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Original poster

Antibiotics not working - has anyone had any success with alternative medicine??

35 replies

choucroutegarnie · 26/01/2009 22:50

Our little boy (4) has had a severe skin infection for nearly a year. It's been diagnosed as a bacterial (strep) infection but four courses of different antibiotics have failed. The paediatrician is now saying they are reluctant to prescribe any more - "we'll have to manage it somehow".

DS is in tears every night and every morning. It's very upsetting and frankly very worrying.

Has anyone had any success with alternative therapies where conventional medicine failed over a bacterial infection? I'd be really grateful for any clues.

Thanks

OP posts:
kitkatqueen · 26/01/2009 23:53

sorry can I ask 1st - has your son been swabbed and been given a result of bacterial strep?

nightcat · 27/01/2009 09:45

it could be a fungal infection, which you can treat topically with anti-fungal ointment

MrsBadger · 27/01/2009 09:46

agree - has there been a swab result?

if not I'd be reluctant to accept the diagnosis

and fwiw I'd go for herbal rather than homeopathic

Original poster
choucroutegarnie · 27/01/2009 14:39

sorry for the delay in responding. yes, there have been two swabs done in the past year, both confirming the step infection.

Interesting that you should recommend herbalism over homeopathy - now that I'm researching this, it seems to be the more effective way to go. But where on earth does one find a reputable herbalist?!

OP posts:
kitkatqueen · 27/01/2009 18:21

Unfortunatley the best way is through personal reccomendation.

You could try posting a thread asking for info on good herbalists in your area?

sorry - have you tried manuka? just a thought, worked on my dad when anti biotics wouldn't.

back on line l8r

Amester · 27/01/2009 19:03

You can find a herbalist on this website, the national institute of medical herbalists:

www.nimh.org.uk/

Original poster
choucroutegarnie · 27/01/2009 20:29

Fantastic, thanks for the tips. As it happens I talked to a colleague today who mentioned manuka, and i bought a tube on the way home. I gave it a go tonight - I figured I could not harm DS with a bit of sugar around his bum! At least it did not hurt.

If a miracle happens i'll report back...

OP posts:
walkinthewoods · 07/02/2009 11:32

Chocrout Has it worked? My dd4 has repeat Uti's and recurrent thrush (and worms atm ) I am currently trialling manuka.

believer07 · 07/02/2009 11:52

I bet your DC's body is having major candida issues after all the anti-bs.

I would get him off all yeast type foods, I would get him on a 'quality' pro-biotic.

I would include lots of garlic in his diet. My son often has crushed garlic mixed in butter on toast when he is ill.

An keep going with the manuka honey.

Get all crappy foods out of his diet, and cut out as much sugar as you can, it seems his body is unable to fight the infection and sugar basically ruins the immune system.

Ginger stimulates the liver to expel toxins so you could use some in cooking.

The anti biotics will have done alot of damage to your sons body, they should only really be taken in an emergency situation.

I would get this book here

blessings.

bruxeur · 07/02/2009 12:00

Could you tell me more about the following points, beleiver?

  • sugar ruins the immune system; do you mean simple or complex carbs, or only refined sugar? Or how about honey - quite sugary?

  • ginger stimulates the liver to expel toxins; how?

  • antibiotics will have done a lot of damage to OP's DS's body; this is quite a claim, and potentially very distressing - could you link to some proof please?

Kthxbye.

bruxeur · 07/02/2009 12:01

i before e, dagnammit - please ignore my alternative spelling.

believer07 · 07/02/2009 14:25

Ok I am going to post links.

Dangers of antibiotics here

believer07 · 07/02/2009 14:29

Sugar and the dangers to the immune system.

sugar

Please not that all statements are fully referenced from legitimate studies.

believer07 · 07/02/2009 14:38

ginger

My son had many ear infections and had lots of anti-bs in the end much the same as the op we had to give up and try more natural methods.

My son just had a heavy cold, he had no over the counter medicine, no calpol, just good immune boosting foods and drinks and plenty of bed rest, and prayer he got over it just fine. (glory to God)

SlightlyMadScotland · 07/02/2009 14:39

Hang on a minute.....

Yes antibiotics do actually kill "good bacteria" and they allow fungals to florish.

They won't have damaged his body though...but they could have changed the balance of flora that lives natually on and in his body...it is nothing that won't recover.

