I chose this photo because everyone equates a thermometer in the mouth to a fever. But, I say, “ditch it!”
Put down the Tylenol.
Don’t touch that antibiotic.
You can do this on your own!
Fever is not a bad word. It is your friend.
In fact, it’s the mechanism that the body has intuitively designed to cook off illnesses such as the flu, colds, ear infections and the like, and it serves an important purpose because it is the body’s way of curing the illness.
Did you hear me?
Fever is the body’s way to rid us of illness.
Then why eradicate the cure by administering a synthetic drug, such as Tylenol, aspirin and the like?
Certainly, we don’t want our child to suffer needlessly, but by employing patented drugs to suppress a fever, we’re chemically forcing the body to stop treating itself with its natural promise of resolution.
What Some (Good) Doctors Say
In the words of my all-time favorite pediatric hero Dr. Robert Mendelsohn in his book, How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor, “There is a common misconception that the height of body temperature is an indication of the severity of an illness … Research has shown that more than half of all parents consider a fever high at levels between 100-102. And almost all believe it is high if it reaches 103 degrees. These parents are also convinced that the height of a fever indicates how sick their child is. This emphatically is not the case. Knowing the level of your child’s fever will tell you nothing of how sick he is or if the fever is produced by a viral or bacterial infection. There’s nothing to be gained by measuring its climb and by doing so will only magnify your fears and upset the child. Even a temperate of 105 need not be a cause of concern.”
Even Dr. Sears is quoted on his site regarding normal childhood illnesses as saying, “Fevers are not serious. Many parents have a misconception that fevers are a bad thing and a sign that there is some serious underlying illness. This simply is not true. Fever is a normal and healthy response of the body to an illness. The body’s immune system releases chemicals that raise the body temperature. This is part of the normal infection-fighting process.”
Dr. Thomas Cowan, M.D. has made it clear during his presentations at the Weston A. Price Foundation conferences that fever may be instrumental in warding off the potential of cancer in the future. He elaborated that in every case in which the child is allowed to present a nice high fever, it potentially inadvertently protects from cancer later in life.
The real concern during fever is dehydration.
So, make sure your child is drinking plenty of water, bone stocks and eating popsicles.
“Yeah but …”
No matter how many times I explain this, many parents just can’t believe this information could be true.
That’s when I offer the following:
Ferrum phos 6X. It’s the remedy that aids during any inflammation and may help the child get over the illness in a shorter amount of time and step into full bloom again with fewer accompanying symptoms.
Or you may employ the Banerji Protocol of Eupatorium 30 mixed with Belladonna 30, every 3-12 hours, depending on severity. If you don’t have this remedy pre-mixed, purchase them separately or in kits and administer them simultaneously.
Remember, homeopathy has a reputation for NOT suppressing illness; just allowing it to complete sooner and more genuinely.
As Dr. William Osler (a founding director of Johns Hopkins) is reported to have said, when commenting on pharmaceutical drugs, “The person who takes medicine must recover twice, once from the disease and once from the medicine.”
So, here's a better way.
I am a homeopath with a worldwide practice working with families and individuals via Zoom. I'm also a teacher and most importantly, a mom who raised my now-adult children depending on homeopathy over the last 31 years. I lived decades of my life with food intolerances, allergies, and chemical sensitivities until I was cured with homeopathy, so I understand pain, anxiety, and suffering. You may feel that your issues are more severe or different than anyone else’s, but I have seen it all in my practice and in my work in India. My opinion is that nothing has come close to the reproducible, safe and effective results that my clients, students and I have achieved with homeopathy.
Call today and learn how homeopathy might just be the missing piece in your health strategy.
Joette is not a physician and the relationship between Joette and her clients is not of prescriber and patient, but as educator and client. It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Joette presents. Homeopathy doesn't "treat" an illness; it addresses the entire person as a matter of wholeness that is an educational process, not a medical one. Joette believes that the advice and diagnosis of a physician is often in order.
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The Author disclaims all liability for any loss or risk, personal or otherwise incurred as a consequence of use of any material in this article. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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| Joette is not a physician and the relationship between Joette and her clients is not of prescriber and patient, but as educator and client. It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Joette presents. Homeopathy doesn't "treat" an illness; it addresses the entire person as a matter of wholeness that is an educational process, not a medical one. In order to be treated or diagnosed, Joette believes that the advice of a holistic physician is in order. 2009-2021 © Joette Calabrese – Practical Homeopathy® - HomeopathyWorks® - Health and Wellness - Privacy Policy
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v.v.v.good knowledge.
It’s Johns Hopkins. : )
I was fortunate enough when my children were young to have a doctor (Phillip Incao, M.D.) who handed out articles on the importance of fever. I remember my mother and mother-in-law being alarmed that I wasn’t trying to bring the fever down when my son was sick. However, I persevered and both my children seem to have great health.
Thanks for the correction. I just made it.
My kids rarely got fevers compared to me and my brother’s experience having been given aspirin when growing up.
Yes!! Don’t be afraid of a childhood fever, I agree totally!
I only treat my daughter with cell salts in case of fever. First Ferrum Phos D12, and when the temperature goes over 101.3F (=38.5C) I give Kalium Phos D6 – and stick with it even when the fever goes down. I learned this from a German book about cell salts and it is works just great!
