiotics.” A
chilling thought!
We hope to avoid this by bringing about changes in the way
antibiotics are used and by showing ways to boost immunity, thus
reducing reliance upon antibiotics. In this book, we will show that
changes in lifestyle, nutrition, diet, hygiene and other factors were
largely responsible for the past decline in infectious disease—not
antibiotics. These will be the tools used in the future. In addition,
there have been many breakthroughs in the use of natural medi¬
cines to boost immunity.
In the final analysis, the important question remains, “Is it pos¬
sible to care for illness without antibiotics, or at least reduce our
reliance upon antibiotics?” To answer this, we can look at many
scientific studies and also speak theoretically, but the real answer
lies in whether anyone has done this in real life. In the beginning of
this foreword, I spoke of four families, a total of 20 children who
had never received antibiotics. In Chapter 6, we discuss a survey
comparing the health of 200 pediatricians’ children with that of
the children of 200 holistic doctors. Nearly 50 percent of the chil¬
dren of these holistic doctors had never received antibiotics. This
was in stark comparison to the pediatricians’ children in whom
less than 12 percent could say the same. Were the children in the
former group merely fortunate? Perhaps, but such examples suggest
that it is possible to minimize our use of these drugs.
What is the model used to accomplish this. What are the secrets?
Can the principles be applied to the average family? The answer to
the third question is “yes.” The principles used by these families
and holistic doctors are shared in this book. One of the most impor¬
tant factors, however, is that you become what Dr. Sehnert calls
an “Activated Patient.” This means that you agree to take charge of
XVIII
Foreword
XIX
Introduction
XXI
Beyond Antibiotics
There was no redness nor bulging; it was a little pink and dull look¬
ing. That is, it was about 89 percent healed. Incredible.
I know that about 80 percent of ear infections do not need to be
treated, and that many clear by themselves, but to get such a rapid
response without any antibiotics was a near miracle for my “antibi-
otics-for-ear-infections” trained mind. And the wonderful thing
about this method is that the child’s immune system has learned
a thing or two about how it can handle future viral and bacterial
infections. This child may not get sick again. It reminded me about
my own ear infection and subsequent mastoiditis after the measles
when I was a five-year-old in the pre-antibiotic days. The ENT
doctor had to curette out the pus-filled mastoid cells. It was a sad
and painful week for me, but I’ve never been sick since (until I
began to eat hospital food in my internship).
I am increasingly impressed with natural methods of dealing
with bronchitis, skin infections, bladder infections and many other
illnesses thought to involve bacteria. It is a valid approach that
deserves our special consideration.
Nutrition plays an important role in this regard. The influence of
nutrients on health is obvious to most of us who take supplements
(it is also verified by research). The more the food industry purifies
the farmers’ goods so the products are sweet and stay on the gro¬
cers’ shelves forever, the sicker we become. Even the Department
of Agriculture back in 1933 admitted that the U.S. topsoil had been
washed and blown away and the trace minerals—which are need¬
ed for optimum health—were just about gone. The farmers have
found that if they put phosphates, nitrates, and potash on the soil,
the plants will be big and beautiful, but the minerals and vitamins
needed for human health rre often sorely lacking.
I believe our alkalinizing diet and our nutrient-deficient bod¬
ies contribute to the development of allergies, chronic fatigue,
arthritis, and crime, as well as overreaction to pollutants, additives,
perfumes, and modern living. If we eat properly, take the proper
supplements, and control our acid/base balance, the enzymes are
able to function and diseases will be less common. To a certain
extent, we do not need to know the name of the disease, we only
need to balance our body chemistry. If we give the body what it
needs to function, and keep the ratios of the minerals and vita-
XXII
Introduction
mins in the proper proportions, the body will heal itself. Couple
this with exercise, a healthy attitude and a balanced lifestyle and we
can be free of many of our 20th century maladies.
Whenever I am on the radio, television, or giving a lecture I
hear story after story from people who relate their disturbing med¬
ical histories. Their doctors were only interested in making a diag¬
nosis and treating with a drug, usually an antibiotic. There does
not seem to be any interest in finding the reason for the sickness.
I believe sickness is an opportunity. It means the owner of the
body was not careful (or perhaps was given poor advice) and some
nasty virus, germ, or degenerative disease slipped in to tell the
owner that he was doing something wrong. Sickness is not an antibi¬
otic nor a tranquilizer deficiency. It is a sign that some biochemical
tilt has occurred.
There are reasons for everything. This book is a big start. It
needs to get out to the public, who should have more of a voice
in the treatment of their own illness.
Each person I know, each parent, each spouse, each relative, and,
yes, each reader of this book would like to know they can make a
difference. They want to be a good mother or father, a better citizen.
They want to improve the lot of their family, community, church,
workplace, school or college.
My claim to making a difference comes from my work as an
educator, writer and family doctor who developed the concept of
“The Activated Patient.” I have been called the “George Wash¬
ington of medical self care” and over 20 years have directly or indi¬
rectly trained an estimated 100,000 people with such skills. I have
described in my dozen or so books these three self care assump¬
tions:
1. Lay people supplied with clear, simple information can
safely handle many uncomplicated ills, injuries and
emergencies earlier, cheaper and sometimes better than
health care professionals.
2. Those with little formal education can be trusted just as
much as the highly educated to wisely deal with common
conditions.
3. Medical and nursing knowledge need not and should not
be closely guarded secrets of the health professional, but
should be shared lay persons.
Such concepts and philosophies have been the uniting force
behind us as Dr. Schmidt, Dr. Smith and myself came together to
write Beyond Antibiotics. You must become Activated Patients in
a very direct way. When your doctor says:
“Here’s your prescription for the antibiotic for
you/your child.”
or
XXV
Beyond Antibiotics
XXVI
Preface
XXVII
Beyond Antibiotics
XXVIII
Are Antibiotics
the Best Medicine?
1
Casualties of
the War on Germs
“Half of what we have taught you is wrong. Unfortunately, we do
not know which half.”
Dean Burwell, M.D., addressing
medical students at Harvard University1
You’ve come down with a cold, the flu, a sore throat, a cough, sinus
congestion or perhaps a bladder infection. The symptoms are
sufficiently bothersome that you choose to go to the doctor. You
already know what that doctor is likely to do—prescribe an antibi¬
otic for ten days. For some individuals in this predicament, the
antibiotic does its work and the problem is gone. For others, the ini¬
tial symptoms are unaffected and are now accompanied by unwant¬
ed side effects. For yet others, the antibiotic treatment results in
aggravation of their health, perhaps even in chronic problems. For
those still less fortunate, antibiotic is followed by antibiotic in a
seemingly endless effort to kill the alleged invaders.
Antibiotics are prescribed at an alarming rate in this country.
Obstetricians and gynecologists write 2,645,000 antibiotic pre¬
scriptions every week. Internists give out 1,416,000 in the same
period.23 Pediatricians and family physicians lead the way, pre¬
scribing over $500 million worth of antibiotics each year to treat just
one problem—ear infections in children. Another $500 million-
plus is spent on antibiotics to treat other pediatric illness.4 Over
the past 15 years, antibiotic prescriptions to young children have
3
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
4
Casualties of the War on Germs
5
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
6
Casualties of the War on Germs
7
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
8
Casualties of the War on Germs
9
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
10
Casualties of the War on Germs
11
Antibiotics:
What Your Doctor
May Not Tell You
“Deaths from common infections were declining long before effec¬
tive medical intervention was possible.”
Thomas McKeown, M.D.
The Role of Medicine1
Around the turn of this century, cholera claimed the lives of hun¬
dreds of thousands of people. Medicine seemed almost helpless in
the face of this epidemic. Most doctors blamed the cholera bac¬
terium for these ravages on the population, but all were not con¬
vinced. Many doctors believed that a healthy person would not
become sick and die merely because of exposure to the bacteria.
They believed more was required. Some endeavored to prove it.
As Bernard Dixon reports in Beyond the Magic Bullet, “Around
1900, when he was 74, a Bavarian doctor, Max von Pettenkofer,
knowingly consumed a culture containing millions of cholera bacil¬
li, isolated from a fatal case of the disease. At about the same time
the Russian pathologist Elie Metchnikoff conducted the same
bizarre experiment. So did several of their colleagues. Some of the
intrepid experimenters experienced mild diarrhea. All had enor¬
mous numbers of cholera bacilli in their faeces. But none devel¬
oped anything like cholera. Metchnikoff is celebrated as the
discoverer of . . . white blood cells which can engulf and destroy
13
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
invading germs. His life’s work centered upon the healing power of
the body in its battles against infection. Metchnikoff . . . taught
that the correct way to deal with infectious disease was not by
administering chemicals but by strengthening and, where neces¬
sary, exploiting the body’s own defenses.”2
This view was in stark contrast to that of Louis Pasteur, who
believed a germ could be found for every malady. He contended
that if the germ could be isolated and a treatment devised to kill the
germ, virtually all disease might someday be eradicated. Indeed,
history has remembered Pasteur as the father of microbiology. Yet,
in the final years of his life, Pasteur came to realize that his theories
about germs were erroneous. Just prior to his death, he is said to
have uttered the words “The terrain is everything, the bacteria is
nothing.”3 Pasteur recognized that it was not bacteria that were
responsible for disease, but the “terrain” (the surrounding land), the
inability of the host to combat them. If the host was “strong” (i.e.,
the immune system was active), the organisms could not get a
foothold. If the host was weak, the organisms could “settle in” and
“overcome.” Pasteur had come to the conclusion that myriad fac¬
tors, including diet, nutrition, stress, heredity, environment and
state of mind, had a profound effect on resistance to microbes.
The view of infectious disease was divided into two camps: those
who adhered to Pasteur’s original germ theory and those who
believed health of the host was more important. The discovery of
sulfa drugs and penicillin in the 1930s and 1940s launched medi¬
cine fully into the chemotherapeutic approach to infection and all
but laid to waste the notion of host resistance. Thus was born the
Antibiotic Age.
14
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
15
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
16
Measles Scarlet Fever
1
1900 1920 1940 1960 1900 1920 1940 1960
Pneumonia
The Fall in the Standardized Death Rate (per 1,000 population) for Nine Common
Infectious Diseases in Relation to Specific Medical Measures, for the United States
1900-1973 Reprinted with permission, Millbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 1977. -
17
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Antibiotics work by interfering in some way with the life cycle or
metabolism of bacteria. Some antibiotics interfere with the manu¬
facture of the cell wall. Others mimic certain natural substances
that confuse the bacteria. Others disrupt the bacteria’s biochemical
machinery. Unfortunately, bacteria are very crafty characters. It
takes them little time to adapt to our most sophisticated attempts
at thwarting their advances. They do so by changing their chemistry
and genes in such a way that the antibiotic has little or no effect.
18
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
19
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
bacteria are usually killed while the hearty bacteria develop resis¬
tance. In the words of Gilbert H. Welch, M.D., a specialist in the
study of antibiotic resistance, .. antibiotic use, while contributing
to the immediate demise of bacteria, serves to ‘educate’ microbes
by establishing selective pressure that favors the ‘smarter’ bacteria,
i.e., those that can resist the antibiotic.”15 Darwin would call this
“survival of the fittest.”
If Dr. Welch’s contention is true, we would expect those who
have received repeated doses of a particular antibiotic to harbor
more bacteria that are resistant to that antibiotic. This is indeed
the case. In Drug Information, published by the American Hospi¬
tal Formulary Service, it states that “children who have received
repeated doses of ampicillin, or other antibiotics in the penicillin
group, harbor more antibiotic-resistant Haemophilus influenzae
than those with little or no exposure to these drugs.”16 (Haemo¬
philus influenzae is a bacterium associated with ear infections and
meningitis.)
When children harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria as a result
of prior antibiotic therapy, the consequences can sometimes be
severe. An article in the British medical journal, Lancet, reported
on an outbreak of serious penicillin-resistant infections of H.
influenzae among hospitalized children in Dallas, Texas. It was dis¬
covered that those contracting the infection were twice as likely
to have been treated with antibiotics in the month preceding admis¬
sion than were hospitalized children who did not get the infec¬
tion.17 From 1975 to 1977 the number of antibiotic-resistant strains
of H. influenzae rose by almost 35 percent.18 The medical litera¬
ture has other similar accounts.
The bane of antibiotic resistance has affected nearly every form
of bacteria known to cause disease in humans. It has even caused
previously harmless bacteria to become disease-producing. The
common intestinal bacteria E. coli has long been a normal inhabi¬
tant of the human intestinal tract. But, as a result of the widespread
use of antibiotics, some E. coli have mutated into a more virulent
form that has been implicated in bladder infections, diarrhea and a
variety of other human ills.
Gonorrhea was once quickly and easily treated with penicillin.
However, as more strains developed resistance to penicillin, larger
20
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
and larger doses were required to treat the disease. Other antibi¬
otics such as tetracycline were also used. Today these drugs, for¬
merly the cornerstones of treatment, are only minimally effective
in treating gonorrhea. In September 1990, officials from the Centers
for Disease Control issued a statement that penicillin and tetracy¬
cline should be abandoned as a treatment for gonorrhea because
of a sharp rise in the numbers of bacteria resistant to these drugs.19
The CDC now recommend the use of the more toxic and more
costly cefoxitin and spectinomycin.
Harold C. Neu, professor of medicine and pharmacology at
Columbia University, wrote a paper in Science (August 1992) enti¬
tled “The Crisis in Antibiotic Resistance.” In this article, he points
out that in 1941, only 40,000 units of penicillin per day for four
days were required to cure pneumococcal pneumonia. “Today,”
says Neu, “a patient could receive 24 million units of penicillin a day
and die of pneumococcal meningitis.” He adds that bacteria that
cause infection of the respiratory tract, skin, bladder, bowel and
blood “... are now resistant to virtually all of the older antibiotics.
The extensive use of antibiotics in the community and hospitals
has fueled this crises.”*
Mitchell L. Cohen, a researcher with the National Center for
Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control, issued this
warning about antibiotics in 1992: “Unless currently effective
antimicrobial agents can be successfully preserved and the trans¬
mission of drug-resistant organisms curtailed, the post-antimicro¬
bial era may be rapidly approaching in which infectious disease
wards housing untreatable conditions will again be seen.”1 Patients,
doctors, scientists and public health officials must all play their
part in finding ways to reduce reliance upon antibiotics.
21
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
for the most part “bad guys.” However, we would probably die
from all sorts of opportunistic infections if not for the “good” bac¬
teria. These bacteria live in the mouth, on the skin, in the vagina
and in the intestinal tract. Bacteria that normally live on your skin,
for example, secrete substances that protect against bacterial and
fungal infections of the skin. Lactobacillus bacteria living in the
gut and the vagina help protect against invasion by yeast and oth¬
er germs.
The intestinal tract is home to countless different varieties of
microbes, most of which live in harmony together. They exist in
what scientists call a symbiotic relationship, meaning they benefit
from the existence of one another. Most people are surprised to
learn that microbes in the intestinal tract outnumber the total num¬
ber of cells in the human body by a factor of 10! The functions
performed by many of these organisms are vital to optimum health.
The bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the more
important beneficial bacteria. It plays a role in the digestion of food
and the manufacture of vitamins Bi, B2, B3, B12 and folic acid. It
also secretes substances that destroy invading infectious bacteria,
parasites and fungi (e.g. acidophilin, a natural antibiotic, various
organic acids and peroxides). Bifidobacterium bifidus is another
important intestinal bacterium, especially in children. One reason
breastfed children suffer from fewer intestinal infections than bot-
tlefed children is the high number of Bifidobacteria in the intestines
of breastfed babies. When breastfeeding is discontinued, the number
of Bifidobacteria (Bifidus) in the intestine decreases dramatically.
Another way that the normal intestinal bacteria protect against
infection by invaders is by occupying space. They attach themselves
to the wall of the intestines, leaving no available space to which
parasites and other organisms can attach. If the good bacteria are
eliminated, opportunists can move in and set up shop. The oppor¬
tunists compete with the other intestinal organisms for nutrients.
Worse, they rob nutrients from the host. As they gain a stronger
hold, they make it easier for other members of their species to
invade and get a foothold—they multiply. This reduces the integri¬
ty of the intestinal tract, sometimes called a “leaky gut,” increas¬
es the chance of developing allergies, and lowers the level of health.
Finally, the immune response of the host is reduced.
22
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
A Minnesota biologist once said that if you had two mice, gave
them all the food they needed and took away all their predators, at
the end of one year there would be one million mice. A staggering
figure, but not an unusual outcome when one disturbs the balance
of Mother Nature. In a similar way, antibiotics can disrupt the bal¬
ance in the intestines, leading to the overgrowth of a host of
unwanted pests such as yeast.
23
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
24
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
25
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
more days) or avoided.28 This study was met with some skepticism
and seemed to have little impact on medical practice. A 1991 arti¬
cle published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
has renewed the debate raised by the 1974 study. It showed that
children with chronic earaches who received antibiotics experi¬
enced two to six times more recurrent middle ear effusion than
those receiving placebo.29
Such evidence seems to suggest that antibiotics may in some
cases limit the body's ability to recognize and destroy invading
bacteria. It appears that when antibiotic treatment is delayed, chil¬
dren are able to develop natural immunity, thereby insulating them
from future episodes. Early antibiotic therapy may inhibit the ini¬
tial immune response, which may increase the likelihood of repeat
infections.
26
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
Nutrient Loss
Antibiotics can contribute to loss of important nutrients. Ironical¬
ly, the nutrients that are lost because of antibiotic use are some of
the same nutrients needed by the immune system to fight infec¬
tion. In some cases, these same nutrients are deficient before the
person becomes ill and may be one reason an infection persists.
Leo Galland, M.D., author of Superimmunity for Kids and many
scientific papers on nutrition and immune function, states that
“Some [antibiotics] behave like magnesium sieves.”31 Antibiotics are
notorious for causing diarrhea. With this diarrhea comes an impor¬
tant loss of nutrients. In a study of children with recurrent infec¬
tions, those who experienced diarrhea had lowered magnesium
levels in their blood. In these children the duration of illness was
longer. According to an article published in the Journal of Envi¬
ronmental Health, “When diarrhea lasts for a week or more, nutri¬
ent losses, anorexia, and post-enteritis malabsorption may lead to
marginal malnutrition and subtle but detectable loss of immune
function.”32 For example, in one kg of diarrhea—about 2 pounds,
or one day’s output from the “runs”—over 17 milligrams of zinc can
be lost. Zinc is important in fighting both bacterial and viral infec¬
tion and plays an important role in regulating inflammation. One
27
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions are another problem associated with antibiotic
use. A woman was recently admitted to Mercy Hospital in Coon
Rapids, Minnesota with hives and swelling of the throat. Her airway
had begun to close and would have suffocated her if not for the
emergency team. She had just taken a dose of the antibiotic
Keflex®. These reactions are not unexpected when you consider
that in addition to the drug itself, antibiotic preparations contain
sweeteners, dyes and coloring agents, flavorings and numerous
unnamed excipients. In one survey of common antibiotic prepa¬
rations, 85 percent contained sucrose while 34 percent contained the
sweetener saccharin. Red dye #40, a coal tar derivative, was present
in 45 percent of the antibiotic preparations. Many also contained
FD & C yellow #5 and #6. Both of these dyes have been shown to
be cross-reactive with aspirin and acetaminophen, drugs commonly
taken to relieve pain and fever during infection. Moreover, FD &
C yellow #5 is known to cause excessive elimination of zinc from the
body.33
28
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
29
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
30
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
31
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
32
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
league. But this was not to be. Both the New England Journal of
Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association
rejected Dr. Cantekin’s paper. Meanwhile, the paper presented by
his colleague, which supported antibiotic use, was published in the
New England Journal of Medicine (1987). Antibiotic sales soared
following publication of this paper.
This case is filled with tragic irony. As a result of Dr. Cantekin’s
efforts “his data tapes were erased, he was taken off all the depart¬
ment’s grants, fired as director of the ear research clinic, and for¬
bidden by the chairman to publish the paper. . . . Because he has
tenure the School of Medicine cannot fire Cantekin, but he has
been stripped of the resources needed to conduct research.”4748
Sadly, as a result of these actions physicians throughout the United
States were deprived of the opportunity to base their judgment on
conflicting viewpoints, and were left to ponder only that which
supported the prevailing belief.
Nearly five years later, Dr. Cantekin’s paper was finally pub¬
lished in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Decem¬
ber 1991). The results have seriously challenged the prevailing
belief about the value of antibiotics in treating ear infections, espe¬
cially those that are chronic. Cantekin’s data showed that not only
did children on amoxicillin fare no better than those taking place¬
bo (sugar pill), but those on amoxicillin suffered from two to six
times the rate of recurrent ear effusion. Cantekin also remarked
on two other popular antibiotics. He wrote, “... those data indicate
that amoxicillin was not effective and that two other antibiotics,
Pediazole and cefaclor, also were not effective according to the
method of analysis the OMRC [Otitis Media Research Center] had
chosen to use.”49 It is interesting to note that the “negative” data
regarding Pediazole and cefaclor was never published by the orig¬
inal investigators, but came out during a Congressional investigation.
