When you feel as if you're coming down
with a fever, the best thing you can do is take an
over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
such as Motrin or Tylenol to make it go away... right? Not
necessarily, says Thomas A. Kruzel, ND, a naturopathic
physician in private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, and past
president of the American Association of Naturopathic
Physicians. In fact, in most cases, the answer is no.
According to Dr. Kruzel, fever is one of
the body's most effective weapons for fighting disease, and
usually the best thing you can do is to let it run its course
and do its job. Forcing a fever down can cause an illness to
last longer or even to possibly be worse than it might have
been if the fever were allowed to burn it out. To clear away
any further misconceptions or misunderstanding, Dr. Kruzel
shared more thoughts on what a fever does and how to best cope
with one...
FEVER CAN BE YOUR
ALLY
We are constantly bombarded with
pharmaceutical ads for OTC fever and pain relievers. The
result: Our culture has developed a fear of fever, when
in reality fever can be our ally. In children, for example,
fever's destruction of bacteria is an important way to build
up young immune systems.
Just what is a fever and what does it
do? Fever is an elevation in body temperature in response to
infection or other illness. When an infection or illness is
detected, a part of the brain called the hypothalamus
triggers the body to mount a fever to ward off invaders. This
mobilizes white blood cells to surround and engulf bacteria,
viruses and other toxins. Essentially, your body burns up the
invaders, explains Dr. Kruzel. In most adults, a fever does
its optimal work at 102 degrees, and then breaks.
Dr. Kruzel recommends a number of
measures to support your body during a fever...
DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS
Whatever other steps you take to
intervene with a fever, don't forget this age-old one -- drink
plenty of fluids. Don't allow yourself to become dehydrated,
cautions Dr. Kruzel. To replace fluids lost through sweating,
keep water, juice, seltzer, tea and soup close at hand. It can
also be very refreshing to suck on popsicles. (To keep the
sugar content under control, I make my family popsicles using
diluted fruit juice.)
REST IS ESSENTIAL
Another oldie but goodie -- get plenty
of rest. Left to its own resources, this would be the body's
natural response to fever, notes Dr. Kruzel. It's called
"adaptive withdrawal," and children and animals
still respond this way. When they develop a fever, they
naturally grow more subdued. Most adults respond instead by
fighting a fever, says Dr. Kruzel. They take a Tylenol and
tough it out, insisting on going to work and meeting social
obligations... when listening to their bodies and taking it
easy would in reality help them get better faster.
EMBRACE HYDROTHERAPY
Of course, sometimes you need to get
your fever down -- either because you truly don't have time to
be sick, or because the fever is dangerously high. One of the
best ways to do this is something called hydrotherapy. Dr.
Kruzel notes that while hydrotherapy sounds counterintuitive,
it is an excellent way to help break a fever that is
"stuck" for two or three days. What to do...
- Wet a T-shirt and socks
(cotton is best) with cold water. Wring as much
water out of them as possible. After taking a warm shower,
put on the cold, wet T-shirt and socks. Next, cover them
with a dry, warm sweatshirt, a dry pair of cotton sweat
socks, and dry sweat pants and climb into bed. According
to Dr. Kruzel, this technique calms the nervous system,
and causes the fever to spike and then break.
- Cool down. In
addition to hydrotherapy, you can help cool down with the
help of a wet towel or a cool bath. Wet a towel with cold
water, and wring it out. Wrap the towel around the base of
the skull and neck. This cools blood going to the brain.
You can also simply take cool (65° F to 70° F) baths.
CONSIDER NATURAL
REMEDIES
If you feel that you need to take
something for a fever, it's still not necessary to reach for
an OTC pill. As we've read in study after study in recent
months, these drugs are far from benign and have a number of
potentially serious side effects. Aspirin and other NSAIDs
(e.g., Advil, Motrin, Aleve) are associated with
gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney damage, while excess
Tylenol can harm the liver. (Caution: Never give
aspirin to children, since it is associated with a rare but
life-threatening condition known as Reye's syndrome.)
Two of Dr. Kruzel's favorite natural
alternatives are...
- Yarrow tea. This
fever-breaking herb stimulates the body's immune response
to infection. Yarrow kicks the fever up half a degree,
which is what we want to do to get to the 102-degree
healing point, explains Dr. Kruzel. Add a teaspoon of
dried yarrow to 8 ounces of hot water, and drink up to
three cups daily. Sweeten with honey if desired. Yarrow
can be combined with elderberry or spearmint.
- Ferrum phosphoricum (ferrum
phos). This homeopathic combination of the
minerals iron and phosphate encourages the body's natural
response to fever. For best results, take at the first
sign of a fever, and again if you start to feel worse. If
symptoms improve, there is no need to take more. An
average dose consists of two pellets of a 30C potency
dissolved under the tongue up to four times daily. Other
beneficial homeopathic remedies for fever include
Belladonna, Bryonia, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Nux vomica
and Sulphur. Homeopathic remedies have subtle variations
depending on your symptoms. It's best to check with a
trained professional before taking any homeopathic remedy
for fever.
Daily Health News contributing
editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, shared with me his favorite
fever-breaking tea. Combine 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow, 1
teaspoon of ginger and 1 teaspoon of stinging nettles. Take 1
tsp of this mixture and let steep in boiling water for five to
six minutes. Drink one cup every hour until the fever breaks.
Bundle yourself up to help break the fever.
WHEN TO INTERVENE
Of course, the causes of fever vary
widely. Depending on individual symptoms and circumstances,
there will be times when it is appropriate to suppress a fever
or seek medical attention, notes Dr. Kruzel. These include
when fevers continue to spike above 102 degrees, if you are
malnourished or dehydrated, if you have a pre-existing medical
condition or if fever is accompanied by other symptoms such as
a severe headache or a rash. In most cases, however, letting a
fever run its course is the best thing you can do to support
your body. Should you or a loved one get a fever, it is best
to talk to your naturopath before starting treatment so that
you are sure you're treating the right symptom in the right
way.
Be well,
Carole Jackson
Bottom Line's Daily Health News
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