Immunology
A few weeks ago in the Saturday section of a national newspaper I read a very interesting appendix. In the world of the cancer therapy there are three traditional ways to tackle this accursed disease. The surgical knife, irradiation and chemotherapy. For a long time the alternative (supporting) treatments are quickly dismissed as quackery. Again, a doctor mainly still has to stick to the existing protocols and don't get to far of that path to find a solution. The risk that you get a quack branding from the profession is easy to get. Already quite some time in the alternative circuit they advise you on strengthen your own defenses, to help provide the body, not only to help to stop the disease itself, but also against the "collateral damage" by the usual therapy withstand.
Even though doctors endeavor integer to limit the damage of chemotherapy and radiation in many cases this than is to mention significantly.
About a year ago, somewhat surprised I incidentally read a book, which would have shown in research, that three quarters of the oncologists would advise customers therapies what they would not recommend or apply to their loved ones in many occasions. This left me behind with a lot of questions. But if cancer is diagnosed, it is human to want to the believe the doctor and believe them because they studied for it.
Full of admiration I recently read about a pulmonologist of 50 who had stopped her profession because she could no longer treat, people, according to protocol, prescribing therapies that only a few percent had more effect than doing nothing would have. I believe, however, that not everyone was pleased with her confession.
In the same Saturday section there was mentioned for the First time in public, what already is known behind the scenes. Namely, that it is of great importance by cancer to support your own defense as much as possible to enlarge the success rate. Indeed 2013 was seen as the year in which a major fourth and fifth method of treatment effect were found. The strengthening of the own defense in such a manner that it is enabled itself to fight the cancer. It was considered that this approach can be seen as the fourth pathway in the fight against cancer.
Gene therapy has been mentioned as possible fifth way to tackle the cancer.Now we should not expect that every case of cancer are addressed will be through immunotherapy. That is still too early, but it is encouraging that the support of the defense of the body now being embraced as a possible key to success. By this immunotherapy one should specifically think of motivating the immune cells, to make them able to attack the cancer cells. Not you will not be able to fight all the cancer cells this way. But it is encouraging that they are also prepared to shift their horizon.
In the 80s of the last century I experimented acidification of drinking water for pigs, we booked considerable successes.The farmers saw their costs for antibiotics decline by up to 50% and it improved their results.That was in the days of the massive use of antibiotics. One might say, the time wasn’t ripe for a different approach. The perspective shift? Then I got the idea that it had to be in a similar way to help support the intestines of the youngsters, soon a fellow pigeon doctor visit me, in his eyes, it was a "misbegotten idea" to pigeon cure diseases with acids and herbs, he tried to talk me out of it. Thank god that I didn’t listen to him back then. My belief in the right approach was greater than all my cards put on the sale of antibiotics, as was customary.Well, I had been a voice in the wilderness which is often scornful. That time is clearly changing, although a colleague ... occasionally still seems to want to try.But hey, I let him.
Also with me was the thought that we need to encourage that animals have their own defenses and more clout in the event of an attack by infections. It is a good thing that we have antibiotics, in case there own systems fails, you can offer help. But this premise is the exception rather than it should be the rule.
Basically, it allows you to tackle pigeon diseases and approached them in two ways.You are going to attack every infection with antibiotics. There are colleagues who openly advocate that policy. They even argue that the pigeons only perform well, when they have had like five antibiotics or related cures.
Fortunately, today's practice proves that this is not an absolute necessity. Certainly not with long distance pigeons. The program is sensitive to this game but there are more and more alternatives.Other colleagues examine the pigeons and then find an infection that they are going to attack.In the control which takes place thereafter, another infection will be found. And that needs to be cured again, etc. Pigeons can adopt the necessary infections during the winter months without the pigeons ostensibly to suffer from this difficult and mostly even, given their condition, do not have.We find streptococci, staphylococci, Salmonella, Coccidiosis, Trchomoniasis and Hexamitiasis pigeons who apparently are top fit, have powder on their wings, and snow-white eyes and noses.Should we immediately start to cure against all these diseases? Don’t think so, except paratyphoid.
