Overuse of Antibiotics Weakens the Immune System

by Goodwill
(Pune, Maharashtra, India)

Hi, I am 26.5 years old. Even as a kid I have had a weak immune system. I used to have a bad cough and would get colds often.

As a remedy, my father always gave me some or the other antibiotic.

I once had whooping cough and another occasion I was told I had pharyngitis after which I was given an antioxidant tablet to be taken for 30 days twice a year.

Also, the doctor told me that I have become resistant to the antibiotics I used to take. He then changed the antibiotic that I used to take.

But this year has been the worst - it is actually the sixth or the seventh time I have had a bad cold, running nose, a feeling that my head is clogged with cough, and on some of these occasions a sore throat as well.

On each of these 6 to 7 instances of cold I have taken a recourse to eating antibiotics, but I think this is not the right way to do it.

I want to do something that is, if not permanent, at least a long-term fix for this poor immune system of mine.


ANSWER

Hi Goodwill,

Your doubts are well founded. Viruses are not susceptible to antibiotics, so taking antibiotics for colds and other virus-induced illnesses is completely unnecessary and actually hazardous to your health.

It's quite clear that overuse of antibiotics weakens the immune system.

And, as you have found out, it breeds antibiotic-resistant germs that are difficult to treat.

Antibiotics also destroy the good bacteria in your gut and are one of the main causes of candida infections.

Have you ever been told to eat yogurt or take probiotics after a course of antibiotics? Most doctors do not know to tell their patients this critical piece of information (see probiotics benefits).


If you haven't been supplementing with good bacteria after antibiotics, I would say with almost 100% certainty that you have candida overgrowth. These little organisms will suppress your immune system and must be eliminated first so you can get your health back on track.

If you haven't already, please read the guide I put together on candida albicans. It will give you much more information on this pathogenic yeast.

Systemic candida infections will also lower your body pH, so you'll want to test that too.

The product I recommend so highly for ridding the body of candida (found on my candida cure page) will not only kill off the excess yeast, but it also will balance your body pH, detoxify your body (candida releases lots of toxins), clean your colon, and reintroduce the good bacteria back into your gut.

I'm not sure if that particular product is available in India though, so you'll have to check with the company.

If not, you can certainly use other separate products that will do the same thing, but it just takes longer and tends to be more expensive.

If you just want something simple to kill off the yeast, try organic unrefined coconut oil. It is critical that you buy the right kind, because the processed oil is actually horrible for your health. See the buy coconut oil and coconut oil benefits pages for more information.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Best regards,

Melissa
How to Boost Your Immune System