|
.
Consequences of Antibiotics: Alternative Medicine for
Children
By Jake Paul Fratkin, OMD;
Published 07/28/2004
Western
medicine, brilliant and advanced in diagnosis and crisis
management, seems to limit itself in therapeutic choices for
common illnesses and injury. This is due to an over-reliance
in pharmaceutical medicine, whose choices are small,
expensive, and often with side effects. Western doctors are
hesitant to try or prescribe natural medicine alternatives,
due to lack of training and fear of reproach from their
fellow doctors.
Let's
compare this to the situation in
France
or Germany. In those countries, only medical doctors may
prescribe medicines of any type. Yet 50% of the doctors
include some form of natural medicine in their practice,
choosing from homeopathy, western herbs or acupuncture. A
graduate of a medical school is considered trained and
independent, and may pursue a variety of healing therapies.
Many practitioners are proud to be "village doctors", caring
for families from cradle to grave. They are open to
therapies that work, without side effect, based on their own
clinical experience and observation rather than hard
scientific evidence. This is not to say that they ignore or
belittle science, but they are willing to use medicines
without the hard evidence if it appears useful and not
dangerous. They call these "soft medicines" as opposed to
pharmaceutical drugs.
In China,
the availability of natural medicine is dramatic. With a
population of 1.4 billion, 40% of the people use clinics or
hospitals that are strictly Traditional Chinese Medicine –
herbal medicine, acupuncture or massage-manipulation.
Imagine a health care delivery system for 560 million people
using only herbs and acupuncture! The Beijing hospital where
I studied had 1500 outpatients every morning, each
prescribed Chinese herbs.
In the
United States, there exist health care professionals
offering therapeutic alternatives for pediatric conditions.
We have practitioners of Oriental medicine, like myself, who
prescribe Chinese herbal pills and tinctures and provide
pediatric acupuncture treatments. Naturopathic physicians
prescribe homeopathic medicines, western herbs, and
nutritional medicine, and chiropractors offer spinal
manipulation and nutritional support. Also, more and more
western medical doctors are studying and prescribing "soft
medicine". All of these offer benefit to children in acute
and chronic conditions, and I encourage parents to develop a
relationship with a practitioner of alternative medicine
having an expertise in pediatric treatment.
Does this
mean abandoning your conventional pediatrician? Absolutely
not. Western doctors are still the best trained in both
well-child assessment and as the gate-keepers for assessing
serious conditions that may require medical specialization
or hospitalization. Western doctors have more training than
practitioners of alternative medicine, namely seven years,
versus the four years of naturopathic or chiropractic
physicians, or the three years of an acupuncturist. (Some
acupuncturists will pursue one to four years of postgraduate
training).
The Consequences of
Antibiotics
Despite the
advanced training of western medical doctors, I have a
concern with the over reliance on pharmaceutical drugs, even
for benign conditions. There is an overuse particularly of
antibiotics, which is given for all infections affecting the
ear, throat, lungs, urinary tract, skin or gums. Clearly,
80% of these infections are viral in nature, and antibiotics
are not destroying the real viral pathogen. Antibiotics
provide relief of symptoms in many viral infections,
including inflammation, phlegm production, and malaise,
because they inhibit white blood cell activity which
triggers these natural responses. However, by inhibiting
white blood cell production, they lower the body's natural
immune response.
There are
three serious consequences of overuse of antibiotics. The
first, recognized by western medicine, is the mutation of
bacteria into drug resistant offspring. When you hear of
"super-bacteria" in the media, it means that there are
bacteria impervious to all of the known antibiotics. Science
keeps searching for new and stronger antibiotics, although
researchers know that these too will become obsolete in a
short time. The rampant application of antibiotics, both
through medicines and more importantly through the food
chain (chicken, beef, eggs, milk and dairy products) are
potentially creating mutant pathogenic bacteria that can
seriously affect the health of our whole population.
