When you hear the word bacteria, what do you think? Probably something along the lines of: “Bacteria is bad, kill it now!”

Yes, many types of bacteria are harmful. They can cause infections and make you very sick. You have probably also heard about the scary drug resistant bacteria like MRSA that are now rampant in hospitals.

But what about good bacteria?

One of the most important things to know about bacteria is that "good bacteria" keep bad bacteria in check. You have bacteria all over your body. It coats your skin, lines your intestinal walls and protects your eyes. And did you know that your food is covered in bacteria?

Princeton geneticist and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator Bonnie Bassler said in an interview about bacteria: “You have 10 billion bacterial cells in your gut. You only have 1 billion human cells making up your whole body. So there are 10 times more bacterial cells in you, or on you, than human cells. By weight, you are more human than bacteria, because your cells are bigger, but by numbers, it's not even close.”

So what do good bacteria do for you?

1. Keep the bad bacteria in check and fights pathogens in the body.


2. Help you break down certain foods, like starches.


3. Promote the storage of energy as fat.


4. Help your body synthesize vitamins in your gut.


5. Increase your ability to renew cells in your intestines, getting rid of damaging cells that could lead to intestinal cancer.


6. Help newborns develop their immune systems, by being passed from mother to child in the birthing process.


7. Another possibility supported by some research: Aid the immune system in fighting allergies and hay fever.

So how do you insure that you have enough of the good bacteria? People who have regularly taken antibiotics, have poor digestive health or who have compromised immune systems would benefit from supplementing with probiotics. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines probiotics as: "live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host." Many health practitioners recommend supplementing with probiotics any time you take antibiotics.

Sources of probiotics include:

• Cultured foods such as yogurt and kefir. US Probiotics reports: “For centuries, folklore suggested that fermented dairy products containing live active cultures are healthful. Recent controlled scientific investigation supports these traditional views, suggesting that probiotics are a valuable part of a healthy diet.” One challenge with buying yogurt or other products that claim to deliver probiotics is that the heat treatment of yogurt kills live cultures. In order to help consumers determine if live, active cultures are in a product, the National Yogurt Association established a “Live Active Culture” seal. Unfortunately, when the active counts are listed on the product, they do not distinguish between starter cultures (needed to make yogurt) and the probiotic cultures. So, if you really want to know the counts, you need to contact the manufacturer.


• Nutritional supplements. You can buy probiotics over the counter in the health food section of your store. They are available in capsules, powders, liquids or tablets. It is important to choose a high-quality product. Look for documentation of the type of bacteria, the potency (number of bacteria per dose), and an assurance of purity. A high quality product will contain at least 4 billion viable organisms for adults and 1 billion for children. They are safe to take while pregnant and breastfeeding and there are specific formulas available for babies and young children. These supplements should be refrigerated in order to stay fresh. For more information, check out the US Probiotics website.

As always, please consult your health practitioner with questions about your specific health issues and before adding new supplements into your daily routine.

Do you have a supplement that you recommend? Do you have a success story about using probiotics for your family? Please leave a comment and share your experience!

It has been a rough year for many families dealing with winter colds, flu and infections. I interviewed naturopathic physician Holly Beckwith to find out more about how parents can support their kids’ immune systems year-round.

The Tranquil Parent: What can parents do to keep their kids healthy?

Holly Beckwith: There are a few key things that parents can do to help support their child's immune system year-round. Eating a healthy, well-rounded diet is very important. I think it is essential to eat seasonal, locally grown foods. Unfortunately, that means no peaches in January! A breastfeeding mama should eat lots of fruit and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens such as kale and collard greens. If your little one is having a hard time eating a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, then I would recommend a multivitamin. I am not a big proponent of supplementation for kids, but I think a multivitamin, especially during the cold and flu season, is warranted.

The two supplements that have a positive effect on the immune system are probiotics and fish oil. Probiotics are the healthy bacteria found in our guts. A child's gut can lack enough of these healthy bacteria if they have ever been on antibiotics or if their mom was on antibiotics during pregnancy, they were born via c-section (babies are inoculated with this good bacteria as they pass through the birth canal), or if their digestive system isn't working properly. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that have immune boosting properties, as well as a whole host of other benefits. I like using cod liver oil in the winter because it contains Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also very important for immune health.

TTP: If a child is already getting sick, what can we do to help them fight the infection?

Beckwith: First, determine what kind of infection they are fighting. If it is a basic cold, I would encourage the child to rest as much as possible, exclude sugar and dairy from the diet and increase fluids.

I am a big fan of using hydrotherapy with kids. Alternating hot and cold towels to the chest or sinuses can help loosen phlegm and relieve symptoms. A recent study was published that compared cough medicine to honey. The honey actually worked better than the cold medicine to relieve the cough. I recommend a teaspoon of raw local honey for children older than one year every few hours [Editor’s note: Doctors say to never give honey to a child under one year old due to certain bacteria they cannot tolerate].