33
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
34
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
35
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
36
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
Women’s Health
Women are among those most adversely affected by antibiotic use.
They readily develop vaginal infections following antibiotic ther¬
apy. Bladder infection following antibiotic treatment for upper res¬
piratory problems is also common. In some cases, vaginal infection
causes a change in the acidity of the vagina, which sets the stage for
bladder infections. Such women are caught in a vicious cycle of yeast
infections and bladder infections. The antibiotics prescribed for
bladder infection temporarily halt the illness, but it is followed by
an aggravation of the vaginal infection. Women who have a history
of bladder infections or yeast infections usually have deficiencies
in the normal bacteria that live both in the intestines and the vagina.
Supplementation by mouth with acidophilus (powder or capsules)
and a vaginal douche used for several weeks (in severe cases,
months) often solve this recurrent problem. Any woman who must
take antibiotics should begin an oral supplement with acidophilus,
and ask her doctor for a prescription of Nystatin to use as a douche
(V4 teaspoon Nystatin powder USP in 4 ounces of water) to pre¬
vent the vaginal yeast overgrowth. See Chapter 10 for more on this
topic.
Many doctors fail to warn their female patients that antibiotics
can interfere with the action of birth control pills. Numerous cases
of pregnancy have occurred in women on oral contraceptives who
took antibiotics with no knowledge of this effect.
Like any drug, antibiotics can cause problems when taken dur¬
ing pregnancy. Some antibiotics, such as tetracycline, have been
shown to cause birth defects or miscarriage, especially when taken
during the first trimester. Antibiotics are also readily passed into
breastmilk. Thus, a lactating mother on antibiotics can pass a hefty
dose of the drug to her nursing child. Whenever an antibiotic is pre¬
scribed during pregnancy or lactation, it is essential that women
question the doctor about the necessity of such treatment.
37
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
In the Hospital
When people are hospitalized, they’re often at their most vulner¬
able. They enter with an illness, are fearful and uncertain, will
undergo invasive procedures, will receive medication and are
exposed to countless varieties of germs. This puts the body at risk
38
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
39
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
At the Dentist
For many years it has been routine dental practice to treat all
patients with a history of rheumatic fever, mitral valve prolapse
or other such disorders with antibiotics. It was believed that strep-
40
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
41
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
about the way in which antibiotics are used and points to another
area of possible antibiotic overuse.
According to Dwight Tschetter, D.D.S., a holistic dentist prac¬
ticing in Minneapolis, the most frequently asked questions of holis¬
tic dentists are, “Are antibiotics necessary in my dental work?”
and “Are there any alternatives to antibiotics?” Many patients
seeking care from holistic dentists do not wish to receive antibi¬
otics for routine dental procedures. Others have health conditions
that are likely to be aggravated by antibiotics. Since prescribing
antibiotics to “at risk” patients undergoing routine dental proce¬
dures is the legal standard of practice, all dentists are expected to
comply—they are obligated to do it. If they do not comply, they risk
losing their licenses or risk legal reprisal. Patients who choose not
to use antibiotics during dental procedures do so at their own risk
and are usually asked to sign a release stating that they choose not
to use antibiotics and absolve the dentist of any liability should
unforeseen consequences arise.
Patients and doctors who are concerned about this issue should
obtain copies of the report by van der Meer entitled “Efficacy of
Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Prevention of Native-valve Endocardi¬
tis.” Lancet 1992;339:135-139, and “Preventing Bacterial Endo¬
carditis: A Statement for the Dental Profession,” Council on Dental
Therapeutics, American Heart Association.
42
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
that is. Doctors have a strong desire to determine what your prob¬
lem is and then fix it. They also have a strong desire to please you
by making you well and, no less important, perform well so they will
retain you under their care. This can present a dilemma that can be
characterized in the following example.
Imagine your child is feverish, coughing, irritable and has a run¬
ny nose. Although she is not seriously ill, you’re concerned that
she might become worse. You rush her to the pediatrician. Exam¬
ination reveals some congestion in the lungs, a stuffed nose and a
little redness of the eardrum. The temperature is 103 degrees
fahrenheit. Whether it is due to a teething reaction, a virus or per¬
haps a bacterial infection of the middle ear, it is frightening. Your
comfort zone is exceeded.
The doctor remarks, “Your daughter has some bronchial con¬
gestion and may be coming down with an ear infection.” You reply,
“Doctor, isn’t there something you can do? I’m so worried about the
coughing and waking at night. If she has an earache, won’t she lose
her hearing? Can’t you give her something to make her more com¬
fortable? I have to go to work in the morning and I won’t sleep a
wink!”
One of several things is occurring in this situation. The out¬
come will be based on the attitudes of both doctor and parent. If the
doctor is one who prescribes antibiotics freely, he or she may sim¬
ply say, “I’m going to write you a prescription for amoxicillin. Make
sure you give it for the full 10 days. Also give your child some
Tylenol to keep the fever down.” If you are unquestioning, you
will simply assume that the doctor knows “what’s best” and fol¬
low the recommendations.
Alternatively, you might ask a series of questions about how
the doctor arrived at this decision and whether your daughter is
really sick enough to warrant the treatment. You may even question
the doctor’s judgment. Finally, you may waltz out the door, pre¬
scription in hand, feeling satisfied that “something” was done and
that you’ve gotten your money s worth. Your day is saved!
The doctor who is more reluctant to write out the prescription
may say, “Your daughter’s fever isn’t uncomfortably high, the ear
congestion is slight, and the lung congestion isn t too bad. I would
just like to wait and see if your daughter can beat this on her own.
43
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
44
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
drug when she still had a fever four days after the antibiotic had
been started. Depending on their specialty, 29 to 47 percent of the
doctors yielded to their patient’s demands, even though the change
in medication was not medically warranted.68
Pressure from a distraught patient is not good rationale for
treatment of any kind. This is especially true with antibiotics, since
the consequences can be far-reaching—especially in children.
Solution:
• Don’t demand an antibiotic from your doctor. He or she
may be uncertain of the need for an antibiotic. Your
pressure may force him to choose that course when he
might not otherwise do so. One of our colleagues in
Minneapolis remarked, uMy patients would be irate if I
sent them out of here without an antibiotic.” He admitted
to often prescribing antibiotics, albeit reluctantly, to please
his patients.
• Ask your doctor if there is anything that can be done short
of giving an antibiotic. He may feel it is appropriate to wait
a day or more, meanwhile using another means of
treatment.
• Learn as many medical selfcare skills as possible about
earaches, colds, sinus infections and other ailments.
45
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
46
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
molds you find in your damp basement or on old bread. There are
many classes of yeast including that in brewer’s and baker’s yeast.
One type, Candida albicans, accounts for much human illness.
47
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
48
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
much like the next doctor. However, anyone who has sought a sec¬
ond or third opinion for a health problem knows that disagree¬
ment among doctors is often the rule rather than the exception.
Finding doctors who agree is sometimes like asking a Republican
or a Democrat which is the best solution for balancing the bud¬
get! Personal opinion, philosophy, belief systems, and even case
load are important determinants, as illustrated by the following
classic study of physician judgment.
Doctors were asked their opinion on the need for tonsillectomy
in 1,000 children. The author reported, “Of these [1,000 children],
some 611 had had their tonsils removed. The remaining 389 were
examined by other physicians, and 174 were selected for tonsillec¬
tomy. This left 215 children whose tonsils were apparently normal.
Another group of doctors was put to work examining these 215
children, and 99 of them were adjudged in need of tonsillectomy.
Still another group of doctors was then employed to examine the
remaining children, and nearly one half were recommended for
the operation.”75 Were all these tonsillectomies necessary? On what
basis did one group of doctors decide tonsillectomy was not need¬
ed while another group believed surgery was indicated? It becomes
obvious from such a study that there is a strong degree of person¬
al opinion and bias involved when doctors decide which proce¬
dures are needed.
Doctors also vary regarding their basic medical knowledge.
Knowledge about proper use of antibiotics is no exception. In a
recent issue of Pediatrics, F. A. Disney, M.D., former president of
the American Board of Pediatrics, discussed a telephone conference
dealing with the choice and use of antibiotics. Disney remarked
that he was “astonished” and “alarmed” at the methods that cer¬
tified pediatricians in practice were using to select antibiotics. Most
disconcerting were assertions that the antibiotic was commonly
“picked at random or was selected by the doctor’s preference for
one drug or another chosen on the basis of available samples or
side effects ...” One doctor stated that “if the child wasn’t better by
the end of a period of time, then all drugs were stopped and sub¬
sequently the child sometimes did recover.” Dr. Disney suggested
that in such cases “possibly the drugs were contributing to the
child’s illness.”76
49
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
Surgeons.10%
Family practitioners.15%
Ob/Gyn.18%
Pediatricians.24%
Internists.38%
Infectious disease experts.83%
50
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
51
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
52
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
53
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
54
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
55
Are Antibiotics the Best Medicine?
56
Antibiotics: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
57
*
Why We Get Sick
3
The Miracle of Immunity
“We have given too much attention to the enemy and have to some
extent overlooked our defenses.”
M. Behar
World Health Organization1
61
Why We Get Sick
62
The Miracle of Immunity
*The military analogy is used here because many facets of the immune
response can be easily described in military terms, terms that are familiar to
many readers. However, a growing number of researchers are uncomfort¬
able with the military analogy, preferring one that is more harmonious. Doc¬
tors working with seriously ill patients, using guided imagery to help boost
immune function, find that visualizing the immune system in violent or mili¬
tary terms is less successful than viewing it in more harmonious terms. We
wholeheartedly agree in theory and in practice. For example, psychologist
Stephen Levine reports on a woman who overcame her cancer only after
switching from battlefield imagery (sending heavily armed soldiers) to send¬
ing loving troubadours to “caress and massage and sing and tickle my tumors
away.”3 Still, for the purposes of illustration and simplicity, we have employed
the more commonly used military analogy here.
63
Why We Get Sick
64
The Miracle of Immunity
65
Why We Get Sick
66
The Miracle of Immunity
67
Why We Get Sick
68
4
Food, Nutrition and
Infection Susceptibility
“There is no longer reason to doubt that nutritional status does
influence the course of infectious disease in man and animals.”
Drs. Paul M. Newberne and Gail Williams
Massachusetts Institute of Technology1
69
Why We Get Sick
revealed she was a food tester for a large Midwest food manufac¬
turer, a “red flag” went up. This began to look like a food allergy
problem. Then she specified she was a food “taster” in the dairy
division. Essentially, she spent her days at work tasting specialty
foods that contained dairy products—all day long, day after day,
month after month, year after year. It appeared as though Carol’s
body was so burdened by the high daily doses of dairy products
that her immune system went on the blink.
Food elimination tests and blood tests revealed that Carol was
extremely allergic to dairy products. She took a three-month med¬
ical leave during which she avoided dairy products entirely. Grad¬
ually her immune system began to respond. The respiratory and
bladder infections she had at the time of her first visit improved
without antibiotics. After the elimination of dairy-containing foods,
her recurrent infections ceased.
After many months of markedly improved health, Carol drank
a cup of cow’s milk. Within 24 hours, she developed a high fever,
tonsillitis and a deep cough. Many symptoms persisted for two
months after this exposure. These were some of the same symp¬
toms from which she suffered before. She was indeed sensitive to
cow’s milk and the “challenge” confirmed it.
This is just one example of the way food can affect immunity
and infection susceptibility. Doctors have known for centuries that
nutrition is one of the greatest influences on our resistance to all
disease.
70
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
71
Why We Get Sick
infectious agents.8 These are but two of many studies that have
begun to verify the link between nutrition and immunity.
A case can also be made that even when antibiotics are used, it
is important that nutrients be supplemented as well. In 1985, a
report in The Lancet described a woman suffering from trichomonal
vaginitis and low blood levels of zinc who responded to drug treat¬
ment only after supplements raised her zinc level to normal.9 In
Chapter 2, we discussed a report showing that vitamin C, when
used along with tetracycline, was associated with a 3- to 15-fold
rise in the blood level of the antibiotic.10 This would appear to be
beneficial (if an antibiotic is needed), since an elevated blood lev¬
el of antibiotic would optimize its effectiveness, minimize the
adverse intestinal effect (since more is absorbed) and probably
reduce the duration of antibiotic treatment. Another study showed
that a zinc-erythromycin solution worked better for acne than ery¬
thromycin alone.11
72
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
73
Food Allergy, Intolerance and Immunity
Allergy or intolerance to foods is one of the most commonly over¬
looked contributors to altered immunity and susceptibility to infec¬
tion. According to James C. Breneman, M.D., former chairman
of the Food Allergy Committee of the American College of Aller¬
gists, “The incidence of food allergy is greater than the incidence of
any other type of illness affecting mankind. By some estimates, 60
percent of the population has unknown food intolerances or aller¬
gies. This constitutes a hidden iceberg of food allergy with only a
small percentage, roughly 5 percent, of the iceberg showing. The
other 95 percent of the food allergy patients go about their suffer¬
ing unrecognized and untreated.”
If food allergy and intolerance are so prevalent, why do most
doctors seem to ignore their existence? Dr. Breneman shares his
view on this when he states, “A society has developed that suffers
increasingly from food allergy and intolerance while inadequate
numbers of professional people have been educated to cope with
the problem. Medical school curricula usually offer studies in aller¬
gy as elective courses. The student is taught allergy, not as a pri¬
mary science, but as an art subordinate to the Department of
Internal Medicine or Pediatrics.”15
Dr. Breneman uses the terms “allergy” and “intolerance” when
describing adverse reactions to food. This is an important distinc¬
tion. True allergy involves a response by the immune system. Aller¬
gists usually consider an adverse food reaction to be allergy only
when elevated blood levels of certain antibodies, usually IgE (also
IgG and IgM), are demonstrated. An example is the runny nose,
sneezing and itchy eyes associated with hay fever. The term intol¬
erance is used when there is an adverse food reaction due to almost
any other cause. Many doctors note that this type of reaction is
growing in frequency as we consume more processed food, are
exposed to more synthetic chemicals and use more antibiotics.
There is an old adage that says, “Allergy doesn’t cause every¬
thing, but it can cause anything.” Research and clinical experience
have shown this to be true. Food intolerance has been associated
with many disorders typically thought due to infection by bacte-
74
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
75
Why We Get Sick
76
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
77
Why We Get Sick
History
• Do you have a family history of allergy?
• Did (or do) your mother, father or siblings suffer from
allergy?
• Did you suffer from allergies as a child?
A history of allergy strongly suggests that allergy or intoler¬
ance may be hiding beneath your present problems.
Symptoms
Do you experience any of the common symptoms typically asso¬
ciated with allergy or intolerance to food? These fall into four basic
areas:
1. respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, sinus
or nasal congestion, bronchial congestion, frequent colds
or earaches.
2. intestinal symptoms such as bloating, cramps, diarrhea,
constipation, nausea, gas, loss of appetite or vomiting.
3. skin symptoms such as hives, eczema or non-specific
rashes.
4. irritability, tension, fatigue, headache, insomnia or
depression.
If you have one or more of these symptoms it may suggest aller¬
gy or intolerance to food. There are also physical signs such as
puffy eyes, bags under the eyes, wrinkles under the eyes or patch¬
es of dry skin on the face or body that may signal allergy or intol¬
erance to food.
Testing
The third important aspect in identifying whether food allergy
or intolerance exists is the actual testing. This can be done in three
basic ways: blood tests, skin tests or food-elimination tests.
Allergists commonly perform scratch tests of the skin, but this
is not always accurate in identifying allergy or intolerance to food.
According to allergist Albert Rowe, M.D., “It is generally agreed
78
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
that clinical allergy may exist in the absence of positive skin reac¬
tions, especially those to the scratch test. This is true primarily in
food allergy and to a lesser extent in inhalant allergy.”19 Another
skin test in common use is the intradermal cutaneous test, in which
a small amount of a suspected offender is injected just beneath the
surface of the skin. The doctor observes the area for a characteristic
reaction.
Blood tests in use today include serum tests for antibodies des¬
ignated IgE, IgG and IgM. These tests look for proteins produced
by the immune system in response to offending substances. Anoth¬
er test called the Leukocyte Histamine Release test (MetaMetrix
Medical Research Laboratory, Norcross, GA) is also helpful in
identifying the presence of allergy. In this test, an allergen is incu¬
bated in blood while the technician tests for the presence of hista¬
mine. Release of histamine indicates reactivity to the test substance.
The ELISA/ACT test (Serammune Physician’s Lab, Reston,
VA) is a well-researched tool for assessing allergic sensitivity. It
measures primarily the delayed-type, or late-phase, allergic reac¬
tions. These are the ones most commonly missed with traditional
allergy tests. ELISA/ACT measures reactivity to environmental
chemicals, foods, environmental allergens (molds, dust, mites), air¬
borne allergens (pollen), food additives, and preservatives. It is
among the most comprehensive tools for assessing one’s sensitivi¬
ty to the environment and to food.
One of the most widely accepted forms of testing is the elimi¬
nation-provocation test. To use this method, one is first placed on
a diet that excludes foods that commonly trigger allergic reactions.
The diet is continued for one to four weeks. After this time, sus¬
pected foods are added back to the diet one at a time. If any food
produces symptoms upon reintroduction, the food is deemed an
offender and must be avoided. Elimination-provocation is still con¬
sidered the “gold standard” among allergy tests. Its main limita¬
tion is that it requires time, effort and compliance on the part of the
patient.
79
Nutritional Deficiency:
More Common Than You Think
Despite the abundance of food in the United States, nutritional
deficiency is quite common. It is important to understand this be¬
cause Americans are often lulled into believing that foods are for¬
tified with needed nutrients, and besides, “the government is
looking out for our health.” We will need to first accept the fact
that nutrient deficiency is common and then act to change the sit¬
uation.
Pregnant women in the United States are frequently deficient in
vitamins and minerals. In one study, 78 percent were seriously
deficient in one or more nutrients.20 In one analysis of elderly peo¬
ple, zinc intake was below the RDA in more than 90 percent.21
Children and teenagers are especially susceptible to zinc deficien¬
cy because of their increased requirements for growth and devel¬
opment.22 In a study of U.S. women, 20 to 40 percent had vitamin
C intakes well below the very conservative RDA.23
Many children are deficient in nutrients vital to immune func¬
tion. Leo Galland, M.D., author of Super Immunity for Kids, sums
it up this way: “Unfortunately, American children today get most of
their calories from sugar, processed cereal grains such as wheat
and corn, processed oils, dairy products, and fatty meats. It’s no
wonder that most children today consume less than two-thirds of
the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of magnesium, vit¬
amin B6 and copper.”
“Zinc and vitamin A deficiencies are very common, too. A zinc
deficiency is most likely to occur in the young child who gets most
of her nutrition from milk and cheese. Vitamin A deficiencies most
often show up in adolescents who live on meat, potatoes, and fast
foods, and who shun vegetables and eggs.”24
According to work compiled by Melvyn R. Werbach, Clinical
Professor at UCLA School of Medicine, many Americans do not
meet the RDA for numerous vitamins and minerals, including:
niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, thiamine, vitamin
C, vitamin E, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium and
more.25
80
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
81
Why We Get Sick
These foods are far too high in salt, fat, trans fatty acids and
sugar.
82
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
83
Why We Get Sick
84
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
many food items other than refined sugar that lend a sweet taste to
any food. These include:
• Honey
• Pear juice
• Dates
• Raisins
• Rice syrup
• Sorghum
• Maple syrup
A person with allergies may be sensitive to some of the above, so
be alert for changes in mood, behavior or health when you first intro¬
duce these foods. If you or your child are yeast-sensitive or suffer
from intestinal yeast problems, avoid feeding additional sugars. In
general, use all sweeteners sparingly—even those listed above.
Excessive fat in the diet has also been shown to lower immune
function. It seems that when blood levels of fat are too high, the
ability of white blood cells to gobble bacteria decreases significant¬
ly. If your cholesterol or triglycerides are above normal, it may be
interfering with your ability to fight infection. Also, if dietary fat
intake is too high, it would be wise to replace it with low-fat foods.
If you go on a weight loss program, make sure it is one that does not
encourage the loss of muscle. You may wish to contact Health-
Comm, Inc. of Gig Harbor, Washington, for information on this
topic.
85
Why We Get Sick
colon cancer and heart disease. However, when the Africans moved
to the West and adopted our eating habits, they quickly succumbed
to our most common illnesses.
Dietary fiber is as important to kids as it is to adults. Foods high
in fiber are high in vitamins, trace minerals and essential fatty acids.
