An article published in The American Journal of Medicine reported on the ability of some antibiotics to alter the immune response. Tetracycline was shown to inhibit the ability of white cells to engulf and destroy bacteria (phagocytosis) and to delay the ability of white cells to move to the site of infection. Sulfonamides inhibited the microbiocidal activity of white cells. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole inhibited antibody production. Similar action of numerous antibiotics was reported.

     Antibiotics have also been shown to increase the likelihood of repeat infections. In one report, children with strept throat who were given antibiotics experienced a rate of recurrent infections two to eight times higher than those not receiving antibiotics. An article in The Journal of the American Medical Association showed that children with chronic earaches who received antibiotics experienced two to six times more middle ear effusion than those receiving placebo.

     The use of antibiotics often results in increased susceptibility to intestinal infection by fungi, bacteria, viruses and parasites because antibiotics drastically alter the balance of intestinal organisms.

NATURAL ANTIBIOTICS

     Oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, or Australian tea tree oil, has some of the widest- ranging antimicrobial properties of any plant. In one study of childrens ear infections, doctors found a mixture of essential oils to be more effective than neomycin. Tea tree oil may be dripped directly onto wounds.

     Echinacea herb kills a broad range of disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi and protazoa. It contains a natural broad spectrum antibiotic, Echinacoside. Echinacea boosts the macrophages ability to destroy germs and increases production of T-cells.

     Goldenseal herb has strong antibiotic properties. It has a long history of use in infections including bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic. Staph, strep, E. coli, Vibrio cholera, Giardia lamblia,and even tuberculosis bacterium have proven sensitive to this herb.

     Garlic is a powerful antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial herb. In a study reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, it showed that one milligram of the major garlic constituent, allicin, may be equal to 15 standard units of penicillin.

     Licorice root is antibacterial, antiviral and antiinflammatory. In one Japanese study, strains of Staphylococcus aureus that proved resistant to penicillin and streptomycin were inactivated by licorice root extract.