The second
consequence, unacknowledged by the typical doctor, is the
damage done by antibiotics to the body's overall health. We
have about five hundred different species of beneficial
bacteria in our small and large intestines. These bacteria
do the lion's share of digesting toxins that the liver dumps
from the blood, neutralizing the caustic effects of secreted
bile, and providing enzymatic cofactors so that beneficial
nutrients from food can be absorbed across the small
intestine wall and into the blood. When we take antibiotics
for a pathogenic microbe, we destroy all of the beneficial
bacteria of the intestines. By doing so, we actually become
malnourished because we cannot efficiently transport
nutrients into our blood. This happens no matter how
nutritious our food is or how many vitamins we take.
As for bile,
it is a necessary substance to detoxify poisons in the liver
and acts as a lubricant to carry poisons out of the liver
and into the small intestine. Good bacteria convert the bile
into harmless salts, but without these bacteria, bile is
caustic and irritating to the large intestine lining.
Chronic use of antibiotics, I think, is a contributing
factor to our modern epidemic of colon cancer.
The third
consequence, unaccepted by the typical doctor, is the damage
caused by the growth of the fungus Candida albicans
following antibiotic use. Antibiotics not only clear
beneficial bacteria from the intestines, but they change the
pH, providing a cool alkaline environment conducive to
fungal growth. Candida grows rapidly and inhibits the
re-establishment of beneficial bacteria. The problem with
Candida, besides inhibiting the growth of beneficial
bacteria, is the secretion of a chemical aldehyde, which
irritates and ruptures the cells lining the small intestine.
This slowly but surely lowers the immune response in the
intestinal mucus, and allows infiltration of toxins into the
blood stream. This has come to be known as Leaky Gut
Syndrome, and significantly affects the body's immunity.
Studies in northern Europe have shown that children who have
taken antibiotics for an ear infection have a three-fold
increase in a second ear infection within six weeks than
children who did not take antibiotics. They also found that
children who take antibiotics versus children who have not
taken antibiotics for ear infection have the same rate of
recovery, and subsequently have recommended that children
not be given antibiotics for ear infection.
Leaky gut
syndrome, a direct consequence of antibiotics causing
Candida growth, is responsible for a steady infiltration of
toxins back into the body. I believe that it is a
significant contributing factor to asthma, chronic allergies
and chronic infections. I also believe it leads to food
allergies, because foods are absorbed before they are
completely digested, and are "tagged" as foreign by the
body's immune system.
Doctors
minimize the consequences of Candida growth by saying that
all people carry Candida, but not all people are ill. This
is because doctors do not utilize lab tests that quantify
the amount of Candida in the intestines. Low levels are
insignificant, but higher levels are associated with obvious
symptoms of illness. Unfortunately, there are half-dozen
labs in the country willing to do an accurate Candida count.
Where does
this lead? Do we deny ourselves antibiotics under all
conditions? Are we to avoid treatment for common pediatric
infections? The answer to both of these questions is no.
Antibiotics are an important medicine in the healing
arsenal, but given their consequence they should be
recognized as a heavy-duty approach for cases needing
hospitalization. These would include bacterial infections
that have entered the bloodstream, the bone, the spinal cord
or brain, or organs such as the heart or kidney. These
events usually exhibit high fever. Antibiotics are also
necessary in open wound trauma and following surgery.
Most pediatric outpatient cases that routinely are given
antibiotics involve the epithelia of the throat, ear,
sinuses, lungs, skin, and urinary tract. In my clinical
experience, Chinese herbal medicines in pill or powder form
are extremely effective for the viral or bacterial
infections affecting these areas. Western herbs and
homeopathics can also be effective. When possible,
consulting a trained practitioner is the best course, but
significant relief and control in mild or early cases can
happen with self-medication from the shelves of the natural
food stores.
Reprinted from the article library of the Holistic Pediatric
Association, educating health professionals and empowering
parents to create healthy, vibrant children.
http://www.hpakids.org
Who Moved My Cheese?
 Spencer
Johnson, MD is an internationally bestselling author whose books
help millions of people discover simple truths they can use to enjoy
healthier lives with more success and less stress. Other credits
include co-authoring The One Minute Manager, The Precious Present,
and Yes or No. Dr. Johnson’s books have been featured often in the
media, by (among others,) CNN, the Today show, Larry King Live, Time
magazine, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and the United Press
International.
|
“It is safer
to search in the Maze than remain in a
cheeseless situation.”
