Do you have a Fever?

What is Fever?

Fever is a rise in body temperature above the normal temperature, usually caused by infection.

Normal body temperature is around 37°C (give or take a degree, depending on individual differences). There may also be minor fluctuations over the course of the day and night. Contrary to popular belief, the severity of fever isn’t necessarily related to the seriousness of the illness – for example, life-threatening meningitis might only cause a small temperature rise.

The fever triggered by a viral or bacterial infection is caused by chemicals produced by the immune system, which reset the body’s thermostat to a higher level. Most cases of mild fever resolve by themselves within a couple of days.

A mild fever (up to 39°C) can actually help the immune system to get rid of an infection.

In children between the ages of six months and six years, fever can trigger convulsions.

A fever of 42.4°C or higher, particularly in the elderly, can permanently damage the brain.[1]

IMPORTANT!!

You should always consult with your doctor in the following cases:

  1. You are still feverish after three days, despite home treatment.
  2. Your temperature is over 40°C.
  3. You are shivering and shaking involuntarily, or your teeth are chattering.
  4. You are hot, but not sweating.
  5. You seem to be getting sicker as time goes by.
  6. You feel confused and drowsy.
  7. You have a severe headache that doesn’t respond to painkillers.
  8. You have recently travelled overseas.

You have unusual symptoms such as

  1. hallucinations,
  2. vomiting,
  3. neck stiffness,
  4. skin rash,
  5. rapid heart rate,
  6. chills or
  7. muscle spasms.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you or someone else has the following symptoms:

  1. Fever with headache and a stiff neck
  2. Rash that does not Blanche to skin pressure (indicates bleeding into the skin) This can indicate a life threatening illness. [1]

A fever is part of the healing process – the body’s way of combating illness.

We use various naturopathic principles to treat the cause and look for the disharmony in your body and mind to bring your body back to balance. Please see below a brief treatment (Rx) protocol and reference guide, with choices to help improve your health and wellbeing. Click on the headings and links within for more treatment information.

If you are experiencing these conditions, I can guide you into wellness – BOOK NOW for a Naturopathic Consultation.

Tissue Salt Rx

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.

Vincent Van Gogh

Indications

These tissue salts below singular or in combination may help with this condition.

Ferr Phos
First remedy for high temperature. Fever sudden or gradual onset.
Red cheeks and throbbing head. Fast pulse. Better from cold applications to head. Skin is red and hot.

Kali Mur
Congestion and swelling.

Kali Phos
For those with a nervous temperature, this seems more effective than Ferr Phos.

Kali Sulph
Suppuration of inflamed parts. Promotes sweating and lowers temperature.

Nat Sulph
Fever in damp, cold weather or due to getting wet.

Nutritional Medicine Rx

Health is much more dependent on our Habits and Nutrition Than on Medicine.

John Lubbock

Use Food as Medicine! Nourish your body and mind with fresh seasonal, whole foods. Clean unprocessed & unadulterated foods like nature intended. Support a back to the basic natural approach to eating. Visit your local farmer markets and buy organic produce where possible. Go vegetable crazy! Love your greens.

Food Sensitivity Testing is an easy way to take the guess work out of what may be contributing to you feeling unwell, suffering digestive problems, inflammation, bloating, skin conditions, asthma etc. A whole food natural diet is excellent to follow but what some people don’t realise is one man's food can be another man’s poison. Give your digestive tract a break and feed your body with food that heals. A stressed and inflamed digestive tract (gut) suffering dysbiosis needs help to build up a good microbiome balance. It is not only important for your ability to absorb and utilise nutrients but your gut health and immune system are inextricably linked. Seventy to eighty percent of your immune tissue is located within your digestive system and ninety percent of serotonin is made in the digestive tract. Serotonin is a key player in mood, anxiety, fear, and the general sense of happiness and wellbeing.

The intestinal microbiota (gut flora) helps in proper development of the host immune system, which in turn regulates the homeostasis of the microbiota. Good nutrition promoting good gut health microbiome promotes a healthy immune system.

The gastrointestinal tract is also sensitive to emotion. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression.

Don’t diet! Listen to your body. Eat mindfully in a relaxed environment and choose quality, not quantity. Enjoy fuelling your body and treating it well.

Flower Essence Rx

Healing with the clean, pure, beautiful agents of nature is surely the one method of all which appeals to most of us.

Dr Edward Bach
Listed below are some of the flower essence remedy ranges that we utilised to improve ‘Your Style of Life’ and help you treat various conditions.
  • Bach Flower Essences
  • Australian Flower Essences
  • Futurplex

Lifestyle Medicine Rx

To live is the rarest thing in the world.Most people just exist.

Oscar Wilde

Exercise and Fitness Management:

Select an exercise activity or sport you enjoy. Choose something that works for you and aim for the 80/20 % approach and always listen to your body.
  • Walking is a wonderful activity for all ages, shapes and sizes.
  • Build up slowly but aim for 10,000 steps a day.
  • I recommend investing in a motivational health monitor like ‘Fitbit’ and or an app like ‘MyFitnessPal’ to motivate you to have a go and strive to improve your fitness and maintain a healthy weight.

Hydration:

Aim for 2 – 4 litres of clean, filtered water a day. One of the easiest ways to improve your health is to stay hydrated as your body is made up of 60% water and it needed by every cell of the body. Sugar, Salt and Coffee is dehydrating for the body. Often if you feel thirsty this is an early sign of dehydration. Make it a habit and drink throughout the day. Benefits include:
  • Natural Detox – a naturally hydrated body purges the cells, eliminating stored toxins and bodily wastes.
  • Digestion and Elimination – eliminates constipation, boating and helps improve general digestive disorders.
  • Speeds Metabolism and helps with weight loss.
  • Combats Fatigue – water is an important source of energy for your body.
  • Reduces High Blood Pressure and Lowers Cholesterol.
  • Speeds up Joint and Cartilage repair.
  • Skin Health – improves Acne, Dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis and Premature Skin Ageing.
  • Slows the Ageing Process.

Sleep Hygiene:

  • Aim for 7 – 8 hours quality sleep.
  • Turn off all electronic devices and avoid technology and hour before bed as this allows your brain to switch off and make it easier to fall asleep.
  • Keep your bedroom just for sleeping & loving. Fresh Air – open a window. Light can make or break a good sleep cycle. Darken your room as much as possible.
  • Don’t eat late in the night. Avoid caffeine and stimulants.
  • Set your alarm to get to bed and wake at the same time every day.
  • Night Cap: – Drink a warm lemon drink, herbal green tea or Golden Milk (Almond & Coconut Milk with beneficial spices) – “Turmeric Latte”, before bed.
  • Create a nice environment with indoor plants, aromatherapy diffuser, soft relaxing music and anything that helps you promote a routine to wind yourself down to get much-needed sleep.

Fun:

Life is about balance and taking time out to play and enjoy activities you like with friends and family as it has a huge benefit on your health. Laughter is the best Medicine. Having fun and enjoying activities that you like has the benefit of reducing stress and lowering the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” and spikes to unhealthy levels when you are continually stressed with one of the side effects being weight gain. Having fun increases serotonin, which is the hormone that regulates sleep patterns, body temperature, memory and mood. When you do activities you enjoy, that help you to relax and connect with people the body will naturally increase serotonin levels. Research has proven that making time to relax, engaging in activities you enjoy, spending time with people that make you happy improves positive emotional, mental health and overall wellbeing.

Conditions We Treat

Share on facebook
Share on Facebook
Share on twitter
Share on Twitter
Share on pinterest
Share on Pinterest
Share on whatsapp
Share on WhatsApp