There’s a war going on between bacteria and mainstream medicine. And in case you were wondering, bacteria is winning.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is on the rise, and there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot that scientists can do about it.
Infectious bacteria have literally evolved entirely new mechanisms to resist antibiotics—and this new trick of theirs is becoming more and more prevalent.
One of the most worrisome of these mechanisms is a genetic unit known as a Class 1 integron, and at last count, they were found in up to 70% of analyzed bacterial samples.[1]
What’s the way forward?
Despite the rallying cry of Big Pharma, the answer is not to create stronger and stronger antibiotics in order to keep up with bacteria.
An increasing number of studies are demonstrating that antibiotics weaken the immune system, increase the chances of future infection, and destroy your microbiome (the mysterious and powerful bacterial colony inside your body that seems to play a huge role in your overall health).[2]
And besides…do we really want to get into an arms race with a species that’s been evolving for billions of years longer than we have?
We need to get serious about changing our perspective on bacteria—which means avoiding anything with antibiotic qualities whenever possible, and instead learning how to live symbiotically with microorganisms.
Just avoiding antibiotics isn’t enough
Here’s the scariest part: it’s not just the big, bad antibiotics that are to blame. Even antibacterial soaps and hygiene products are dramatically amplifying the problem.
In a way, antimicrobial home care products are even worse than antibiotics because of how insidious they are. Unlike antibiotics, which we’re offered a couple times a year at the very most, we’re continuously exposed to these products each and every day.
Using soap when we wash our hands is ingrained into our habit patterns, and many places of work require the use of antibacterial soaps by law.
Here’s a few specific reasons why you may want to break this habit…
They kill “good” bacteria too
One of the greatest paradoxes that allopathic medicine is beginning to confront is the profoundly important role that bacteria plays in healthy immune function.
Most modern treatment methods are premised on the notion that “foreign agents” must be identified and eliminated—but the more we learn about bacteria, the clearer it becomes how much we need them to maintain optimal health.
While killing the pathogens that supposedly cause illness, antibacterial soaps also weaken the immune system by killing the bacteria that help us fight disease—thus leaving us wide open for attack by the next germ that comes along.
Less bacterial exposure = more allergies
Because allergies are generally thought of as an immune imbalance, it stands to reason that they can be exacerbated by antibacterial products.
Research has shown that compromised immune function and decreased exposure to bacteria—both of which are effects of antibacterial soap usage—can increase the incidence of allergies.[3]
This correlation is especially strong in children. So much for the antibacterial soap marketing campaigns that claim their product can “protect your children.”
And to make matters worse, most antibacterial products contain added toxins that carries a whole host of risks (including worsened allergies).
Another toxic product line
It appears that yet another line of industrially produced goods is contaminated with toxic ingredients. Sadly, this hardly even comes as a surprise.
The fact of the matter is that we’re surrounded by manufactured toxins.
The majority of antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, which is a proven endocrine disruptor. Animal studies have demonstrated that triclosan leads to hormone imbalances and immune dysfunction.[4] It also wreaks havoc on natural ecosystems by disrupting algae growth.
Triclosan is already recognized as a dangerous ingredient in many pesticides. Although the EPA has begun to regulate triclosan-containing pesticides, soapmakers and home care product manufacturers are still being given free reign to use it.
And the risk isn’t even worth it
Last but not least, it’s worth mentioning that antibacterial soaps don’t even prevent you from getting sick.
Think about it: does it seem like the world is trending toward a lesser incidence of infectious disease? Of course not.
We simply continue to use sterilization methods because they appear to inhibit the spread of disease. However, it’s becoming increasingly clear that in the long term, they dramatically increase overall disease incidence by weakening the immune system, killing off beneficial bacteria, and encouraging pathogens to evolve into more and more invincible versions of themselves.
The evidence in support of antibacterial products is so slim that the FDA will soon require that companies demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of their products.[5] Companies which fail to do so will have to reformulate or relabel their products in order to keep them on the market.
When even the corrupt and bureaucratic FDA gets wise to the dangers of a consumer product, it’s time to start taking the problem seriously.
Embracing safer alternatives
So what should be do instead of using antibacterial soaps?
In most cases, regular soap is just as effective at preventing illness. If you’d like to work with something more (holistically) antibacterial, try apple cider vinegar or coconut oil.
You can also seek non-anti-bacterial soaps that are formulated with naturally antimicrobial herbs, such as rose, lavender, rosemary, and peppermint.
Most importantly, try to shift your overall mindset about bacteria. Work on boosting your immune system and cultivating beneficial bacteria, rather than trying to do battle with the “bad” ones.
Allopathic medicine certainly has its place, but this new paradigm offers holistic health solutions that are far more sustainable in the long run.
References
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2447024/
[2] http://www.naturalnews.com/036479_antibiotics_immune_system_destruction.html
[3] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120619092933.htm
[4] http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/triclosan-research-3-09.pdf
[5] http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm378542.htm