Herbs such as Echinacea and Oregon-grape can be used at the first sign of a cold. It is important to establish a relationship with a practitioner who is experienced in using herbs to ensure safety and to get the proper dosage. I often find the dosage for an acute illness has to be high for the first few days and then can be tapered off as the child gets well.

Breastfeeding moms can take immune stimulating herbs, like Echinacea, to treat infants through breast milk. I have recently been using high dose Vitamin D to treat certain illnesses with great results. I would recommend this only under the supervision of a physician due to the risk of overdose.

TTP: How can parents determine when to treat a fever?

Beckwith: Fever is one of the most common concerns parents have when their child is sick. Fever is not a disease, but just a symptom of the body fighting an infection. In most cases, it is clear what is causing the fever: usually an ear infection, stomach virus or sore throat. If the cause is not known and the fever is getting worse over the course of a few days, it is important to rule out urinary tract infection and other more serious illnesses. As a general rule of thumb, I ask parents how their child is acting. If they are eating and drinking, happy and playing normally, then I say to let the fever do its job. If they are not drinking fluids and acting lethargic or really upset, then I tell them to bring the fever down. I do not focus on the number on the thermometer but on the way the child is acting.

Dehydration can occur quickly in babies and children so it is very important to keep a close eye on them during a fever. Fevers will often spike during the night. Before reaching for the Tylenol, try a tepid bath. This is very effective at bringing down the fever. Homeopathy can also help with fever and make the child more comfortable.

Dr. Holly Beckwith has a family practice in Portland, Oregon. She loves encouraging her patients to live as healthy and happy as possible!

If you enjoy cooking, you probably use oregano in your pasta dishes, homemade pizzas and favorite vegetable soups. Its botanical name is Origanum vulgare, Greek for "joy of the mountains." True oregano grows wild on the mountainsides of Greece and other Mediterranean countries where this savory herb is well-loved.

But this plant has some important properties that make it useful for much more than cooking.

Oregano oil, from the wild mountain oregano vulgare species, is a powerful antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic. It is nature’s antibiotic and can be used to treat many different types of infections. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used by people who suffer from chronic conditions that cause pain.

Oil of oregano contains carvacrols, flavonoids, and terpenes. Carvacrol is a natural phenol that kills many strains of bacteria. Flavonoids are natural antiseptics and terpenes have anti-inflammatory properties.

The Cure is in the Cupboard by Dr. Cass Ingram is all about the therapeutic benefits of oil of oregano. This doctor discovered first-hand the power of oregano as he treated an incapacitating blood-born fungal infection that forced him to close his practice and move home to be cared for by his family. He claims that after trying many other things, he healed himself with oregano oil!

So, can sprinkling oregano on your food make you healthier?

In short, probably not. Most of the oregano you buy in the store as an herb contains little of the potent oil that contains all the health benefits. Also, much of the spice labeled oregano is actually thyme. Even some of the supplements claiming to be oil of oregano are watered down with thyme oil.

In his book, Ingram suggests the following conditions to determine if you are buying the right supplement: make sure it is a wild spice, not farm-raised and from a proven edible species of oregano that is high in carvacrol; it is extracted in a natural process (steam distilled) and free of all chemical residues; and it is relatively low in thymol (less than 5%).

You can buy the essential oil of oregano as a tincture or in capsules. I really like the one made by Herb Pharm. It does have a strong taste and burns a bit going down. Be sure to follow the directions and dilute it with water. I find that for sore throats, using the tincture works very fast because of the topical application. I have found that using the tincture either keeps me from getting sick or shortens the duration when I am sick.

If you prefer capsules, Gaia Herbs makes a very high quality product.

The Alternative Health Encyclopedia reports that there have been some recent scientific studies backing up the claims about the healing properties of oregano oil. One study, published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology in 1999 cited oregano oil as having significant antibacterial action against many bacteria, including E. coli, Staph and Salmonella. In 2000, the same journal published a study by Scottish researchers showing Oregano Oil to be effective against 25 different bacteria.

Conditions treatable with oregano oil:

• Viral infections like colds and flu


• Bacterial infections, including drug-resistant ones


• Fungal infections like athlete’s foot, ringworm and Candida


• Tooth pain and infection


• Digestive problems including diarrhea and constipation


• Respiratory illness like bronchitis and whooping cough (it is a natural anti-spasmodic)


• Parasites


• Skin conditions like psoriasis, dandruff and acne


• Allergies and hay fever


• Nervous tension


• Pain and inflammation as found in Rheumatism, CFS, and Fibromylagia

Oregano oil should not be used by pregnant women and under advisement of your health practioner when nursing. As with any supplement, consult your doctor before using oregano oil if you have a health condition.

Have you used oregano oil? If so, tell us how it worked for you.