“Just Stay Away From Those Health Food Stores” His MD Said: How This One Statement Changed a Man’s Life

The sinus infections were becoming unbearable. It was a cycle: infection-antibiotic-a couple of days of relief-infection-antibiotic…. This is all Joshua knew. His whole life centered around the suffering of his sinuses, the doctor’s visits, and the antibiotics. Occasionally, things changed: he had sinus surgery. But for the most part, there was no end to the sinus infections—or was it just one infection that never healed?

Joshua knew the names of all the antibiotics by heart; he had been on so many different ones, or a combination of them, since he was a young child. He stopped being able to breathe out of his nose seven years ago; he had lost his sense of smell with it. He had seen many specialists; each offered no insights into his dilemma. All he was offered was antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants and occasionally surgery (which opened his sinuses for a little while only) or steroids.

When he was 25, after another bout of antibiotics, Joshua again asked what more could be done for him. His general practitioner simply stated he would have sinus problems all his life; there was nothing that could be done. Discouraged, Joshua was told to accept his fate.

But, as the doctor left the room, he stopped and looked at Joshua and stated: “Just stay away from those health food stores.” Then he left.

Joshua thought it an odd statement. He wondered why the doctor had stated this. Joshua had never asked about vitamins or minerals or any other type of natural supplement. He knew nothing about them in fact. Yet why had the doctor been so adamant about telling Joshua to stay away from them? What was the doctor afraid of?

So Joshua decided to investigate what “those health food stores” had to offer him for his sinuses. He felt his sinuses would never heal under medical care; maybe something natural could help where the medical profession failed.

After trying a few different natural supplements, Joshua experienced some improvement in his sinuses. He decided to see a doctor of natural medicines to see if he could heal completely.

The practitioner he found in his area practiced naturopathy as well as homeopathy. After an exam and gathering information about Joshua and his health, the practitioner recommended a homeopathic remedy, a supplement and a couple of dietary changes. For the most part, Joshua was healthy physically. He had some digestive complaints from years of taking antibiotics and steroids; mostly, however, he had a severe sinus infection that never healed.

Sinus infections are tricky to heal. Blood flow to the sinuses is minimal, so healing antibodies do not reach deep into the sinuses easily. If an infection reaches deep within the sinuses, it is very difficult to clear it out.

Prior to getting his first sinus infection, Joshua had a bout of sinus allergies for which he had been prescribed an antihistamine. The allergy symptoms of sinus congestion and sneezing were managed by the drug; however, when he stopped the drug in the fall, he had severe sinus swelling that was diagnosed as a sinus infection and Joshua was given antibiotics. Since that time, the infection seemed never to clear.

Sinus infections following antihistamines are common. Antihistamines do not stop the production histamine; they only block histamine from entering the cells of the sinuses. Since histamine causes swelling and sneezing and drainage, none of these symptoms occur without the swelling and drainage. The allergens are able to enter deeply into the sinuses and lungs; AND, since there is a lot of histamine “floating around,” once the antihistamine is stopped, a severe allergic reaction occurs. The allergens reached deeper than they would have if the person hadn’t taken the antihistamine. As deep sinuses are harder to heal than those closer to the front of the nose, infections in the deep sinuses usually occur.

Once Joshua took the antibiotics the first time, he may’ve been able to have all the bacteria from the infection destroyed. However, according to the Mayo clinic, 80% of all recurrent sinus infections are caused by yeast, specifically Candida albicans (Mayo, 2001).

Antibiotics do not kill yeast.

Antibiotics cause yeast infections to occur or get worse.

Yet what is the first course of treatment for a sinus pressure with discharge—the diagnosis being a sinus infection? An antibiotic. The treatment for every sinus infection thereafter—antibiotics.

If an antibiotic cannot remove yeast infections in the sinus, will the sinus infection ever heal? It is very unlikely.

Being aware of this, the natural health practitioner gave Joshua recommended supplements and a homeopathic remedy.

It was astonishing to hear back from Joshua a week later. He stated he was very concerned when he blew out of his nose something black that looked like fungus. His girlfriend stated it smelled like mold. Two days later, his sinus infection completely cleared.

Joshua healed because of his doctor’s statement of fear—that he stay away from health food stores. Natural medicine gives people options when there is nothing that can be done medically.

So don’t stay away from those health food stores.

Best wishes,
Dr. Ronda Behnke Theys

Reference:

Mayo Clinic (2001). “Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) in Minnesota: Research on Chronic Sinusitis” at http://www.mayoclinic.org/ent-rst/chronicsinus.html

Disclaimer: The information provided by Dr. Ronda Behnke Theys is for educational purposes only. It is important that you not make health decisions or stop any medication without first consulting your personal physician or health care provider.