{"id":978,"date":"2020-04-13T12:37:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T18:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askannie.wondermentgardens.com\/?p=978"},"modified":"2021-11-03T00:27:28","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T00:27:28","slug":"fever-from-an-herbalists-perspective","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wondermentgardens.com\/fever-from-an-herbalists-perspective\/","title":{"rendered":"Fever from an herbalists perspective"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Hello Plant Friends,<\/p>
For the past few weeks, we\u2019ve been talking about the COVID-19 virus.\u00a0 Focusing on symptoms, stages of progression and treatment strategies.\u00a0 This week I\u2019d like to talk about fever and the role of a fever in disease management from an herbalist\u2019s perspective.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Following are general suggestions for fever and fever management from an herbalists perspective. Although the information is helpful for fevers of all kinds, special combinations may be needed when working with the COVID-19 virus.<\/p>
Overall, when addressing the coronavirus, the formula may need to be more heating, even when the fever is hot and strong. This can be accomplished by adding a warming agent to the formula like a pinch of cayenne.\u00a0 Our grandmothers used to meet the same need by adding a teaspoon of whiskey to a cup of tea.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Let’s start by understanding the purpose and actions of a fever.\u00a0 Then we’ll move to herbal solutions and other suggestions we can used to support the system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
A fever is a temporary raising of the body\u2019s temperature.\u00a0 Our average body temperature can, and often does, fluctuate between about 97 F (36.1 C) and 99 F (37.2 C). Your temperature usually varies depending on time of day, activity level and age, among other things.\u00a0 Generally, older people have lower average temperatures than younger people.\u00a0 And in the morning temps tend to be lower than in the evening.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Fever is more than a symptom of disease.\u00a0 It is confirmation that your immune system is on the job against foreign substances like viruses, bacterial and other pathogens.<\/p>
When your body detects unfamiliar or possibly damaging elements, the immune system becomes triggered.\u00a0 The\u00a0 hypothalamus (a gland controls a healthy heat in the body), shifts to a higher base temperature.\u00a0 The resulting increase in bodily temperature triggers cellular mechanisms that tell the immune system to increase peripheral circulation and raise the metabolism.\u00a0<\/p>
During a fever, white blood cells and other helpful antibody production increases as much as 20-fold.\u00a0 That\u2019s like 2000%.\u00a0 Offending disease-causing pathogens are killed by the increased heat, and excess toxins are removed from our systems.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Fever is a vital part of our natural defenses.\u00a0 Even through it\u2019s not comfortable, the process of a fever is one that should be supported.\u00a0 A temperature of up to 102\u00b0F is generally good for you. It\u2019s normal for human temperature to raise as high as 103 or even 104 when fighting off an infection.\u00a0 Most healthy adults can tolerate a fever this high for short periods of time.\u00a0<\/p>
Here\u2019s a basic outline of what happens as the heat rises.\u00a0 Taken from Paul Bergner\u2019s paper Treatment of Acute Febrile Disease (2003).<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t At the first signs of a fever you may experience a generalized malaise or feeling of unwell.\u00a0 Further symptoms may include aches and pains, chills, headache, sweating, feeling flushed, lack of appetite, low energy, and dehydration.\u00a0<\/p> During the early stage of COVID-19 there is often a low-grade fever of about 100 to 101.\u00a0 Later, if the virus progresses the fever may rise to 103 degrees.\u00a0 Many people who have recovered from the new coronavirus have reported a sustained temperature of 103 degrees that lasted for several days.<\/p> The chief concern with any kind of fever is dehydration.\u00a0 Metabolic exhaustion can also occur.\u00a0 Especially in elderly or debilitated people, or if the fever is extended for several days.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Very high fevers or sudden changes in temperature can cause febrile convulsions.\u00a0 Although febrile seizures are common and benign in children, they are not normal in adults. \u00a0For children febrile seizures are the body\u2019s attempt to catch up to the change in body temperature.\u00a0 And while alarming, are in themselves they are not necessarily dangerous. \u00a0<\/p> In an adult however, seizures related to a fever means can indicate a dangerous situation.