This is a time of year when many people find themselves challenged with upper respiratory infections. The symptoms associated with the clearing of these infections can last several weeks and can be very challenging. Many people eventually end up going to see their family medical doctor and most end up taking antibiotics even though the doctor never performs a culture to verify if the infection is viral or bacterial.

You may not know it, but the “Physician’s Desk Reference” clearly states that antibiotics should not be prescribed unless a culture reveals the presence of a bacterial infection. Just this past week, three different practice members came in and told me they were taking antibiotics without a culture being done.

One of these three people told me that her doctor must have guessed right because she was definitely feeling better since she had started taking the antibiotic. Her fever had diminished, her coughing had decreased and her energy had begun to return within 2 days of starting the medicine. Many people make this mistake of believing that because symptoms begin to disappear when taking a medicine that the medicine is the reason they are feeling better and that they are on their way to a “cure.”

You must understand that when you begin to see symptoms, it is really your body beginning to CLEAR the infection - the infection had already taken hold. Once symptoms appear, it means that your body’s Innate Wisdom has identified a problem and is taking steps to eliminate a problem. Now, let’s say your body is in full swing eliminating a virus. You have all the signs and symptoms – fever, headache, chills, lethargy, runny nose, cough, etc. Then you introduce an antibiotic – a powerful drug whose name literally means “against-life” – into your body. But you do NOT have a bacterial infection for this antibiotic to work on – only a viral infection, upon which antibiotics have no affect whatsoever.

Ask yourself which of these two – a virus or a chemical poison – is a more immediate threat to your well-being. The answer of course is that the antibiotic is a more urgent problem. As such, your body immediately takes steps to eliminate the poison (antibiotic). One of the things that the body’s Innate Intelligence does in order to accomplish this is to temporarily stop trying so hard to eliminate the virus. As a result, your symptoms begin to go away! Unfortunately, many misinterpret this as a sign that the antibiotic is making you “well.”

Don’t get me wrong – I am not saying you should never take an antibiotic. I am simply saying that all of the proper protocols must be followed in order to avoid doing more harm than good to your body, and our society. Numerous articles are being written on the “superbugs” we have created and are continuing to create due to the improper use of antibiotics.

Finally, realize that flies don’t cause garbage! You wouldn’t look at a pile of garbage and complain that the flies caused it! Flies can only live and thrive in an environment that is favorable for them to do so. Your body is normally strong and resistant to most outside stresses including viruses and bacteria. If an infection has occurred in your body it means that some process has been gradually changing your normally healthy and resistant environment into something more favorable for some critter to come calling and set up house.

Make sure to begin living a health-creating lifestyle right away including creating a peaceful environment, laughing as much as possible, deep breathing, lots of clean water, a high energy diet and a balance of movement and rest – including enough sleep and exercise. Last, but certainly not least, make sure you get your nerve system checked regularly by your chiropractor to ensure that your Life Force is flowing from above down and inside out as completely as possible.

To follow Kevin Donka, D.C.