Antibiotics ineffective against Sinusitis ; 25% of Antibiotics prescribed are ineffective ; http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/264/5157/359.pdf ; http://www.twnside.org.sg/title2/gtrends57.htm

I recently read a few articles on how antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective as a medication to bacterial infections - apparently because within 60 years (or 80 years – depending on whether you treat Alexander Fleming or Selman A. Waksman as the inventory of antibiotics) the bacteria outwitted us with its ability to reinvent itself. Awesome, I would say. I am really impressed with bacteria. So what next, dear doctors!?

I am not a medical student but I have tracked the history of medicine out of curiosity and it indeed is a great science – one of mankind’s best efforts to unlock the mysteries of nature on this wonderful machine called Human Body and save this from disease and malfunction.

I might sound ridiculous and draw a lot of flak but I think this entire concept of taking medication is a futile exercise. Even while taking Penicillin shot as a kid, I always used to wonder how many types of bacteria can we go on researching to find out, include in our nomenclature and find medicines to kill when they enter our body or our foods! That is absolutely not a practical solution but a great economic idea for so many people have jobs around us because of this: D (This could partly be out of my utter hatred towards natural science as a subject in general and scientific nomenclatures in particular!)

Anyway, why can we not let all these bacteria and fungi live their lives peacefully and we go on with our lives? Can we not find a way to peacefully coexist? ;-) Why can we not stop looking outside for problem causes and look within to make sure we are strong enough to handle any or all of these bacteria? I think it’s not just me for I see so many people moving towards calmer and natural life styles, which was an old way of living, albeit at a higher cost ;-) (I realized recently that Spa and Ayurveda Resort Vouchers are the most popular gifts these days!)

Anyway, my objective is not to write about history of medicine, allopathic medicine and how homeopathy/naturopathy is better etc – I am not qualified to talk about any of that. My interest was how we as people face problems and find solutions.

It seems that for every problem that we face, we need something/someone else outside us to blame for our state and we really LOVE a quick and easy solution out of that state. You would love people telling you this - these bacteria entered your lungs and so you have flu, that stupid cholesterol in the milk and the coconut chutney are the problem – It is never You! If some doctor is stupid enough to tell you that because you could not get your lazy #$% out of bed that you are like this and you need no medicine but some exercise, we change the doctor!

I was thinking how I reacted to various times when I had problems and how I personally reacted to suggestions of looking inside for long term solutions. Anytime someone told me to look for a problem inside me: I ignored, I cringed, I shouted, I made it sound like a joke, I made the other guy sound like a moron or someone who takes
life too seriously with my clever wit! (I think most of my reactions fit into those few categories!) But of late, I have started to realize I can never overcome any problem – be it an illness or a failure, without looking inside me for reasons, without making myself responsible, without searching for solutions that start from me.

I am not falling into the overtly self-critical mode, but I realize that solutions are quick and effective if they start from me- assuming I can control what I want to do! And no - It is not any books I am reading - just some silent thinking to myself through my really long drives to office, through some shabby villages away from the glitzy highways! ;-)

All the while when I was reading books, talking to people, or visiting a doctor – I am seeking external help – just another reason that I can show myself that I am really ‘Trying’ to find solutions to problems. No, I was not. I was just postponing the necessity to make a decision – which involves Me!  Same thing with my spiritual explorations – I was reading books, I visited so many gurus – it does not work that way! It works only when I personally go find the answers to questions that rise within me!  Opinions and other’s experiences can only tell us that it might be possible, but they are not possible until we try it out for ourselves.

Anyway, summary is that it is not bacteria that caused that illness and fever, Stupid; it is your inability to handle those bacteria that caused the illness. So when Antibiotics are almost dead, don’t bother finding something else outside.  Find a permanent cure and a permanent immunity, from within yourself to your physical and spiritual problems and questions.

PS: I am an engineer myself and I am not against science if I gave you that impression - I am for science that provides sustainable long term solutions. I am ok with growing consumerism in apparel and shoes but not in medicine! ;-) Btw, if you are interested, here is another article that got me thinking