Take wheat for example. Almost all of the essential nutrients are
bound in the germ portion of the grain. During milling, the germ is
separated from the endosperm. The germ is sold separately as
wheat germ (long known as a high-nutrient food) while the
endosperm is further milled to make flour. Milling of whole grain to
make refined flour results in loss of 85 percent of the magnesium, 86
percent of the manganese, 40 percent of the chromium, 78 percent
of the zinc, 89 percent of the cobalt, 48 percent of the molybde¬
num and 68 percent of the copper, in addition to comparable loss¬
es of selenium, vitamin E and essential fatty acids.32 Moreover,
heavy metals such as cadmium (which are concentrated in the
endosperm) remain in the flour. (Unfortunately, the body’s antag¬
onist to cadmium—zinc—has been removed.) Since nutrients are
required to properly utilize all calories we consume, the intake of
refined foods leads to a gradual deficiency of nutrients. This is a
strong argument for the use of whole-grain products.
Think about a typical breakfast. If you consume white bread
with butter and peanut butter along with Rice Crispies and milk,
you are getting very little fiber. Moreover, you are getting none of
the important essential fatty acids. Most of the fat in this meal is sat¬
urated fat. White bread and Rice Crispies are fortified with a few
token nutrients, but it is nothing when compared with the nutri¬
ents removed in processing.
Compare this with a breakfast of whole wheat bread using wal¬
nut butter as a spread, a whole orange, cooked rolled-oat cereal
and yogurt. This breakfast has more vitamin C, magnesium, sele¬
nium, essential fatty acids and fiber than the one above with only a
fraction of the saturated fat. Those who follow a diet such as this are
generally healthier than those who follow a diet like the all-too-
common one above.
The real test of the value of refined (fortified) foods would be to
put a group of lab animals on a diet of white bread and compare
them to a group fed a diet of whole-grain bread. In one such exper-
86
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
87
Why We Get Sick
88
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
89
Why We Get Sick
90
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
91
Why We Get Sick
*Langer, SE, Scheer JF. Solved: The Riddle of Illness, New Canaan, Con¬
necticut: Keats Publishing, 1984;38.
92
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
93
Why We Get Sick
Prevention
• Cook chicken and turkey thoroughly, until there are no
pink juices running.
• Never let raw meat or its juices touch other food.
• Wash your hands and any utensils that have contacted raw
meat in hot, soapy water.
• Don’t use wooden cutting boards for meat. They harbor
bacteria.
• Thaw frozen birds in the refrigerator, not in the microwave
or on the counter.
• Keep your refrigerator below forty degrees Fahrenheit and
your freezer at or below zero degrees.
• Buy free-range or organic animals. Avoid animals fed
antibiotics.
• Avoid consuming raw egg yolk.
Home Care
If you experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever or vomiting
following a meal and suspect food poisoning, do the following:
• Take 1 teaspoon of acidophilus powder every hour until
symptoms subside.
• Along with the acidophilus, take V2 teaspoon of Inner
Strength® (see Chapter 10).
• Both can be mixed in warm water and taken together.
• If symptoms show no improvement in 24 to 48 hours, see
your doctor.
• If you experience numbness, tingling or paralysis following
a meal, seek emergency care immediately. This could be a
sign of more serious food poisoning.
94
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
specific information on immune building diets, consider the fol¬
lowing books;
For general use: Dr. Berger’s Immune Power Diet.
For those with chronic yeast-related illness: The Yeast Connec¬
tion Cookbook by William G. Crook, M.D. and Marjory Hurt
Jones, R.N.
For children: Superimmunity for Kids, by Leo Galland, M.D.
and Diane Dincin Buchman.
For those with environmental illness: The Cure is in the Kitchen
by Sherry Rogers, M.D.
In general, we encourage our patients to avoid processed food.
This is not always possible, but it is a worthy ideal.
Fiber: Consume fiber-containing foods every day. Sources
include fruit, vegetables, legumes and grains.
Meat: Many of our modern-day illnesses stem from excessive
consumption of meat, especially red meat. Red meat consumption
should be restricted to two to three times a month. Fish and fowl
are good sources of protein.
One need not become a strict vegetarian in order to be healthy.
However, many people suffering from a variety of ills have found
enormous relief and, in many cases, a cure after several months
on a vegetarian diet.
If you are a strict vegetarian or are on a macrobiotic diet, you
should have your vitamin B12 status checked, since many strict veg¬
etarians are low in this vitamin. Children of vegetarian or macro¬
biotic mothers are also at risk for low vitamin B12. In these tender
years, deficiency of B12 can have serious neurologic implications.
The solution is to consume some fish or take a B12 supplement.
Nori and spirulina, two purported sources of B12 for vegetarians,
have been shown to contain a form of B12 that is not utilized prop¬
erly by the body.38
Sugar: Reduce your intake of sugar. Use natural sugars when
necessary. Consume fruit.
Fat: Keep your intake of fat to about 20 percent of your total
calories. The only exception is for infants and toddlers. Infants
must get roughly 50 percent of their calories from fat. This gradu¬
ally goes down as the child ages.
Eat more cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring,
95
Why We Get Sick
sardines and trout. The fats and oils in these fish are very helpful
and generally deficient in our Western diets. Also consume flax oil
periodically. This contains omega-3 fatty acids commonly deficient
in our diets.
Cook with olive oil and reduce your use of sunflower, safflower
and corn oil. These latter oils are easily destroyed (or oxidized)
when exposed to the high heat of cooking. If the temperature is
kept low, these oils can be used sparingly. They can also be used
raw. Buy cold-pressed oils when possible.
Avoid sources of trans fatty acids, or what have been dubbed
“funny fats.” Trans fatty acids created when unsaturated fats, such as
that found in sunflower or safflower oil, are heated. Heating results
in a change in the shape of the fat molecules, making them extreme¬
ly harmful to the body. Deep-frying is one of the worst processes
for bringing about such a change. Foods high in trans fats include
chicken nuggets, french fries, pastries, com chips, potato chips, can¬
dy, cakes, frosting, cookies, margarine, crackers and fish sticks. Avoid
any food where the words “may contain the following” are followed
by the words “partially hydrogenated.” Up to 50 percent of the fat
in these foods occurs as trans fatty acids. These can influence infec¬
tion-fighting capability and inflammation and should be avoided.
96
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
Immune-Boosting Nutrients
Scientists will probably some day discover that nearly all nutrients
have some direct or indirect role in immune function. Some of the
more thoroughly understood nutrients are being used in medicine
to prevent infection and to boost immunity during infection. Those
usually discussed include vitamin A, E, C, B-complex, beta-
carotene, zinc, iron, selenium and coenzyme Qio.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a powerful immune stimulant. It has been shown to
increase the size of the master gland of the immune system, the
thymus. When vitamin A levels are too low, the thymus shrinks,
followed by a decrease in the number of circulating white cells.
Vitamin A helps maintain the cells lining the lungs, intestinal tract
and bladder. These cells are the first barrier of the protection mech¬
anism against infection. When vitamin A is deficient, these cells
begin to change, making the tissue susceptible to invasion by virus¬
es, bacteria and parasites.
Vitamin A levels are depleted rapidly during different condi¬
tions, including fever, pneumonia, tonsillitis, rheumatic fever and
measles. In one report of children with severe measles, the rate of
complications such as pneumonia, croup and death was cut in half
as a result of vitamin A supplementation.39
There is one caveat regarding vitamin A; it can be toxic at high
97
Why We Get Sick
doses (although there are annually only 200 reported cases of vit¬
amin A excess worldwide).40 More is not better. The RDA for chil¬
dren aged one to three is 2,000 units; for children aged four to five,
2,500 units. Children should not be given more than 10,000 IU/day
unless prescribed by a doctor. Pregnant women and persons with
liver disease, viral hepatitis or malnutrition should consult a doctor
before taking vitamin A. When vitamin A is used to treat illness in
adults, from 10,000 to 30,000 IU are often given. Vitamin A should
not be consumed in large amounts for prolonged periods (more
than 1-2 weeks) without consulting a doctor.
Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is a fat-soluble nutrient found in orange, yellow and
green vegetables such as carrots, squash and sweet potatoes. It is
important as an antioxidant, meaning it protects cells against dam¬
age by free-radicals and damaging pollutant molecules. This nutri¬
ent is also important in immune function. Beta-carotene is a
precursor to vitamin A, meaning that some beta-carotene is con¬
verted into vitamin A.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E exerts an effect on the immune system through its role
as an antioxidant. This vitamin protects the fats and cell mem¬
branes in the body from oxidation or damage. When vitamin E
levels are low, damage to cell membranes easily occurs. Vitamin
E also affects immune function by regulating the formation of
prostaglandins, the hormone-like substances derived from our
dietary fats. Daily doses of vitamin E in the range of 50 to 100 IU
are considered quite safe. There have been few problems associated
with doses up to 800 IU. Beyond 1,200 IU, immune-suppressive
effects have been reported. During illness, 400 to 800 IU is a rea¬
sonable dose. Any time supplementary foods containing essential
fatty acids are consumed, such as flax oil, primrose oil or fish oil,
additional vitamin E should be consumed.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C seems to influence resistance to bacterial and viral infec¬
tions in two basic ways: by direct inhibition of the virus or bacteria
98
Food, Nutrition and Infection Susceptibility
Zinc
Zinc is probably the most extensively studied nutrient relative to its
role in infection and immunity. Zinc is relatively safe. However, it
should not be consumed in amounts greater than 25 mg per day
in healthy individuals. Individuals with skin problems, recurring
infections, loss of taste sensation, etc., may need higher amounts
until symptoms improve. Never take more than 75 mg per day
unless directed by your doctor. In one study of 11 men who took
150 mg of zinc twice daily for 6 weeks, there was a reduction in
immune function.42 When doctors prescribe large doses of zinc,
they generally monitor copper status and/or give a copper supple¬
ment concurrently with zinc.
The RDA for zinc in children is 10 mg per day and for adults, 25
mg per day. In a recent case of a child with acute glandular swelling
of the neck, we used 75 mg of zinc plus 10,000 mg vitamin C for
99
Why We Get Sick
Iron
Iron is essential for proper immune function. Susceptibility to in¬
fections is one of the common conditions associated with iron
deficiency. Although iron deficiency can occur at any age, it is most
common in children under age two (especially if bottlefed or con¬
suming cow’s milk), adolescent girls, some athletes and pregnant
women.
Generally, iron should not be supplemented on a daily basis
(except in bottlefed babies between six and twelve months), unless
it has been established that iron deficiency exists. This can be
determined by a blood test called a serum ferritin test. Hemoglobin
is a useful screening test, but it is not always indicative of iron de¬
ficiency.
Selenium
Deficiency of selenium results in diminished resistance to bacteri¬
al and viral infections, diminished white blood cell activity, reduced
antibody production and reduced ability of T-cells and natural
killer cells to destroy pathogenic bacteria. Supplementation with
selenium has been shown to reverse these processes. In one study,
supplementation with selenium reduced the frequency of upper
respiratory infections in children with Down syndrome.43
Selenium works with glutathione to act as one of the most
potent antioxidant systems in the body. In this way, it protects the
body from damage by chemicals in the environment. Selenium is
usually taken in microgram amounts. Ten to 20 meg per day is a
common prevention amount. When doctors prescribe selenium,
they will often use 100 to 800 meg or more.
Coenzyme Qio
This is a recent addition to our knowledge of the immune-building
arsenal. CoQio is a powerful antioxidant and immune stimulant.
100
The Miracle of Immunity
Thymus tissue
The thymus is considered the master gland of the immune system.
Scientists have been studying ways to stimulate this gland for
decades. They have learned that one way to enhance the function
of this gland is to feed thymus tissue extract (derived from cattle)
to people with suppressed immune systems. The extracts contain
active substances that stimulate the activity of the thymus gland
and improve resistance to infection. Only thymus tissue that has
been defatted or azeotrophically processed should be used.
A good immune-building formula for adults might contain the
following:
Vitamin A.2,000 IU
Vitamin E.400 IU
101
Why We Get Sick
Vitamin C.500 mg
Beta-carotene.100 mg
Vitamin B6.20 mg
Vitamin B5.30 mg
Zinc.10 mg
Copper.200 meg
Selenium.50 meg
C0Q10.10 mg
Bioflavonoids.150 mg
102
A Summary of Things to Do
1. Reduce your intake of refined sugar. Excess sugar can
make the immune system sluggish.
2. Reduce your intake of fat (unless it is already at or below
20 percent of your total calories). Avoid margarine and
hydrogenated fats. If your triglycerides are high, work to
lower them. Elevated blood fats can slow immune function.
3. Increase your intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids such
as those found in flax oil and fish oil (salmon, mackerel,
herring, sardines, trout). You may also wish to take a perle
of evening primrose oil daily, which contains the omega-6
oil gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Those in the
industrialized world often consume too little of these oils.
When taking additional oils always take additional vitamin
E (50-400 mg).
4. Avoid white bread and refined flour products. They are
devoid of essential nutrients including the essential fatty
acids mentioned above.
5. Include fiber in your diet in the form of fruits, vegetables,
nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains. These foods are
also high in vitamins and minerals.
6. Reduce your intake of pastries, doughnuts, french fries,
chicken nuggets, candies and other foods containing
“funny fats,” or trans fatty acids. When these foods are
consumed in excess, sluggish immunity may follow.
7. Eat several smaller meals a day as opposed to three large
meals a day. It is easier on all aspects of your body.
8. Reduce your intake of coffee. Try the many varieties of
herbal tea available.
9. Reduce your intake of soft drinks. They can leach calcium
and magnesium from the body.
10. Follow the rhythms of your body. Eat when you’re hungry,
stop when you’re full. Don’t let the clock rule mealtime.
Try mealtime without the paper, TV or radio.
103
Why We Get Sick
104
Environmental Threats
to a Healthy Immune System
“Although the body’s immune mechanisms have evolved over mil¬
lions of years into an effective defense system, they can still be
eluded—or damaged—by environmental agents.”
Drs. R.S. Speirs and D.W. Roberts1
105
Why We Get Sick
106
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
Environmental Illness
Robin and Phil are examples of healthy people who developed
chronic illness following exposure to some of our twentieth-cen¬
tury creations. They both developed what is now called environ¬
mental illness, or El (sometimes called ESI, or environmental
sensitivity illness). People with environmental illness are often said
to be “allergic to the twentieth century.” They suffer from chronic
illness that is brought about by exposure to chemicals in their envi¬
ronment.
The symptoms have become so broad and seem to involve so
many body systems that much of the medical profession has
declared El a “psychiatric illness.” This is of little comfort to a per¬
son who is walking around with elevated blood levels of toluene
metabolites or who develops pneumonia after breathing a cloud
of automobile exhaust. The illness is real and the medical system is
only beginning to recognize the true magnitude of the problem.
107
Why We Get Sick
small amounts can help relieve pain and reduce fever. In slightly
greater amounts, aspirin can cause bleeding of the intestinal tract.
In still greater amounts, aspirin can kill. Alcohol consumed in very
small amounts has shown some benefit in cardiovascular health,
yet in large amounts causes liver disease and death. So the question
of toxicity is really one of degree.
Many substances only become toxic when they are present in
certain amounts. Some substances are inherently more toxic than
others. Death can result when only one drop of the toxin that caus¬
es botulism is ingested. Yet, it may take a quart of vodka to produce
death.
Another factor comes into play. When certain toxins exist in
low amounts in the presence of other toxins, their actions can be
accentuated. For example, both aspirin and the food coloring yel¬
low #5 can be toxic at certain levels. However, when present togeth¬
er they act in a synergistic way to produce sometimes-severe
reactions. This can happen when one is exposed to only small
amounts of each substance. In our modem world with tens of thou¬
sands of man-made chemicals circulating through the food, water
and air, this type of synergistic effect is common.
There are both internal (or endogenous) and external (or exoge¬
nous) toxins that can affect our health. An internal toxin is some¬
thing that is produced as a part of our normal bodily operations. An
example is lactic acid. Lactic acid normally builds up in the muscles
during prolonged exercise. Though not serious, lactic acid can pro¬
duce a substantial amount of pain or stiffness in the muscles. Inter¬
nal toxins can also be produced when normal operations go awry.
External toxins are the most obvious to us. These are substances
that we inhale through the air and ingest through food and drink.
Lead, mercury, DDT and gasoline vapors are examples of external
toxins.
108
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
109
Why We Get Sick
teria in the gut make dietary proteins and fats into unusual can¬
cer-causing substances. If exposure to these types of toxins con¬
tinues over time, cancer of the colon may develop. By restoring
the balance of bacteria in the gut and changing the diet, exposure
to this type of toxin can be reduced dramatically.
Sometimes we become so toxic from a combination of bacteri¬
al endotoxins, environmental chemicals and metabolic waste prod¬
ucts that our systems of elimination become overloaded and cannot
keep up. In the process, our immune systems become sluggish.
When confronted with an infectious bacteria or virus, we simply
cannot muster adequate defenses to defeat it.
110
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
111
Why We Get Sick
Mercury
Sources of mercury in the environment include dental amalgams
(fillings that are mixtures of mercury, silver and other metals), some
freshwater fish, shellfish, plastics, latex paint, DPT vaccine,
organomercurial pesticides with fungicides, grains and seeds treated
with methyl mercury or mercury chloride, and chlorine bleaches.
Nutrients that protect against mercury exposure include sele¬
nium, vitamin C, vitamin E, pectin, and the amino acids cysteine,
cystine and methionine.
Lead
Common sources of lead include drinking water, lead dust from
paint used in old homes, atmospheric pollution, leaded gasoline,
lead-glazed pottery, wine and“tin cans” soldered with lead-con¬
taining solder. Canned tuna is a major source of lead in children.
The fall of the Roman empire (their water came from lead pipes
and they drank from lead cups) and the demise of an entire race of
Native Americans, the Omahas, are believed to be due to lead poi¬
soning that slowly impaired the citizen’s senses and destroyed their
immune systems. Excavations of the skeletons of both nations
showed high levels of lead in the bones, a common area of lead
accumulation.
Nutrients that antagonize and protect against lead exposure
include calcium, vitamin C, vitamin E, B-complex, pectin, and the
amino acids cystine, cysteine and methionine.
Cadmium
Sources of cadmium include cigarette smoke, shellfish and other
seafood, teas, paints, welding pigments, drinking water, galvanized
pipes, batteries, auto exhaust, industrial smoke and waste. The
112
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
processing of whole grains such as wheat into white flour strips off
the zinc, a natural antagonist of cadmium, and leaves the cadmium
to be sold to consumers.
Nutrients that protect against cadmium include zinc, vitamin
C, selenium and to a limited extent, calcium.
Aluminum
Sources of aluminum include aluminum-containing antacids, alu¬
minum-containing baking powder, aluminum antiperspirants, alu¬
minum pots and pans, soft water, aluminum foil, DPT vaccine, and
processed food containing aluminum.
Nutrients that protect against aluminum exposure include vit¬
amin C, magnesium and calcium.
Arsenic
Sources of arsenic include tobacco smoke, smog, pesticides, caulks,
glues and building materials that contain fungicides, beer, table
salt, colored chalk and household laundry aids.
Nutrients that protect against arsenic include selenium and vit¬
amin C.
No one can know for sure whether they have toxic metals in
their system without testing. Hair analysis, despite the criticisms
levied against it, is still considered one the most useful tests for
screening for the presence of toxic metals in the body. Hair analy¬
sis is inexpensive and the sample easily taken. Tests of blood serum
are only useful if the exposure has been recent. Tests of white
blood cells and red blood cells are more useful than serum tests.
Urine tests are also very helpful in detecting the presence of
toxic metals. First, a substance is given that chelates, or flushes, the
metal from the system. The metal then shows up in the urine and
can be measured. This test is usually done under a doctor’s super¬
vision. There are also new computer-based health questionnaires
that indicate patterns of toxicity for the person taking the test.
113
Why We Get Sick
114
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
115
Why We Get Sick
116
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
117
Why We Get Sick
118
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
119
Why We Get Sick
120
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
121
Why We Get Sick
If you live in an area with poor air quality (Los Angeles, San
Francisco, New York City, Detroit and many others), you probably
need to increase your intake of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene
and selenium. Each of these play an essential role in protecting
our cell linings from airborne pollutants. You also may consider
moving, or using an air filter in the home (although this will only
make a small impact).
122
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
*The term detoxication is usually used to describe the body’s own mech¬
anism for handling toxic substances. Detoxification refers to a therapeutic
process used to rid the body of toxins.
123
Why We Get Sick
124
Signs of a Toxic Body
The signs of a toxic body do not fit neatly into any diagnostic cat¬
egory This is often why allopathic doctors fail to recognize or con¬
sider such symptoms. In general, symptoms of toxicity are very
vague and broad. Fatigue, sluggishness and just a low level of well¬
ness are hallmarks. Common symptoms of toxicity include:
• Fatigue • Chronic infections
• Lethargy • Frequent colds
• Depression • Sluggishness
• Headaches • Nervousness, irritability
• Allergies • Sensitivity to perfume, odors
• Muscle aches • Joint pains
125
Why We Get Sick
126
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
127
Why We Get Sick
128
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
129
A Summary of Things to Do
1. Limit your use of synthetic materials.
2. Sauna regularly to help purge toxic compounds from
your body.
