Infection Prevention

All infections are potentially life-threatening. No infection should ever be taken lightly or ignored.

by Dr. Larry Wilson — 

Many people are concerned about the growing threat of infections that seemingly strike at random and do not respond well to drugs. These include: MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the flesh-eating bacteria that has recently been in the news, and new strains of drug-resistant sexually transmitted diseases.

Basic principles of infections

1. Strengthen the host. This is the key to solving the problem of infection.

Infections are milder in healthy people. We know this is true because when two people are exposed to the same germs, one often fares better than the other. The most important way to prevent an infection and to eradicate it is to strengthen the host.

2. All infections are potentially life-threatening. No infection should ever be taken lightly or ignored.

The above statement applies to even a simple cold, flu or diarrhea. For example, because many people do not enjoy going to the dentist, they may ignore tooth pain, which can indicate an infection. This is a very bad idea. In fact, I believe that all root canal-filled teeth will become infected at some point and that these problem teeth should be removed. Additionally, cavitations, which are pockets of bacteria left in the mouth after dental extractions from other procedures, should also be cleaned out and removed.

3. Treat infection by acting quickly and aggressively, using natural methods.

All infections can worsen quickly with potentially life-threatening consequences. Do not delay treatment. The natural methods listed below are safe and, if used correctly, can be started immediately with positive results.

4. Use antibiotics as a last resort, not as a first-line treatment.

In my opinion, natural methods used to handle infections are often just as effective as antibiotics and are much less toxic.

Problems associated with the use of antibiotics include:

• Liver, kidney and bowel toxicity
• Reduced ability to eliminate aluminum — a very prevalent and commonly found toxic metal in the body
• Development of resistant strains of bacteria
• Intestinal yeast infections and many other complications

5. Always use more than one natural method to combat infection. Use them quickly, aggressively and in large enough quantities.

Natural therapies work together to strengthen the host, remove poisons and improve immunity. Use the highest strength of any natural remedy you select. Most are very safe, and taking a little more is better than not taking enough. Aggressive approaches are by far the best.

Always follow the course for at least five days or more. After symptoms are completely eliminated, continue for an extra day or two to be sure a relapse does not occur.

6. If you cannot combat the infection on your own, seek help immediately. Never delay treatment if you feel the infection is out of control. For example, appendicitis is rare, but it does occur and often requires surgery. Any delay can elicit complications, but will rarely cause death. Be vigilant with any infection. If you feel you need antibiotics, use them. However, because they can be more toxic to the body in the long-term, they are not my first choice.

Do not worry excessively if recovery proceeds slowly. It can take a week or two, or even longer, at times. A nasty infection can easily take a month to resolve completely. Rest a lot, drink plenty of fresh spring or carbon-only filtered tap water, and use your remedies and natural methods to help speed up the process.

Treating acute infections

1. Rest — At the first sign of infection, rest in bed as much as possible. Do not go to work. Children should stay at home in their pajamas, not playing rambunctiously outside.

2. Diet — Eat light with simple nourishing foods or fast  solely on water for a day or two. Chicken soup is superb for many people when ill. Lightly cooked vegetables are excellent, too. Rice is also a good choice. I do not suggest fruit or fruit juices, as they are very yin in Chinese medical terms, and many people’s bodies are already too yin. If fever is elevated, drink extra water.

3. Minimize exercise or activity — Movement, especially exercise, uses up energy required for healing and will slow your recovery. However, deep breathing, which can be done sitting down or lying in bed, is excellent to do daily.

4. Natural remedies — Certain supplements are wonderful to help fight infections. Here are several that may be used in combination:

• Colloidal silver — This is an excellent, broad-spectrum antibacterial element and is an anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic remedy.

I much prefer store-bought colloidal silver to homemade products for quality-control reasons. I also prefer a colloidal silver that is about 15 to 50 parts per million. The dosage for a low-potency product is about 3 tablespoons per day for an adult. It should not be mixed with anything, and it should be taken 15 minutes before and after all food and drink, for at least a week or two. The dosage must be significantly less — about 1 to 3 teaspoons — if it is a higher potency product of more than 50 to 100 parts per million of silver.

• Zinc and copper — Adults may take up to 150 mg of zinc, along with up to about 16 mg of copper, throughout the day. Always take the two metals together, never just one or the other.
• Bee propolis — Take up to 50 drops, three times a day for adults or three to six tablets for up to two to three weeks.
• High-dose vitamin A — Adults should take up to 150,000 iu per day for up to two weeks.
• Vitamin C — Several grams daily is enough, in most cases. If you take too much, you will get diarrhea and lower your copper levels, so regulate the high-dose vitamin C. It can also be taken intravenously. This vitamin is also extremely yin in Chinese medical terminology and will not work in some instances.
• Herbs — The most recommended herbs include echinacea, golden seal and astragalus. Do not take herbs continuously. Use them as you would an over-the-counter medicine.

I do not recommend them very often, as the other remedies listed above are usually sufficient. But sometimes they are effective.

