Do Natural Antibiotics Exist?
Some bacteria reproduce too quickly or produce toxins at a rate higher than the immune system can handle. Antibiotics are chemicals that kill bacteria but not body cells. Each antibiotic works on a specific aspect of bacteria machinery not found in body cells. However, beneficial bacteria, such as those lining the gut, are susceptible to antibiotics, which kill bacteria indiscriminately. Good bacteria compete with bad bacteria for receptor sites in various parts of the body, preventing harmful bacteria from setting up camp. An overuse of antibiotics can destroy the balance of micro-flora, leaving the body vulnerable for rapid infection. Also, due to the sheer numbers of harmful bacteria being addressed during a moderate infection, the chance for a mutation is great—any mutation changes the ability of the antibiotic to affect that bacteria. The mutated bacteria can rapidly reproduce into an infection now resistant or immune to the original antibiotic. Furthermore, antibiotics only act o
Some bacteria reproduce too quickly or produce toxins at a rate higher than the immune system can handle. Antibiotics are chemicals that kill bacteria but not body cells. Each antibiotic works on a specific aspect of bacteria machinery not found in body cells. However, beneficial bacteria, such as those lining the gut, are susceptible to antibiotics, which kill bacteria indiscriminately. Good bacteria compete with bad bacteria for receptor sites in various parts of the body, preventing harmful bacteria from setting up camp. An overuse of antibiotics can destroy the balance of micro-flora, leaving the body vulnerable for rapid infection. Also, due to the sheer numbers of harmful bacteria being addressed during a moderate infection, the chance for a mutation is great—any mutation changes the ability of the antibiotic to affect that bacteria. The mutated bacteria can rapidly reproduce into an infection now resistant or immune to the original antibiotic. Furthermore, antibiotics only act o
