Antibiotic usage jumped by more than 16 percent in the past few years, with researchers warning it’s a global public health threat. That’s to say nothing about our overreliance on sanitization wipes, antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting cleaning supplies, especially during this fall’s flu and cold season. Today, doctors and scientists wonder if our current obsession with hygiene, cleanliness, and eliminating germs may actually be backfiring and making us sicker.
Homeopathy may offer a gentle, natural approach when dealing with bacterial or viral infections and their symptoms, including colds, the flu, or even ear infections. While not a replacement for antibiotics, homeopathic remedies may help support the body’s healing and ease symptoms in a more holistic way.
The pandemic pendulum: Are we oversanitizing?
Canadians’ use of disinfecting and sanitizing products, such as disinfectant kitchen countertop sprays, skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. But even before that, our culture has been obsessed with hygiene and cleanliness. You can find antimicrobials (ingredients that kill viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms) in everything from hand soap to toothpaste.
It comes from a good intention: keeping you and your family safe from illness, foodborne disease, and other health concerns. But the pendulum may have swung a bit too far.
“During the pandemic, we traded immunity for peace of mind,” says Kiara DeWitt, BSN, RN, CPN. “Everyone was spraying, scrubbing, wiping, and bleaching every surface they could find.”
That’s continued to today for many of us, whether we’re channelling our inner Martha Stewart and cleaning our homes, or ushering our children through the door after school.
Does cold weather actually make you sick?
Despite this common myth, cold, rainy weather doesn’t directly make you sick. But there is some truth to this idea.
Suppressed immunity
The tissues in your nose are among the first defences against the cold, flu, and similar viruses. A drop in temperature dries out your nasal cavities so they’re less capable of defending you from illness.
Virus growth
Viruses, like the flu, multiply and spread faster in colder environments, raising your chances of exposure.
Indoor environments
Cold conditions drive us indoors where we congregate in offices, malls, and other environments. This indoor environment makes it easier for viruses to jump from person to person.
Exposure is the training ground for your immune system
“Look, dirt is not the enemy,” says DeWitt, adding that our immune systems don’t function in a vacuum. “If you wipe out 99.9 percent of germs every day, your immune system starts losing its edge, like a muscle that never gets used. Think of a toddler licking a shopping cart handle—that sounds gross, but their body is filing that exposure away like a biological cheat sheet.”
Basically, your immune system needs to learn how to respond to viruses and bacteria by being exposed to germs.
“That kind of interaction builds an immune response catalogue,” says DeWitt. “When you sterilize everything 24/7, you stop that process cold. Over time, you create kids who panic at every cough and adults who get floored by every virus.”
Pandemic case study: children’s developing immune systems
During the pandemic, flu cases basically vanished. Once lockdowns lifted, rates of the flu and other common illnesses among children surged. Early exposure to germs strengthens your immunity and has long-lasting effects on the immune system, even into adulthood.
Healthy germ and bacteria exposure
DeWitt’s anecdote about your toddler licking a grocery cart doesn’t mean we should be tossing hygiene out the window. Using hand sanitizer and similar products are still important and effective methods in curbing unnecessary exposure to bacteria.
“Some people believe that greater exposure to germs automatically strengthens your immunity,” explains Michael Chichak, MD. However, the opposite can be true. “Exposure to unsanitary conditions and harmful germs can suppress your immune system, leading to an increased likelihood of falling sick.”
Chichak says it’s all about balance, and Linda Khoshaba, ND, agrees. Khoshaba says you need to stick with proper hygiene rituals, such as washing hands multiple times a day:
- before and after you eat
- after using the washroom
- after being around someone who’s sick
“Washing your hands, keeping wounds clean, and being cautious during outbreaks or flu season are all smart habits,” she adds. “There’s definitely a time and place for soap and sanitizer. The key is using them when it counts, not out of fear all the time.”
“Hygiene is important, but it becomes a problem when we start trying to scrub every germ out of existence,” says Khoshaba. “Our bodies are meant to interact with the microbial world. Constantly disinfecting our homes, hands, and everything we touch can throw off that natural balance.”
So, what does healthy germ exposure actually look like?
“It looks a lot like being a kid again,” laughs Khoshaba. “Running around outside barefoot, playing in the dirt, petting animals, and eating a variety of whole foods, especially fermented foods.” She also recommends spending more time in nature.
“It’s about building a diverse, balanced immune system,” she concludes, “and introducing helpful microbes into our bodies while also not avoiding every germ.”
Microbiome defence
“Not all ‘germs’ are bad,” says Linda Khoshaba, ND. “Many microbes are actually helpful—we have entire ecosystems of them living in our gut that help keep us well. Killing off all bacteria, especially with harsh products, can actually do more harm than good.” Probiotic supplements, especially after you’ve taken antibiotics or used sanitization products, can replenish the healthy bacteria in your body for a stronger immune system.
Dosage
Probiotic supplements are measured in colony-forming units (CFU). Aim for a daily dose of at least 10 to 20 billion CFU.
Strains
Different strains of bacteria serve different purposes. For instance, the Saccharomyces boulardii yeast strain is best for protecting your gut during a round of antibiotics, while Escherichia coli Nissle is best for some forms of irritable bowel disease.
Prebiotics
You need to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut to help them populate your digestive tract and give you the immune support you seek. Eat a fibre-rich diet or look for probiotic supplements that include prebiotics, like inulin.
This article was originally published in the September 2025 issue of alive magazine.
Joshua Duvauchelle is a regular alive contributor and certified personal trainer who lives in Victoria, BC.
Domenique Barbaro
Matthew Kadey, MSc, RD
Makena Wardle