(Page 62) |
A
noticeably slim book, Who Moved My Cheese? is
distilled wisdom for today’s constantly shifting world.
It goes something like this: Two mice (Sniff and Scurry)
and two tiny people the size of mice (Hem and Haw) live
in a maze and spend their time looking for “cheese” to
make them feel happy and fulfilled. The story unfolds as
the characters, who have found and enjoyed cheese for
countless days, discover all at once that their cheese
is gone! Some immediately go to look for more cheese,
some will hesitate and demand it reappear. All along the
way, the (literal) “writing on the wall” of the maze
gives sage advice for dealing with change.
Read a book about
mice, cheese and minature people running around a maze looking for
cheese? Sound foolish? Well, it’s true that this isn’t a doctoral
dissertation, but take a closer look at the metaphors:
Cheese:
Whatever it is that you seek in life (such as stability,
comfort, money, prestige, etc.)
Maze:
Wherever it is that you look for your “cheese” (such as work, home,
community, etc.)
|
“Old beliefs
do not lead you to new Cheese.”
(Page 64) |
If you
give this book a chance – and it only takes an hour to
read – you quickly discover that you have been “tricked”
into psychoanlyzing yourself! How each character
responds is what’s really of note, as each one makes up
a part of our own personality. If nothing else, Dr.
Johnson has given us a wonderful opportunity to look
more closely at our attitudes, actions, and
expectations, as well as a way to wake up to our own
limiting beliefs and assumptions.
A quick read, as
enjoyable for adults as children, Who Moved My Cheese? is
worth its weight in gouda, or swiss, or brie…take your pick. Get the
book. Read the book. Before you know it, you’ll start referring to
issues in terms of cheese movement and life will never be the same!
___________________________
Ryan N. Harrison,
MA is a Holistic Health Educator/Consultant with a private
practice (http://www.BeWholeBeWell.com).
He has taught nutrition and holistic health for many years in both
online and traditional settings.
MOTIVATIONAL
TIPS
Graduate Profile
Aaron Hermanson, NC
 "My
name is Aaron Hermanson and I have been involved in the health and
fitness industry for the last 18 years, both as an athlete and a
fitness trainer. Most of my training and expertise was in the
fitness and exercise arena and for years I believed exercise was the
one main ingredient for a healthy lifestyle. Boy, was I wrong.
In early 2005, three different people
who I was either friends with or related to all had heart attacks.
Two died instantly and one lived. The one who lived is my father.
The two friends that died were very active physically and exercised
more than the average person. This was troubling to me because for
years I subscribed to the “all you need is exercise” philosophy. On
top of that, my father's doctors could not give him any advice other
than drugs and surgery. Any time he would ask questions about diet,
and supplements, these “experts” either heavily discouraged the idea
or admitted to not knowing anything at all. All of these experiences
combined motivated me to find more effective solutions to the ever
increasing health challenges that surrounded me. Obviously modern
medicine wasn’t the solution since their specialty was dealing with
people only after they were sick and ill. I have always been a
believer that drugs and surgery were not the answer to health and
wellness and so I began to investigate.
After many hours of research and comparison of tuition, faculty,
curriculum and student support I decided that the Global College of
Natural Medicine was the school for me. I enrolled in the
Nutritional Consultant program and was blown away right out of the
gate. Their materials are first class and very thorough, yet at the
same time, concise. Their student support is second to none.
Whenever I had questions, I was amazed at how quickly I received a
personal response from qualified, highly experienced faculty
members. I finished the program in 2005 and have had tremendous
success with my own personal consulting business. GCNM even gave me
effective ideas on how to promote my services and business. They
really do cover everything. I was so impressed with GCNM that I am
now furthering my education and services by starting the Holistic
Health Practitioner program. I could not be involved in a more
fulfilling career and with a more dedicated college. Long live
health!
Aaron Hermanson, NC, FT is a certified Nutritional
Consultant and Fitness Trainer with over 15 years experience helping
others achieve their best health. His passion is simple:
Helping others achieve total wellness. To contact Aaron, please call
(760)574-0069 or visit
www.LongLiveYou.com.
