Common Cold, Cure
It may not be a good idea for medical science to try to cure the common
cold. The human body's various defensive systems need to practice,
in order to be ready for serious infections and diseases. The body
has the opportunities for practicing and developing such methods and
systems during minor colds and infections.
In addition, whatever method medical science tries to use, whether by
medicine or otherwise, such procedures may have other detrimental effects.
In the same way that overuse of antibiotics has inspired the
new emergence of resistant bacteria and microbes, a similar effect
might occur regarding any method of trying to eliminate the common
cold.
Modern science and modern medicine both claim that they will soon
cure the common cold. I have considerable doubt whether they can actually
achieve such a result, but if they do develop that ability, it is
extremely important for us to not use it!
Such scientists and doctors are being short-sighted, just looking for
immediate benefits, without considering the long term consequences
of their actions.
Yes, they would alleviate a lot of discomfort if they could achieve this.
But there are long term consequences that are very dire.
Each of us has a complex system of immunity built into our body. This
system, as every other body function, must be "exercised"
from time to time. Just as we must use our muscles, or else have them
atrophy into very weak devices, it is critically necessary to allow
our body's defense system to "practice" at reacting to such
invaders as cold germs and viruses. If we chemically accomplish those
defense roles, then the immune system will lose it "tone"
and then be less prepared when some new invader appears.
The equivalent would be, after breaking a shin bone, to forever have
a cast supporting that part of the body. Even in a few weeks, the
muscles in the area degrade tremendously. If continued for months or
years, they would nearly disappear entirely. Even the bone structure
would not re-develop virtually the original strength at the break locus,
and the bone itself would become more fragile.
Modern doctors would never keep such a cast on any longer than absolutely
necessary, because of concerns about such degradation.
Our immune system equally needs to be exercised, by practicing its
reactions to relatively innocuous invaders. Without such practice,
it will be significantly unprepared when it actually becomes needed.
At that point, the body will have virtually no defense at all, which
would certainly have very grave results.
It is important to allow our bodies to respond naturally to such
minor illnesses, as well as minor infections and minor injuries.
If we proceed to the point of having doctors prescribe medicine and
or treatment for every minor cold, that individual body will eventually
become susceptible to the first illness not treatable by present
methods and medicines. We have witnessed a similar effect in the
reduced effectiveness of antibiotics, due to extreme repetitive
applications of them. At least in those cases, the body still had
its own immune system to fall back on. If we incapacitate that
immune system, then even very minor illnesses will kill many people.
This cannot be allowed to happen.
July, 1995
Addendum of October, 2001
In the past several years, it has become clearer that the massive use
of antibiotics for so many minor illnesses has contributed toward the
evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This presents yet more
reason for allowing our bodies to deal with most mild infections and
illnesses naturally. Otherwise, we will arrive at a time when most
colds might be treated chemically, but the occasional one that would
resist such treatment would then occur and
would always be fatal. That doesn't seem like a very attractive
goal to strive for!
There have been some individuals, notably Howard Hughes and Michael
Jackson, who have gone to extremes to avoid being exposed to
common germs. Given the above thoughts, that may be a very poor idea!
After a number of months of remaining in his "antiseptic"
room, it seems likely that Mr. Hughes natural immune reactions must
have become severely degraded, and my guess is that he was eventually
extremely susceptible to serious illness from even the most mundane
of germs.
Addendum of December, 2005
Recent National news reports are announcing that American children
"may be too clean!" The news segments discuss the
anti-bacterial soaps and skin cleansings and showers being so
often that kids now are susceptible to much more serious illnesses
when they become ill. The researchers are suspecting that it is
because their immune systems have not been allowed to build up
immunities to many common colds and mild illnesses. This is VERY
close to what I have been trying to describe for ten years!
Interesting!
Addendum of October, 2009
As the swine flu is spreading, it has become noted that teenagers and
children seem to be dying from it far more than other age groups.
Experts are saying this is due to children not yet having had enough
experiences with conventional colds and flus to have built up a
very extensive immune system. That is very much the theme of this
presentation which I composed more than 11 years earlier! They also
announce that elderly people seem to have great resistance to such
contagions, again, for the same reason, that elderly people have
encountered a large number of colds and flus during their lifetime
and so their immune system has built up many capabilities of defense
against unexpected diseases.
This presentation was first placed in the Internet in May 1998.
Other Health-Related Web-Pages in this Domain
Do you want to lose some weight RIGHT NOW?
Bodyfat, Weight Loss, the Physics of Body Weight Control
How Did You Gain Weight?
Bodyfat - Accurate and Easy Determination
Bodyfat - Combating Childhood Obesity Through Motivation
Bodyfat - Simple and Accurate Measurement - PSA Storyline
Bodyfat Percentage - Determining Accurate Bodyfat Easily
Dieting for Weight Loss - The Physics
Medical Anesthesia Can be Much Safer
Pure Water Supply for Third World Villages
Pure Desalinated Seawater for Third World Villages
Safe Drinking Water for a Third World Village
Calf Muscle Strength Development
Common Cold, Value, Importance, Cure
Muscle Cramp Warning?
World Hunger - A Unique New Solution
Horses Sleep in Two Completely Different Ways
Human Being - Thermal Efficiency - the Physics Scientific Analysis
Lumbar Lower-Back Support Device
Burger Promotion For Charity - Taste Buds in the Mouth
Diet Food, Lower-Calorie Aerated Foods
Diet Method, Intermittent Eating Diet
Dieting Method - Maybe an Odd Approach
Dieting - A Physicist's Weight Loss System A Sleeping Weight Loss System!
Sports Situations - Physics Analysis
Brain Research From Sleeping Dolphins
Human Brain Functionality Our Brains and Artificial Intelligence
Bodyfat Analysis - 20-Compartment Percentage Formula
Improving Bad Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
Tobacco Negotiations Concerns The Tobacco, Cigarette Industry (1995)
Tobacco Negotiations - Update (2001)
Blue Streak Optical Phenomenon A Strange Visual Sensation
ESP, Extra-Sensory Perception. A Possible Mechanism
Exhilaration, Happiness, Vacations, Thrill Seekers
Déjà vu and other Unusual Phenomena - Deja vu
Suggestibility
Conflict Resolution - A Unique New Approach
Learning Right And Wrong
GMO - Genetically Modifying Foods - The Physics, the Safety
Life Choices - Practical Discussion for Teens
Bodyfat - Modifying your Breathing (Respiration) May Reduce Your Bodyfat
IQ Test - Possibly a More Accurate Approach
A Partial Explanation of the Obesity Epidemic
This page - -
- - is at
This subject presentation was last updated on - -
Link to the Public Services Home Page
index.html
Link to the Public Services Main Menu
index.html
E-mail to:
cj@mb-soft.com
C Johnson, Theoretical Physicist, Physics Degree from Univ of Chicago