3. Do a periodic cleansing of your internal body using the
Metabolic Clearing Therapy or some variation. Many with
sluggish immune systems experience dramatic
improvement following such programs. Even those who
are not ill experience a heightened sense of well-being.
4. If you suffer from chronic or recurrent infections, you may
be toxic. Have an evaluation done by a doctor familiar
with environmental medicine. Certain blood and urine
tests can detect exposure to toxins you may not be aware
of.
5. If you work in an occupation in which chemicals are used,
have regular check-ups and consider having blood and
urine analysis to detect toxic exposure. It may be
especially important that you do a cleanse.
6. Avoid synthetic personal hygiene products.
7. Take extra antioxidant nutrients including vitamins C and
E, beta-carotene and selenium. Also use zinc and
magnesium.
8. Use liver-protecting herbs such as milk thistle seed extract.
9. Drink water purified by carbon filtration and reverse
osmosis, especially if you live in an area with landfills or
known chemical contaminants.
10. Wear protective gloves and clothing whenever working
with toxic chemicals at home or at work. This includes
common lawn and garden products.
130
6
Heredity and Lifestyle
“Like the food we eat and the environment that pervades us, our
personal behavior—or lifestyle—plays a fundamental role in shap¬
ing our health.”
Joseph D. Beasley, M.D.
The Institute of Health Policy and Practice1
Most medical experts now agree that the major causes of death
today—cancer, heart disease, stroke, etc.—are related to lifestyle
and habits. There is strong evidence that modification of these
habits results in substantial improvements in health and a decline
in the number of deaths due to these illnesses. Though the
“experts” recognize this, they have not extended their thinking to
include common infectious conditions for which antibiotics are
routinely given. Immunity and resistance to infections are clearly
responsive to changes in lifestyle and habits. By making practical
use of knowledge currently available, we can help reduce the inci¬
dence of infectious diseases and further reduce our reliance on
antibiotic drugs.
Is it in Your Genes?
Genes play a crucial role in determining our individual make-up.
From hair color to eye and skin color, the genes determine our
basic appearance. Genes also influence specific metabolic needs
at the cellular level. The fundamental machinery that drives every
biochemical process in the body is similar in everyone, but there are
vast differences in efficiency and needs among individuals.
131
Why We Get Sick
132
Heredity and Lifestyle
suffer from severe infections that occur because their white blood
cells do not respond normally. It was shown over 15 years ago that
increasing the intake of vitamin C protects these people against
infection. It does not correct the underlying genetic fault, but some
effects of the disease are rectified.4
These genetic conditions do not affect the majority of individ¬
uals. However, intolerance to the milk sugar lactose and the cow’s
milk protein casein are common and familiar to many of us. These
genetically determined conditions can result in trouble ranging
from chronic digestive difficulty to recurrent tonsillitis. Those who
are affected by these problems improve their health by avoiding
the offending agents.
Allergy can also be inherited. The term “atopy” is used to de¬
scribe a common inherited predisposition to develop allergy. If
both parents are atopic, there is a 75 percent chance that a child will
have allergic symptoms. If one parent has atopy, the child has a 50
percent chance. Atopy can set the stage for recurrent infections
of the ear, nose and bronchial tract by creating a mucus-rich envi¬
ronment for the invasion and multiplication of bacteria, viruses or
yeast. Atopy itself is not treated with antibiotics, but some of the
complications, such as ear infections, are treated with antibiotics.
Atopic individuals have been shown to have a defect in an enzyme
system that influences inflammation and immunity. By altering the
diet and supplementing with specific vitamins, minerals and essen¬
tial fatty acids, the problems associated with this condition can be
reduced for many sufferers.
One way to understand the importance of genetics in our sus¬
ceptibility to disease is to look at twins. Identical twins—derived
from the same egg who share the same genes—have uniquely sim¬
ilar resistance to infection. If one identical twin has the clinical dis¬
ease tuberculosis, the other twin has roughly a 75 percent chance of
developing it as well. In contrast, a non-identical twin has only a 33
percent chance of developing the disease.5 Racial differences are
revealing as well. Pneumonia, rheumatic fever and tuberculosis
are much more prevalent and severe in African-Americans than
in those of European heritage.
Even hair color may have an indirect association with infection
susceptibility. It is a well-known but poorly understood phenome-
133
Why We Get Sick
*Langer, SE, Scheer, JE Solved: the riddles of illness, New Canaan, Con¬
necticut: Keats Publishing, 1984;39.
134
Heredity and Lifestyle
135
Why We Get Sick
136
Heredity and Lifestyle
137
Why We Get Sick
138
Heredity and Lifestyle
it does today. There is now evidence that the absence of light expe¬
rienced by most of us exacts a measurable toll on our mood, behav¬
ior, productivity and general level of health.
In some people, absence of adequate sunlight leads to devel¬
opment of a condition called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.
This condition is characterized by lethargy, fatigue, depression,
insomnia and irritability. It is most pronounced during the winter
months—especially in northern climates where it has been called
“cabin fever.” Sufferers respond dramatically to daily exposure to
full-spectrum light. These people have found by trial and error
that a winter week in Florida, Arizona or the Caribbean dramati¬
cally improves their outlook on life.
SAD is not the only condition that responds to sunlight. We’ve
known for decades that treatment of jaundiced babies with blue
light results in a rapid elimination of excess bilirubin from the body
(full-spectrum lights work even better).
Light is as vital to our health as vitamins and minerals. In fact,
the manufacture of vitamin D is actually dependent upon adequate
exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. We are only beginning to
discover the many bodily processes that are dependent upon daily
exposure to natural light. Whether light actually enhances immune
function or increases resistance to disease is another question.
However, recent reports suggest that light plays a role in these vital
functions as well.
German researcher Dr. Fritz Hollwich discovered that when
subjects sat under standard cool-white fluorescent lights, the levels
of ACTH and cortisol (stress hormones) rose to levels comparable
to those found in people under stress. In contrast, those sitting
under full-spectrum light experienced no such rise in stress hor¬
mones. High levels of these hormones are known to have an
adverse effect upon immune function. In view of this research,
German hospitals are no longer allowed to use cool-white fluores¬
cent bulbs.16
It was recently found that switching from cool-white fluores¬
cent lights to full-spectrum lights reduced the number of work¬
place absences due to illness. Based on this and other evidence,
some doctors suggest that full-spectrum light boosts immune func¬
tion much like natural sunlight.
139
Why We Get Sick
140
Heredity and Lifestyle
141
Why We Get Sick
142
Heredity and Lifestyle
that makes our immune system operate efficiently. The result: sus¬
ceptibility to illness.
An article published in the International Journal of Sports Medi¬
cine illustrates the effect exercise can have on infections. In this
study, only 45 minutes of brisk walking per day was shown to low¬
er the incidence of upper respiratory symptoms, cut the duration of
illness in half and increase natural killer-cell activity in people
prone to upper respiratory tract infections.25
The exercise credo of the eighties, “no pain, no gain,” has for¬
tunately given way to a more realistic notion that moderate exercise
confers as many health benefits as strenuous exercise. Moderate
exercisers have the added benefit of suffering fewer injuries. So
don’t feel you have to pump iron with Schwarzenegger, sprint with
Carl Lewis or cycle the Alps with Greg LeMond to get in shape. In
fact, highly strenuous training can temporarily weaken immune
function. When researchers at Loma Linda University studied run¬
ners of the Los Angeles Marathon, they found immune function
to be depressed for several hours. According to Dr. David Nie-
man, “Those who train more than 60 miles a week double their
odds of getting sick, compared with a runner training less than 20
miles a week.”26
Runners of the 1982 Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa,
had twice the incidence of upper respiratory infections in the two
weeks following the race of non-runners. Runners with the fastest
times suffered from more infections than runners with slower
times.27 Whether these effects are due to the act of running, the
stress of anticipating a big race or both, no one is sure. However, if
you are a heavy trainer who suffers from frequent infections, you
may do well to consider decreasing the intensity of your training
schedule.
While intensive training, or “pushing it to the wall” is what
some prefer, rest assured that dancing, hiking, golfing (if you walk),
walking, cross country skiing, swimming, volleyball, bicycling, bowl¬
ing, shoveling snow, chopping wood and even sex provide your
body with health and immune benefits. The key: make sure you
exercise regularly and moderately, and make sure it’s fun! (If you
have an existing medical condition, see your doctor before embark¬
ing on any exercise plan.)
143
Why We Get Sick
144
Heredity and Lifestyle
145
Why We Get Sick
Lack of Sleep
Shakespeare wrote that sleep is the “chief restorer of life’s feast.”
In modern terms that would mean that nearly one-third of Amer¬
icans are “underfed.” Because of that, they are irritable, moody,
and unable to concentrate on their work and make mistakes in
everyday tasks.
James Walsh, director of the Sleep Disorders and Research
Center at Deaconess Hospital in St. Louis, attributes the 1984
Bhopal gas leak and the Exxon Valdez oil spill in part to mis¬
judgements by sleep-deprived workers. The U.S. Department of
Transportation estimates that drowsy drivers contribute to as many
as 200,000 automobile accidents each year.
We all have different sleep needs. Leonardo da Vinci is said to
have slept only two hours a day. Others need up to eight or ten
hours of sleep to function at their best. According to the Institute
of Medicine, an estimated 29 to 39 percent of Americans over the
age of 18 have significant difficulty sleeping each year.31 Failure to
get adequate sleep leads to fatigue, which can impair our resis¬
tance to illness and our ability to cope with stressful events. Noted
British physician James Paget once wrote, “Fatigue has a larger
share in the promotion and transmission of disease than any other
single condition you can name.”32
Dr. J. M. Krueger reports that the onset of slow-wave sleep cor¬
relates with a surge in the blood levels of chemicals that stimulate
immune function.33 Lack of sleep is associated with increased sus¬
ceptibility to stress and infections.
146
Heredity and Lifestyle
147
Why We Get Sick
148
Heredity and Lifestyle
Crowding
Crowding has historically been shown to contribute to the devel¬
opment and spread of infections. Animals who rarely succumb to
infections in the wild succumb when confined in zoos. A classic
example is the spread of infections in day care. Place a large num¬
ber of children together in a crowded setting and a common out¬
come is the spread of parasites, coughs, colds, pneumonia, diarrheal
illness and other common childhood disorders.
There has been a gradual trend toward urbanization in the
West—more people are moving from the country to the city. Some
believe that as this continues there will be a gradual increase in
infectious illness. Air pollution, traffic, stress and crowding may
act in concert to tax our immune systems.
149
Why We Get Sick
150
Heredity and Lifestyle
151
Why We Get Sick
Healthy Pleasures
Doctors tend to be risk managers. Usually that means they tell you
what to avoid in order to stay healthy. Indeed, this book is filled
with some of the same admonitions. But a question always arises
over why some people, despite horrible dietary habits, coffee con¬
sumption, late-night voyeurism, and altogether decadent lifestyles
seem to “get off” with little or no illness, while one who works
hard, eats right, sleeps well and takes vitamins is beset with health
problems. Chapter 7 may hold some of the answers because attitude
and emotional make-up play an important role. Yet there is more.
Is it possible that “going for the gusto,” taking pleasure in all of
life’s moments, exploring some of the “no-nos,” is the key to well¬
being? Is it possible that laughing at the world’s travails as well as
your own foibles, while ignoring the dogged realism of life pro¬
motes health? Could it be that chocolate is the way to happiness?
Robert Ornstein, Ph.D., and David Sobel, M.D., might argue
that the answer is “yes.” In their book Healthy Pleasures, they
write, “Many people today are concerned about living longer, feel¬
ing better, and having more energy, so there is a continuing demand
for good health advice. Still, something is missing from all these
recommendations, be they about nutrition, exercise, surgery, drug
therapy, meditation, or stress relief: the vital role of pleasure.
Healthy Pleasures proposes a new approach to the way women
and men manage their health. We believe that it can be done bet¬
ter with less effort and with much more fun.”
They state that “the healthiest people seem to be pleasure-lov¬
ing, pleasure-seeking, pleasure-creating individuals.” So, while we
share many ideas that help promote wellness, be aware that rigid
determinism and suffering for the cause of good health is not like¬
ly to bear fruit. The search for optimum health can be enjoyable.43
A Summary of Things to Do
In this chapter we have discussed just a few of the important factors
that influence our resistance to infection. There are certainly many
more. We believe that by adopting some basic changes in lifestyle,
one can enhance immunity. A summary of helpful things is below.
152
Heredity and Lifestyle
153
7
Mood, Mind,
Stress and Infections
“Our susceptibility to infectious disease ... has now been convinc¬
ingly linked to the way we cope with our life and environment.”
Blair Justice, Ph.D.
Who Gets Sick1
155
Why We Get Sick
156
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
157
Why We Get Sick
158
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
159
Why We Get Sick
160
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
161
Why We Get Sick
162
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
tion of T-cells in the thymus gland and the release of T-cells before
they mature. This combination leads to a gradual shrinking of the
thymus, the master gland of the immune system.
The effect of stress on immune function is not thoroughly under¬
stood. We do know that the nervous and immune systems com¬
municate in complex ways. Some compounds stimulate immune
function while others suppress it. Prolonged physical, psychologi¬
cal or social distress decreases immune vigilance and increases sus¬
ceptibility to disease by a variety of means. The most common
stressors include:
1. Biological Stressors: Bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeast,
mold and fungi.
2. Environmental Stressors: Noise, extremes of temperature,
extremes of humidity, lack of sunlight, excess sunlight, air
pollution, water pollution, traumatic accidents.
3. Emotional Stressors: Anger, hostility, cynicism,
resentment, fear anxiety, hatred.
4. Deprivation Stressors: Lack of humor, laughter, joy, love,
touch, fun, silliness, meaningful relationships, sleep,
exercise ...
5. Social Stressors: Crowding, world events, crime, racism,
war.
6. Family Stressors: Divorce, marriage, separation, death,
birth of child, changes in work status, abusive
relationships, changes in financial status, college.
Usually, one of these factors alone is insufficient to alter our
resistance to disease. However, when we accumulate stressors, our
resistance gradually declines, rendering us more susceptible to a
variety of ills, especially infections by organisms already present
in our bodies and environment.
163
Why We Get Sick
and verification of what has been known for centuries). Yet, as this
work progressed, a puzzling finding emerged. Some individuals,
despite innumerable stressors and tragedy upon tragedy, seemed lit¬
tle affected. What were the “mysterious” qualities that allowed
some to rise above the heavy hand dealt by fate and circumstance?
What allowed them to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds?
That story is unfolding today. It is clear that many human quali¬
ties are important determinants of whether we succumb to the rav¬
ages of stress or whether we “carry on.” As Larry Dossey, M.D.,
states, “We should always recall that, no matter how stressful the
event, we can always bring our attitudes, beliefs, and meanings to
bear on the situation and change its effects on us.”14
164
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
*Type-B people are certainly competitive and succeed to the same degree
as Type-A people. They are just not competitive to the extreme that Type-A
people are competitive.
165
Why We Get Sick
Consider the case of Bill and Beth. Beth was scheduled to have
major surgery the day after Christmas. A uterine tumor had caused
a number of chronic health complaints. Beth was eagerly await¬
ing removal of the tumor, anticipating that her health problems
would soon be solved. Her chronic illness, the stress of the holi¬
days and the impending surgery seemed a heavy burden—not to
mention the fact that most of her family was out of town, unable to
support her. However, her optimistic view of the likely outcome
minimized the impact of these stressors. She went into surgery
feeling reasonably well and recovered quite well.
Bill was a different story. It was Christmas and his wife was fac¬
ing major surgery. He would have to care for her and their small
children during the recovery period; he was not totally convinced
the surgery was best; he was worried about what else the surgeons
might find; and he was unfamiliar with surgical procedures. He
had no control. On Christmas Eve Bill came down with the flu
accompanied by two full days of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
By the day of Beth’s surgery, he had recovered sufficiently to go
to the hospital with her and offer support.
You might imagine that Beth had more stress than her husband
since she was to have surgery. Why then did Bill succumb to the
flu (a common stress reaction) while Beth remained unaffected?
Why did he appear to respond differently to stressful events that
similarly faced Beth? There may be several reasons. Beth had an
optimistic view of the outcome of her surgery. She perceived the
surgery as an opportunity to improve her health. Moreover, Beth
had more control—Bill had little. Control, real or perceived, is a
critical element in how we manage stress. It affects whether we
succumb to the forces of stress or whether we rise above them.
A remarkable study was performed to illustrate how profoundly
control affects us. Two groups of people were exposed to a very
annoying and stress-inducing noise. One group was exposed to the
noise with no means to reduce or control it. The other group was
told that if they pushed a button on the arm of their chair, the noise
would be reduced. Subjects in the second group were unaware that
the button had no effect whatsoever on the noise level. The stress
response of the two groups was dramatically different. The group
able to push the button, even though the button had no effect on
166
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
the noise, suffered far fewer symptoms of stress than the other
group. The reason: they believed they had control over their envi¬
ronment and the belief translated into real bodily changes.16
Perception of our own health status can have an equally dra¬
matic effect on our well-being. Researchers posed the following
question to 2,800 people over the age of 65, “At the present time,
how would you rate your health: excellent, good, fair, poor or bad?”
It was discovered that men who answered “excellent” were nearly
seven times as likely to be alive four years later than men in appar¬
ently similar states of health who answered “poor” or “bad.”
Women who answered “excellent” were more than seven times as
likely to be alive as similar women who answered “poor” or “bad.”
According to Dr. Ellen Idler, health and aging researcher at Rutgers
University, similar studies comparing self-perception with the results
of complete physical exams have led to similar findings in people of
all ages.1718 These findings suggest, in essence, that even though
two people might be similar in their “actual” physical health, one
who perceives his health as excellent lives longer and is healthier,
while one who perceives his health as “poor” or “bad” suffers more
illness and dies sooner.
167
Why We Get Sick
168
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
169
Why We Get Sick
170
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
Great Expectations
It is healthy to succeed as students, athletes, musicians, parents,
as human beings. To place high expectations on ourselves is natural
and generally beneficial. However, when expectations take the
form of demands or we fall far short of our expectations, the effect
can be negative. Parents who place unusual demands or expect
too much of their children may be setting the stage for lowered
immune function; likewise with spouses and co-workers.
Research conducted at Yale University by Stanislav Kasl and
his colleagues lends support to this view. They looked at the enroll¬
ment and medical records of West Point cadets. Contained in the
record was information about family history and background,
including personal and parental expectations. The investigators
were particularly interested in laboratory tests for Epstein-Barr
virus, the cause of infectious mononucleosis. They wondered why
some cadets infected with the virus became ill while others seemed
unaffected.
The answer appeared to lie in the psychosocial record. Kasl
found that the cadets who became ill shared three common fea¬
tures: The fathers were described as “overachievers”; the cadets
were strongly committed to a military career; the cadets were per¬
forming poorly academically. The combined effect of poor perfor¬
mance and high expectations seemed to increase the likelihood of
succumbing to infection. Surprisingly, as academic rank went down,
the severity of the infection went up.24
When our performance does not meet our expectations, it can
affect our health. To cope we must either work harder to improve
our performance or lower our expectations. In the above study,
cadets who did one or the other did not become sick or had rela¬
tively short illnesses.
171
Abuse and Illness
The rising tide of physical and emotional abuse in society is a sad
reality. We are only beginning to understand the many ways in
which humans are affected by abuse. One adverse effect of abuse
seems to be an increase in susceptibility to disease. Tamerra P.
Moeller and Gloria A. Bachmann of the University of Medicine
and Dentistry of New Jersey recently tried to assess the effects of
childhood abuse on the rate of illness in women. Their findings
showed that 53 percent of the women reported suffering one or
more kinds of abuse as children (physical, emotional or sexual).
The women reporting abuse were more likely to report symptoms
such as fatigue, insomnia and headaches. They also reported more
illness and required more hospitalization than did those not report¬
ing a history of childhood abuse.25
172
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
173
Why We Get Sick
strong social ties and links to Japanese culture, suffered from far
lower rates of heart disease than their Japanese cohorts who did
not retain such ties. This was despite a relatively high-fat diet, high
serum cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking and alco¬
hol consumption among many of the Japanese emigres.28
While strong social ties and a close-knit support network appear
to protect us from illness, there are obvious risks as well. Accord¬
ing to Robert Ornstein, Ph.D., and David Sobel, M.D., “... social
support is not a cure-all. Maintaining one’s health is not as simple
as four hugs a day or to smile and say ‘have a nice day’ to everyone.
In fact, relationships can have their negative side. The more fami¬
ly members or close friends one has, the more vulnerable one is
to experience the loss of a loved one. Relationships can be finan¬
cially and emotionally draining; just ask the spouse of an alcoholic
or children caring for invalid parents.”29
Even so, humans are by nature social creatures. We need inter¬
action and support from an inner circle of people who share our
ideals and with whom we can bond. We need a feeling of connect¬
edness to other people and to our environment.
