The human body is designed to function, and function well. It is a complex system of nerves, muscles, bones, organs and trillions of very smart cells that all have a job to do. Some are house cleaners, some are in the repair business, some are in communications, and some are in the development department.
All of them, however, have a job and as long as we provide the correct fuel and do our part to stay healthy, they can do their job. The pains, illnesses, diseases, and adverse symptoms we experience are a clue that they body needs something we are not providing or that we are providing the wrong thing.
However, we live in an age and a culture where “quick fixes” are attractive. We are, for the most part, restless people with little understanding of how to achieve “real” and lasting health. When we have a headache we may reach for an aspirin, however, the headache does not occur because of an aspirin deficiency – it is a symptom of a body out of balance. We want tucks and lifts when our skin starts to sag but continue to pump processed foods and other damaging substances into our bodies.
Many times, sickness is the way that our body deals with an overload of toxins. The sickness – most likely not life threatening – strengthens the immune system. We just don’t have time to be sick, we don’t make time to listen to what our body is trying to tell us. Slow down, eat right, exercise, get enough sleep and learn to cope with stress. Let the body heal.
According to a recent study out of the University of Michigan, as many as 40% of parents administer cough and cold medication to their children without paying attention to the warning labels. Health experts contend that many of these medications are not effective and even harmful for young children.
Some children may get up to ten colds a year, and in an effort to reduce discomfort, parents reach for over-the-counter drugs. While these drugs may seem effective, many do little more than making children drowsy or hyperactive.
The FDA states that over-the-counter medicines are not suitable for children under the age of 2, and they are not effective for young children, and can even cause detrimental side effects. Since 2008, the manufacturers of cough and cold medicines have put a warning on their labels that their products are not suitable for children under 4. Unfortunately, many parents do not heed these warnings.
Side effects from taking these medications include everything from confusion, allergies, nausea, constipation, uneven heart rate, shallow breathing and fatigue.
Better Options Exist
The better option for anyone, before reaching for over-the-counter “fixers”, is to focus on preventative health. Building a healthy immune system through a diet that includes whole foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables, probiotics, little sugar and plenty of time outside in the sunshine, are all good places to start.
If you do find yourself or your child ill with the common cold, allow time for the illness to pass. Getting plenty of rest, cutting back on carbohydrates, avoiding sugar and drinking fluids are sometimes the best ways to treat an illness. There are also a number of herbal treatment options available that will ease the discomfort associated with the common cold.
If you can resist the temptation to treat every cold and cough that comes your way with a synthetic and potentially harmful substance, you will be doing your body a huge favor. Creating a healthy immune system is really a way of life. A way of life that embraces making wise choices and trusting in the body’s amazing ability to regulate and self heal.
-The Alternative Daily
