Is your child 'Sick' or expressing Health?

It is no fun to see our little ones feeling icky. We see symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and fever (to name a few), and the first thing that comes to mind is ‘oh no! My sweetie is SICK!’

I would like to propose that in most cases, when our children have ‘a cold’ or ‘the flu’, that their little bodies are expressing perfect health!

There is an inborn healing intelligence within each of us, which allows the body to remedy itself through the process of symptoms.

A ‘symptom’ is merely a sign that a process is occurring in the body, and is not necessarily a bad thing! In most cases of a common cold or the flu, the symptoms we see are a way for the body to get rid of unwanted ‘gunk’.

However, in our culture, we equate symptoms with sickness. The truth is, symptoms are a RESOLUTION of illness, and an expression of a healthy immune system doing its job! Therefore, SYMPTOMS = HEALTH!

We are exposed to thousands of viruses and bacteria (lets call them ‘critters’). In fact, we have tons of critters living within us all the time! Some decide to hang out and go along for the ride, while others decide to throw a party in our bodies when we have an overload of physical, chemical or emotional stress.

When critters decide to live it up, our central nervous system calls upon our immune system to break up the party.

So what is the immune system anyway?

The immune system is basically 2 processes mediated by cells in our blood: white blood cells and plasma cells.

The first process is Cellular Mediated Immunity (the ‘clean up crew’), while the second process is Humoral Mediated Immunity (the ‘memory crew’).

Specialized white blood cells are the hot shots of Cellular Mediated Immunity. They excel at breaking up the party by either hugging the critters into submission (some would say they kill the critters, but I like a more peace and love approach), or release a chemical, which critters find totally irresistible, and the party stops. The white blood cells then clean up the mess left behind by flushing out the gunk through symptoms!

We have designated exits for the clean up crew to rinse out the gunk; the digestive tract, the respiratory tract, the skin, the nervous system, the eyes, the ears, and through increases in body temperature, to name a few.

We see the exit of gunk as diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, rash, earaches, and watery eyes, for example. Certainly not fun, but oh, so necessary! We don’t want the party to go on forever, and when it is over, it is important to clean up the mess, yes?

If the gunk is left in the body by the suppression of symptoms, it can stay in the body, become toxic, and potentially lead to increased stress and a weakened immune system.

Specialized plasma cells are the coordinators of humoral mediated immunity. They release antibodies, which calm and tame the critters, and ‘memory’ plasma cells, which get to ‘know’ the critters intimately. Therefore, the next time a particular critter decides to get a little rambunctious, it will be recognized and remembered. This allows the immune system to respond super fast and stop the critter in its tracks before the party gets out of control.

Both of these natural immune responses produce long lasting, strong immunity! Brilliant!

With this understanding, one can see the benefit of supporting symptom processes during a common cold, the flu, or a bout of the ‘ickys’.

Over the counter medications can perhaps give some relief, but they also suppress the body’s natural immune response.

Creating a peaceful environment which reduces physical, chemical and emotional stress is an effective way off supporting the immune system and its processes: turn the lights low, reduce exposure to toxic cleaning agents, offer wholesome food and lots of water, give massages, loving words, encourage sleep, turn on soft music, or read a favorite story.

Allowing symptoms to run their course in the presence of a loving space will encourage the development of strong, natural immunity!

It is hard to see our kids not feeling their best. However, if we understand the expression of health through symptoms, we can offer love and support knowing that our little ones are becoming stronger, healthier, and more vibrant!

And there is no better medicine in the world than LOVE!