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OUTSMARTING THE FLU

The Art of Fever Management

by Carole Tashel, Clinical Herbalist

"Give me a fever, and I can cure any illness" — Hippocrates

It may sound crazy, but fevers should be celebrated -- perhaps even encouraged -- as part of a thorough, natural defense against infection. A fever of 101 or 102 degrees (the ideal temperature for fever) is a sign that your entire immune system is on high alert. White blood cells develop a ferocious appetite, and circulation increases, allowing immune components (white blood cells, antibodies and interferon) to get where they need to go. Microbes hate the heat, and die or weaken. (Influenza viruses prefer temperatures slightly below 98.6 F.) When a fever "breaks" with copious perspiration, viruses are forced out in the sweat. So the goal of fever management is to nurture the ideal temperature, keep the person comfortable until sweating occurs, then support convalescence. If you suppress a fever, you can be sure it will prolong the flu.

Influenza viruses infect the whole body and grow best at temperatures slightly below body temperature. At 105 degrees, they die off after 12-14 hours.


HELPING A FEVER TO DO ITS WORK

It helps to know how a fever works, so you feel comfortable managing it. When microbes are attempting to get a foothold, certain chemical signals reach your brain, and in response, the hypothalamus (the temperature-control center) sets your thermostat higher. In response to this directive, your body conserves heat by shutting off blood flow to small blood vessels in the skin. You appear pale, and feel chilled. Though it seems paradoxical when you’re cold, your temperature is on the way up.

When your temperature exceeds the point set by the hypothalamus, you start feeling very hot. In response, peripheral circulation opens up, you appear flushed and begin to sweat. Your fever has "broken," and your temperature is on the way down.

When temperature is on the way up, herbs can encourage a sweat and make sure your fever completes its important work. A tea combination of elder flowers, yarrow flowers and peppermint leaves can do the job. Here’s how to make it:

SWEAT TEA
Elder flowers - 1 Tablespoon
Yarrow flowers - 1 Tablespoon
Peppermint leaves - 1 1/2 teaspoons
Place flowers and leaves in a quart Mason jar and pour 3 cups boiling water over them.
Cover and steep 20 minutes, strain through a sieve or coffee filter. Drink a cup of the tea every 60-90 minutes, as hot as possible.

A 10-minute hot bath can support the process. When you begin to sweat, wrap up in a sheet and blanket and prepare to sweat profusely. Most people sleep well and awaken refreshed the next morning. A good time to do this treatment is in the late afternoon or early evening, when fevers naturally tend to rise.

All three herbs are diaphoretic (sweat-inducing) when drunk hot, and help relieve upper respiratory congestion. In addition, both elder and yarrow are anti-inflammatory. Yarrow not only slows down viruses and bacteria, but may also elevate an inappropriately low temperature. Peppermint helps prevent the nausea, gas or cramping that sometimes accompanies a fever.

Please note that capsules containing these herbs will not work -- you must drink the hot tea. Why? First, cool teas or capsules sometimes lead to different results, such as increasing urine rather than sweat. Second, the hot liquid opens small capillaries and brings heat to the skin, jump-starting the sweating process.


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