Antibiotics are a staple of modern medicine and save millions of lives every year. But they can be harming the normal bacterial system our health relies on. As a Naturopath I talk with almost every patient about gut-based immunity, and how vital the microbes in our gut are for our day-to-day wellness.
It is now well known that antibiotics can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, create acute gastrointestinal side effects, and open up pathways for the development of chronic disease. If you have to take antibiotics, discuss how to mitigate the damage with your Naturopath.
Encourage a Flourishing Gut Environment
When pathogens or bad bugs overgrow and communities of beneficial bacteria are reduced, an inflammatory response is triggered and the intestinal mucosal barrier can be damaged in the crossfire.
Epithelial cell health and the mucus layer can be restored and strengthened by the presence of specific probiotic strains, helping to reduce inflammatory damage to the intestinal mucosa and protecting the commensal microorganisms that it houses.
This supports the hospitable environment needed to support beneficial microbial growth and reestablishment.
Protecting the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier is also essential for reducing bacterial translocation, minimising exposure to endo- and exotoxins, and reducing chronic inflammation that can contribute to chronic disease.
Improve infection resistance
An alternative strategy to encouraging judicious antibiotic prescriptions is reducing the need (or the perceived need) for antibiotics by improving immune system function.
For example, a large number of antibiotics are prescribed for viral upper respiratory infections when they are not indicated, which is in part driven by patient requests. In New Zealand and Australia approximately 50% of patients who were identified as having a cold or other upper respiratory infection were inappropriately prescribed antibiotics.
Specific probiotic strains can help to reduce the severity, frequency and duration of viral upper respiratory tract infections.
Optimising immune system function and improving infection resistance in the community may help to:
a) reduce the number of infections requiring antibiotics
b) reduce the number of patients requesting antibiotics for common viral upper respiratory infections
A Naturopathic Plan can support a healthy gut microbiome and a robust gut-based immune system.