174
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
175
The Power of Beliefs
Perhaps nothing illustrates the influence of mind over bodily func¬
tion more aptly than the placebo effect. Placebo means literally
“to please.” A placebo is a substance that lacks intrinsic or remedial
value, done or given to pacify or satisfy someone. It works because
the recipient believes it has value. The placebo effect has long been
considered a nuisance in medical research. It “gets in the way” of
our attempts to study drugs and medical procedures. Only recent¬
ly have scientists begun to investigate the implications of the place¬
bo response as it relates to how and why we become ill. In reality,
we should understand the mystery behind the placebo effect and
harness its power to our advantage, much like the shamans of old.
Two cases illustrate nicely the power of the mind working
through the placebo effect. Surgeons in Denmark performed an
endolymphatic sac shunt on 15 patients with Meniere’s disease, a
disease of the inner ear with symptoms of dizziness, deafness and
buzzing in the ear. These doctors also performed a placebo (some¬
times called “sham”) operation on 15 more patients suffering from
Meniere’s disease. After three years, roughly 70 percent of the
subjects in each group experienced almost complete relief of their
symptoms. According to the surgeons, the placebo effect was the
most likely cause for improvement in these patients. The patients
believed they were undergoing a beneficial surgery, thus there was
a favorable outcome.33 34
In another instance, a patient suffering from nausea was told
he would be given a new drug that would take care of his symp¬
toms. Without his knowledge, he was given syrup of ipecac, a sub¬
stance commonly used to induce nausea and vomiting. Within 15
minutes his symptoms disappeared.35 Beliefs can drive the immune
system so severely that some people with asthma suffer full-blown
attacks as a result of looking at artificial flowers.36
Beliefs are critical to the placebo effect. They are critical to the
healing response. When we realize that we have control over our
belief systems, we can begin to exert greater control over our lives
and over our health.
176
Giving Mirth:
Laughter May Be the Best Medicine
A short article about the health benefits of laughter appeared in
a 1990 issue of Mothering magazine with the title Giving Mirth?1 It
is a curious title because it associates laughter with the birth process.
Giving birth is a jubilant event that brings new life into the world.
When we give mirth, * we breathe new life into our cells, our mind,
our outlook. Giving mirth stimulates the senses. It relieves pain,
reduces stress. It helps us, if only temporarily, forget our troubles.
For some, giving mirth has literally meant bringing a new life
into the world. Norman Cousins, author of Anatomy of an Illness,
attributes his recovery from a “terminal” disease in part to laugh¬
ter. Hour after hour, day after day, Cousins viewed old comedy
movies. Through his laughter, he was able to give birth to a new
body and mind, from what was once a diseased and dying human
being.38
Researchers from all walks of medicine are beginning to rec¬
ognize the healing powers of humor and laughter. Lee S. Berk,
DHSc., M.P.H., of Loma Linda University, has discovered some
of the reasons why laughter so efficiently reverses the adverse
effects of stress. He has found that levels of adrenaline (epineph¬
rine) and cortisol drop significantly following a good laugh. This
results in relaxation of muscles and blood vessels and improve¬
ment in immune function. The research of Lee and others shows
that humor contributes to greater optimism, cooperation and social¬
ization—all aspects of a healthy self and a healthy society.40
Dr. Kathleen Dillon of Western New England College mea¬
sured the levels of salivary IgA (an immunoglobulin) concentra¬
tions in students before and after viewing humorous and
non-humorous video tapes. Salivary IgA is a substance that pro¬
tects against viral infections. Her work showed that those viewing
humorous videos increased their IgA levels, while those viewing
*The definition of mirth even sounds uplifting: Gladness and gaiety, espe¬
cially when expressed by laughter; rejoicing or enjoyment, especially when
expressed in merrymaking.39
177
Why We Get Sick
Illness As Metaphor
Jacob was a 7-year-old boy who developed recurrent sore throats.
His tonsils became swollen followed by general achiness and low-
grade fever. Throat cultures were always negative and his blood
counts were within normal limits. Jacob did not respond to the
antibiotics prescribed by his doctors. After two weeks his sore
throat would improve, only to return in another two weeks. This
cycle of recurrent sore throats went on for several months. Dr.
Schmidt saw Jacob and asked him to talk about his family, his
school or anything else that might be on his mind. After some time
spent building trust, Jacob revealed that he had recently changed
schools and was having a difficult time making friends. He was also
“picked on” and called names. Any effort to convey this to his par¬
ents was met with a blunt “Oh, it will get better Jacob, just try
harder.” He was never able to fully express the pain he experi¬
enced, nor was his distress acknowledged by his loving but over¬
worked parents.
Dr. Schmidt counseled Jacob’s parents on the importance of
allowing him to speak freely of the pain and frustration he experi¬
enced at school. The parents made a special effort to encourage
Jacob to talk about his experiences and helped him come up with
178
Mood, Mind, Stress and Infections
179
Why We Get Sick
tive diets, despite the most healthful lifestyle, despite the best of
intentions. We must be more understanding with ourselves and
recognize that imposing guilt is not a useful motivator. We can use
the information in this book as a reference point. From there we
should adopt the principles espoused by Sobel and Ornstein in
their book Healthy Pleasures. In essence, live a life of balance and
find pleasure in all you do. Show compassion, love and caring for
yourself. Realize that this life is a journey, and that illness is often
a teacher.
180
A Summary of Things to Do
1. Practice regular relaxation exercises or meditation.
2. Work at becoming more of an optimist. Optimists have
healthier immune systems, suffer from fewer infections
and are not as adversely affected by stressful life events.
They in fact experience fewer negative events. Pessimism
is reversible. Learn how to be an optimist. See Learned
Optimism by Martin Seligman, Ph.D.
3. Guard against cynicism and hostility. If you find yourself
reacting to events with hostility, stop yourself, take some
deep breaths and feel how your body is responding. Death
rates in people who are hostile, cynical or suspicious are
four to seven times higher than in people who are not.4445
4. Learn to express your feelings and emotions. Suppressed
anger, sadness, grief or other emotions can lead to
suppressed immunity. We all experience anger and sadness
and need to express it in healthy ways. Suppressed anger
has been associated with more frequent illness.
5. Take control. If you are in a situation that seems outside
your control, find little things over which you can exert
control. A sense of control seems to help our immune
systems function more efficiently.
6. Be willing to ask for and accept support from friends and
loved ones.
7. Find a sense of meaning and purpose in your relationships,
work and daily activities.
8. Learn to say “no” (when you need to) when others ask
for your help or services. While service and giving are
important parts of a healthy life, being unable to assert
yourself and claim your needs is not.
9. Keep a daily journal of your feelings, especially during
important life events. It gives the immune system a boost
that can be verified as long as six weeks after the journal¬
keeping has been discontinued.
181
Why We Get Sick
182
Natural Medicine
Vitamin C: Powerful
Preventive and Treatment
“Vitamin C has value in preventing and treating not only the com¬
mon cold and influenza, but also other viral diseases and various
bacterial infections. Its main mechanism of action is through
strengthening the immune system.”
Linus Pauling, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate1
185
Natural Medicine
Different Needs
Many of us know the RDA set by the National Academy of Sci¬
ences and the National Research Council hovers around 50 to 60
mg of vitamin C daily. The scientists who arrived at this dose knew
that an amount below roughly 20 mg a day could lead to scurvy.
By tripling this “minimum” they reasoned that no one could get
scurvy and no one would overdose. It was considered a “safe,”
generous and scientifically determined daily amount.
What the scientists did not realize was that there is an enor¬
mous difference between the clinical disease called scurvy and a
condition of optimum health: freedom from disease, sense of well¬
being, ability to handle the stressors of life, the energy to awaken
refreshed after seven to eight hours of quality sleep, and a cheerful,
optimistic ambiance. The researchers believed that if you did not
have scurvy, you did not need any extra vitamin C. They were con-
186
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
187
Natural Medicine
This work and more suggests that our individual needs for vit¬
amin C (and other nutrients) varies widely, and that increasing our
intake of vitamin C is protective against some of humankind’s most
devastating ills.
188
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
189
Natural Medicine
oral vitamin C were well in 25 days, while those treated with vaccine
were well in an average of 34 days. What was perhaps most impres¬
sive was that in roughly 75 percent of cases in which vitamin C was
started in the catarrhal stage, “the spasmodic stage was wholly pre¬
vented.”13
Much research has been done on the use of vitamin C and viral
infections. There have also been reports of vitamin C and bacteri¬
al infections. In one study a concentration of one milligram per
deciliter prevented the growth in culture of the tuberculosis bac¬
terium. Vitamin C has also been shown to inactivate other bacteria
including those causing typhoid fever, staphylococcal infections
and tetanus. It has also been shown to inactivate the toxins of
tetanus, dysentery, diphtheria and staphylococcus.141516
Vitamin C probably works by having a direct effect on certain
viruses and bacteria and also by boosting certain aspects of the
immune system. Dr. Pauling has reported that vitamin C is needed
for effective phagocytosis by white blood cells.17 Phagocytosis is
the process by which white cells (leukocytes) gobble up bacteria.
When white cells are high in vitamin C, they gobble heartily. When
they are low, they don’t. Members of a Scottish population in good
health on an ordinary Scottish diet were found to have slightly
more vitamin C in their leukocytes than was needed for proper
phagocytic activity. However, after contracting colds, the level of vit¬
amin C fell to half the original level and remained low for several
days. (This renders one more susceptible to secondary bacterial
infection.) Each was given 250 mg of vitamin C daily, but this was
not enough to raise the leukocyte levels of vitamin C sufficiently to
permit phagocytosis. It was discovered that six grams per day was
required at the beginning of the cold and one gram per day there¬
after to maintain phagocytosis at the appropriate level.18 Antibi¬
otics are often given to people with viral infections in an effort to
prevent secondary bacterial infection. According to Drs. Cathcart,
Pauling and Cameron, vitamin C can be helpful in limiting the
development of secondary bacterial infection—probably by stim¬
ulating phagocytosis.
In 1977, Dr. J. Asfora carried out one of the best studies on
the therapeutic benefit of vitamin C. One hundred thirty-three
medical students, physicians or clinic patients were given either
190
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
191
Natural Medicine
The father came back daily with her favorite flavor, vanilla,
but with a teaspoon of vitamin C powder (4,000 mg) in each dish¬
ful. In just four days the child was sitting up, eating and moving
about. She was discharged in another few days. The doctor signed
out the chart as a “spontaneous recovery from encephalitis.”
192
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
193
Natural Medicine
194
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
you may require more than Dr. Pauling. The key is to identify the
amount that is optimum for you, recognizing that the need can
change with seasons, sleep, illness, stress, eating habits and numer¬
ous factors mentioned earlier.
Deficiency Signs
Deficiency of vitamin C probably affects almost all body systems.
The most obvious and well-researched symptoms are listed below.
Not all symptoms need be present.
Bleeding gums Easy bruising
Fatigue Tiredness
Malaise Loose teeth
Depression Frequent infections
Irritability Poor wound healing
195
Is Vitamin C Safe?
Vitamin C is believed to be one of the safest substances that
humans ingest. However, many in the medical community contin¬
ue to criticize the use of vitamin C based on what now appear to be
erroneous conclusions. Critics of the use of vitamin C generally
cite a litany of complaints that focuses on four areas:
• Vitamin C is said to increase destruction of vitamin B12
contributing to the loss of this vitamin.
• Vitamin C is said to contribute to iron overload.
• A condition dubbed “rebound scurvy” is said to occur
when consumption of high doses of vitamin C is abruptly
stopped.
• Vitamin C is said to contribute to the formation of kidney
stones.
It is beyond the scope of this book to discuss each of these top¬
ics in great depth. However, a brief response to each of these asser¬
tions is warranted. We should first note that there has never been a
report in the medical literature of poisoning, death or hospitaliza¬
tion related to vitamin C use. This stands in stark contrast to the
many poisonings and hospitalizations related to over-the-counter
and prescription drugs reported each year.
In 1987, Dr. Jerry M. Rivers, then of Cornell University, wrote
a paper published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sci¬
ences entitled “Safety of High-Level Vitamin C Ingestion.” In this
extensive review of the available research, he comments on each of
the assertions mentioned above.27
Regarding B12 destruction: “The evidence has consistently
demonstrated that vitamin B12 in food and the body is not destroyed
by ascorbic acid.”
Regarding iron overload: “. . . it appears highly unlikely that
large doses of the vitamin would lead to excessive iron accumula¬
tion in the body.”
Regarding rebound scurvy: “The claim that abrupt cessation
of large doses of ascorbic acid will lead to scurvy because of con¬
ditioning [rebound scurvy] is not supported by the evidence.”
196
Vitamin G Powerful Preventive and Treatment
197
Natural Medicine
met with the greatest scorn of all. Despite all the published research
he presented to make his case, allopathic doctors refused to budge
from their comfortable antivitamin stance. Recently, the tables
have begun to turn. In 1991, the prestigious National Cancer Insti¬
tute (NCI) convened a conference on vitamin C and cancer.
According to Dr. Gladys Block, an epidemiologist in the Divi¬
sion of Cancer Prevention and control at NCI, vitamin C has been
shown to be protective against cancer of the lung, larynx, oral cav¬
ity, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas, bladder, cervix,
endometrium and breast, as well as childhood brain tumor. Of a
total of 47 studies, 34 found vitamin C to be protective against
these cancers. According to researchers, “If chance alone was at
work here, out of these 47 studies undertaken only one or two
would have proven to be statistically significant.” More dramatic,
people in the top 25 percent of vitamin C intake have roughly one-
half the cancer risk of those in the lowest 25 percent of vitamin C
intake.30
Morton A. Klein, health economist and former consultant to the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare, spoke with many of
the doctors and scientists after the conference. Many of them were
so intrigued with the findings presented at the conference that
“they intended to increase their personal daily intake of vitamin
C to 1,000 mg/day or more.”31
Now that such impressive work has been released on the
benefits of this simple but remarkable vitamin, perhaps the pio¬
neering work of Drs. Klenner, Cathcart and others regarding the
use of vitamin C and infections will be given a fresh and objective
look. When this occurs it is likely that vitamin C will be found to be
one of the most efficient antibacterial, antiviral and immune-boost¬
ing substances available.
198
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
199
Natural Medicine
200
9
Boosting Immunity Naturally:
Complementary Treatments
Old and New
“It is the body that is the hero, not science, not antibiotics, not
machines or new devices.”
Ronald J. Glasser, M.D.
The Body is the Hero1
201
Natural Medicine
202
Boosting Immunity Naturally
Echinacea. This is one of the most widely used and heavily stud¬
ied immune-boosting herbs in the world. According to Dr. Daniel
B. Mowrey in The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine, “Lab¬
oratory studies show that the herb increases the ability of white
cells to surround and destroy bacterial and viral invaders in the
blood. It stimulates the lymphatic system to clean up waste mate¬
rial and toxins, and it has definite antimicrobial activity.”3 In his
book Echinacea: Nature's Immune Enhancer, herbalist Steven Fos¬
ter summarizes many scientific studies conducted on the use of
echinacea in viral and bacterial infections. This herb has been used
effectively in bronchitis, whooping cough, tonsillitis, Candida infec¬
tions and viral upper respiratory infections. It was also shown to be
a 30 percent more potent T-cell stimulator than the most potent
T-cell stimulator known at this time.4
203
Natural Medicine
204
Boosting Immunity Naturally
205
Essential Plant Oils:
A Medical Breakthrough for Infection?
European physicians have been carrying out extensive research
into the use of plant oils in the treatment of infections. Plant oils are
biologically active components of the plant that are extracted
through a process called distillation or, in the case of citrus oil,
pressing. One of the advantages essential oils have over antibiotics
is that bacteria do not develop resistance to essential oils. It seems
almost too good to be true, but it appears that many of the antibac¬
terial plant oils work by interfering with the bacteria’s ability to
breathe.12 The bacteria literally suffocate to death.
Another advantage to essential oils is that some actually stim¬
ulate immune function. Thus, some are directly bactericidal, fungi¬
cidal and virucidal while others boost immune defenses.
The therapeutic use of essential oils is applied through a system
of treatment known as aromatherapy. The term “aromatherapy” is
used because these oils easily evaporate and it is often the vapors
(or aroma) that have therapeutic benefit. For example, eucalyp¬
tus oil can be inhaled to reduce spasmodic coughing. The oil of
Inula graveolens can be inhaled to treat heavy bronchial congestion.
Essential oils are also easily absorbed through the skin. Oil of
lavender, which has many active chemical constituents that boost
immunity, can be rubbed on the body whenever a cold, flu or bac¬
terial illness is going around. The oil is absorbed through the skin
into the bloodstream and boosts immunity. (These oils are absorbed
through the skin within 20 to 40 minutes—100 times faster than
water.)14 Illness can often be prevented in this way.
Drs. E. Gildemeister and F.R. Hoffmann wanted to test the
antibacterial and antifungal activity of common essential plant oils.
They used phenol as their reference point and assigned it an arbi¬
trary reference value of 1.0. If a plant oil was less antibacterial or
antifungal than phenol, it would receive a number less than 1. If
the plant oil was more antibacterial or antifungal than phenol, it
would receive a value greater than 1.0. Recall that phenol is an
antiseptic substance found in Lysol®, Pinesol®, Chloraseptic® throat
spray and other commonly used items. The findings were quite a
206
Boosting Immunity Naturally
Phenol.1.0
Lavender.1.6
Lemon.2.2
Citral.5.0
Clove.8.0
Thyme.13
Oregano.21
207
Natural Medicine
Oil of thyme, oregano and savory. These oils are often consid¬
ered together because they are similar in their potent action during
208
Boosting Immunity Naturally
209
Natural Medicine
To some it may seem odd that the oil of a plant would possess
such potent effects against infectious illness. Indeed, flowery names
such as rosemary and lavender conjure more an image of perfume
than a potent biological substance. But do not be deceived. Moth¬
er Nature has designed plants to produce substances that are help¬
ful in protecting them against predatory and parasitic insects as
well as the microbial world. It is the plant’s own form of defense.
These same substances have proven extremely useful in human
illness. With recent advances in chemistry, scientists are beginning
to unravel the mystery of why and how these plants act as such
potent healers.
210
Boostins Immunity Naturally
oils taken for extended periods may cause chronic toxicity. Con¬
sult a physician before using essences internally with small chil¬
dren or pregnant women. In his book The Art of Aromatherapy,
Robert Tisserand addresses safety issue in some depth, conclud¬
ing with this remark: “There is minimal risk of allergic reaction,
and no risk of toxicity if essences are prescribed in the doses given
for no longer than the period of time given. There is even less risk
when using essences externally... .”23 Anyone taking essential oils
who is concerned about safety issues should read Tisserand’s book.
211
Natural Medicine
Homeopathic Medicine:
Stellar History, Brilliant Future
While many people in the West are unfamiliar with homeopathy, its
use and popularity are growing worldwide. Homeopathic medicine
has historically been an effective means of combating infectious
disease. Dana Ullman, M.P.H., has written extensively on the use of
homeopathy. In a chapter on infectious disease, published in his
book Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century, he writes, “A lit¬
tle known fact of history is that homeopathic medicine developed its
popularity in both the United States and Europe because of its suc¬
cesses in treating epidemics that raged during the 19th century. Dr.
Thomas L. Bradford’s The Logic of Figures, published in 1900,
compares in detail the death rates in homeopathic versus allopathic
(conventional) medical hospitals and shows that the death rate per
100 patients in homeopathic hospitals was often one-half or even
one-eighth that of conventional medical hospitals.”24 25
Ullman continues, “In 1849, the homeopaths of Cincinnati
claimed that in over a thousand cases of cholera only 3 percent of
the patients died. To substantiate their results, they even printed in
a newspaper the names and addresses of patients who died or sur¬
vived. The death rate of cholera patients who used conventional
medicine generally ranged from 40 to 70 percent.”26 “The success of
treating yellow fever with homeopathy was so impressive that a
report from the United States Government’s Board of Experts dis¬
cussed the value of several homeopathic medicines, despite the
fact that the Board was primarily composed of conventional physi¬
cians who despised homeopathy.”2728
The following contemporary examples illustrate the value of
homeopathy in managing bacterial disease. In the mid-1970s, an
epidemic of meningitis was ravaging the children of Brazil. Amidst
the epidemic, physicians in that country gave a homeopathic prepa¬
ration of Meningococcus 10c (a homeopathic preparation of the
bacterium Neisseria meningitidis) to 18,640 children. Those given the
homeopathic preparation had significantly fewer cases of meningitis
212
Boosting Immunity Naturally
213
Natural Medicine
214
Boosting Immunity Naturally
Hands-On Healing
The laying on of hands has been a component of healing systems for
centuries. Certain forms of touch stimulate the body’s healing and
defense mechanisms. There is evidence that hands-on treatment
has an important role to play in prevention of illness as well as in
treatment during illness.
