Dr Renee Hoenderkamp has shared her advice on when antibiotics are necessary and when you should ‘trust your body’ instead – and the reasons might surprise you
Antibiotics can prove life-saving from certain infections, but an NHS GP has put out a serious caution about overuse and urged people to “trust their bodies” more.
Dr Renee Hoenderkamp, who frequently shares health tips with her TikTok audience, emphasised the importance of this message in a new video. “There are three reasons I rarely take antibiotics,” she said. “I have a focus on natural health and ensuring we avoid medication wherever we possibly can.”
The doctor insists that these drugs ought to be reserved for specific illnesses and urged her fans to think carefully before reaching for antibiotics with every ailment. Here are the three reasons why.
Trust your body
Dr Hoenderkamp sees daily evidence in her practice of people wanting quick fixes for long-term illnesses. “Most people do not need an antibiotic – what they need is to trust in their body that it will do the job it’s designed to do and kill the virus or bacteria that has infected it.”
The doctor suggests that the public’s “demand” for antibiotics stems from a misunderstanding, with many not realising that some conditions simply “take time” to get better naturally. “When you’ve got a cold you’re looking at 10 to 14 days for it to slowly get better,” she added.
“The cough that comes afterwards can last for six to eight weeks quite naturally, but your body will do it [recover] and that’s really important.” In addition, Brits are warned that some illnesses such as those caused by viral infections cannot be cured with antibiotics at all.
The NHS website cautions: “Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as colds and flu, and most coughs. When it comes to antibiotics, take your doctor’s advice on whether you need them or not. Antibiotic resistance is a big problem – taking antibiotics when you do not need them can mean they will not work for you in the future.”
Your gut microbiome
Dr Hoenderkamp emphasised the significance of the gut microbiome, describing it as the “most important part of your body” for maintaining health. With 80% of immune cells located there, taking antibiotics can “wipe these out” and potentially take months or even years to recover. This can leave individuals “more susceptible” to other infections.
“Your gut health dictates everything from mood, depression, connection to Parkinson’s, irritable bowel, Crohn’s Disease – there are so many things and your gut is the saviour – look after it as antibiotics do not,” the GP added.
Dr Bruce Warner, Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and NHS England’s Healthcare Acquired Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance Lead, has issued a stark warning in an NHS blog post: “Antibiotics can harm the good bacteria in your gut, so protect yourself and your good gut bacteria and do not use antibiotics unless your doctor or healthcare professional tells you they are really needed.”
Side effects
Side effects of antibiotics are common, with Dr Hoenderkamp stating that one in three people suffer from them. “In the simplest form, this can include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, a skin rash and some of those can be deadly,” she cautioned.
She also highlighted the alarming statistic that 1.2 million people globally succumbed to antibiotic-resistant infections in 2019. Dr Hoenderkamp concluded with a strong message: “Of course there’s a place for antibiotics, but most of the time there’s no need – so don’t take a medication if you don’t need it.”
The NHS website adds: “As with any medicine, antibiotics can cause side effects. Most antibiotics do not cause problems if they’re used properly and serious side effects are rare. The common side effects include: being sick; feeling sick; bloating and indigestion; and diarrhoea.”
