Our CTO (Chief?Technology Officer),?also known as the top geek, asked me what I thought about treating head colds, sore throats and coughs with amoxicillin.? I think back on my career and remember when an amoxicillin prescription was the ultimate escape route from?an exam room.? I had the doses and weights memorized so well that I didn't have to calculate at all but could "eyeball" a little kid and have the exact measurement written and signed before any questions could be asked.? It was all I knew at the time (I was not on a drug company's payroll or?trying to use up all of our stock on the storeroom). It was just the way we?were trained?in medical school.? So, it moved out into my practice and I continued to use amoxil as a quick fix for anything that looked like it might be an infection.? Experience and results have dramatically changed the way I look at prescribing antibiotics of all kinds.? It's especially true of amoxil.

Amoxil is a "broad-spectrum" antibiotic.? that means it kills all sorts of bugs with all sorts of different activities.? It kills bad bacteria in 40% of sinus problems (not so good a choice) and many of the good bacteria that line the digestive tract.? That's why it can cause diarrhea in so many people.? If the side effects from the drug are strong and the benefits are limited then it just makes sense to rethink some other options.? Thankfullly, I have had great mentoring and training since my residency and understand the use of?plant-based medicines, homeopathics and special treatments like sinus lavage (washing) with salt solution.

Quick Sinus Congestion Recipe:

1. Take 6-8 ounces of warm purified or spring water in a small drinking cup ?
2. Add one teaspoon sea salt (table salt works in a "pinch")
3. Gently sniff this mixture into your sinus by holding the cup up to your nose as if you were going to drink it into your nostrils
4. Hold both nostrils closed while gently blowing your nose
5. After several minutes of coughing and sputtering blow the remaining water and debris from your nose
6. Repeat two or three times every couple of hours

I know it sounds really gross but it's a great way to clear the sinuses with readily available household materials.? I have many patients who have used a "netty pot" for the same purpose.? It's a little teapot-like gizmo that makes the nasal rinse a little more elegant (hard to imagine isn't it?).? Other less handy but very valuable remedies for sinus troubles include:

• Olive leaf extract 500 mg. take two twice daily
• Fenugreek and Thyme (50:50 mix) 600 mg. three times daily
• Grapefruit Seed Extract diluted spray in sinus or orally 100-200 mg. three times daily
• Probiotics ("friendly intestinal bacteria") 4-40 billion units daily
• Oregano Oil capsules one three times daily

In the past a green nasal discharge was my cue for beginning antibiotic medications.? Now, if the infection has only been a few days in the making and/or is not causing a fever I prefer to employ non-drug solutions.? Many of these plant-based treatments also eliminate fungus from the sinuses.? The medical community is just?beginning to recognize that that's a big part of the problem with chronic infections.? I always want to make sure that there are no complicating factors like an ear infection or chest infection.? After those things have been eliminated as possibilities I watch, wait and treat naturally.? Your doctor may want to know about the things you have decided about your health.? If he doesn't I would find another doctor.

Amoxicillin is very important for people who have infections that have been proven (by culture and sensitivity) to be susceptible to treatment with it.? It should always be?started?a few days before?dental work to prevent?life-threatening problems?in people who have heart valve abnormalities.?? Amoxicillin is a perfectly?good medication.? I recommend using?a doorknob as the preferred method for exiting an exam room.??

The Nov. 17 issue of the Journal Environmental Health Perspectives?(published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences?of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) carried an article that studied Aspartame's (NutraSweet or Equal are common brands) effect on cancer risk.??The doses of aspartame?include?normal levels that people would actually consume.? The rats were studied by autopsy and had a much higher rate of cancer than would have been expected.? The lead researcher?Morando Soffritti, MD said the results speak for themselves.? The manufacturers of these sweeteners claim that 30 years of studies have proven that synthetic (artificial) sweetener can be safely used.? The common sense response to this dilemna really is simple.

Natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, and molasses have been used for thousands of years with a great safety record.? They do cause blood sugar to increase and add calories to the diet.? Other sweeteners that are lower calorie or have no calories at all include:

1. Stevia (I like Jay Robb's product)
2. Xylitol
3. Sorbitol
4. Chinese Magic Fruit

Common Sense would dictate that you should err on the side of caution.? There are always two sides to every argument and I want you to be able to recognize that each party has an interest in proving their point.? If artificial sweeteners break down to methanol (wood alcohol) and formaldehyde (a known cancer producer) it would probably be wise to limit your exposure to them.? There is at least one recent study that strongly suggests this.? If the manufacturer of the product claims that the study is flawed and "doesn't count" they could be protecting their financial interest or really being scientific.? The researchers developed the study to look for something interesting.? Increased risk of cancer certainly fits the bill.? I'm not saying that either group lacks integrity.? I'm only concerned that your viewpoint and judgement is unclouded.? It doesn't really matter what motivates each party.? What matters is that you eat, drink and enjoy foods that will make you feel and function optimally.? Artificial sweeteners probably don't fit the bill.? Common sense isn't really that hard is it?