Expert: Dr. Kristina Conner - 6/15/2008

Question
Hello, about 2 and half weeks ago i began to get sick. It came on as a typical cold with some serious swelling of the glands around my throat. I tend to avoid taking "medicines" for colds when i am sick, because i find that when they wear off i just feel worse. I went to work and functioned as usual, but the cold didn't go away. I began to develop a pretty serious cough, and fluid began leaking out of my ear.
I was coaxed to go to the doctor on the 11th day and prescribed a Z-Pac (antibiotics) which did nothing. I am now on day 16 with a pretty hefty cough and still a lot of mucous in my sinuses. I really dont want more antibiotics. any suggestions? Also is my body now weaker in terms of fighting off this infection because i took the antibiotics?

Answer
Hello Miri,
Thanks for writing.  There are many natural remedies that may help increase immune function, so that your body is able to fight off the infection.  The most important things are rest, sleep, stress management, plenty of fluids primarily water, and a simple diet focusing on fresh juices, lightly cooked vegetables, soups, and avoiding sugars, dairy, meats, and junk foods.  
With that in place, supplements such as vitamin A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, and herbs as echinacea, shiitake mushroom, larch, goldenseal, elderberry, and astragalus, may all be helpful.  Specific herbs for coughs include horehound, wild cherry bark, anise, hyssop, mullein, osha, marshmallow, and slippery elm.  You would most likely find a combination of some of these herbs.
Since you did take antibiotics, you may want to also take some probiotic capsules, such as lactobacillis acidophilus or bifidus, or a combination of these with others.  Antibiotics do deplete the good GI flora as well as any pathogens in the body, so these should be replaced.  Since much immune function does take place in the GI tract, it is especially important if you have a current infection.  
If you have a naturopathic doctor (www.naturopathic.org) in your area, a consultation would be beneficial in helping you get over this condition, and also prevention in the future.  
Good luck,
Dr Conner