Yes Abtibitoics should only be used where necessary....but "in an emergency" isa bit of a strong and inaccurate phrase to use. They shouldn't be usedfor things that will naturally run their course without causing further problems....and in fact skin infections can be life threatenting (although there are different types, and they are not all as bad).

Sugar DOES NOT RUIN the immune system...in fact some parts of the immune system need a ready source of energy (of which simple sugars are the most readily usable by the cells that need it...)so in fact sugar feeds part of the immune system. BUT on the flip side sugar can actually feed the bacteria and fungus (which may be what you are trying (inaccurately) to refer to, so a balance is needed.

Finally - when did your DS last have a swap showing Strep? If he has had a swab they shouldbe able to tell inteh lab which ABs will be effective. If his Strep swab was a while ago it may be (as others have suggested) that the Strep has gone, only to be replaced by a fungal infection. The swab is the key thing here....and if this has not been done recently I would go back to DR (or even get a 2nd opinion) and ask for anew swab with AB testing for anything that grows.

believer07 · 07/02/2009 14:39

When I said damage, I meant supression of the immune system. wrongly worded, point taken.

SlightlyMadScotland · 07/02/2009 14:42

I have to go and do something....but I want to look at a couple of those sugar references in greater detail as that is the opposite of what I believe (with a better than average understanding of immunology)

SlightlyMadScotland · 07/02/2009 14:44

Believer...I can see what you are trying to say. Unfortunately I think a lot of your previous post is badly worded and potentially mis-leading/stretching the scientific truth. As I say I don't think it is all wrong...just a little distorted

believer07 · 07/02/2009 14:45

dont turn this into a witch hunt on me, the op asked for alterantive opinions. I have spent time and effort posting stuff, its up to the op to weed out want she wants, I am no expert I have just found what I have posted to be true in my experince. If you are a medical professional you will want to shout me down, the op asked for ALTERNATIVE views as the anti-bs had failed and the doctors had said they could do not more.. I am not up for a medical debate, I am responding out of care and attention.

BonjourTristesse · 07/02/2009 14:57

I think the op should ask for a referral to a paediatric dermatologist. If this has been going on for a year without improvement in spite of 4 courses of antibiotics, then it is something out of the ordinary and not necessarily within the scope of a general paediatrician.

BonjourTristesse · 07/02/2009 14:58

FWIW, my dd has absolutely no improvement with homeopathy for alopecia areata. Not the same at all, I grant you, but the experience does not drive me to recommend homeopathy.

noddyholder · 07/02/2009 15:04

Tea tree oil and salt baths are really good for this HTH x

believer07 · 07/02/2009 15:09

My husband has alopecia areata, he has had it for the last ten years, his patches are growing back with colour hair now, it seems to be impoving, he has had no treatment. I used to use homeopathy but have not for a while, I am trying to use foods and herbs etc to treat minor ailments and boost health, of course I would always seek medical help with serious conditions and take advice.

I used to have massive faith in doctors until I was misdiagnosed with an ectopic pregancy even after I had asked many times if I had had one, they would not believe me and I nearly died, I only got someone to help me by going private.

SlightlyMadScotland · 07/02/2009 15:30

Believer - I am not trying to lead a witch hunt against you. I was trying to add balance to what you were saying. We all have opinions and you are right it is up to teh OP to judge all of the opinions posted in reponse, and decide what she needs to do in response. My opinion is that what you have said is more extreme than the scientific supports. I don't think anything you have said is wrong, as I say just a little distorted.

The things you suggest are not going to be a mirical cure. Ginger may support the body in eliminating toxins...but they are not going to disappear overnight, and it is not going to do it on it's own.

I have just had a look at the whole reference which relates to sugar and the immune system which is available here. You are right too much glucose (and we are not just talking dietry glucose here, although obviously relevant) can inhibit the bacterial defense mechanism. But what it does say quite clearly in that paper is that inadequate glucose is actually worse...so removing sugar is more detrimental than not.

TBH, I think that the website (mecola) you are using for reference material is biased towards promoting alternative therapies and health without medical intervention (from what I can see of it around the regsitation box)....we all have to barr in mind that there are 2 sides to every argument; more than 1 way to skin a rat etc.... and we all just have differing opinions and experiences.

believer07 · 07/02/2009 15:43

sorry 4 being over sensative