We’re living in a time when the public is becoming increasingly aware of natural health care as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs and no longer swallow everything a doctor may say or prescribe for gospel truth. Overuse of medicines have caused so many health problems, as most drugs have side effects, some serious, others less so. Viruses and bacteria are becoming more and more resistant to existing drugs, which leads pharmaceutical companies to develop even stronger and more harmful drugs.
Often as parents we feel quite overwhelmed when our child feels ill. Should we go to the doctor, and if we do, will he prescribe antibiotics immediately –like so many doctors do in Cyprus, even for a simple cough.
We are faced with many choices when it comes to our children’s health. It can be difficult as a parent to determine if a symptom or condition will resolve itself with a little care at home or if a trip to the doctor is necessary. Seemingly simple, minor conditions can become more severe very quickly.
As a guide, contact your health care practitioner immediately if your child:
• Is under 6 months of age and has a fever
• Has a fever over 39 Celsius
• Is irritable and cannot be calmed
• Is lethargic and very difficult to waken
• Has continued diarrhea or inability to urinate
• Has difficulty breathing or has bluish lips
• Continually complains of pain – especially a headache
• Has a stiff neck
• Appears dehydrated
• Has purple or red rash that does not fade upon finger pressure
• Has tender groin, especially in boys
When you consult your health care practitioner let them know your desire to use natural products for your child. It is important to educate yourself about herbal remedies.
Not all herbs and vitamins that adults use are safe for children. Look for products specifically formulated for a child’s needs. Look for quality. Listen to your child. They are the best source of information on how they feel. Trust your instincts. You know your child best and you need to follow your instincts on when your child is healing and when they need to see a doctor.
Children respond very well to herbs, often a simple tea taken over a few days is enough to deal with a certain health issue. In this article I would like to focus on fever, a subject I feel parents are often very worried about and need education on.
How Fever Happens
It may help parents to remember that fever is only one part of the picture of an illness. In fact, for children under eight years of age, and especially for infants, the severity of a fever is an unreliable indicator of the severity of the child’s illness. For example, infants and toddlers can be very sick with a low or even subnormal temperature. Conversely, children three to eight years old can be running about quite cheerfully with a fairly impressive fever. The important thing is how your child is acting, not the thermometer reading.
Infections most commonly launch fever, especially in children. Other triggers include transfusion reactions, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, inflammatory reactions caused by trauma, medications (including some antihistamines, antibiotics, or an overdose of aspirin), immunizations, and dehydration. Many physicians do not believe that teething directly causes significant fever, but we have seen it happen.
When infectious "bugs" stimulate white blood cells in a specific way, they release a substance called endogenous pyrogen, which signals the brain’s hypothalamus to raise the body’s thermostat setting. In turn, the body heats up by increasing its metabolic rate, shivering, or seeking warm environments. It also minimizes heat loss by restricting blood flow to the skin, giving it a pale appearance. Once body temperature rises, the skin flushes and sweats. A fever sufferer may lose appetite and feel lethargic, achy, and sleepy. When these phenomena happen to our children, we just tuck them into bed and let them sleep.
A basic fever, one due to minor bacterial or viral illness, can be an expression of the immune system working at its best.
Can Fever Do Harm?
Any time body temperature increases, salt and water are lost via sweating, and stores of energy and vitamins, especially the water-soluble ones, are burned up. During moderate fevers, we can compensate for these losses by drinking appropriate fluids, ingesting nutritious foods, or taking vitamin supplements.
Replacing water-soluble vitamins (chiefly C and Bs) makes sense. However, during fevers, the body makes some minerals unavailable for a good reason – bacteria need them to thrive. In terms of energy stores, our bodies switch from burning glucose (the favorite meal of bacteria) to burning protein and fat. This means a few days of poor appetite is probably adaptive. In other words, don’t cajole or coerce your children into eating during fevers if they don’t feel hungry; they will likely regain any lost weight quickly after the illness ends. You do, however, need to encourage fluids, because dehydration alone can drive up fever.
