Leading naturopath shows how to su percharge your immune system and fight infections with out relying on antibi otics．

There are natural ways to boost your body's defence system．In the right circumstances antibiotics are invaluable, but we have to use them selectively．

As a result of overusing them, we are gradually seeing the rise of drug-resistant bacteria--superbugs that are a real danger to our health．Even when antibiotics are used against the "bad" bacteria that infect us, "friendly" bacteria, which we need for optimum health, are also damaged or killed．The solution is to help yourself．

The key is to help strengthen your immune system and modify symptoms without taking them away because they are part of the recovery process．There are natural ways of doing this very effectively, for adults and children．

Sore throat

This tells you an infection is on its way．It could be viral or bacterial, but the first course of action is to take zinc lozenges（from chemists and health-food shops）．

If your lymph glands are swollen, showing your waste disposal mechanism is blocked, lymphatic drainage massage will help．You should also try to avoid breathing through your mouth rather than your nose because this means not only is the air not filtered, but you are also drying up the mucous membrane, part of your body's defence mechanism．

Enhance your immune function by taking care over your diet．High levels of refined carbohydrates, high－fat foods, alcohol and caffeine all affect efficiency．A good multivitamin and mineral supplement will act as insurance against any deficiency but probiotics also help．The herb extract echinacea has immune－enhancing properties．Gargling with one or two drops of tea tree oil mixed with water helps；it is a powerful anti－fungal, anti-bacterial, an ti－viral agent．

Toothache

If you have an infected tooth, you need to take antibiotics．Here, the alternative is not about what to do instead of taking them, it is about what to do as well as taking antibiotics and how to protect yourself after you've finished the course．The key is to take a supplement of the two main probiotics we need for the intestine, lacto-bacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidum．Both help to detoxify the bowel, manufacture B vitamins and keep yeasts and undesirable bacteria in check, but are damaged by antibiotics．

Ear infection

A short fast will help．Stick to water and juice for the first 24 or 36 hours and because the body is not distracted by the digestive process, you will fight the infection more efficiently．Hot packs and cold compresses ease symptoms．Both garlic and echinacea are antiviral and antibacterial and liquorice is a good immune system enhancer．Studies show treating otitis with antibiotics leads to more ear problems, more frequently．The best option is usually no antibiotics at all, except in the case of acute otitis．Instead, after visiting the doctor, concentrate on easing your child's symptoms while their immune system fights the infection on its own．Along with painkillers and medical decongestants, Lymphatic drainage massage, cold compresses and hot packs are all soothing and will ease the pain．

Sinus trouble

Depending on the severity of the problem, you may or may not need antibiotics．If you don't, a short fast will help, along with steam inhalations, which involve adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil to hot water．If you do need antibiotics, follow them with probiotics．

Stomach ulcer ?

More than 70 percent of duodenal and stomach ulcers are caused by a bacterium called helicobacter pylori. The standard treatment is antibiotics but，worryingly，in many patients H. pylori has now become resistant to antibiotics.

All kinds of alternative approaches have been tried，but by far the most successful is an ancient Greek remedy called mastic. This is a natural chewing gum from the sap of the mastic tree that grows wild in Greece. The ancient Greeks chewed this to deal with stomach ulcers. Recent studies show between one and two grams of mastic，taken daily as a supplement for just a few weeks，heals ulcers and completely deactivates H. pylori in almost three-quarters of people with ulcers--even when the bacterium was resistant to antibiotics.

Bladder infection

One of the best ways to treat a bladder infection such as cystitis is with cranberry concentrate. It doesn't kill bacteria but it prevents them sticking to the walls of the bladder. If you also drink lots of water you can flush out the infection.

Infected wound

There are many studies looking at the anti-fungal, anti-bacterial effect of honey, or even sugar, on infected wounds. Both are extremely effective and are often used in hospitals.

Sugar is sterile. You can keep it for a hundred years and nothing will grow on it. To make a honey or sugar compress, sprinkle it on to the wound, cover with a bandage and change daily.