215
Natural Medicine
Chiropractic
One of the tools of the chiropractic physician is the adjustment,
or manipulation of the spine and the extremities.* Over the years,
chiropractic physicians have reported success in treating a variety
of conditions associated with bacterial and viral infection. Manip¬
ulation of the vertebrae has an influence on neurologic function,
lymphatic drainage, blood flow and muscle tension. Recent research
by Patricia C. Brennan, Ph.D., suggests that manipulation may
also have a direct effect on certain aspects of immune function.
Her group showed that when the thoracic spine (mid-back) was
adjusted, the respiratory burst cycle of white blood cells was
enhanced.31 Manipulation is thought to stimulate immune func¬
tion, in part by promoting the release of endorphins—long asso¬
ciated with improving immunity.
There is also a growing body of clinical evidence. In 19S/, Got¬
tfried Gutmann, M.D., a leading researcher in the field of manipu¬
lative medicine, reported on the examination and treatment of more
than 1,000 infants and small children using manipulation of the ver¬
tebrae. His findings reveal that many common ear, nose, throat and
bronchial disorders of childhood respond more favorably to adjust¬
ment of the vertebrae than to medication. He states, “If the indi¬
cations are correctly observed, chiropractic can often bring about
amazingly successful results, because the therapy is a causal one.”32
German physician K. Lewit, writing in a textbook of manual
medicine, reported that 92 percent of youthful patients with chron¬
ic tonsillitis had blockage, or misalignment, of the first cervical ver¬
tebra and the occiput (base of the skull). According to Dr. Lewit,
“After removal of the blockage [by adjustment of the vertebrae],
recurrence is absent.”3334 Pediatrician U. Mohr has reported on
cases of chronic tonsillitis in which tonsillectomy was planned.
However, after treatment of the functional disturbances of the
216
Boosting Immunity Naturally
Therapeutic Massage
Massage is another area known to promote healing. It is now being
used in hospitals throughout the world to reduce stress, aid in pain
control, improve circulation, promote relaxation and stimulate the
release of toxins that build up in the body. There is some evidence
that massage also enhances immune function. We reported in Chap¬
ter 6 on studies showing that when animals are massaged or handled
in infancy, they have better-developed immune systems later in life.
Massage also stimulates movement of lymphatic fluid through
the lymph vessels. This network is an important part of the immune
system and the system of elimination of toxins. Lymphatic vessels
have no muscles, thus the only way fluid can move is through mus¬
cle activity created by exercise, or by physically manipulating mus¬
cles through massage. Massage may enhance immunity, in part by
217
Natural Medicine
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is another form of healing that is being used to boost
immunity and improve resistance. In a 1991 issue of the American
Journal of Chinese Medicine published by the Institute for
Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine, it was report¬
ed that acupuncture stimulation increased some parameters of
immune function, (increased beta-endorphin in peripheral blood
mononuclear cells and increased T-lymphocyte proliferation to
mitogen). The investigators in this study concluded their paper by
stating, “Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the
immune system might be modulated by traditional acupuncture.”38
Acupuncture is also being investigated as a means to stimu¬
late immunity in people with AIDS and other immunosuppressive
disorders. Acupuncture is generally not used a sole means of ther¬
apy during times of lowered immunity or during infection. However,
it is being used concurrently with other therapies such as botanical
medicine to promote enhanced immunity.
218
Boosting Immunity Naturally
219
IV
Selfcare/Wellcare
10
Common Conditions
for Which Antibiotics Are
Prescribed: What You Can Do
Throughout this book we describe a variety of ways in which antibi¬
otics are misused or inappropriately applied. Many illnesses for
which antibiotics are used are common complaints that can be
managed with home care. Others may require antibiotics for a
brief period, but in such cases home-care remedies can also be
used to stimulate natural resistance and speed recovery.
Many conditions for which people seek medical care are relat¬
ed to allergies, viruses or inflammation and cannot be helped by
antibiotics. On the other hand, certain bacterial infections can be
serious and life-threatening and require antibiotics. It is difficult
for you to know precisely the cause of you or your child’s health
problems—that’s why there are doctors. However, as we showed in
Chapter 2, doctors are not always certain of their diagnosis. In
addition, doctors are inclined to use antibiotics, sometimes in spite
of research that suggests antibiotics might be of little help. That’s
why you need to be an informed consumer of health care. You will
be better able to protect you and your child’s health and your
pocketbook.
Dr. Sehnert has advocated for many years in best-selling books
such as How to be Your Own Doctor (Sometimes) and SelfcarefWell-
care the concept of the “Activated Patient” in which the patient
assumes an active role in the management of common health prob-
223
Selfcare/Wellcare
224
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
Acne
The Nature and Cause. Acne is the most common of all skin dis¬
orders. Males are more often affected than females. It usually
occurs in children, beginning at puberty and persisting through
adolescence. In some individuals, acne can remain a problem to
age 50 or 60. The cause is unknown, although doctors believe it is
due to problems in the sebaceous glands of the skin.
The Diagnosis. Pimples usually occur over the face, back and
shoulders.
Customary Treatment. Acne is usually treated with antibiotics
or with Retin-A® and with a topical steroid (cortisone derivative)
drug. Oral contraceptives are sometimes found to be helpful. The
antibiotics most often used include erythromycin and tetracycline
(Clindamycin®).
Complications. Cyst formation can be a problem. Permanent
scarring may also occur, especially in severe acne. Perhaps the
greatest complication is psychological.
Natural Remedies. Although certain individuals respond well to
dietary manipulation, many doctors consider this approach con¬
troversial. Numerous studies have shown zinc to be one of the
most important nutrients used in acne treatment. Amounts used
in these studies were generally between 90 and 135 milligrams dai¬
ly for one to three months (a doctor should be consulted before
using this amount of zinc). In addition to zinc, the following pro¬
gram has produced good to excellent results in 92 percent of
patients.12
1. Avoid inorganic iron (inactivates vitamin E).
2 Avoid female hormones (antagonistic to vitamin E).
3. Avoid extra iodine (can aggravate acne).
4. Avoid commercial soft drinks with brominated vegetable
oil (can make acne worse).
5. Avoid over 1 glass of milk daily (hormones in the milk can
aggravate acne).
225
Selfcare/Wellcare
* Information on the use of essential oils was provided with the assistance
of Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D., Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy, PO. Box 6723,
San Rafael, California 94903 (415) 479-9121.
226
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
227
Selfcare/Wellcare
228
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
store. Make sure the oils are listed as “genuine and authentic” as
there is a vast difference in the purity of essential oils sold to con¬
sumers.
Bronchitis
The Nature and Cause. The bronchi are the large breathing tubes
that lead from the trachea to the lungs. Bronchitis can be due to
bacterial, fungal or viral infection, or allergy. Exposure to particu¬
lates and pollutants can also contribute to irritation of the airway.
Both food allergy and airborne allergy can lead to excessive mucus
buildup in the respiratory tract. Symptoms usually include any
deep, chesty cough where there is no involvement of the actual
lung tissue. Pneumonia, on the other hand, describes a condition
where fluid accumulates in alveoli, or tiny air sacs, in the lungs.
Pneumonia should be treated by your doctor.
The Diagnosis. The doctor examines the lungs using a stetho¬
scope, observing for various respiratory sounds. Chest x-rays may
be taken to determine the severity of lung involvement. Sputum
(coughed-up phlegm) cultures are sometimes done to determine
whether bacteria or viruses are present. A blood test called a “CBC
with a differential” will probably be done. A CBC with differential
includes a count of the total number of red and white blood cells in
addition to their size and type. It also includes a test for hemoglo¬
bin, which gives some indication of iron status (though there are
better tests for this).
Customary Treatment. Antibiotics used in bronchitis believed
due to bacteria usually include tetracycline, ampicillin or trimetho¬
prim.
Complications. Complications of bronchitis, especially in older
individuals or children can be serious. In chronic bronchitis, res¬
piratory failure, pneumonia and cardiovascular problems can occur.
If congestion moves into the lung tissue pneumonia can develop.
Natural Remedies. Vitamin A deficiency can predispose chil¬
dren to infections of the respiratory tract. In a study of children
with measles complicated by pneumonia, those given vitamin A
recovered twice as quickly, had less croup and spent fewer days in
the hospital. In those treated with vitamin A, the risk of serious
229
Selfcare/Wellcare
230
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
231
Selfcare/Wellcare
signs that were much, much milder” than their counterparts receiv¬
ing placebo.14
Another product that has met with good clinical success in ter¬
minating common cold symptoms is Perque 1, an amino acid cap¬
sule that has free-radical quenching properties (Seraphim, Inc.)
Essential plant oils can be used to dramatically speed recovery
from the common cold. Eucalyptus radiata can be inhaled and
rubbed on the chest several times a day. If there is fever and joint
pain, take one or two drops of Ravensare aromatica by mouth every
4 hours or so. This oil often gives a tremendous burst of energy,
especially when used in the early stages of a cold.
Earaches
The Nature and Cause. Earache, or otitis media, is the most com¬
mon condition for which parents bring their children to the doc¬
tor. Sensitivity (or allergy) to food or airborne substances is a
common contributor to earaches. Dairy products such as milk and
cheese are common culprits. Infection by the bacteria Haemophilus
influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae accounts for the middle
ear problems of some children. Infection by viruses occurs in some
children, especially those who have been unresponsive to antibiotic
treatment. This is often accompanied by yeast/fungal infections as
an aftermath of broad-spectrum therapy.
Dietary and nutritional factors also play a role in the develop¬
ment of earaches. Zinc and vitamin A deficiency lead to changes in
the middle ear cells and contribute to the buildup of fluid. Con¬
sumption of the wrong types of dietary fats sets the stage for inflam¬
mation in the middle ear.
The Diagnosis. Diagnosis is based primarily on examination of
the eardrum using an otoscope. Tympanometry (electronic moni¬
toring of the eardrum) is more reliable and is also commonly used.
Physical symptoms are considered but are not a consistent indica¬
tor of the middle ear condition. Cultures of middle ear fluid are
the best way to be certain of whether an inflamed middle ear con¬
tains bacteria. However, cultures are rarely done because an incision
in the eardrum is required, and most doctor’s offices are not set
up to do this. The blood test CBC with a differential may be done,
232
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
but it does not indicate anything about middle ear status. Blood
tests are of little value in middle ear problems.
In one study of almost 4,000 children involving doctors from
nine countries, doctors were certain of their diagnosis of otitis
media in only 58 percent of children under one year of age.15 With
this great a margin of error, the possibility of prescribing antibi¬
otics to a child with no bacteria in the middle ear is quite high.
Customary Treatment. Antibiotic therapy is the most common
form of treatment for otitis media. Roughly 42 percent of all antibi¬
otics prescribed to children are prescribed for otitis media. Thera¬
py usually is recommended for 10 days. Recent studies have shown
that antibiotics may not be effective for many children with otitis
media. An article published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association in 1991 showed that children who received amoxicillin
for chronic earaches suffered two to six times the rate of recurrent
ear problems. Similar results were reported for Pediazole® and
cefaclor.16 In addition, the appropriateness of the 10-day course of
therapy has been questioned. Antibiotic schedules of two, three, five
and seven days have yielded results comparable to the typical 10-
day course.17’18’19’20’21
Experts point out that 30 to 50 percent of painful middle ears
contain no bacteria.22 Antibiotics would be of little use in such chil¬
dren. Moreover, up to 70 percent of children who have been unre¬
sponsive to antibiotic therapy or surgery have no bacteria in their
middle ears.23 24
The placement of tubes in the eardrums of children with recur¬
ring earaches is the most common surgical procedure performed on
children. A patient recently seen by Dr. Sehnert had had six sets of
tubes placed in his ears despite little evidence of any benefit. While
many doctors recommend this procedure, controversy surrounds its
use. In one study, children with two infected ears were treated by
placing a tube in one ear and leaving the other ear to chance. The
two ears were then compared over a five-year period. In the first
couple of months, the ear with the tube did slightly better. However,
beyond six months there was no difference in the two ears with
regard to fluid and rate of recurrent infections. In fact, there was
slightly more eardrum scarring and hearing loss in the ear in which
the tube had been placed.25 Similar findings were reported in a
233
Selfcare/Wellcare
234
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
There are many, many factors that affect middle ear problems in
children. The causes and practical solutions are discussed in depth
in the book Childhood Ear Infections: What Every Parent and
Physician Should Know About Prevention, Home Care and Alter¬
native Treatment, by Dr. Schmidt (North Atlantic Books, Berke¬
ley, CA 1990).
Fever
The Nature and Cause. Fever is the response of the body to inva¬
sion by an infectious agent. It is a beneficial sign that the body is
mounting resistance. Fever is not generally a cause for concern
unless:29
• It persists for more than three days.
• It occurs in a child under 3 months of age.
• It is associated with vomiting, listlessness or irritability.
• It is associated with neck stiffness or difficulty breathing.
• Your child is making twitching movements.
Fever can be caused by viral, bacterial, yeast/fungal or para¬
sitic infection. The degree of fever gives little indication of the
severity of the child’s condition (unless a high fever of 105°+ is
associated with poisoning or encephalitis). A low-grade fever with
few or no symptoms gives little cause for concern.
The Diagnosis. The diagnosis is made by thermometer. The
thermometer is taken orally, rectally or in the armpit. It is nearly
impossible to determine the degree of fever by touching the fore¬
head, face or other body part.
Customary Treatment. Acetaminophen (found in Tylenol®),
aspirin and antibiotics are commonly used to control fever. There
is a growing number of doctors who believe that fever should not be
treated or suppressed. In one study, children with chickenpox who
were given acetaminophen for the fever and discomfort recovered
more slowly than did those not given acetaminophen. The author
of this study, Dr. Timothy Doran, comments, “We should be advis¬
ing parents to treat the child and not the thermometer. If there’s a
fever, and they [the child] are not uncomfortable with it, there is no
reason to give it [acetaminophen].”30
235
Selfcare/Wellcare
236
Influenza (The Flu)
Nature and Cause. The common cold is sometimes compared to a
“drippy faucet,” while the flu is likened to Niagara Falls. The flu
is caused by a virus different from that of the common cold. The ill¬
ness is highly contagious and comes on suddenly. The time from
exposure to the onset of symptoms is only two to three days. Symp¬
toms include fever (two to four days), muscle aches, chills, headache,
loss of appetite, malaise and lethargy. Sneezing and coughing can
occur but are not as common as with colds. Influenza (along with
pneumonia, a common complication of influenza) is responsible
for more bed disability days than any other cause.
The Diagnosis. The diagnosis is made primarily based on the
symptoms listed above.
Customary Treatment. There is no medical treatment for
influenza. Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat bacterial com¬
plications should they occur. However, if antibiotics are used too
early, they can undermine the healing process. Vaccination against
the flu is often recommended for the elderly.
Complications. Influenza can result in serious complications in
some population groups, especially the elderly. Pneumonia is the
most serious of the complications. In the early 20th century, millions
of Americans died as a result of a particularly virulent influenza
epidemic.
Natural Remedies. Vitamin C (mineral ascorbate or esterfied
ascorbate) 1,000 milligrams per hour should be taken with the first
signs of the flu and continued until symptoms subside. Rest is essen¬
tial. Stay in bed for a few days. Drink plenty of fluids. You may
wish to soak in a hot bath containing oil of lavender and clary sage.
As with the common cold, the product Perque 1, two tablets or
more (up to five have been prescribed and found to be helpful)
three times daily, have a beneficial result.
The essential oil Eucalyptus radiata can be rubbed on the chest
and inhaled several times a day. One drop of Ravensare aromatica
can be taken occasionally by mouth to improve energy.
The homeopathic remedy Oscilococcinum can be taken sever¬
al times a day by mouth and is best taken within the first 48 hours
237
Selfcare/Wellcare
238
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
and compete with and kill many harmful organisms. The dosage
is usually V2 teaspoon in a glass of warm water three times per day
for children and two to three capsules (one to two teaspoons pow¬
der) three times daily for adults. Acidophilus or bifidus made by
Ethical Nutrients or by UAS Laboratory are of high quality.
Inner Strength® (also known as Probioplex®) is a food supple¬
ment that can thwart the activity of up to 17 different intestinal
invaders including the yeast Candida albicans,the bacteria E. coli
associated with travelers diarrhea and Shigella, associated with
dysentery. When taken with acidophilus, the activity of Inner
Strength® is enhanced many-fold. One teaspoon in a glass of warm
water three times per day is a common adult dose during illness. For
a child, V4 teaspoon three times daily. Inner Strength® is available
from Ethical Nutrients (971 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA
92672, 800-692-9400).
A child with diarrhea due to any cause should be given plenty of
fluids that are high in electrolytes. Dr. Leo Galland recommends
giving a drink made from one part fruit juice to two parts water
with a pinch of salt. This helps supply fluid, sodium, potassium and
sugar. (We generally don’t recommend extra sugar for children,
but during prolonged diarrhea it can be life-saving.) Also, give
your child a ripe, mashed banana. If the diarrhea is liquid, the juice
and banana should be given every ten minutes. As the diarrhea
becomes more firm, the time can be extended gradually.33
Post-Antibiotic Syndrome
The Nature and Cause. You’ll seldom find this illness listed in any
medical textbooks. Yet, many doctors are beginning to recognize
that the prescribing of round after round of antibiotics to children
and adults has resulted in a complex series of events that sup¬
presses the immune system while trapping the patient in a general
state of poor health. These individuals often suffer from problems
ranging from skin disorders to recurrent infections, from diarrhea
to depression.
The Diagnosis. The diagnosis is based in part on the history.
These individuals have often suffered from a bout of otitis media,
sinusitis or some upper respiratory problem (often viral) in early life
239
Selfcare/Wellcare
that was treated with antibiotics. The condition commonly did not
respond to one course of antibiotics, so another was prescribed.
This pattern continued for many months or even years. Throughout
this period, the true cause of the illness went unnoticed and there¬
fore untreated. Meanwhile, the adverse effects of the antibiotic
treatment itself were setting in.
Signs and symptoms fall into the following categories:
1. Intestinal (pain, bloating, flatulence, poor digestion,
diarrhea, constipation).
2. Allergic (food and airborne allergies).
3. Behavioral (irritability, depression, lethargy, chronic
fatigue).
4. Immunologic (susceptibility to recurrent infections).
5. Dermatologic (rashes, hives, yeast infections).
6. Respiratory (chronic cough, postnasal drainage, chronic
earache).
240
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
Rhinitis/Stuffy Nose
The Nature and Cause. The image of the “runny-nosed toddler”
with dark circles under the eyes and thumb in the mouth is proba¬
bly forever burned into the memory of most parents. It is not a
serious illness, yet it alerts you to the fact that something is not
quite right. For some children it can interfere with breathing and
disrupt sleep. In others it can be a prelude to earaches. Rhinitis is
241
Selfcare/Wellcare
242
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
sleep as well as that of the entire house if possible. Change the fur¬
nace filter every one or two weeks.
Sinusitis
The Nature and Cause. Sinusitis, or inflammation of the sinuses,
is one of the most common health problems in America, affecting
an estimated 2 million people annually. It occurs more commonly
in adults and less commonly among children. The maxillary sinus¬
es, located in the cheekbones, are most often affected. The frontal
sinuses in the forehead are the second most affected area in adults,
but in children are not affected until after age 10.
Sinusitis can be caused by bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoni¬
ae or Haemophilus influenzae), and less commonly by viruses and
fungi. Dental abscess is a cause of sinusitis in 10 to 15 percent of
adult cases.34 Allergy to food or airborne substances can lead to
acute or chronic sinus congestion as can exposure to cigarette
smoke. Indoor air pollutants such as mold, fungi and vapors
released from building materials are believed to be a common
cause of persistent sinus problems.
The Diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on symptoms that com¬
monly include sinus pain, congestion, nasal discharge, fever and
malaise that often follow an upper respiratory infection. Pain is
worse from bending over. Nasal cultures are of little value. Sinus X-
rays are taken if one does not respond to treatment or experiences
severe symptoms and is sicker than might be expected.
Dr. Sehnert teaches patients to test their sinuses with a simple
method he calls the “toe test.” This consists of firmly pressing the
tips of the second, third and fourth toes between your thumb and
index finger. Unusual tenderness on the left foot indicates sinus¬
es on the left of your face are likely infected. Tenderness on the
right spells trouble on the right. In many cases both sides will be
involved.
Customary Treatment. Most people with sinusitis are treated
with ampicillin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or cefa¬
clor. In children, ampicillin or amoxicillin are usually used. Curious¬
ly, in an article published in Primary Care, Dr. Howard Rabinowitz
states, “Uncomplicated sinusitis usually responds spontaneously
243
Selfcare/Wellcare
244
Teething in Children
The Nature and Cause. Teething is obviously a natural part of
childhood that requires no medical treatment. However, condi¬
tions commonly associated with teething such as earaches, stuffy
nose, coughs and colds often prompt parents to take their child to
the doctor. Teething-associated problems like those above almost
never require antibiotics. Yet a surprising number of doctors will
treat, for example, a teething-associated middle ear problem with
antibiotics. Left untreated, these types of problems usually heal
with no treatment. Natural remedies can be used to make your
child more comfortable without the adverse effects of antibiotics.
