We all know that antibiotics are necessary in extreme cases of infection, but in the last twenty years, doctors have become more liberal with dosing, and even giving multiple doses in many cases. I won’t dispute their necessity, but I will suggest that you ask “is this necessary,” every time they’re offered to you. And I always always recommend taking a proactive approach to resetting your gut health afterwards.
I was scratched deeply by my own cat recently, and prescribed a double-dose of the most powerful antibiotics my doctor usually prescribes (or so she said), and I didn’t ask her if I should, because I know she’d say yes, but I know the right answer is “maybe.” I took the bottle of them home, and then along with me when I traveled 3 days later, but I never took a single pill. I’ve spent the last 10 years working very hard on repairing my gut health after two (three?) decades of once, twice, or thrice annual antibiotics for various illnesses and injuries. I wasn’t about to throw all that hard work on repairing my microbiome down the toilet and start over, if I didn’t have to. I used natural antibiotics internally and externally, and happy to say that the wound healed nicely and never needed any drugs.
I always liken our gut health to the soil health in my garden. After building up a very healthy biological landscape for my plants to grow in, I would never douse my garden with a pesticide that would kill everything. I don’t believe in “good” or “bad” microbes – all have a purpose. But we want to give the “good guys” (IE the ones that promote health, AND the ones that eliminate waste and bi products) as much of a fighting chance as possible.
So I always recommend to my clients not to make a habit of taking antibiotics if you can avoid it, but if you have to, here’s what I do to work on regenerating a healthy microbiome back into my digestive system. A healthy microbiome can mean all the difference in your physical, mental, and immune health, and is connected directly to much more than just physical “health.” It can control our happiness, clarity, emotions and inner peace as well. So it’s best to start working on repair as SOON as you can (even while you’re taking the antibiotics).
These are the probiotics I take and recommend because they have the most beneficial pro-and prebiotics for women (there’s a men’s variety as well that my husband takes). Probiotics are a nice fast way to repopulate the colony inside your belly. I take the 30 day supply after I’ve felt run down, sometimes 60 if I’ve had an illness, or up to 90 if I’ve had to take antibiotics. Then I give my body a rest, until I feel the need to go again. Herbal teas – hyper link to my teas page
Nettle, licorice, marshmallow, and slippery elm are my top four herbs for repairing gut health, but I also recommend my Everyday Health blend (link) and Shambhala blend (link) for those who are recovering from both an illness AND a round of antibiotics to give your body all it needs for herbal support.
Fermented foods
If you can make your own, even better, but if not, look for foods that are organic and rich in the prebiotic blend (sometimes labels will say). I recently made a batch of fermented cabbage and it’s delicious and I find it always great to have on hand, for prevention, or in a pinch if needed (like my Firecider!). You can ferment onions and garlic for gut health and immune health related to post-illness recovery; or herbs and veggies like cabbage, parsley, cucumber, and carrots for gut health related to a surgery-related recovery. Although trust your intuition and go with what appeals to you, because any and all plants fermented will help your gut health in the long run.
Kombucha and Kefir
Also fermented foods, these are drinks that you can make or purchase to continue to give your microbiome the variety it needs to start a new colony of “good guys.”
Diet
The gut health staple is diet – and for people who normally eat a plant-forward diet like myself, even they can notice a slip towards gut-cravings when their gut health slips – reaching for starches and sugars that the gut is calling for because it’s overrun with sugar-eating microbes like Candida. Try not to listen to your cravings as best you can and focus on eating as many plants in a day as you can. Focus on a fresh, alkaline diet for all three meals, and remove eggs, dairy, sugar and alcohol (except ONE glass of dark red wine if you must). Make sure you add in lots of garlic, ginger, cilantro, parsley, microgreens, and any other fresh herbs you’re drawn to as boosters for your gut health. Add in mushrooms and honey, and shoot for as locally grown as possible.
If all of that feels overwhelming as you’re recovering, my foundation for health has been supported by this Whole Foods Concentrate for over ten years and I’ll never go a day without it, as I consider it to be my “seat belt of prevention.” It’s 30 fruits and vegetables, picked at peak ripeness and ground into powders immediately, so it’s the freshest, most nutrient dense and the cleanest food in my house.
The last two suggestions are “extras,” not always something I include for myself, but in extreme cases, what I recommend.
Bentonite clay and or charcoal
Adding these two to your foods (just a dusting) can help to pick up the waste products from the “bad” gut bugs, which will “poop” their waste all throughout your system as they multiply. The cleaning out is important, and personally I do it with another product from the above Juice Plus line , a protein powder with 15 different “scrubby brush” plants that will pick up the waste as they move through your system. But if you’re not into using a protein powder, the clay or charcoal can work in a pinch.
Soaking in Epsom salts, or even just soaking your feet, can help to draw out the toxins, flush the inflammation, and reset the system. Add essential oils or herbs to the bath to help make it a relaxing, supportive, and nutritive experience.
In addition, if you like to schedule treatments and have any of these options within your community, I recommend red light therapy and detox foot baths as two therapies that I’ve found extra helpful for eliminating the things my body is holding on to unnecessarily.
As always, feel free to reach out to me with your questions or to schedule a consult for additional help as you move through your detox and restoration! Please check out our Toxic Truths series to continue to detoxify your life!
Andy