自然疗法专家告诉你如何抛开抗生素、利用自身的免疫系统来治疗感染。

我们可以借助一些自然疗法来增强机体的免疫力。在对症的情况下，抗生素的确是不可多得的灵丹妙药，但我们需要加以选择地使用。

滥用抗生素造成的后果是现在具有抗药性的病菌层出不穷，这些超级病菌是真正的健康杀手。而在使用抗生素来消灭影响我们身体健康的“有害”细菌时，健康身体所必需的“有益”细菌也受到伤害或被杀死。依靠自身的抵抗力是解决这一难题的办法。

问题的关键在于增强你的免疫力，而不是通过简单地消除症状来缓解病情，因为这些症状是痊愈过程的必然环节。对此，有些自然疗法极具功效，且老少咸宜。

咽喉肿痛

咽喉肿痛是感染发生的信号。无论是病毒性感染还是细菌引起的感染，当务之急是服用几粒锌片儿（可以在药房和保健食品店购买）。

淋巴结发炎说明机体的废物处理机制受到阻塞。这时可以采用淋巴排毒按摩疗法。同时还应尽量避免以口代鼻呼吸，因为以口呼吸时，不仅空气未能得到过滤，人体内防御系统的一部分——黏膜也无法保持湿润。

要提高免疫力还需注意饮食。过多地摄取精制碳水化合物、高脂肪食品、酒精和咖啡因都会使你的免疫力大打折扣。适当补充多种维生素和矿物质可以避免免疫力的下降, 益生菌制品也有此功效。松果菊属草药提取物也可以提高免疫力。把一两滴茶树油溶于水中用来漱口也是良方；茶树油具有抗真菌、抗细菌和抗病毒的功能。

牙痛

牙齿发炎确实需要服用抗生素。对此，自然疗法也并不是抛开抗生素，而是在服用抗生素的同时以及疗程过后采取一些自我保护措施。主要是补充肠道所需的两种有益菌群：嗜酸乳酸杆菌和两歧双歧杆菌。它们有助于排除肠道内的毒素, 制造维生素B, 并且能够有效控制酵母菌和不受欢迎的细菌的生长。然而抗生素会使它们遭到破坏。

耳部炎症

短期的禁食会有疗效。在最初的２４小时或３６小时内只饮用水或果汁, 由于机体不会分散过多的精力用来消化, 治疗感染的效果就会提高。热敷与冷敷都可以缓解症状。大蒜和松果菊属植物都是既抗病毒又抗细菌, 甘草也具有极佳的增强免疫的功能。研究表明用抗生素治疗中耳炎可以导致更多、更频繁的耳部疾病。除急性中耳炎之外, 治疗耳部炎症的最佳选择往往是干脆不用抗生素。在看过医生后, 应让孩子的免疫系统自己战胜感染, 同时尽可能地帮他缓解病痛。除了使用止痛剂和减充血剂, 淋巴排毒按摩、冷敷和热敷都有镇痛功能。

鼻窦炎

是否需要抗生素治疗取决于炎症的轻重。如果不需要, 可以尝试短期的禁食和雾化疗法。采取雾化疗法时需要在热水中加入几滴茶树油。如果需要服用抗生素的话, 同时服用一些益生菌制品。

胃溃疡

有70%以上的十二指肠溃疡和胃溃疡是由幽门螺杆菌引起的。标准的疗法是使用抗生素，但令人担忧的是许多病人体内的幽门螺杆菌已经对抗生素产生了抗药性。

人们已尝试了所有可能的替代性治疗方法，但迄今为止最见效的是一种名叫乳香的古希腊药物。它是希腊野生的乳香黄连木的汁液中所产的天然胶状物。古希腊人就嚼食它来治疗胃溃疡。最近的研究表明，溃疡病人在坚持每天服用一至两克乳香，持续几周之后，有3/4的溃疡患者可以愈合，幽门螺杆菌也完全丧失活力，甚至对那些对抗生素有抗药性的细菌也有效。

膀胱感染

越橘浓缩物是治疗膀胱炎等疾病的一种灵丹妙药。它虽然不能杀菌，但可以阻止细菌聚积在膀胱壁上。如果你大量饮水，就可以将其排出体外。　

伤口感染

目前人们有关蜂蜜甚至糖对感染伤口的抗真菌、抗细菌功效进行了大量研究。两者都有很好的疗效，医院也经常使用。

糖具有抗菌作用。它可以贮存100年而不发生任何霉变。如果用糖或蜂蜜来敷伤口，要把它洒在伤处，用绷带覆盖并需每日更换。