I got a little sick with a cold last week. Just like a lot of other people in the last stretch of winter. It wasn't enough to to know me down and out, as I still drove the cab and performed in a play during the time, but it still lingers as I write this column a week after coming down with the virus (or whatever it is).

Then comes the age old question: To self medicate or reach for pharmaceuticals?

I have usually come down on the side of self medication. I have a bunch of home remedies that I use for when I'm sick and they help to varying degrees. First off, there are vitamins. Vitamin C and zinc every day along with a multi-vitamin and echinacea. This works for keeping the immune system strong, but once you're sick, it doesn't make you un-sick.

Whiskey works. Sort of. It kills the ills, but it also knocks you sideways. I've been doing hot toddys lately which is tea, whiskey, lemon and honey. It also works if the bug is weak. If the bug is strong, then you must move on.

I must say I don't have the strongest faith in western medicine, modern medicine, or doctors in general when it comes to just being sick. If I break a bone or the symptoms are blatantly obvious, I think they could diagnose and prescribe me something. I doubt they would actually treat me or anything.

Of course, I have no health insurance. This means I have no doctor. This means they won't let me even see a doctor even if I wanted to see one. Strangely, this doesn't bother me. I don't want to see doctors. I don't think they want to see me either. Have you ever been to the emergency room lately? How anyone thinks sitting in a room with dozens of other sick people will get them better is beyond me.

I equate going to the doctor with going to the mechanic. Don't go unless something is definitely broken. You shouldn't go see your mechanic if your car sounds funny sometimes. They won't know what to look for and will end up charging you for fixing something that may or may not be the problem. Same thing with doctors. If something feels funny, they don't know what to do. They'll give you two aspirin and tell you to call them in the morning. I haven't taken aspirin in years. Booze is my blood thinner.

Still, I've had this nasty sinus cold that I've fought with by eating an orange, apple and banana a day. That's the whole orange (rind included) because most of the C is in the skin. It worked in that the illness never got worse, but I haven't quite kicked it yet. We have Dayquil, but I don't use it. I have to be in near dire straights to actually use cough medicine.

Why is this? I don't really know, but it has something to do with letting my body fight off its viruses by itself. Medicine may do the trick, but the body didn't really learn how to ward off the bugs if they come again. I like to make my body believe, or just make believe.

And really, there is only one medicine I truly believe in. Unfortunately, we rarely take the time to use it. We call it sleep. If we would just stop doing anything and let our bodies fight the good fight without all this stimuli and stress, we would probably be a lot better off all the way around.

But I've got to make a living, and act in a play, and take care of the family, and run errands, and clean the house and go, go, go. Hey, why do I still have this cough?

Chris Jungle is under the weather.