\u00a0 If you are experiencing convulsions with a fever as an adult take immediate action to lower the fever.\u00a0 And call your doctor.\u00a0 Below you\u2019ll find some strategies for bringing the temperature or a fever down quickly.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t There are two basic types of fever based on symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Cold and Shivery fevers are characterized by a chilly feeling from the inside, like you can’t warm up.\u00a0 The\u00a0 forehead may feel warm or hot, but the body often feels cool the touch.\u00a0 The pulse may be week.\u00a0 \u00a0The presence of goose bumps means that the pours on the skin have closed in an effort stop sweating and prevent heat loss.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Usually a productive fever, between 102 and 104 degrees.\u00a0 Your body and immune system are are working hard.<\/p> The skin may be hot and dry.\u00a0 The pulse full, strong and fast.\u00a0 Feelings of tiredness or drowsiness and muscle aches indicate the harvesting of amino acids from muscle tissue to be re-directed to immune activity.\u00a0<\/p> With this type of fever the appetite usually decreases as digestive energies are turned inward.\u00a0 Blood chemistry changes as iron and zinc levels decrease in an effort to starve offending pathogens.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The fever is an ally, not an enemy.\u00a0 Therefore, it’s best to support the fever as a vital immune force.\u00a0\u00a0Fever suppressant drugs like Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Tylenol can cause there own problems and are best avoided if possible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t With a low grade or mild fever, the main strategy is to prevent it from becoming a strong one.\u00a0 That means working to create a healthy environment.\u00a0 One that is inhospitable to foreign agents such as virus and bacteria.\u00a0<\/p> When working with cold, shivery fevers the first thing is to get warmed up. Once the body is warm, use stimulating diuretics to promote sweating. It can take a few hours to bring the fever to a point where it \u201cbreaks\u201d. When a fever breaks there is usually profuse sweating and a lowering of the overall temperature.<\/p> Yarrow is best taken as a hot tea or tincture in hot water for cold and shivery fevers or to promote sweating.\u00a0 Small frequent doses seem to work the best.\u00a0 For children, consider 1 ml (10-20 drops) of the tincture in hot, sweetened water.\u00a0 For adults the dose is up to 60 drops of the tincture in hot water, sweetened or not. \u00a0Both children and adults may take yarrow every 1 to 2 hours.\u00a0<\/p> To make a tea, use 1 tablespoon of the herb in 16 oz of boiling water.\u00a0 Steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Drink about 4 oz every 2 hours until perspiration starts.\u00a0 Then continue every 4 to 6 hours until the fever has run its course.<\/p> Yarrow is an excellent herb to add into any formula for fever. It brings on sweating for both cold and shivery and Hot types. This herb also helps maintain metabolic energy.\u00a0 Having a fever for several days can be draining.\u00a0 This herb seems to help us maintain the stamina our body needs to do the work fever represents.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t A fabulous stimulant and diaphoretic in cases of fever. \u00a0Ginger is also useful for colds and flu as well as viruses and bacteria of all sorts.\u00a0 It helps soothe muscle pain and supports the digestive system, among other things.\u00a0<\/p> Grate about a teaspoon of fresh ginger (or use a little dried ginger) in a cup of boiling water.\u00a0 This is supper yummy with lemon and ginger.\u00a0 Take 2 to 4 ounces every hour or two until perspiration starts. then every 4 to 6 hours until the fever resolves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Monarda, also called Wild Oregano, is a warming, stimulating diaphoretic that works well for cold types of fever. \u00a0This herb is often indicated for coughing, to clear mucus and to protect the mucus membranes.\u00a0 It tastes great in tea but works as a tincture or syrup as well.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Heating and stimulating, garlic is a common common kitchen herb.\u00a0 Fresh garlic can be eaten or made into an oil (see recipe below).\u00a0 To eat the garlic, chop it up a little.\u00a0 Let sit for 5 minutes and eat.\u00a0 Eat 1 garlic clove every 3 to 4 hours.\u00a0<\/p> Garlic can also be added to tea or taken as a tincture.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t When a fever is high and hot, our goal is to enhance productive perspiration, keep the temperature in a healthy productive range (102 to 103), and to make ourselves as comfortable as possible.<\/p> Botanically we\u2019ll employ cooling, diaphoretic herbs, especially when there is little to no sweating.\u00a0 Diaphoretic herbs promote perspiration, and thus the bodies ability to cool itself.\u00a0 The act of sweating also releases built up toxins or used up immune cells from the body.