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    Knocking Down A Fever Is Like Shooting Your Attack Dog In a Burglary

    136.4KViews Modified: Apr 29, 2023 · Published: Jan 30, 2018
    By Jacqueline 14 Comments

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    Knocking Down A Fever Is Like Shooting Your Attack Dog In a Burglary. Dr. Suzanne Humphries holding her 'Smack down a fever is like shooting your attack dog' quote.

    aka “Fever: Knowing When To Medicate & When To Let It Run Its Course”

    Even as a little girl, Mother often told me it was best to watchfully ‘let a fever run its course’. She told me her mother, my Nana, had taught her the same thing and that germs couldn’t live with the heat. 

    So cautiously over time, and later with a mother’s intuition born of experience, I’ve used her example in the illnesses of our own children despite what I was taught in nursing school.

    Recently there has been confirmation from the American Academy of Pediatrics that it is best, in most cases, to let the fever run its course without medication – with good hydration and a watchful eye, of course. 

    So, because a fever can help your child fight an infection – especially a viral infection – it’s a good idea to let it run its course, but if a fever climbs high enough to cause discomfort, irritability, or dehydration, moderating it through some age-old practices (not medication) can help the patient to rest or sleep or get back to play.

    As Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson said, “Our goal isn’t to take a temperature from 103 degrees down to 101, but to take a child that feels doesn’t feel well and make them feel better!”

    “Watch the child, not the thermometer.” ~Dr. Suzanne Humphries

    Methods To Increase Comfort Without Medication

    • Place a cool, damp washcloth on your child’s forehead while she rests and replace it when it is no longer cool. It works like a radiator to remove excess heat from her body.
    • Give your child a lukewarm/tepid tub bath or a sponge bath. As water evaporates from her skin, it will cool and bring her temperature down, but don’t use cold water. It can cause shivering and make the body temperature rise again. Similarly, don’t use rubbing alcohol (a dangerous old-fashioned fever remedy). It can cause a temperature spike and possibly even alcohol poisoning.
    • Offer your child plenty of fluids. Chilled foods such as banana (mashed for baby or cut up and 20 minutes in the fridge), yogurt, or applesauce help hydrate and cool the body from the inside out.
    • Skin-to-Skin (kangaroo care) moderates/rebalances the fever in a baby or a child.
    • A reader reminded me of this: “My grandma use to let fever run its course also and wipe my feet down with witch hazel (radiator effect). I guess it worked because I am never sick and have no ailments at 65.”
    • Turn on a fan. Keep the fan at a low setting and circulate the air around your child rather than blow directly to prevent chilling.
    • Peppermint oil: applied topically, this brings comfort and relief from an elevated temperature. Mix 2-3 drops of the oil with a 1/2 teaspoon of a carrier oil. Massage into temples and forehead for headache and fever relief. For children over 2.5,  rub this mixture on the back of the neck.
    • Remove layers of clothing so your child can lose heat more easily through the skin. Dress in one light layer. If shivering, give your child a light blanket until shivering stops.
    • Stay indoors in a cool place. If outside, stay in the shade.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar soaked socks (or ACV compress to torso) works well -an old time method.
    • Take a baking soda bath. Soak 1 cup of Arm & Hammer for 20 minutes. It raises your PH balance and boosts the immune system. With the younger, try 1/4 cup for 10 minutes. It still makes a difference. (See studies).

    Andrew Weil quote

    What temperature constitutes a fever? (source)

    • Normal temperature – 97 to 99 degrees (36 to 37.2 Celsius)
    • Low-grade fever – 99 to 100.9 degrees (37.3 to 38.3 Celsius)
    • Common fever – 101 to 103.5 degrees (38.4 to 39.7 Celsius)
    • High fever – any temperature over 103.6 degrees (39.8 Celsius)

    Some Guidelines:

    ~104 degrees would be the time to call your pediatrician and see what they say.

    ~If your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature over 100.4 degrees F, you should call the doctor rather than try to bring his fever down yourself.

    ~fever for up to 3 days can be normal and productive to fight an infection. Many infectious agents do not survive in elevated temperatures so your body increases the temperature in an effort to eradicate the infection. It is a healthy response.

    Warning For Kids With Fever From Vaccinations:

    Combination of Ibuprofen or Tylenol and Vaccination is Dangerous!!

    Tylenol and Ibuprofen are Glutathione-depleting at the very time levels need to remain high to remove the toxins!!!

    Cellular Glutathione is Depleted by Acetaminophen

    What About Febrile Seizures?

    Febrile seizures are addressed in this British Journal of Medicine (BJM) study involving the use of antipyretics such as paracetamol (Tylenol) and ibuprofen. “Children with high risk of recurrences of FS (complex features of FS, family history of FS, age less than 1 year, low grade fever at the onset of FS) develop recurrences in at least 80% while those without these risk factors rarely develop recurrences. Antipyretics are used for both groups of children, suggesting that it is these risk factors, and not antipyretics, which are the crucial determinants of the risk of recurrence.”

    Caveat: Don’t give aspirin to children.  Aspirin puts children at risk for a rare but potentially fatal illness called Reye’s syndrome (pronounced ‘rise’).  There is a difference in over-the-counter fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.  Tylenol (acetaminophen) seems to have less side-effects. Ibuprofen is recommended only for children 6 months and older, and they both have side-effects, so please use judiciously.