The Diagnosis. When you notice development of a cold, a stuffy
or runny nose, or an earache, first check to see if there is irritation
of your child’s gum tissue or teeth that are beginning to erupt
through the gums. This is especially true at six months of age with
the first teeth and again at one year when the molars begin to come
in. When a child cuts upper teeth, the nose is likely to run. When
the child cuts lower teeth there is often a cough.
Customary Treatment. Teething is not usually treated, but as
mentioned above, some doctors will treat the associated condi¬
tions with antibiotics. This is almost never necessary.
Complications. Complications from teething are rare. In some
cases, a teething-associated otitis media will persist and require
treatment.
Natural Remedies. When teething is associated with irritability
or earache, the homeopathic medicine Chamomilla should be used
4 times per day until symptoms are gone or irritable behavior has
stopped.
A tincture of the herb Plantago major can be placed on the
inflamed gum tissue three to five times per day. This not only helps
with teething discomfort, but also relieves ear pain associated with
teething. It occasionally eliminates the pesky diaper rash that fre¬
quently accompanies teething. Tea tree oil, or Melaleuca alterni-
folia, can be rubbed on the gums several times each day as needed
to help ease pain. It is also antibacterial and antiviral and may help
prevent opportunistic infections that sometimes accompany
245
Selfcare/Wellcare
Tonsillitis/Sore Throat
The Nature and Cause. Roughly 80 percent of sore throats are
caused by viruses against which antibiotics have no effect.38 Some
sore throats are due to streptococcal bacteria. These can be helped
by antibiotic treatment. Airborne allergy, food allergy, dry indoor
air, polluted indoor or outdoor air, cigarette smoke and perfume can
also contribute to sore throat. Cow’s milk consumption is one often-
overlooked contributor to chronic or acute tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis is rare in children under two. Beyond this, it can occur
at any age. Sore throat is common among adults of any age. Cough
and cold symptoms are less likely to accompany a bacterial sore
throat than a viral sore throat.
The Diagnosis. Diagnosis is made by feeling and observing for
enlarged glands on the neck just behind the angle of the jaw and by
observing enlarged glands in the throat.
Throat culture is the only reliable way to determine whether a
sore throat is due to strep. In a study of 222 people with sore throat,
doctors believed that 50.5 percent had strep infections. However,
culture results showed that only 13.5 percent were positive for
strep. Most of these patients would have been given antibiotics
needlessly.39 A positive throat culture is no guarantee that strep
bacteria are the cause of symptoms. Twenty percent of people in
good health harbor the strep germ in their throats normally.
Customary Treatment. Several different antibiotics are used to
manage sore throats. When antibiotics are used, the timing of treat¬
ment is important. When antibiotics are used in the first 48 hours of
a strep throat infection, the chance of a child suffering recurrent
strep infections increases by two to eight times. When antibiotic
treatment is delayed a few days, the risk of recurrent episodes
decreases. The down side of delaying treatment when there is a
positive culture is that the risk of complications (although small)
increases.40
246
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
247
Selfcare/Wellcare
20 drops savory oil, 20 drops thyme oil and five drops clove oil.
Place one drop of this mixture on a charcoal tablet and let dissolve
slowly in the mouth. Repeat three or four times a day.
These remedies should not be the only method used to treat a
streptococcal sore throat. They can be very valuable in viral sore
throats and to help relieve some of the discomfort associated with
a bacterial sore throat (even when antibiotics are used).
248
Common Conditions for Which Antibiotics Are Prescribed
249
In General
In addition to the specific recommendations above, the following
general strategies are often helpful.
1. Get extra rest.
2. Drink plenty of fluids.
3. Eat light if that is what your body feels.
4. Eliminate all dairy products.
5. Eliminate all sugar and processed foods.
6. Avoid cola beverages and other soda pop.
7. Avoid illicit or recreational drugs.
8. If you are on medication, especially cortisone or
antibiotics, see your doctor to make sure it is necessary.
These drugs commonly aggravate health problems. They
should be used only when essential.
9. Incorporate laughter and humor into your healing arsenal.
Remember, we usually succumb to infection for a reason. Use of
antibiotics alone rarely addresses the underlying reason one be¬
comes ill. The above home-care remedies can often be used with
great success when you become ill. Remember also to evaluate your
diet, lifestyle, emotional state, stress levels and other factors dis¬
cussed previously. If symptoms persist, see your doctor.
250
11
50 (or so) Ways
to Boost Immunity
and Avoid Antibiotics
This chapter is designed to show at a glance things that influence
infection-susceptibility and improve well-being. While no one can
guarantee that you will not succumb to infection by following this
advice, it is probable that you will increase your resistance. Each of
the items below has been discussed in previous chapters. For more
information on items of interest, please refer to the index.
Lists of “dos” and “don’ts” often seem like admonishments.
They may seem reminiscent of an authority figure depriving you of
free choice. That is not the intent here. As you read the points
below, keep in mind that the key is to invigorate your life with fun,
enthusiasm, joy, laughter and good health. Good health should
never be boring. It should be vibrant. You can follow the sugges¬
tions below and still satisfy your palate, take risks, stimulate your
mind, experience beauty, and have a good time. The key is common
sense, balance, moderation, compassion and listening to your body.
251
Selfcare/Wellcare
252
50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics
Lifestyle
• Get regular exercise, even if it’s only walking for 30
minutes each day. Remember, kids need exercise, too.
Those who exercise moderately are more resistant to
infection. Make sure the exercise is fun. Do it with a friend
if at all possible. Heavy exercisers can be more susceptible
to infection. If you are a heavy exerciser who gets ill
frequently, modify your workouts.
• Partake of a weekly or biweekly sauna (especially during
the high-risk winter months). It helps cleanse the body of
waste products and impurities and can cut the incidence of
253
Selfcare/Wellcare
254
50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics
255
Selfcare/Wellcare
Social
• Find a community with whom you share interests. Close
social ties are important to our resistance to disease.
256
50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics
Spiritual
• Give thanks for the gifts you’ve been given. Say a prayer
before you eat. Say a prayer before bed. Give thanks for
the blessings of the day. These things are inherent in all
religious traditions.
• In times of trouble, seek the solace of prayer and
meditation.
• Ask for prayers from others when you become ill. Pray for
yourself when ill and believe that it will be helpful.
• Recognize the sacred nature of our planet and the
creatures that inhabit it.
• Whatever your religious conviction, understand the
sanctity of seasonal rituals. Celebrate them and avoid the
commercialization that many have come to represent.
• Avoid rigidity. Rigidity or inflexibility in one’s beliefs may
translate into a rigid and inflexible immune system.
Remember, rigid routines were associated with increased
infection duration and severity.
257
When You Feel Illness Approaching
• Get extra rest. Failure to get adequate rest can slow
recovery and prolong illness. However, don’t lie around
all day. Some movement is important to recovery.
• Eliminate all junk food immediately.
• Eliminate all dairy products immediately.
• Eliminate all sugar (unless a child suffers from severe
diarrhea, in which case special recommendations are in
order).
• Slow down. Cut back your schedule, take time off work or
leave work early. Don’t be a martyr for work. Try to reduce
the stress in your life at that time.
• Begin to take extra vitamin C, zinc and other nutrients.
• Begin taking the herb Echinacea. It is a good immune
booster.
• Select the homeopathic medicine that best fits your
condition. This can bring you out of an episode of illness
with sometimes remarkable speed.
• Evaluate your life. Is sickness a signal that you need to
slow down or take better care of yourself? Is it a sign
you’re not attending to some of your basic needs?
• Don’t rely on doctors to solve your health problem. You
are the healer. Take charge of your health. Use doctors for
diagnosis and advice, but use their advice thoughtfully.
• Meditate using deep breathing.
Environment
• Limit your use of synthetic materials.
• Sauna regularly to help purge toxic compounds from your
body.
• Do a periodic cleansing of your internal body using the
Metabolic Clearing Therapy or some variation. Many with
258
50 (or so) Ways to Boost Immunity and Avoid Antibiotics
259
Selfcare/Wellcare
260
12
About The Healthier Options
Our goal in writing this book has been to show people ways to
build immunity. In building immunity, one minimizes the chances of
succumbing to bacteria, viruses and parasites to which one is
exposed. We hope we have conveyed a central point: given the
role of diet, nutrition, lifestyle, hygiene, genetics, environment,
attitude, stress and social factors in resistance to disease, does it
make sense to merely give antibiotics when infection occurs? Hope¬
fully this book will stimulate doctors and patients to view infec¬
tion and immunity in a broader context.
In the introduction to this book, we reviewed the options one
has in the care of illnesses for which antibiotics are often pre¬
scribed. The options are:
261
Selfcare/Wellcare
262
About The Healthier Options
263
Selfcare/Wellcare
264
About The Healthier Options
ing question. Most medical authorities would say publicly that you
should always follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding
prescription drugs and take them for the prescribed length of time.
Yet, if you simply accept your doctor’s advice passively, you have
given up your power as an important participant in the healing
journey.
Rather than saying “yes” or “no” when the doctor says “yes” to
antibiotics, you may wish to explore with her many of the ques¬
tions raised in this book. Are you sure it is bacterial? Are you sure
it is the right antibiotic? Should a culture be performed? Are there
alternatives to antibiotics? What are the risks if we don’t use them?
What are the risks if we wait one or two or four days? Are there
dietary or nutritional factors that need consideration? Should vit¬
amins be prescribed along with the antibiotic? Should acidophilus
supplements be given to minimize the intestinal effect of the antibi¬
otic? Could it be food allergy? Have you considered or investigat¬
ed the role of food allergy?
If the problem is chronic or recurrent, you are certainly justified
in getting another opinion or in seriously questioning the value
and safety of the antibiotics your doctor has prescribed. Be aware,
that when you approach your doctor with questions such as those
mentioned above, she may not respond in the kindest tone. Many
doctors do not wish to be health partners (although more are
becoming interested). But it is your health in question, not theirs!
Get all the answers you can.
So, should you say “no” when the doctor says “yes” to antibi¬
otics? No. Should you ask questions and try to find the most com¬
prehensive solution to your health problem? Absolutely.
265
Selfcare/Wellcare
266
About The Healthier Options
267
Selfcare/Wellcare
268
About The Healthier Options
269
■
■
Epilogue
271
Epilogue
272
Epilogue
273
Epilogue
274
Epilogue
used up in this process and more must be obtained from the diet.
Carotenoids and bioflavenoids are also important in this particular
system.
Glutathione is an antioxidant made of three amino acids that
protects against damage by peroxides and foreign chemicals. Super¬
oxide dismutase (SOD) is a trace mineral-dependent antioxidant
that protects against superoxide radicals. The list of important, inter¬
dependent antioxidants is becoming quite lengthy. It includes:
275
Epilogue
276
Epilogue
277
Epilogue
Lifestyle
In chapter 6, we noted that the lack of physical activity can lead to
sluggish immunity and that excessive physical activity can do like¬
wise. The evidence that overtraining can suppress immunity in ath¬
letes is growing. Just a few of those studies are listed below:
• Athletes are more susceptible to bacterial infections.20
• Elite swimmers are more susceptible to infections as the sea¬
son progresses.21
• In 530 runners followed for one year, infections were related
to weekly mileage.22
• Runners were twice as likely to suffer upper respiratory infec¬
tions following a race.23
• Distance runners lose more training days to infection than to
injury.24
This does not mean one should avoid exercise or that athletic
training is inherently bad. Indeed, when properly done, athletic
training improves immune function. Any athlete wishing to opti¬
mize the effects of training so that immune function is bolstered
rather than suppressed should do the following:
1. Avoid overtraining.
2. Tailor workouts to the level of fitness.
3. Optimize antioxidant nutrient status.
278
Epilogue
279
Antibiotics, the Gut, and Joint Disease
The effect of antibiotics on the intestinal tract (gut) has always been
a concern. There now appears to be increasing evidence that the
gut has an influence on the development of conditions such as
rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and other joint-related
diseases. Journals such as Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North Amer¬
ica are pointing out that alterations in the balance of intestinal bac¬
terial can lead to changes in permeability of the gut wall, which
allows food antigens and fragments of bacteria to enter the blood¬
stream. In some cases, the immune response triggered leads to white
blood cells attacking joint tissue. Excessive antibiotic use is cited
as one possible reason for such a disruption of bacterial flora.27
For example, ankylosing spondylitis is a crippling disease in which
the spinal joints fuse, forming what has been called a “ram-rod
spine.” People with this disease have been found to have overgrowth
of the gut bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae. Ankylosing spondyli¬
tis is generally considered unbeatable and progressive. Yet, certain
dietary therapies directed at the gut bacteria and gut permeability
now show some promise.28
280
Epilogue
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease deserves special consideration because it has been a
topic of immense public interest. It is also a condition in which
proper use of antibiotics can be enormously helpful, but improper
use can cause serious problems.
Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium called Bor-
relia burgdorferi. It is contracted by being bitten by an infected deer
tick. While the tick is attached it injects the bacteria into the human
bloodstream where it begins to do its dirty work. The first sign to
appear after being bitten by the tick is the appearance of a rash
called erythema migrans, usually from two to thirty-two days after
a tick bite or known tick exposure. This unusual rash commonly
begins as a small circle, and as the outer ring of the circle contin¬
ues to expand and retains a red outer border, it somewhat resem¬
bles a bull’s eye. Not all bites appear this way, however. Some
patients experience multiple skin lesions. Other symptoms may
include muscle aches, dizziness, heart palpitations, headaches, arthri¬
tis or joint swelling, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and symptoms
that may mimic many other conditions. Some patients describe feel¬
ing like they have the flu.
The standard treatment for confirmed Lyme disease is a ten- to
thirty-day course of the antibiotics doxycycline, amoxicillin, or amox¬
icillin plus probenecid for early infections.30 For severe cases, intra¬
venous antibiotics are often prescribed. Antibiotic therapy can be
281
Epilogue
282
Epilogue
have the disease and will not benefit from antibiotic treatment.”
They added that “underdiagnosis can be just as serious a problem as
overdiagnosis,” but emphasized that the greater number of patients
risk hazardous side effects from “antibiotics given for a disease they
do not have.”34
Experts say there is no simple conclusive test for Lyme disease.
There is also lack of agreement over how common the infection
really is. If you receive a positive test for Lyme disease you should
probably have it repeated just to be sure. There are many false pos¬
itives with these tests, and you would not want to undergo antibi¬
otic therapy needlessly. If the test is positive, you may benefit from
antibiotic therapy, especially if the infection is caught in its early
stage.
A test is being made available in 1994 that appears to be much
more accurate than previously available tests. In this test, fluid is
drawn from a swollen joint such as a knee. The sample is then mixed
with a DNA probe that matches a gene sequence of the Lyme bac¬
teria. This test is currently expensive, but it is said to be the most
accurate available.35
If your doctor confirms a diagnosis of Lyme disease based on
your history, symptoms, and laboratory tests the proper course of
antibiotics may be what you need. It is important that you recog¬
nize, however, that taking steps to optimize immune function is also
very important with this condition. You may wish to review some
of the factors discussed in this book and make efforts to build immu¬
nity in addition to antibiotic therapy.
283
Epilogue
284
References
285
References
Chapter 2: Antibiotics:
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
1. McKeown, T. The role of medicine: dream, mirage or
nemesis. Oxford University Press, 1976;391.
2. Dixon, B. Beyond the magic bullet: the real story of medicine.
New York: Harper & Row, 1978;64
3. Hume, ED. Pasteur exposed: the false foundations of modern
medicine. Australia: Bookreal, 1989.
4. Lappe, M. When antibiotics fail: restoring the ecology of the
body. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 1986:17-18.
5. McKeown, T.:391
6. McKeown, T.:62.
7. Kass, EH. Infectious diseases and social change. J Infect Dis
1971;123(1):110-114.
8. McKinlay, JB, McKinlay, SM. The questionable contribution
of medical measures to the decline of mortality in the United
States in the twentieth century. Millbank Memorial Fund
Quarterly Summer 1977;405-428.
9. McKinlay, JB, McKinlay, SM.:422.
286
References
10. McKinlay, JB, McKinlay, SM.:423.
11. Lappe, M.:18.
12. Weinstein, L. Infectious disease: retrospect and reminiscence.
J Infect Dis 1974; 129(4):480-92.
13. Anonymous. Those overworked miracle drugs. Newsweek
1981;8(17):63.
14. Schmidt, MA. Childhood ear infections: what every parent
and physician should know. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic
Books, 1990.
15. Welch, GH. Antibiotic resistance: a new kind of epidemic.
Postgraduate Medicine 1984;76(6).
16. Drug Information. American Hospital Formulary Service,
Bethesda, Maryland: American Society of Hospital
Pharmacists, Inc., 1986;218.
17. Thomas, WJ, McReynolds, JW. Haemophilus influenzae
resistant to penicillin. Lancet 1971;2:13-16.
18. Schwartz, R, Rodriguez, W, Khan, W, Ross, S. The increasing
incidence of ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae: a
cause of otitis media. JAMA 1978;239(4).
19. Schwarcz, SK, et al. National surveillance of antimicrobial
resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. JAMA
1990;264:1413-1417.
20. Crook, WG. The yeast connection. New York: Vintage
Books, 1986;133.
21. Cohen, SR, Thompson, JW. Otitic candidiasis in children: an
evaluation of the problem and effectiveness of ketoconazole
in 10 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1990;99:427-31.
22. Witkin, SS. Infections in Medicine. May/June 1985:129-32.
23. Crook, WG. Chronic fatigue syndrome and the yeast
connection. Jackson, TN: Professional Books, Inc. 1992;319.
24. Crook, WG.:340.
25. Bauman, DS, Hagglund, HE. Polysystem chronic
complainers. J Adv Med 1991;4(1).
26. Hauser, WE, Remington, JS. Effect of antibiotics on the
287
References
288
References
40. Hendrickse, WA, et al: 14-23.
41. Meistrup-Larsen, KI, et al:99-104.
42. The physician’s desk reference. Oradell, NJ: Medical
Economics Company, 1990.
43. Anonymous. Pediatric antibiotic use soars. Medical World
News 1987, November 9.
44. Skoner, DP, Stillwagon, PK, et al. Inflammatory mediators in
chronic otitis media with effusion. Arch Otolaryngol Head
Neck Surg 1988;114:1131-33.
45. Neu, HC, Howrey, SP. Testing the physician’s knowledge of
antibiotic use. N Engl J Med 1975;293:1291.
46. The physician’s desk reference.
47. Hart, K. Corporate-funded research may be hazardous to
your health. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist 45;3:1989.
48. Anonymous, Policing the page [Editorial]. Economist 1989,
June 3:119.
49. Cantekin, El, McGuire, TW, Griffith, TL. Antimicrobial ther¬
apy for otitis media with effusion (secretory otitis media).
JAMA 1991;266(23):3309-3317.
50. US Special Committee on Aging: Aging America. Trends and
projections. 1987-88 edition. U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services No. LR 3377(188)-D12198.
51. Kasper, JA. Prescribed medicines; Uses, expenditures, and
source of payment (Preview 9, National Health Care
Expenditure Study) Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, DHHS publication No. (PHS)
82-3320,1982.
52. Cummings, DM, Uttech, KM. Antibiotics for common
infections in the elderly. Primary care: infectious diseases
1990;17(4):887.
53. Lancet, September 27,1986.
54. Penn, ND, Purkins, L, Kelleher, J, Heatley, RV, Mascie-
Taylor, BH, Belfield, PW. The effect of dietary
supplementation with vitamins A, C and E on cell-mediated
immune function in elderly long-stay patients: a randomized
289
References
290
References
291
References
292
References
1985;ll(9):1348-49.
8. Nockels, CF. Protective effects of supplemental vitamin E
against infection. Fed Proc 1979;38:2134-8.
9. Willmott, F, et al. Lancet 1983;1:1053.
10. Freinberg, N, Lyte, T. Adjunctive ascorbic acid
administration and antibiotic therapy. J Dent Res
1957;36:260-62.
11. Schachner, L, et al. A clinical trial comparing the safety and
efficacy of topical erythromycin-zinc formulation with a
topical Clindamycin formulation. J Am Acad Dermatol
1990;22(3)489-95.
12. Campos, FA, Flores, H, Underwood, BA. Effect of an
infection on vitamin A status of children as measured by the
relative dose response (RDR). Am J Clin Nutr 1987;46:91-4.
13. Frieden, TR, Sowell, AL, Henning, KJ, Huff, DL, Gunn, RA.
Vitamin A levels and severity of measles. Am J Dis Child
1992;146:182-86.
14. Horrobin, DF. Essential fatty acids and the post-viral fatigue
syndrome. In Jenkins, R, Mowbray, J. (eds), Post-viral fatigue
syndrome. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1991;393-404.