By the other infections the need is less present, unless the infection is likely to be very high.However, in the later case, the phenomena that causes these infections can generate even though usually more pronounced.
When spring comes and the pigeons become somewhat more stressed by aggregating in baskets with the pigeons of other pigeon breeders, the infection can go as high because the level of immunity starts to decline. If this level falls below a certain value, one of the infections gets his chance and can go from latent (hidden) proceed in a clinical infection. In this stage a lot of pigeon doctors prescribe a cure, what does work great, the pigeon gets a sufficient residual resistance to get over it and still achieves to get in shape.
It can also happen that in this way the path is cleared for another latent infection. When this is the case the prescribed drug is not working because the infection is not sensitive for it, then the infection can multiply unlimitedly. Especially when the general resistance of the pigeon is less. Another infection fills up the place of the previous infection, the cure you got for the previous infection will not work proper for the new infection. When one does cure it is wise to also optimize the general resistance of the pigeons so that the immune cells get more power to deal with the remaining infections. Indeed, to keep the overall resistance of the pigeons at the highest possible level, the infections will be less likely to develop and may be able to get out the vicious circle of the antibiotic use.
Again. I am definitely not against the use of antibiotics as needed.
However, for thick thirty years I also propagate to increase the general resistance in order to reduce dependency for antibiotics.
With what you can increase the overall resistance of the pigeons?That is a question frequently asked. Some things pigeon breeders already do. Giving brewer's yeast to pigeons is a good basis. Probiotics and prebiotics support the intestines of pigeons as well.The good intestinal bacteria in probiotics can have a battle with the more harmful intestinal bacteria to the attachment sites of the intestinal wall. If too many harmful bacteria are able to occupy the attachment sites, then there could be clinical symptoms in the form of diarrhea or a lower bowel function. The B vitamins in the brewer's yeast also work support in the development of the intestinal bacteria.Prebiotics are substances that the good intestinal bacteria needs for a prosperous development.There are many good products for this purpose on the market. B.M.T is just one of them.
In this context it might be good to recall that many antibiotics also kill the good intestinal bacteria that makes that there is a disadvantage again. It is also good practice to provide during and after antibiotic treatment to give probiotics.
By ensuring an optimum pH in the intestine, one can also favor the proper body bacteria with respect to the more harmful species.This is one of the objectives of the acidifying compositions which are on the market. It is important to pay attention to the maintenance of the proper pH. Too acidic is not good.In this case too, there are plenty of options available.Some preparations acidify not only support the further resistance through their effects on the immune cells via the added spices.In this way, the immune response in the intestinal wall parcels may also function better so that the risk of invasion of bacteria can be further reduced in size.
Omega 3 Oil is one of the things that should not be forgotten in the contemporary pigeon sport. Omega 3 oil has an anti-inflammatory effect. A little more work but not least important, if only for a good moult, is providing a supporting pigeon tea on regular basis. For some fans, this may be slightly too much work, but we see more people get excited on this old approach. Usually a good tea also contains herbs that support the liver and intestine, in addition to herbs for general resistance. In addition, most pigeon tea’s also contain herbs that have a reputation for working on the respiratory supportive. In order to provide the pigeons with enough minerals, we developed Base Essence a few years ago. In addition, we have herbs combined with minerals to prevent shortages in times of stress and increased needs.
We have a provided our newest bucket of Mineral Mix, with cores with a coating of spice vitamins and minerals coupled to a dose of omega-3 oil. With a similar purpose. Many of the natural products that we have developed over the years aimed at a higher level to help bring that reduces susceptibility to infections. In short the base resistance of the pigeons.Evil tongues will now undoubtedly recall again that I concealed information about our products, but now there are several producers who have similar visions developed and developing, it is good to point out with respect to the natural approach to the various possibilities. The main point is a change of opinion, which we no longer continue to focus on controlling the disease once they appear. But that we focus on the stage before this, so that we focus on the preventive approach without a whole range of antibiotics needed. Prevention is better than to cure.
Good Luck!
Peter Boskamp