    A baby taking a restful bath in a bathtub with a cheerful mother right beside

    (source)

    Now the American Academy of Pediatricians has over-ruled what I was taught in nursing school.  A new report in Pediatrics (see Summary) states that not only is there no need to bring down a temperature in an otherwise healthy child, but in fact, the researchers determined that bringing fevers down could actually prolong illness.

    Also let me add this – in my experience oftentimes an “illness” is the body preparing for growth.  Children either physically grow a week or so after being sick or they would develop a new skill. Illness is not always the enemy.

    So Mother was right! 

    “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” ~Psalm 139:14

    ***For the Full Spike Protein Protocol (including NAC) to protect from transmission from the “V” and to help those who took the “V”, go here.

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    Knocking Down A Fever Is Like Shooting Your Attack Dog In a Burglary. A smiling Dr. Suzanne Humphries holds her "Smack down a fever" quote made into a bumper sticker.
    Medical Disclaimer: I am no longer a practicing medical professional, and I am not doctor. I am a mother. I do seek scientific confirmation of the safety and effectiveness of the herbs and remedies I use. Using remedies is a personal decision. Nothing I say on this blog is intended to treat or prevent disease. Consult your own doctor.
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    Related

    Hi! I’m Jacqueline!

    Thanks for being part of this journey with me.
    Welcome to my own little place on the internet! Home is where I love to be. I feel there is no greater place to incubate souls. These days you’ll find me using my experiences here to write about herbal remedies and natural health research — a big passion of mine. But being a wife and mother is not easy. It is challenging and potentially lonely. I get that. I wanted to create a place to connect with and support other moms for creating a natural, healthy, and fulfilling home life.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Charlotte Moore

      January 31, 2018 at 6:55 am

      I did not know this when our boys were babies. Wish I had. I did read this a few years ago and was very surprised.

      Hope you are doing well.

      BLESSINGS!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        January 31, 2018 at 11:47 am

        Hi, Charlotte! It’s no wonder because we are taught and hear over and over to just give them Tylenol…I hope this helps get the word out to more 😀 Be safe and stay warm, friend 🙂 J

        Reply
        • Becky

          November 08, 2021 at 1:39 am

          Thank you

          Reply
    2. Jennifer

      January 31, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      Hello! I have just recently begun my research jour et into the world of natural medicine and I must say that I am overwhelmed by the conflicting evidence I see everywhere. Your blog has provided valuable insight to me and I’m so very grateful to you for the links you provide for further research! Do you have any websites or books to recommend for a mother of young children just beginning to learn more about these things? I would love to know and understand more. Thank you for blessing me!

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        January 31, 2018 at 6:22 pm

        Yes, Jennifer, we need good old-fashioned doctoring more than ever.
        This old book is a treasure: http://amzn.to/2GBajoO I love Dr. Lendon Smith!

        Here is one Amazon review that sums up my feelings: “Great book! Especially for children’s complaints/diseases. My son was waking up every night, screaming; very icthy behind. Found out from this book it was pin worms, easily treated.”

        I need to do a post on the old gems that we used to be able to find. There has been much squelching of the truth in the last 6- years!

        Blessings as you learn. I just prayed for wisdom every day and the Lord supplied abundantly!
        J

        Reply
        • Jennifer

          January 31, 2018 at 9:42 pm

          A post on old resources would be so valuable!! These days anyone can write a blog post with their opinion, but very little is based on fact. I’m very excited to get the recommended book you suggested and look forward to more resources full of wisdom! Thanks so much!

          Reply
        • Alainya

          August 08, 2021 at 11:56 pm

          Have you ever gotten the time to write the lost on old gems? I’d appreciate it so! If you don’t get time to post perhaps you’d just email me the list…? Thanks Jacque!
          -Alainya

          Reply
          • Jacqueline

            August 09, 2021 at 1:18 am

            Alainya, I am not sure what you mean by lost on old gems. Can you give me an example of what you are thinking?
            Thanks, and sending peace,
            Jacque

            Reply
            • Alainya

              August 09, 2021 at 9:05 am

              Hey! Oops. My daughter had a fever last night and I was up so late when I was reading this. I didn’t realize my typo. I should have written “post on ‘old gems'”. The comment at the top of this thread and your first reply mention other old books on old fashioned doctoring like the one you mentioned by Lendon Smith (which I purchased last night to add to my personal medical library of such books.) If you know more such treasures, I’d love to hear about them!

            • Jacqueline

              August 09, 2021 at 3:46 pm

              Thanks, Alainya, for replying back! I will put my mind to that…
              You will appreciate his book!!
              ~J

    3. Vino

      April 09, 2020 at 10:44 pm

      I always put on my winter pajamas and get under all my covers and sweat it out. Making sure I have liquids and electrolytes to replace what I sweat out so as not to become dehydrated.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        April 10, 2020 at 1:40 am

        Vino, that is how my grandmother used to handle a fever…sweat it out! And it worked! ~J

        Reply
    4. Becky

      November 05, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      Curious what you would do for pain management. Two cases one child has pain from dental work. Another 19yr old has terrible cramps.
      Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I never knew this about Tylenol.

      Reply
      • Jacqueline

        November 06, 2021 at 11:50 am

        Hi, Becky,
        I will email you now! I will share what I’d do!
        Blessings,
        Jacque

        Reply

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