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Writer's pictureMary Maciel Pearson

Catching a cold

Updated: Jan 6, 2021

The last few months have been some of the most productive I've experienced in years.  But, it took me a long time to get here.


The past decade featured a lot of solitary time: studying; doing research; cleaning up our diet; self- reflecting; overcoming the need to change everything. 

When it felt like I'd taken too much on, too soon, I re-assessed and cut back. I took the time to nourish my mind, body and spirit. 

When I found myself focusing on what was broken, I experienced increased vulnerability. As I changed my mindset to focus: on all that was right in my life; on the innate wisdom of the body to heal itself; and on the ability of nature to forgive and repair, I became much less susceptible to colds and flus.

It seemed I had reached a state of resilience far beyond anything I had experienced in decades. I became fearless of germs, and found no need to go out of my way to prevent exposure to them. After all, I had created a healthy ecology within. Surely, the good bugs would fight off the bad bugs. I felt invincible.  In fact, I found myself bragging that even if afflicted, I could now defeat the cold or flu at onset, with simple, natural remedies.  And I did for a long time.  That is - until last week. 


“For every drug that benefits a patient, there is a natural substance that can achieve the same effect.”


~ Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer, MD, PhD


So what changed?


A couple of weeks ago, I ended up in the uncomfortable position of having to make some medical decisions, that had the potential to dramatically alter a loved one's well-being. I was working with a novice kidney specialist, who provided confusing instructions on what medications to cut or alter,  and who then could not be reached by anyone for a week. Given the perceived severity of kidney dysfunction, I felt overwhelmed.

Add to that, an increasing time commitment to clients, whose expectations I intended to exceed, along with an internet technical challenge. I felt overwhelmed. Fear increased my vulnerability again. 


Fortunately, with informed use of natural remedies, the cold did not interfere with my work commitments, and other than feeling congested, I continued to function optimally. 


I am so incredibly grateful for the embedded life lesson though - our perception of congestion in life, can manifest in congestion in the body. 


"Benard was right. The germ is nothing. The terrain is everything."


~ Louis Pasteur is rumoured to have said on his death bed


We are human. Perceived inability to cope with the demands of daily life, can leave one feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable - mentally and physically. While in the midst of the challenge, we may not experience symptoms. But just as we start to relax, the immune system goes to work to evict the offending germ that found a hospitable host, when stress hormones increased our vulnerability. This is as it should be - a time for internal clean up and repair.

Please be advised, that precautions are warranted to prevent infection in those who, for one reason or another, have increased vulnerability.  Follow the guidance of a trusted health care provider.



Originally published March 3rd, 2017



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