15. Breneman, JC. Basics of food allergy. Springfield, Illinois:
Charles C. Thomas, 1978:8.
16. Anonymous. Says food allergy seems important cause of
otitis. Family Pract News 1991;21(5):14.
17. Crook, WG. Food allergy- the great masquerader. Ped Clin
North Am 1975;22(l):227-38.
18. Naunton, E. Miami Herald, 1988, Nov. 12.
19. Rowe, AH. Clinical allergy. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger,
1937.
20. Dostaolova, L. Dev Pharmacol Ther 1982;4(Suppl. 1):45.
21. Bogden, JD, et al. Zinc and immunocompetence in the
elderly: baseline data on zinc nutriture and immunity in
unsupplemented subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 1987;46(1):
101-09.
293
References
294
References
Chapter 5:
Environmental Threats to a Healthy Immune System
1. Speirs, RS, Roberts, DW, Hinsdill, RD, Speirs, EE. A holistic
approach to in vivo immunotoxicity testing. FDA 1980;55-59.
2. Hunnisett, A, Howard, J, Davies, S. Gut fermentation (or the
“auto-brewery”) syndrome: a new clinical test with initial
observations and discussion of clinical and biochemical impli¬
cations. J Nutr Med 1990;1:33-38.
3. Huggins, HA, Huggins, SA. It’s all in your head. Colorado
Springs: Self-published, 1985;41.
4. Summers, AO, Wireman, J, Totis, PA, Blankenship, J, Vimy,
MF, Lorscheider, FL. Mercury released from dental “silver”
fillings increases the incidence of multiply resistant bacteria
in the oral and intestinal normal flora. American Society for
295
References
296
References
297
References
298
References
299
References
300
References
301
References
302
References
Chapter 8:
Vitamin C: Powerful Preventive and Treatment
1. Pauling, L. How to live longer and feel better. New York:
W.H. Freeman, 1986:127.
2. Pauling, L. Vitamin C and the common cold. San Francisco:
W.F. Freeman and Co., 1970.
3. Carpenter, KJ. The history of scurvy and vitamin C. New
York: Cambridge University Press, 1986.
4. Bessley, J, Swift, J. The Kellogg report: the impact of
environment & lifestyle on the health of Americans.
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY: The Bard College Center, 1989.
5. Schectman, G, et al. Ascorbic acid requirement for smokers:
analysis of a population survey. Am J Clin Nutr
1991;53:1466-70.
6. Klein, MA. The National Cancer Institute and ascorbic acid.
Townsend Letter for Doctors 1991;12:967-70.
7. Beasley, J, et al. 1989.
8. Klenner, FR. Virus pneumonia and its treatment with vitamin
C. So Med Surg 1948;2.
9. Klenner, FR. Massive doses of vitamin C and the virus
diseases. J So Med Surg 1951;113(4).
10. Klenner, FR. Observations on the dose and administration of
ascorbic acid when employed beyond the range of a vitamin
in human pathology. J Appl Nutr 1971;23:3-4.
11. Klenner, FR. The use of vitamin C as an antibiotic. J Appl
Nutr 1953;6.
12. Kalokerinos, A. Every Second Child. New Canaan, Connecti¬
cut: Keats Publishing, 1981.
13. deWit, JC. JAMA 1950;144:879.
14. Stone, I. The healing factor: vitamin C against disease. New
York: Grosset and Dunlap, 1972.
15. Pauling, L. How to live longer and feel better. New York.
W.H. Freeman, 1986.
303
References
304
References
305
References
306
References
307
References
1991;324(22):1599.
5. Reid, G, et al. Vaginal flora and urinary tract infections.
Current opinion in Infectious Disease. 1991;4:37-41.
6. Schnaubelt, K. San Rafael, CA. Personal communication,
1992.
7. Hussey, GD, Klein, M. A randomized, controlled trial of
vitamin A in children with severe measles. N Engl J Med
1990;323:160-164.
8. Pinnock, CB, Douglas, RM, Badcock, NR. Vitamin A status
in children who are prone to respiratory tract infections. Aust
Paediatr J 1986 22:95-99.
9. Common colds: finally getting their due. Medical World News
1991;April:29:24-30.
10. Medical World News:24-30.
11. Wolfe, SM. Antibiotics. Health Letter. Washington, DC: The
Public Citizen Health Research Group, 1989;5(7):l-5.
12. Pechere, JC, et al. Infections: recognition, understanding,
treatment, Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1984.
13. Al-Nakib, W, et al. Prophylaxis and treatment of rhinovirus
colds with zinc gluconate lozenges. J Antimicrob Chemother
1987;20:893-901.
14. Medical World News:24-30.
15. Froom, J, Culpepper, L, et al. Diagnosis and antibiotic
treatment of acute otitis media: report from the International
Primary Care Network. Br Med J 1990;300:582-6.
16. Cantekin, El, McGuire, TW, Griffith, TL. Antimicrobial ther¬
apy for otitis media (secretory otitis media). JAMA
1991;266(23):3309-3317.
17. Chaput de Saintonge, DM, Levine, DF. Trial of three-day and
ten-day courses of amoxycillin in otitis media. Br Med J
1982;284:1078-1081.
18. Bain, J, Murphy, E, Ross, F. Acute otitis media: clinical course
among children who received a short course of high-dose
antibiotic. Br Med J 1985;291:1243-1246.
308
References
309
References
Epilogue
1. Bloom, BR, Murray, CJ. Tuberculosis: commentary on a
reemergent killer. Science 1992;257:1055-1064.
2. Berkelman, RL, Hughes, JM. The conquest of infectious
diseases: Who are we kidding. Ann Intern Med
1993;119(5):426-427.
3. Lederberg, J, Shope, RE, Oaks, SC, eds. Emerging Infections:
Microbial Threats to Health in the United States. Institute of
Medicine, Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 1992.
4. Chandra, RK. Effect of vitamin and trace element
310
References
311
References
312
References
34. Ibid.
35. Nocton, J. et al. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA by
polymerase chain reaction in synovial fluid from patients with
Lyme arthritis. N Engl J Med, 1994;330:229-34.
36. Lederberg, J, Shope, RE, Oaks, SC, eds. Emerging Infections:
Microbial Threats to Health in the United States. Institute of
Medicine, Washington, D.C., National Academy Press, 1992.
313
Index
315
Index
316
Index
and vitamin C, 187,188,192, Clindamycin, 27, 225
197,198 Clostridium dificile, 27, 34
Candida albicans, 5, 7, 27, 62, 65, Clove oil, 207, 248
109, 239, 241. See also Yeast Coenzyme Qio, 100-101,102
citrus seed extract and, 203 Cohen, M.L., 21
echinacea and, 203 Cohen, S., 161
garlic and, 203 Cold, 3, 4, 29, 45-46, 83, 99,119,
and immune suppression, 23 125,140-141, 263
thyme oil and, 207, 209 antibiotics, 231
and vaginitis, 248-249 eucalyptus, 209
Candida-related complex (CRC), garlic, 203
24 homeopathy, 214-215
Candidiasis, 208 massage, 218
Cantekin, E., 32-33 selfcare, 230-232
Cantharis, 228 stress, 160-161
Cassata, D.M., 159-160 vitamin C, 190-191,193,194
Castleman, M., 140, 205 Cold Cures (Castleman), 140
Cathcart, R., 190,193,198,199 Cold sores, 210
Cefaclor, 33, 233 Comprehensive Digestive Stool
Cefoxitin, 21 Analysis, 240
Centers for Disease Control Confession, 167-168,175
(CDC), 21 Conjunctivitis, 214, 215
Cephalexin, 28 Coping, 89-91,164-167,180
Chamomilla, 234, 245 Copper, 93,102
Chediak-Higashi disease, 132-133 Cortisone, 248
Cheraskin, E., 193,194,197 Cousins, N., 177
Chickenpox, 18, 64, 72, 213, 214 Cow’s milk, 69, 75-77,133, 232,
Childhood Ear Infections 238, 246, 261,264
(Schmidt), 19, 37, 76, 235 Cranberry, 53, 227-228
Chiropractic, 73, 216-217, 206 Crook, W.G., 23, 24, 36, 38, 56, 75,
Cholera, 13 95
homeopathy and, 212, 213 Cross Currents (Becker), 117
Vibrio cholera, 204 Crowding, 149
Chopra, D., 178 Cultures, 30-31, 47
Chronic fatigue syndrome, 73,101, Cummings, S., 215
114 The Cure is in the Kitchen
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the (Rogers), 95
Yeast Connection (Crook), Cypress, 246
24 Cystitis. See Bladder infection
Cigarette smoke, 117-118,123,
141-142,173 Dadd, D.L., 129
and vitamin C, 187,192 Dairy products. See Cow’s milk
Citral, 207, Day care, 149
Citrus seed extract, 202 Dentist, 40-42,115
Clary sage, 234 Depression, 114,125,139,193,195
317
Index
318
Index
Everybody’s Guide to 204, 238
Homeopathic Medicines, 215 Gilbert, W., 19
Exercise, 142-143 Gildemeister, E., 206
Expectations, 171 Glasser, R.J., 201
Eysenck, H.J., 155 D-glucaric acid, 126-127
Goldenseal, 204, 244
Family physician, 3, 50 Gonorrhea, 18, 20-21
Fat, 84, 95-96 Gutmann, G., 216
Fatigue, 6, 24-25,120,125,139,
142,194,195. See also Chronic Haemophilus influenzae, 8, 20, 21,
fatigue syndrome 121,132,232
Feed Your Kids Right (Smith), 37 Hagglund, H.E., 25
Internal Medicine News, 39 Flair analysis, 113
Fever, 15, 48, 72, 111, 138, 214, Hands-on healing, 215
230, 235-236 Hauser, W., 25
Fiber, 85-87, 95 Hazelnut oil, 242, 244, 249
Flagyl, 248 Headaches, 119,120,125,126, 263
Flax seed oil, 96,103, 205, 234 The Healing Herbs (Castleman),
Fleming, A., 19 205
Flu, 3, 46, 83, 213, 218. Healthy Pleasures (Ornstein,
See also Influenza Sobel), 152,169,180
Food additives, 28, 87-88,108,109 Heart attack, 161
Food allergy (and intolerance), Heavy metals.
74-79 See Environmental toxins
and antibiotics, 28 Helichrysum, 226, 249
causes of, 77 Hepar sulph, 215
common offenders, 75-76 Hepatitis, 191,194
and ear infection, 75 Herbal medicine, 202-205
and respiratory infection, 75 Heredity. See Genetics
symptoms of, 77-79 Herpes, 210
tests for, 78-79 Hoffmann, F.R., 206
and tonsillitis, 75 Hollwich, F., 139
and toxicity, 125 Holmes and Rahe, 157
Foodborne infection, 93-94 Homeopathic medicine, 212-215
Foster, S., 203 Hornig, D., 197
Free radicals, 192 Hospital, 21, 34, 38-40
Frieden, T.R., 72-73 Huggins, H., 114
Human and Experimental Toxicol¬
Galland, L, 24, 27, 80, 95, 239 ogy, 125
Gard, Z., 128 Hurley, L., 135
Garlic, 203-204 Hygiene, 136-137,140-141
Gattefosse, H.M., 207 Hyperactivity, 8, 36, 90
Genetics, 67,131-136 Hypericum triquetrifolium, 52
German chamomile, 236
Giardia lamblia, 7, 77, 87,110, Ibuprofen, 77
319
Index
320
Index
Lactobacillus acidophilus, 2, 22, Measles, 53, 72-73, 97, 214, 236
56, 66 Medical World News, 231
and B-vitamins, 22 Meditation, 145,150
and bladder infections, 228 Melaleuca alternifolia, 245, 249.
and fever, 236 See also tea tree oil
and foodborne infection, 94 Meniere’s disease, 176
and intestinal infections, Meningitis, 203, 212
238-239 Meningococcus, 212
and parasites, 27 Mercapturic acid, 126,127
post-antibiotic syndrome, Mercurius, 215, 247
240-241 Mercury amalgams, 113-115
and vaginitis, 37, 249 Metchnikoff, E., 13-14
Lancet, 8, 20, 72 Mind, 162
Langer, S.E., 92,134 Moeller, T.P., 172
Lappe, M., 16, 27 Mohr, U., 216
Laughter, 177-178 Mold, 118,120
Lavender oil, 206, 207, 210, 211 Mononucleosis, 199
Leaky gut, 22, 77 Moskowitz, H., 173
Learned Optimism (Seligman), Mothering, 177
170 Mowrey, D.B., 203, 205
Lemon oil, 207 Mumps, 214
Lemongrass oil, 207 Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 157
Leukemia, 202
Lentinus edodes, 52, 204. National Academy of Sciences,
See also Shiitake mushroom 117,187
Lewit, K., 216 National Cancer Institute, 10,187,
Licorice root, 204 188,198
Lidefelt, K.J., 36 National Institute of Allergies and
Life events, 156-157 Infectious Diseases, 19
Light, 138-140 National Institutes of Health, 10,
Lincomycin, 27 19, 32,151
Locke, S., 155 National Research Council, 186
The Logic of Figures, 212 Neisseria meningitidis, 212
Lymphatic system, 162 Neomycin, 27, 208
and chiropractic, 216-217 Nervous system, 162
and echinacea, 203 Neu, H.C., 21
and exercise, 142 Newberne, P.M., 69, 71
and massage, 217-218 New England Journal of Medicine,
33, 44, 227
McKeown, T., 11,15-16, 71,136 Niaouli, 211, 230
McKinlay, S.M. and J.B., 16 Nieman, D., 143
Macrolide, 231 Noise, 148-149
Magnesium, 27, 73, 90,103,113, Non-Toxic and Natural (Dadd),
128,139 129
Massage, 147-148, 217-218 The Non-Toxic Home (Dadd), 129
321
Index
Novobiocin, 27 Pediatricians, 3, 50,150-151
Nsouli, T.M., 75 Pediatrics, 49
Nutrition, Pediazole, 33, 233
absorption, 77 Pennebaker, J.W., 167
anti-nutrients, 87-88 Penicillin, 5,14-15,19, 20-21, 46,
and coping, 89-91 188, 203, 204, 207, 227, 231
and hospital patients, 39 Penn, N.D., 34
and immunity, 70-72 Perception, 165,166-167
and infection-susceptibility, 70-72 Pertussis. See Whooping cough
physician’s knowledge of, 51-52 Pessimism, 168-171
content of refined food, 86 Pesticides, 19,117,187
Nutritional Influences in the Cause Peterson, C., 169
of Infectious Disease, 71 Phagocytosis, 25, 63,190, 207
Nutritional supplementation, Phenol, 206-207
96-102 Phillips, C.J., 217
Nystatin, 37, 56, 248 Philpott, W., 90
Physicians,
Obesity, 82-83 diagnostic accuracy, 47-48
Obstetrician/gynecologist, 3, 50 knowledge of antibiotics, 48-51
Ochsner, G., 149 knowledge of nutrition, 51-52
Omega-3 fatty acids, 96,103 Physician’s Desk Reference, 30-31
Opening Up: The Healing Power Placebo, 176
of Confiding in Others Plantago major, 234, 245
(Pennebaker), 168 Please, Don’t Drink Your Milk
Optimism, 168-171 (Oski), 77
Oregano oil, 207, 208, 247 Pleasure, 152
Ornstein, R., 152,169,174,180 Pneumonia, 5,15,18-19, 21, 34,
Oscillococcinum, 213, 237 53,75, 97,120-121,191,
Oski, F., 77 229-230, 231, 237
Otitis media. Polymixin, 27
See also Ear infections Porter, R.R., 15
antibiotics as a cause, 4 Post-antibiotic syndrome, 239-241
and chiropractic, 217 Power, 172
and essential oils, 208 The Practice of Aromatherapy
and vitamin C, 193 (Valnet), 211
Prayer, 144-145
Paget, J., 146 Pregnancy, 37, 80, 82, 98,100, 111,
Paradox of antibiotics, 14-15 129,135-136, 204, 211
Parasites, 26-27, 77,110 herbs to avoid, 250
and essential oils, 210 Probioplex®, See Inner Strength®
and herbs, 202 Prontosol, 188
and homeopathy, 213 Prostatitis, 227
Pasteur, L, 14 Proteus, 203, 233
Pauling, L., 185,186,190,194-195, Psychoneuroimmunology, 180
197,198 Pullen, F., 76, 234
322
Index
Pulsatilla, 234 (SAD), 139
Pyrogen, 213 Sehnert, K.W., 52,138, 223
Selenium, 100,102,112,113,122,
Ravensare aromatica, 233, 237 124,128,129, 262
Recovering the Soul (Dossey), 267 Seligman, M., 169-170
Red meat, 95 Selye, H., 155,158
Relationships, 172-174 Shigella, 241
Relaxation, 150 Shiitake mushroom, 204
Remington, J., 25 Sick building syndrome, 118-120
Respiratory infection, 21, 36, 52, Silymarin, 129
72,75,120-122,140-141 Sinus, 3, 45, 83,141, 209, 217,
and echinacea, 203 243-244, 262
and eucalyptus, 209 Skoner, D.R, 31
and stress, 156-159 Sleep, 146-147,187
and thyme, 209 Smith, L.H., 37, 90,191
Rheumatic fever, 15, 247 Sobel, D., 152,169,174,180
Rhinitis, 241-243 Solomon, G., 180
Rhus tox, 213, 214 Solved: The Riddle of Illness
Ringsdorf, W.M., 197 (Langer), 92
Rivers, J.M., 196 Sore throat, 3, 47, 111, 121,
Roberts, D.W., 105 214-215, 246-248, 262.
Rogers, S., 95,117 See also Tonsillitis
The Role of Medicine Space, Time and Medicine
(McKeown), 136 (Dossey), 267
Rommelt, H., 207 Spectinomycin, 21
Rosa rubiginosa, 211 Speirs, R.S., 105
Rosemary officinalis (verbinone), Staph, 19, 27,190, 203, 204
230, 242, 244, 249 Staphylococcus aureus, 27,110,
Rowe, A., 78 204,207
Stitt, P.A., 84
Saccharin, 28 Strep, 9,18,19, 27, 47, 203, 204,
Sachs, B.C., 155 246,262
Salmonella, 30, 93, 203, 238 Streptococci, 27, 57,158
Salmonella newport, 8-9 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 21,
Sandler, B., 83 132,232
Sauna,127-128,137-138, 264 Streptococcus viridans, 110
Savory oil, 208, 211, 247 Streptomycin, 204, 207
Schmidt, Michael A., 19, 37, 69, Stress, 67
75, 76,138,178, 235 and common cold, 160-161
Schnaubelt, K., 207, 208 and coping, 164-167
Science, 19, 21 and immunity, 161-163
The Scientific Validation of Herbal and infection susceptibility,
Medicine (Mowbrey), 203, 205 155-160
Scurvy, 185,186,194,196 and laughter, 177
Seasonal affective disorder and massage, 217
323
Index
324
Index
and stress, 186 Weatherford, J., 137
and tetracycline, 72 Weinstein, L., 16
and vaginitis, 249 Werbach, M.R., 80
The Vitamin C Connection When Antibiotics Fail (Lappe), 27
(Cheraskin), 197 Witkin, S.S., 23
Vitamins, Who Gets Sick (Justice), 155,168
A, 34, 53, 71, 72-73, 80, 93, 97, Whooping cough, 15, 52,189, 203
101,123,124, 226, 228, 229, Williams, G., 69, 71
230,249 Williams, R., 134,174-175,187,
B-complex, 112,128, 262 199
B2, 93 World Health Organization, 61, 69
Bs, 93
Bs, 102 Yarrow, 236
B6, 93,102,123, 226 The Yeast Connection (Crook), 22
B12, 95,196, 226 The Yeast Connection Cookbook
D, 139 (Crook, Jones), 95
E, 34, 71, 93, 98,101,112,123, Yeast, 5, 31, 36, 37
124,128,129,141, 200, 226, description of, 46
249 vaginal, 23, 30, 38
von Pettenkofer, M., 13 Yellow fever, 212
Yogurt, 249
Walnut oil, 208
Walsh, J., 146 Zinc, 27-28, 71, 72, 80, 93, 99-100,
The Way of Herbs (Tierra), 205 113,123,14,128,129,135, 225,
Welch, G.H., 20 231,249, 261
325
'
.
About the Authors
Officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for
Disease Control have reported that the overuse of antibiotics in
medicine has created an epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Doctors fear that if antibiotic use is not curtailed, we may soon
approach the day when untreatable infections are rampant. In
Beyond Antibiotics, Drs. Schmidt, Smith, and Sehnert explore the
problems presented by the overuse of these drugs. More impor¬
tantly, they show how to build immunity, improve resistance to
infections, and avoid antibiotics when possible.
“A compelling book you’ll find hard to put down. This is truly a re¬
markable book!”
Doris J. Rapp, M.D., author of Is This Your Child?
ISBN l-55b43*lflD-5
5 1 8 9J
,T
e North Atlantic Books
Berkeley, California
9 781556 431807