5. Infrared electric light sauna therapy — If you have access to an infrared light sauna, use it three or four times daily for 10 to 15 minutes each session. The sauna will:

• Raise body temperature a few degrees, which stimulates the immune response
• Stimulate circulation, oxygenation and hydration, to some degree
• Inhibit the sympathetic nervous system, which helps enhance the immune response
• Disable or can even kill some heat-sensitive bacteria, viruses and fungi (others are less affected by the sauna’s heat)

Electric light sauna therapy sessions should be no longer than about 20 minutes when you have an infection, as more time may exhaust you. Drink plenty of extra water when using any type of sauna or sweating by any other method — you may become dehydrated. Children under age 5 should not use a sauna.

6. Colon cleansing with enemas or colonics — Enemas and colonic irrigation help unload toxins that put a strain on the immune response. For example, two to three coffee enemas per day may be used to lower a fever and help overcome any severe infection.

7. Deep breathing — Oxygen is lethal to most pathogenic organisms. Count as high as you can as you inhale, hold for a few counts and then exhale to the same number of counts. Try to increase the number of counts as you begin to breathe more deeply. Other oxygen therapies involve using ozone or a bath with about 2/3 cup of 35 percent food-grade hydrogen peroxide added to it.

8. Intravenous office procedures — The following are usually not needed, but they work sometimes. Some holistic doctors offer:

• Ultraviolet blood irradiation, in which a small quantity of blood is removed, placed in front of an ultraviolet lamp and then replaced in the blood stream. This can have an amazing healing effect on many infections.
• Other intravenous methods include the use of hydrogen peroxide, vitamin C and/or hydrochloric acid. These are not as mainstream, but they can provide positive results.

Keep in mind that any intravenous treatment must be performed by a trained professional. Also, never substitute these treatments for the basic dietary and lifestyle factors necessary to heal an infection.

Notes about treating infections

Fever is the way the body stimulates its immune response. It should not be suppressed unless the fever rises above 103° F to 104° F or if a person is having a seizure.

Never use aspirin or Tylenol®. It can impede healing and can cause stomach, liver and kidney damage.

To lower a high fever, use cool water enemas, cooling baths and/or sponge baths with cool water. This will lower the fever rapidly and safely with no side effects.

Supervision — When dealing with an infection, try to get in touch with a knowledgeable natural practitioner. Always arrange a consultation in the following situations:

• If you are unsure how to use a natural remedy or a medication,
• If you do not feel better after four or five days of fighting an infection, or
• If the infection worsens, even after one or two days. Complications can occur that you are unaware of. There is no shame in going to an emergency room if you are in trouble. Modern diagnostic methods can be helpful and life-saving.

Hidden Infections — These are a huge problem today. Common ones include tooth infections (especially with root canal-filled teeth), sexually transmitted infections, intestinal infections and others. One option for ensuring optimal health is to remove teeth that have had a root canal filled.

Use protection and limit your sexual partners so you are not exposed to serious, untreatable sexually transmitted infections. Stay out of hot tubs and swimming pools. They are often heavily contaminated, in spite of the use of chlorine and other sanitizing chemicals.

If you choose a drug therapy, combine it with the natural approaches described above. These methods will enhance any drug therapy.

What about vaccines and flu shots? Vaccination is the worst aspect of so-called modern medicine today, in my view. It is causing a worldwide epidemic of autism, for example. The dangerous truth about vaccines is known by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but it is not being shared with the public. light

Vaccination is a personal decision, but I suggest avoiding them, as all are toxic, dangerous and not that effective. Once again, to prevent infections, bolster the host with natural methods of care.

Preventing infections

A specific nutritional-balancing program, in my experience, is needed to truly strengthen the host so that the body becomes less prone to all infections. Most people need to be on a program for at least a few years to renourish the body, reduce internal stress, remove toxic metals and toxic chemicals, and balance vital mineral ratios. A complete program involves the correct diet for one’s oxidation type: about three quarts of spring water or carbon-only filtered water daily, a healthy lifestyle, several nutritional supplements, detoxification procedures and more. A targeted program is much more powerful than just eating well, getting some exercise and taking some vitamins.

For those who are not ready for a full program, the basics include a full eight to ten hours of sleep every night, deep breathing daily and some gentle exercise a few times a week. It also requires a whole foods diet (not smoothies and powders). The diet needs to consist mainly of cooked vegetables, with some animal protein daily, but no pig products, wheat, fruit or nightshade vegetables. I find that this is the best diet for most people.

Also, it is important to maintain stringent hygiene and wash your hands often, especially when traveling or when you are out and about. Limit travel, as this exposes you to many more infections. If you have access to a sauna, use it several times a week or even daily. Rub the feet every day, and ideally get chiropractic care for your spine or do the spinal twist described in the article “How to Help Adjust Your Spine” at www.drlwilson.com.

Dr. Lawrence Wilson has a medical degree and has been in the health field for more than 25 years. His books include Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis, Legal Guidelines for Unlicensed Practitioners, Healing Ourselves and Manual of Sauna Therapy and The Real Self. He also co-authored Toxic Metals in Human Health and Disease and contributed to The Dangers of Socialized Medicine. www.drlwilson.com or 928-445-7690.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 31, Number 3, June/July 2012.