We all get sick. No matter how well you eat, how physically active and in-shape you are, or how clean you keep your environment, sickness can’t be avoided. We all know it’s a part of life.
But what’s the best way to get well again quickly? Well, there is very little agreement on that point. Some say you should just sleep, others suggest staying active if you can. Some people think breathing steam is the cure, others recommend prescriptions for everything from un-stuff-your-nose to full-on wipe-you-out-for-two-to-three-days drugs. The only thing all these remedies have in common is they are intended to provide relief.
That’s right: none of them actually get you un-sick… they are just to relieve your discomfort.
OK, granted, if you have an infection, antibiotics can help kill certain kinds of invaders. If you have a chemical imbalance or internal bleeding or hemorrhaging in your system, intervention may be necessary for survival. There are some exceptions. But the vast majority of the time, what we have will go away if we leave it alone.
And there’s an important point in that: only the body can heal the body. Your doctor can’t do it. Your homeopath can’t do it. Neither can your friends, your pharmacist, or your psychic. Only you can heal you. All anyone else can do for you is ease the process of getting well. And most of them aren’t all that good at it (including your doctor).
The one thing they can all do, though, is ease you. Maybe you feel better when your doctor prescribes something. Perhaps hearing your friends tell you about others who have similar symptoms helps you acknowledge that it’s OK to be sick. It could be that you need to hear from others to allow yourself the time and space to heal. If so, talking about it can be a good thing.
Still, only you can heal you. You need to give your body the environment it needs to get better… whether you like a warm bath followed by covering up and sleeping or reading a book or watching TV, or you would rather go for a quiet walk and get some fresh air. As long as you remove stress, get plenty of natural light, eat lightly and healthily (live foods are best for this), and get plenty of simple fluids, you will get better soon.
In fact, you’ll probably be back to normal faster than you would if you started loading your body down with drugs. Drugs make you feel better in the instant, but they don’t get rid of the cause. Once they are in your system, your body has to process them in addition to fighting off the virus or illness you have. They can actually slow the process of returning to full health. It’s better to avoid them and just let your body work without the added challenges.
Next time you’re sick, get some rest. Maintain an environment conducive to wellness. And just let your system work. And let your immune system do it’s thing.
In the news
- Well, duh! Cold and flu ‘can affect driving’
- That’s just great for improving concentration: ADHD Drugs: Hallucinations Not Uncommon
- This is not as concerning as it first sounds: Five Cases Of Ebola Virus In Philippines
Quote for the week
Only in America – do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front of the store. – author unknown
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
