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Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

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Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#11

Post by pmoriarty »

mechhacker wrote: post #5
ropiwqefjnpoa wrote: post #2

I get a winter sinus infection followed by a throat infection every year. Antibiotics was the only way to end it or I would end up bed-ridden. But the antibiotics really upset my gut. For the past two years, once I start getting sick, I take high dosages of oregano and thyme essential oil mixed in olive oil, about 100 drops over a whole day. Two or three days of this and it never fully develops. Oregano and Thyme oil…

I used to get sinus infections yearly and get antibiotics. I changed one thing: I stopped blowing my nose. That forces the infection deeper into your sinuses and Eustachian tubes.

I think excessive nose blowing can invite infections because a dry nose lacks the mucus which acts as a protective barrier. Nose blowing in moderation is fine, though, in my experience.

Nose picking can also lead to infection, because you're essentially inoculating yourself with whatever pathogens happen to be on your finger.

Aside from avoiding these, the things that have made the most dramatic difference for me is taking Vitamin D and getting flu shots.

Now I virtually never get sick, whereas in the past I'd pretty regularly get multiple colds and occasionally the flu pretty much every year.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#12

Post by vo2maxer »

Spooky23 wrote: post #8
dpflan wrote: post #4

I read a recent article [1.] about the state of the antibiotics companies. It was interesting and revealed how over-prescription, fear of over-prescription, and market economics have governed the fate of promising new drugs. [1.] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/25/health/antibiotics-new-re... I like the idea of bacteriophage therapy and would like to see this field researched more in the U.S. Here is an article about…

The current philosophy is bizarre. You get NPs and PAs who pretend to have never heard of secondary infections, refuse to prescribe antibiotics because virus, then you’re back in a week and they magically discover bacteria.

Diagnosing an infection is inexact in most outpatient settings. The healthcare provider takes into account a number of factors based on the history and physical exam. A rapid antigen test as is available for streptococcal pharyngitis makes it straightforward. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for many infectious conditions which end up being treated empirically. For example, most upper respiratory infections’ etiology is viral in both adults and children. It’s very reasonable to prescribe medication for symptomatic relief and reassure the patient that should discomfort continue or worsen, antibiotics may be considered. Even though this should be the standard of care, many physicians and extenders still overprescribe antibiotics mostly to move the visit along or satisfy the patient. A good explanation with evidence takes longer than just acquiescing to the demand.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#13

Post by mechhacker »

pmoriarty wrote: post #11
mechhacker wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to get sinus infections yearly and get antibiotics. I changed one thing: I stopped blowing my nose. That forces the infection deeper into your sinuses and Eustachian tubes.

I think excessive nose blowing can invite infections because a dry nose lacks the mucus which acts as a protective barrier. Nose blowing in moderation is fine, though, in my experience. Nose picking can also lead to infection, because you're essentially inoculating yourself with whatever pathogens happen to be on your finger. Aside from avoiding these, the things that have made the most dramatic difference for me is…

I definitely recommend Vitamin D as well. It's one of the only supplements that I use.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#14

Post by wavepruner »

davidw wrote: post #9
ropiwqefjnpoa wrote: post #2

I get a winter sinus infection followed by a throat infection every year. Antibiotics was the only way to end it or I would end up bed-ridden. But the antibiotics really upset my gut. For the past two years, once I start getting sick, I take high dosages of oregano and thyme essential oil mixed in olive oil, about 100 drops over a whole day. Two or three days of this and it never fully develops. Oregano and Thyme oil…

The thing about 'natural remedies'... is that if they're effective, there is some kind of active ingredient that does something . With proper research, you can figure out what it is, what it does, and hopefully how and why, and how to most effectively make use of it. That's what science and medicine are for. I get sinus infections with depressing regularity too, and it's awful... I feel very draggy, like I do the bar…

It's very difficult to effectively use some natural remedies at scale for a variety of reasons:

(1) They have a large number of active ingredients that are not cost effective to manufacture synthetically or isolate

(2) They have an active ingredient that is not yet possible to manufacture synthetically or isolate

(3) The active ingredient(s) are not shelf stable once isolated from the parent product

