Do Pills Really Solve our Problems?

By Melanie Dunn

The summer flu season is definitely here and I was unfortunate enough to get a particularly bad case of it, resulting in a horrible throat infection which has only just subsided.

In my desperation not to become sick I had ingested all sorts of medicines, prescribed, over-the-counter and natural, and it begs the question: Why do people feel the need to pump themselves with drugs at the first sign of illness?

Should we not let nature takes its course and build up a natural immunity?

I admit that at the first sign of illness I will do anything to prevent it, but I know that it was all a bit excessive this time.

A good friend of mine swears by gargling hot salty water to kill the germs so I tried her method but it only seemed to make me feel better for about an hour and then I returned to my grumpy, self-pitying state.

The issue about whether or not to let nature do its work is even more questionable when it comes to common, short-lived ailments such as a cold.

Are we fearful of what we will miss out on if we’re ill, whether it be work, university or social events, or are we scared we will pass it on to our loved ones?

Either way, nobody enjoys being sick so perhaps we feel that the easiest way to attack it head on - with medicines.

It is also a convenience issue: The drugs are there waiting to be bought, so why shouldn’t I buy them?

The fact of the matter is, if you want to get well quickly, it is likely that buying medicine will help you, but you must wonder whether it is good for you to attack your body at such a concentrated rate and whether it will have any negative effects on your body in the long run.

It’s clear that I am not opposed to using medicines to get over an illness.

This is because it is convenient and they usually work wonderfully for me, but I admittedly went overboard this time around, so I will definitely think twice about pumping myself with drugs next time I am ill and consider more natural methods.