The baby is crying and a little fussy, and Sue doesn’t quite know what to do to comfort her. She reaches over to pat her back, and then pick her up. The baby is quick to seek the breast not only to gain nourishment, but to seek emotional comfort from her mother.
Sue realizes that something isn’t quite right, and she touches the little ones forehead. Sue feels a little jump in her heart, the baby is sick! Sue reaches around and rubs the little back of her baby, and the back feels even warmer than the forehead.
Sue gets up off the couch and runs to get the Tylenol in order to bring the fever down. She nurses the baby some more, and finally relaxes when the fever is gone. As a first time parent, Sue is most anxious to take the advice of her mother who ran for the Tylenol anytime Sue had a fever as a child. Anything to get the dreaded fever down!
But what is a fever really doing, and how does this mechanism function? We have an internal thermostat which works to keep our body temperature constant. Our thermostat is constantly making adjustments, whether we are walking through snow or sitting on the beach.
We don’t know exactly how our thermostat works, but we do know that our human thermostat works very much like the thermostat we have in our house. When you want heat in your house you reach over and turn the thermostat up. Inside your body, your immune system kicks into gear in order to turn the thermostat up and down.
The most common cause of fever is an infection. During a fever invading microorganisms release specific toxins known as pyrogens. The word pyrogen comes from the greek word “fire”, because it describes what these microorganisms do when it comes into contact with these garbage eating immune cells.
Our bodies immune system starts fighting fire with fire until at last your lymphocytes are stimulated to produce anti-bodies against infection. The elevated temperature dilates blood vessels, which helps anti-bodies move into the spaces between body organ’s cells.
When I am with my grown children, and one of their children has a fever I try to gently suggest that they leave the fever alone for awhile. I tell them that it is actually the immune system working to rid the body of the infection, and that it should be left to do its’ job. Then I let them decide, but breathe a little sigh of relief when they decide to follow my advice.
It is fun to watch the excitement on the face of the young mothers and fathers who see the “fever break” without drug intervention. We have an amazing immune system which will work for us, if we just spend a moment to get to know it and understand how it works.
When the natural mechanism of the fever is interrupted by taking medications, you may be blocking one of the infection fighting mechanisms of your immune system. The best thing to do for a low grade fever is to let it run its course.
The thermostat of our body is set to go no higher than 106 degrees. If a temperature goes higher than 106 something besides a fever is at play, and it requires a trip to the emergency room. For instance, heat stroke or an accident which involves an injury to the head, or a stroke which could cause a disorder of the hypothalamus.
The hypothalamus is in the base of the brain called the animal part of the brain. This is where your thermostat lives and does its work.
Of course there are some cautions one should understand, such as some children will have seizures with a high temperature, so it would be best not to let it go above 104. Also, an elevated temperature does raise blood pressure in some vulnerable folks, so for these people it might be wise to take early precautions.
But for the purpose of a normal and healthy human baby, child, or adult we need to let the immune system response run its course. Elisha Atkins, M.D. a retired University professor of medicine says “When mildly elevated temperatures are caused by a viral infection, the best thing you can do (after consulting a doctor) is give your immune system a boost by letting well enough alone.”
Children should never be given aspirin, or other salicylate containing drugs because of the connection to Reye’s syndrome. This syndrome can attack anyone without warning. All of the organs of the body are affected, especially the liver and the brain. This disease is not contagious, but it is terrifying partly because the cause is unknown. Reye’s syndrome almost always follows a viral infection such as the flu, chicken pox, or a cold.
Just remember that while a fever is making your life uncomfortable, it is also making the environment of your body uncomfortable for the invaders. Instead of being upset with your “out of whack” body, be grateful for your body and its fascinating immune system which is always on the prowl to fight your wars for you.
Rest rather than exercise during a fever.
Some foods which are good for you while you have a fever are:
Citrus fruit, apple, cherries, melon, chocolate, and strawberries
Some healing herbs:
Chickweed, red clover, lemon balm, cinnamon, blessed thistle chrysanthemum, mulberry leaf, ginger, feverfew, thyme, alfalfa, spearmint, lobelia, calendula, lavendar, peppermint, and tarragon….for a more comprehensive list go to www.healingherbs.com
*This article was written through research and study. I am not a doctor, so please consult your physician if you have a fever or any sign of illness
Michaud & Feinstein “Fighting Disease”
http://www.reyessyndrome.org/what.html
www.naturalnews.com
http://www.healingfoodreference.com/
