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Debug Yourself NaturallyBy Dr. John Maher
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced. Consider the following:
MRSA Infection MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently in health care facilities. While Staph aureus (including MRSA) is commonly found in the nasal cavity, most are skin infections. These may appear as pustules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful or have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma such as cuts and abrasions and areas of the body covered by hair, including the back of neck, groin, buttocks, armpits, and bearded area of men. MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else's infection. Five factors make it easier for MRSA to be transmitted. These factors, referred to as the five C's, are as follows: crowding, frequent skin-to-skin contact, cuts (or abrasions), contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of cleanliness.
Unlike antibiotics, manuka honey destroys bacteria by drawing water out of the microorganisms by osmosis, research suggests. Bacteria have the ability to mutate and become resistant to elements that can destroy them. However, no bacteria can survive without water. That should prevent future Manuka-resistant strains from developing. Furthermore, all honeys produce an antimicrobial peroxide reaction upon application. Uniquely, Manuka honey contains high levels of the natural antimicrobial chemical methylglyoxal. Gels, foams, creams, sprays and bandages for personal protection and/or for wound healingare currently all available. While soaps, hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can be used for surface cleaning, a more natural approach is to use products based on environmentally friendly, nontoxic ingredients like silver ions and citric acid. Plus, it is important to use products that are long lasting, as that will make actual daily compliance much easier.
Healthy intestinal flora and fauna is also part of a robust immune system. An article in the May 8, 2006 online edition of The Medical News Today states "Current interest in probiotics is motivated ... by the increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria ... and the rise of consumers' demand for natural substitutes of drugs." M. Spigelman, a British surgeon, has a novel idea concerning probiotics and MRSA prevention: "[A]ny student who has grown bacteria in a lab will know that they (bacteria) generally do not grow on top of one another. So when we wash our hands, we could actually be killing off harmless commensals to the extent that we leave space for other bacteria, such as MRSA strains, to settle ... Perhaps we should be thinking about using probiotics and even dipping our hands after thorough washing into a solution which contains harmless bacteria, which could then colonize our skin and prevent pathogenic bacteria from settling on it." Unfortunately, I am not aware of any such probiotic hand treatment on the market as of yet. Strengthen Your Immune System Of course, your doctor of chiropractic will also emphasize the import of a healthy neuro-immune system through spinal adjustments , proper rest, recreation, hydration and nutrition. In regard to the latter, the minerals zinc and selenium and the vitamins A, C and D are perhaps the best appreciated. One might also consider nutraceuticals like mushroom and thymus extracts or colostrum, or even homeopathic remedies. As an example of the greater appreciation for the power of natural products, the American Society for Microbiology meeting in Atlanta in June 2005 included a presentation on a natural garlic extract, allicin, for treating MRSA. De-Bugging Is Anti-Aging As a closing thought, consider the following quote from Ronald Goldman, MD, co-founder of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine: "Chronic infection is a vastly underestimated cause of disease and disability. The public needs to be mindful that low-grade infections are estimated to potentially reduce the healthy human lifespan by up to 20 years, robbing them of a lifetime of bountiful energy, productivity, and happiness. Bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites may well be the single most important yet undiscovered cause of premature aging and the chronic degenerative disorders of aging that now plague Americans." Protect yourself from the flu virus, MRSA, and the countless other "bugs" out there by taking natural, common-sense steps such as those outlined above. Talk to your doctor for more information.
The Five C's of MRSA Transmission
John Maher, DC, is a chiropractor in current practice in Valley Center, Calif. He is also director of education and research for Nutragen, a nutritional supplement company. |
