When I make a visit to the doctor–you can correctly assume that I am somewhat of a hypochondriac–I expect helpful advice. I did not go to medical school for six years, so fix me, doc!
In his recent Huffington Post article, North Atlantic Books author Dana Ullman reveals the benefits of running a fever, something many, including myself, would not believe if this homeopathic author had not provided tangible facts. In his article Ullman presents how “a fever enables the body to increase its production of interferon, an important antiviral substance that is critical for fighting infection. Fever also increases white blood cell mobility and activity, which are instrumental factors in fighting infection.” Let my fever run its course? If you say so! To run a fever is to fight your illness.
Ullman, whose works include The Homeopathic Revolution, The One Minute (Or So) Healer, and Discovering Homeopathy, questions the intentions of medical practitioners and how everything they are not saying is affecting the populace. Why are doctors prescribing Aspirin and Tylenol for fevers? Why are we suppressing our body’s natural defenses? Our immune systems exist for a reason; we were built to self-sustain our sicknesses, or to attempt it, at least.
There are certain reasons to seek professional care, of course. Ullman recommends to “seek medical care if one’s fever is above 104 degrees for over six hours or in any fever in an infant under four months of age.”
Ullman references Sanjay Gupta, an MD who contracted the H1NI flu while reporting in Afghanistan. Away from home and located in a war zone, Gupta attempted to quickly relieve his illness by taking Tylenol. This proved to be a shoddy move, which heightened his symptoms and hindered his body’s infection-fighting defenses. Ullman hopes his article will inspire Gupta (and others) to educate the public against fever-reducing drugs.
Gupta had the choice in taking medication; many do not have this freedom. Children treated by concerned parents may be better off once their parents are exposed to Ullman’s article, which reveals the results of a 2007 survey of Australian parents, published in a pediatrics journal and notes that “a shocking 91% of parents used fever-suppressing drugs in the treatment of their children’s fever.” What surprised me about this study was the follow-up fact: 44% of the children given fever medicine either refused or spit out the medicine, meaning that over 64% force-fed it to their child. This piece of information reminds me of the saying: “Don’t believe everything you hear.” In the case of our loved ones, we owe it to them to explore into their wellbeing.
The many effects of Tylenol and Aspirin are later exposed: “Children who get a viral infection and are given aspirin can lead to Reye’s syndrome, a serious neurological condition that can cause death. Aspirin is also known to thin the blood and increase the chances of various bleeding disorders. Its use more or less doubles the risk of a severe gastrointestinal event, which in most cases can lead to hospitalization. Lower doses that people take to reduce heart problems only seem to decrease these risks by a small amount.”
Fear not! Safer solutions exist! Ullman suggests taking a more natural approach to treating ailments, which can “mimic and augment the wisdom of the body.”
The most popular homeopathic medicine for the flu is called Oscillococcinum, (what a mouthful!) which is a medicine that has been used since the early 1900’s. “There have been four controlled studies that have shown that this medicine is effective in reducing the symptoms of influenza as compared with those people given a placebo,” states Ullman.
An alternative homeopathic medicine, known as Gripp-Heel, proved to also be effective. “67.9% of patients were considered asymptomatic at the end of Gripp-Heel therapy vs. 47.9% of patients in the control group… Tolerability and compliance were ‘very good’ given for 88.9% of patients in the homoeopathic group vs. 38.8% in the conventional treatment group.”
Other homeopathic medicines include Gelsemium, Byronia, Ipecacuanha, Arsenicum album, Eupatorium perf., Rhus toxicodendron, and Baptisia. “Each of these medicines has a history of efficacy in homeopathic doses for treating the specific syndrome of symptoms that each has been found to cause when given experimentally in overdose to healthy people.”
Winter is slowly edging forward; I can feel it in my chilled fingertips as I type this article. I hope those who read this article will look into Dana Ullman’s writings and allow their bodies to run their natural course. For now, keep warm and stay healthy!
CLICK HERE to read the complete Huffington Post article.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Dana Ullman’s books.
*Special thanks to Nicole Leontiades, Editorial Intern, for contributing this post.
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