Very high fevers – those above 41°C– can harm the heart and brain.. During most infections, the brain keeps body temperature at or below 40°C. So in most – not all – cases, you don’t need to be afraid that your child’s temperature is going to continue to rise above that point.
Fever increases the amount of interferon (a natural antiviral and anticancer substance) in the blood. A mild fever also increases the white blood cells that kill cells infected with viruses, fungi, and cancer, and improves the ability of certain white blood cells to destroy bacteria and infected cells. Fever also impairs the replication of many bacteria and viruses.
Bottom line: A moderate fever is a friend, but not one you want to spend a lot of time with. So it makes sense to avoid suppressing moderate fevers with drugs, while continuing to monitor your child for dramatic increases in temperature and worsening of any other of his symptoms.
It makes sense that if fever helps defend against infection, giving fever-reducing medications may make things worse. In addition, some fever medications can have undesirable side effects. Nondrug approaches can go a long way toward helping your child feel better. If the situation does not seem urgent, you might want to consider a trial of herbal treatment before you pull out the acetaminophen.
Home Management of Fevers
Do give your child lots to drink. Fever increases fluid loss, and dehydration can drive up your child’s temperature. Kids with fever often do not feel thirsty, or by the time they do, they’re already dehydrated. So keep offering fluids. Small, frequent sips are often best, especially if the child feels nauseated. If necessary, use a plastic medicine dropper to gently insert water into your child’s mouth. The type that holds several ounces is best to use.
If your child craves cold foods, you can make her a frozen treat of diluted juice and/or herb tea. Pour the fluid into an ice cube tray, pop in the freezer, and later let her suck the frozen cubes. To make herbsicles, insert sticks when the solution is half frozen. Good herbs to try include lemon balm, peppermint, elder flowers or berries, oat straw, or chamomile; you can also freeze diluted ginger ale or lemon water.
Dress lightly or bundle? The answer depends on your children’s perception of temperature – follow her cues. If your child looks pale, shivers, or complains of feeling chilled (things that tend to happen in the early stages of fever), bundle her in breathable fabrics so that sweat will evaporate, but make sure she can easily remove the layers. If she is comfortable and her fever is low, dress her snuggly and give warm liquids to assist the body’s fever production. If she sweats and complains of heat, dress her lightly and let her throw off the covers. Older kids will take care of these needs themselves.
Don’t push food. People with fevers generally don’t have much appetite. Let your child determine when and what she eats. Just bear in mind that consumption of sugary foods could delay the natural immune response.
Herbal Remedies for Fevers
A rule of thumb that herbalists like to use during minor illness with fever is: "First, do nothing," meaning that a short period of observation ought to precede any action against the illness. Follow the guidelines above for seeking medical assistance for feverish children under the age of two, and encourage fluids. For older children, give liquids, make them comfortable, and observe closely.
Is your child drinking fluids well? Urinating at least once every eight hours (ideally, every three to four hours, or wetting eight to ten nappies per day)? Does your touch console her? Is she playing normally? If the answer to these questions is yes, she is probably not seriously ill.
A fever may come down as quickly as within an hour of taking a herbal fever-reducing tea.
Elderflower and lemon balm are excellent herbs to combat fever and have a very pleasant taste as well.
Elderflower’s antibacterial and antiviral actions also soothe a sore throat, runny or stuffed nose and other respiratory issues, as well as allergies.
Thyme and chamomile are good choices too, especially when we want to combat an infection. I don’t recommend thyme for kids under 3 though, as it is a very powerful herb.
Herbal water spritzes can also help send a feverish youngster off to sleep. Combine 2 drops of essential oil of chamomile, lavender, thyme, ylang-ylang, or rose with 4 ounces of water in a spray bottle. These oils provide some antibacterial action along with a sense of tranquility. Spritz liberally on arms, legs, back, and chest, but keep this spray away from eyes and out of the reach of small children. It’s best to use these in a warm, steamy bathroom so that your child doesn’t get chilled.
By Miranda Tringis, Herbalist Dip. HM (Inst.NH)
www.cyherbia.com
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Tel. 99915443
Email: miranda@cyherbia.com