Top 10 Success Traits
By Brian Bartes
I am often
asked about the characteristics of successful people – the
qualities, traits and habits that make them successful. Those
who ask wonder (1) if there are indeed common habits or traits
that can be linked to success, and (2) whether they could
achieve some level of success by applying those qualities. The
answer to both questions is “yes!”
The characteristics below are not all-inclusive. But they are
all important, if not the most important, ingredients for
success. Here’s my list:
1. Dreams. Successful people are dreamers, and they dream
big dreams. Their success starts with a vision that is too
exciting to remain just a dream. Successful people must see
their dream materialize, and they do whatever it takes to make
that happen.
2. Enthusiasm. Successful people are extremely
enthusiastic about what they do. In fact, this passion is what
drives them to do what they do. And achievement toward their
dream feeds the enthusiasm even more. Not only will passion
drive you, but your enthusiasm will have a positive effect on
others, as well.
3. Goals. Nothing happens until a goal is established.
Without goals, people wander around aimlessly, wondering why
they have not accomplished their desired results. Goals have
been called “dreams with deadlines,” and having them helps
successful people to stay on course in achieving their dreams.
4. Decide. In order to be successful, you must decide to
do so. Almost all confusion is the result of indecision, from
not deciding on a course of action. Successful people decide,
recognizing that even to make a wrong decision is better than to
make no decision at all. They adjust, then stay the course.
5. Action-orientation. How many great ideas have you had,
but not acted upon? Then, two months later, you discover that
someone else has “taken” your idea. It is better to act on a
mediocre idea than to not act on a great one. Successful people
know this, and act accordingly.
6. Definiteness of purpose. Successful people know what
they want, and have a burning desire to possess it. They are
laser-focused on the achievement of their goals.
7.
Persistence.
Everyone meets with adversity, hardship and opposition.
Successful people use these setbacks as stepping stones, rather
than stumbling blocks, to propel them forward. Recognize that
defeat is temporary, and that persistence will overcome
adversity.
8. Surrounded by winners. Successful people surround
themselves with other successful people. Other “winners” can
serve as a support group, or an idea group. They can challenge
your thoughts, encourage you and provide useful feedback. And
you can do the same for them. In addition to friends and
colleagues, you can also utilize experts in your field by
attending seminars, reading books and listening to tapes.
9. Faith. Those who are successful expect success, and
believe that they will succeed. This confident faith in their
abilities, and in their ideas, removes the limitations created
by doubt and fear. When you believe, your mind will help you
find ways to accomplish your goal.
10. Integrity. Many would argue that people can be, and
have been, successful despite their lack of moral character. My
response to this is that, while they may be successful in a
particular area of their life, they are not “successful people.”
Sooner or later, the person who lacks integrity will suffer for
it. True success, in my opinion, cannot be achieved without it.
From
http://www.SelfGrowth.com; Brian Bartes is a top personal
and business success coach. His bi-weekly newsletter is filled
with strategies that support you in achieving greater success in
your personal and professional life. Subscribe today at his
website,
http://www.lifeexcellence.com . This article may be used
with the author’s name and website included. Please email a link
or forward a copy of the publication if published.
|
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health. Click here
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Holistic
healing will be the medicine of the future! As a
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With the
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Chef?
www.PersonalChefsNetwork.com
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Global Health Newsletter brought to you
by the
Global College of Natural Medicine,
Global Institute For Alternative Medicine
and
DrNatura.com Inc.
Wellness Protection
From the Inside Out
Flora
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Do you experience chronic constipation, gas, diarrhea or
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You may now know
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toxic by-products that contribute to long-term illness and
chronic degeneration of the body. “Friendly” bacteria (also
known as probiotics) favorably alter the intestinal flora
balance, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good
digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to
infection. People with flourishing intestinal colonies of
“friendly” bacteria are better equipped to fight the growth of
disease-causing bacteria.
Unfortunately,
bacterial infections, stress, traveling, antibiotic treatments,
poor diet and a number of other factors can and do disturb the
balance in our intestinal tract, resulting in a decrease in the
number of beneficial bacteria and an increase in “unfriendly”
bacteria. The result is a “sick” colon. And when your
intestines are sick, you definitely feel it.