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Peppermint tea is a nice choice for a hot and strong fever.\u00a0 It may be added to your formula or taken alone as a tea. Cooling and diaphoretic, Peppermint is traditionally used to reduce fever and help relieve symptoms of headache, muscular aches and pains and digestive upset that often accompany a fever. This herb also supports the digestive system and works to relieve congestion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t A traditional herb used to treat cold, flu and fever, Elder flowers have a cool, draining, drying and diaphoretic energy. Our fore-mothers often combined this herb with with yarrow, ginger or boneset for infections, fevers and chills. It was combined with goldenrod (Solidago) for cold & sinus infections with excess mucous.<\/p> When working with respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies, the flowers of the Elder bush are well combined with white horehound.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Historically used in cases of high fever, Boneset is named for it’s use in the treatments of Denge or \u201cbreakbone\u201d fever.\u00a0 A painful virus with a high fever.\u00a0 One of the symptoms is that if feels like your bones are breaking.<\/span><\/p> Boneset increases circulation to the skin and encourages strong diaphorphoretic action. It also has immune modulating actions that help increase white blood cell count and general immunity. This makes it an excellent herb for working with colds and flu. <\/span><\/p> Often employed in fevers with or without chills. Boneset combines well with Yarrow, Elder flower and Prickly Ash as a cold\/flu formula.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Sometimes, circumstances warrant immediate action to lower the fever.\u00a0 For example, if the fever is over 104, or it has been present for several days.\u00a0 You may want to lower the fever if there is undue stress on the system.\u00a0 For example, if the person is elderly or has another underlying condition.<\/p> Listen to your instincts. If you feel the fever has gone on long enough or your feeling uncomfortable with the whole thing, you can lower a fever using lukewarm or tepid (never cold) water.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t In extreme cases of a high fever, wet towels or sheets in tepid water (warm to the touch but not cold).\u00a0 Strip the person with the fever and wrap in the sheets for up to 20 min.\u00a0 Remove the sheets and re-take the temperature, Giving them lots of water.\u00a0 If they start shivering, place a light blanket to warm them and re-check the fever.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Herbs like White Willow, Meadow Sweet, Violet and Usnea may help to lower a fever.\u00a0 Herbs that contain berberine like barberry root, Oregon grape root and golden seal are also effective in lowering body temperature.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tWhen to Seek Help for a Fever<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Seek medical help for a fever if<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Symptoms of Fever from an Herbalists Perspective<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Febrile Convulsions<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Types of fever <\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Cold and Shivery Fevers<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Hot and Strong Fevers<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Treatment Strategies<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
General suggestions for all types fever types<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Working with a Mild Fever<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Treatment Strategies for Cold and Shivery Fevers<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Yarrow\u00a0Achillea millefolium<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Ginger \u00a0Zingiber officinale<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Monarda fistula<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Garlic\u00a0Allium sativum<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Herbal Strategies for Hot and Strong Fevers<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
When the fever is hot and strong<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Peppermint\u00a0Mentha \u00d7 piperita<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Elder flower\u00a0Sambucus nigra<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Boneset\u00a0Eupatorium perforatum<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
To Quickly Lower a Fever<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Cool Sheeting to Lower a Fever<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Botanicals to lower a fever<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Meadow Sweet\u00a0Filipendula ulmaria<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t