Page 51 - Fall2011

Homeopathy Journal

Antibiotics pAve the wAy to chronic iLLness; homeopAthy restores heALth
by Joette calabrese, hmc, cch, rshom (nA)

My family and I live on fifteen acres in the His parents believe this latest bout is yet another
Boston Hills of New York where eighteen years isolated incident, and return to the doctor for the
ago we built our house and pond. We laid out next antibiotic. Again peace ensues. At least for
our land with an aim to keep chickens, ducks a while.
and bees while we raised our family. When we Within three months Sammy is revisited
embarked on this project we knew there was a with an ear infection again. Now he is prescribed
good deal at stake if we uprooted a stand of apple a more powerful drug with a daily dose for six
trees or buried a spring, so we were cautious and months. His parents are relieved that this will at
learned as much as we could before permitting last be the end of the ear pain and fever because
the powerful bulldozer to rearrange our land. they believe the stronger antibiotic can’t allow
So it is with our health and the use of an- an infection to survive.
tibiotics. Just as we knew that our decisions in Instead, the now sallow Sammy begins to
1994 would have repercussions on the terrain we have sharp stomach pains and obstinate con-
inhabit today, likewise we must consider what stipation accompanied by mild rectal bleeding.
the use of an antibiotic can leave in its wake, Again he visits the doctor, with a subsequent
decades, or even a lifetime later. No matter the stay in the hospital for invasive and scary tests.
arrangement, after a visit from the bulldozer, Nothing more is revealed than what the parents
the topography will never be the same. Once already suspect—that the antibiotics are causing
the bulldozer leaves, what is left behind must be a new illness. A stool softener and analgesic are
faced on a daily basis. prescribed, along with a muscle relaxant and a
prescription laxative. Sammy remains on the
OVER-RELIANCE ON ANTIBIOTICS antibiotic.
Along with vaccines, antibiotic therapy is Sammy is now on five medications, each
one of the cornerstones of modern medicine. packing considerable side effects. His ear in-
And yet, even research published in mainstream fections are likely not resolved since a large
medical journals consistently cautions against percentage of childhood ear infections return there is
their excessive use. There is escalating evidence repeatedly under this sort of treatment. Also, escalating
that the use of antibiotics, no matter how many in direct proportion to the amount of antibiot- evidence that
decades previous, often plays a leading role in ics, Sammy is no longer able to have a normal
the development of conditions such as colitis, bowel movement without the aid of medications. the use of
food intolerances, behavioral problems, and joint In fact, there is inflammation in the descending antibiotics, no
conditions such as ankylosing spondolitis and bowel that has caused bleeding. This is an ideal matter how
rheumatoid arthritis. site for an infection, which is exactly what hap-
Imagine, for example, Sammy, a normal pens to Sammy. He develops a rectal fissure that many decades
two-year-old. Sammy is not feeling well because subsequently becomes abscessed. previous,
he has an ear infection. His parents take him to But how could this happen? Isn’t he on a often plays a
the doctor who prescribes antibiotics. This isn’t daily antibiotic? The doctor explains that within
new to Sammy’s family since the same symptoms short order antibiotics become nearly useless leading role
were met with the same prescription the previous and stronger variants are required to keep the in the
fall. After administering the antibiotic, the ear infection from mounting. Sammy’s life becomes development
pain abates by the following night and Sammy a series of demoralizing medical appointments,
is well again. Or is he? Six weeks later, Sammy frightening invasive tests, pain and anxiety. of later
cries out in the night with ear pain and a fever. There is little joy for Sammy and his parents. illnesses.

Wise Traditions FALL 2011 FALL 2011 Wise Traditions 51

82725_WAPF_Txt.indd 51 9/15/11 2:01 PM