A healthy colon
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Congratulations Graduates!
The Global
College of Natural Medicine (www.GCNM.com),
its faculty and staff, would like to extend heartfelt
congratulations to the following GCNM graduates!
Holistic
Health Practitioner Diploma
Joi-Ashli
Gibbs*
Martha Pendino*
Master
Herbalist
Certificate
Gloria J. Harrod
Beth LaQuay*
Denise Sumner*
Mary Tisland*
Lisa Wade*
Nutritional
Consultant Certificate
Deidra
DePree*
Pam Guerrieri*
Angela Karlan*
Connie Rutledge*
Bessie Washington*
* Director’s
List Honor Roll (95% or greater overall score)
Medical Freedom Alert
Our health freedom remains under siege. Please support the following organizations, which are at the forefront of those working to protect our rights:
Citizens for Health
http://www.citizens.org
(Sign their online petition to safeguard
health supplements.)
Institute for Health Freedom
http://www.ForHealthFreedom.org
International Advocates
for Health Freedom (IAHF)
http://www.iahf.com
Health Lobby (Monica Miller)
http://www.healthlobby.com.
Try this at home!
Fresh Tomato Soup
with Crispy Herb Toast
Serves:
2
Ingredients:
-
8 slices
whole-grain baguette
1/2 inch (12
mm) thick
-
1 tablespoon
chopped fresh basil
-
2 teaspoons
chopped fresh oregano
-
4 teaspoons
grated Parmesan cheese
-
4 tomatoes
-
2 teaspoons
olive oil
-
1/2 small
yellow onion, diced
-
1 tablespoon
tomato paste
-
11/2 cups (12
fl oz/375 ml)
-
1-percent
low-fat milk
-
1/2 teaspoon
salt
-
1/8 teaspoon
freshly ground pepper
Directions:
Preheat the broiler (grill). Arrange the baguette slices on a
broiler pan and top each slice with a sprinkling of basil,
oregano, and cheese. Place about 4 inches (10 cm) from the
source and broil (grill) until the cheese is melted, 45–60
seconds. Watch carefully to prevent burning. Set aside. Peel,
seed, and dice the tomatoes. In a large, heavy saucepan, heat
the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until
soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and
tomato paste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low
and simmer, uncovered, until the soup thickens, 20–25 minutes.
In a blender or food processor, purée the soup in batches until
smooth and return to the pan. Stir in the milk, salt, and pepper
and reheat gently. Ladle into individual bowls, garnish each
with 2 herb toasts, and serve
Nutrition Analysis:
Per serving:
calories
188
protein 8 g
carbohydrate 28 g
total fat 6 g
saturated fat 2 g
monounsaturated fat 3 g
cholesterol 5 mg
sodium 487 mg
(From
www.1stholistic.com/Recipes)
Please do not respond to this email directly.
If you have an inquiry please call 1-800-605-6520 or send email to:
administration@gcnm.com.
Board Certification
GCNM graduates qualify for Board Certification through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). The application will be mailed to you upon graduation from any of our programs. You may contact the AADP at 1-888-764-AADP.
The American
Naturopathic Medical Certification Board will provide Certification
to GCNM and GIFAM graduates. Certification is available for
graduates of the HHP, MH and CHN programs. Graduates may become
Board Certified in their chosen field by completing the application
process and submitting their official transcripts. Please contact
the ANMCB at 800-889-6103 for more information or email your
inquiries to
webmaster@anmcb.org.
| LIBRARY AND RESOURCE CENTER |
•
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values in the USDA National Nutrient Database
for Standard Reference.
•
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necessary tools to conduct research and to
present your findings.
•
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facts on hundreds of different fruits,
vegetables, nuts, seeds
and herbs.
•
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•
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continue adding new resources as they become
available.
Visit The Online
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and Resource Center today!
“People like you and I, though mortal of course like everyone
else, do not grow old no matter how long we live...[We] never
cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery
into which we were born.”
~ Albert Einstein
(in a letter to Otto Juliusburger)
|
ATTENTION MASSAGE THERAPISTS |
GCNM programs
are valid for
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Submit your natural health or nutrition related article to
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