Lastly, and most importantly, natural remedies are not patentable. This means there is not enough money to get them approved for marketing as a cure for disease.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#15

Post by daxorid »

wavepruner wrote: post #14
davidw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing about 'natural remedies'... is that if they're effective, there is some kind of active ingredient that does something . With proper research, you can figure out what it is, what it does, and hopefully how and why, and how to most effectively make use of it. That's what science and medicine are for. I get sinus infections with depressing regularity too, and it's awful... I feel very draggy, like I do the bar…

It's very difficult to effectively use some natural remedies at scale for a variety of reasons: (1) They have a large number of active ingredients that are not cost effective to manufacture synthetically or isolate (2) They have an active ingredient that is not yet possible to manufacture synthetically or isolate (3) The active ingredient(s) are not shelf stable once isolated from the parent product Lastly, and most…

natural remedies are not patentable

Never underestimate the ability of our dystopian modernity to do precisely this. Amarin patented a specific variation of fish oil (one that is no more bioavailable than literally eating a fish, just more concentrated), branded it Vascepa, and the FDA approved it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarin_Corporation

I'm sure there are plenty more examples of this, but this is the obvious one that comes to mind.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#17

Post by [deleted] »

wavepruner wrote: post #14
davidw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing about 'natural remedies'... is that if they're effective, there is some kind of active ingredient that does something . With proper research, you can figure out what it is, what it does, and hopefully how and why, and how to most effectively make use of it. That's what science and medicine are for. I get sinus infections with depressing regularity too, and it's awful... I feel very draggy, like I do the bar…

It's very difficult to effectively use some natural remedies at scale for a variety of reasons: (1) They have a large number of active ingredients that are not cost effective to manufacture synthetically or isolate (2) They have an active ingredient that is not yet possible to manufacture synthetically or isolate (3) The active ingredient(s) are not shelf stable once isolated from the parent product Lastly, and most…

[deleted]

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#18

Post by ropiwqefjnpoa »

mechhacker wrote: post #5
ropiwqefjnpoa wrote: post #2

I get a winter sinus infection followed by a throat infection every year. Antibiotics was the only way to end it or I would end up bed-ridden. But the antibiotics really upset my gut. For the past two years, once I start getting sick, I take high dosages of oregano and thyme essential oil mixed in olive oil, about 100 drops over a whole day. Two or three days of this and it never fully develops. Oregano and Thyme oil…

I used to get sinus infections yearly and get antibiotics. I changed one thing: I stopped blowing my nose. That forces the infection deeper into your sinuses and Eustachian tubes.

It's not the nose blowing, it's the change to winter and dry air that does it. Humidifier in the bedroom at night helps a ton.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#19

Post by ropiwqefjnpoa »

dmaldona wrote: post #3
ropiwqefjnpoa wrote: post #2

I get a winter sinus infection followed by a throat infection every year. Antibiotics was the only way to end it or I would end up bed-ridden. But the antibiotics really upset my gut. For the past two years, once I start getting sick, I take high dosages of oregano and thyme essential oil mixed in olive oil, about 100 drops over a whole day. Two or three days of this and it never fully develops. Oregano and Thyme oil…

Any brand recommendations?

I use Young Living.

Re: Alternatives to Antibiotics: Why and How (2017)

#20

Post by ropiwqefjnpoa »

wavepruner wrote: post #14
davidw wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing about 'natural remedies'... is that if they're effective, there is some kind of active ingredient that does something . With proper research, you can figure out what it is, what it does, and hopefully how and why, and how to most effectively make use of it. That's what science and medicine are for. I get sinus infections with depressing regularity too, and it's awful... I feel very draggy, like I do the bar…

It's very difficult to effectively use some natural remedies at scale for a variety of reasons: (1) They have a large number of active ingredients that are not cost effective to manufacture synthetically or isolate (2) They have an active ingredient that is not yet possible to manufacture synthetically or isolate (3) The active ingredient(s) are not shelf stable once isolated from the parent product Lastly, and most…

I would also suggest a 4th: Natural Remedies sometimes take longer to work and they can be less convenient than a pill.
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