My 4 yr old grand child has a seizure when her fever spikes (103*-104*). This has happened 3 times I believe in the last 2 1/2 – 3 years. It seems like the seizures get worse each time. For this reason my daughter tries to keep the fever low. Do you have any thoughts for a situation like this?
Seizures are a not a reaction to the height of a fever, but to the speed at which it is driven. In homeopathy, it is believed that using drugs to suppress symptoms will only cause the problem to become more entrenched and prominent in the future.
Love this post. I have never heard the connection of fevers helping ward off cancer, but it makes sense. Thanks for the constant encouragement!
Yes, thank you for this very helpful post. I’ll be forwarding it. It is very encouraging.
While I don’t have children I can speak from my own experience both recent and historical. We didn’t consider a fever high until it reached 104 with no signs of abating. That said, a low grade fever that persists in the presence of an inability lack of desire to eat or drink can indicate something potentially serious.
I had a low grade fever (99 – 100) with nausea and lack of hunger with a feeling of bloating and blockage a number of years ago. I would vomit if I tried to eat or drink even water or broth. After four days of this (and still no food and not enough water because I would vomit) my fever started rising so I went to the ER as was admitted or overnight treatment. They never did give a definitive diagnosis, but after treatment with antibiotics (ugh – but I took probiotics in between doses and after the drug was finished) I was able to eat again (bone broth and kitchari and cooked cereals) and it took a week to recover.
I have had less serious bouts of this thing but fewer and fewer episodes. I am still learning about homeopathy and how I can incorporate it into my knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine; it’s definitely better to follow Nature’s wisdom but sometimes one does need the assistance of “modern” medicine to get over a more serious hump!
It is such a basic part of how the body heals itself, and yet so many people miss it! I think fear takes over and that is part of what you do so well, eliminate the fear with education, and real solutions! Thank you so much for all you offer Joette!
Thank you for this vital information and for more of the valuable Banerji protocols. Your work touches so many homes and lives. I could only wish my mom could have had this information 50 years ago. My life story might be a different one, but I can hope to make certain that my grandchildren’s lives don’t have to go the same route.
Joette – Thank you for this timely post. My teenage son came home mid-week with a head cold. He was given Nux Vomica 30C and after 3 doses several hours apart his runny nose ceased. He was able to sleep through the night and breathe through his nose. What followed was a cough but I was thrilled to hear that it was not croup which use to be a chronic issue for him with every cold. (Hepar Sulph and Spongia Tosta nipped that in the bud several years ago.) With the cough, I noticed his lips became bright red and inflamed. His forehead also felt warm to the touch. My son tends not to spike high fevers (probably due to my giving him children’s Tylenol when he was an infant and toddler). I gave him one dose of Ferrum Phos 6x and the redness and swelling in his lips ceased. He wound up needing Arsenicum Album for the loose cough, dry cracked lips and redness in his eyes. Again, two doses of the 30C potency several hours apart provided him with relief so he (and I) could sleep through the night. Joette your advise to read, study and learn about remedies really helped me through this acute in terms of knowing which remedy to try with my son at various stages of his head cold. Your advise about also learning to observe symptoms helped me to narrow down the remedies to consider for his acute. Thank you for your guidance.
Great article! I’ve come a long way since my first was a baby and I totally dreaded fevers!
I’ve been wondering if there is a remedy for receding hairline in men. Silicia?
The names are Osler and JOHNS Hopkins, please.
Sir William Osler, Physician, 1st Baronet, was a Canadian physician and one of the four founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Wikipedia
Thanks. We saw the mistakes and made the changes.
Had my youngest daughter on the couch with a temp just yesterday and while I never measure it (unless it feels really hot) I gave her two doses of Ars Alb C30 (gut feeling) before going to bed and she too woke up much better. Temp gone, runny green snot slowed right down and the cough has settled too.
On the note of the healing properties of fever – one of the most effective natural treatments for Lyme disease is Hyperthermia – putting the body into an artificial fever (around 41deg C) to kill off the bugs, as the body is tricked into thinking there is no problem and hence will not produce a fever on it’s own. But I too had a daughter who had fits as soon as she went above 38deg C (101F) – which we tried to settle with cool air and washes. Pretty scary, but she grew out of it pretty quick (was really only a problem the first two years of her life).
Thanks Joette, learning more every day 🙂
Thank you for this vital information. The valuable experience of Banerji giving Eupa.Per mixed with Belladona also appears to be good. My Doctor Ashok Duggal, a famous Homeopath from Chandigarh India, used to advise me not to take PCM if the fever is upto 100, and I always follow his advise.
Thanks once again for this very valuable article.
Thank you forits useful information
Since a fever is good, would you usually use a homeopathic remedy or would you let it run its course?
Hi Joette! Do you have any experience with Roseola? I read that pulsatilla & belladonna are both possible remedies…would love to know your thoughts!
Thanks!
Both are good choices to consider based on the symptom picture. These are the kinds of conditions that moms learn about in my study guide, Gateway to Homeopathy. Consider starting or joining an on line group.
Doesn’t a high fever usually indicate a blood infection?
In rare cases, high fever can indicate a blood infection. Knowing what you’re dealing with is paramount.
I too love Dr. Mendelsohn’s book and completely agree that fevers are good. I also understand that homeopathy does not cover up symptoms, but my question becomes… Is it best to leave the body COMPLETELY alone, even homeopathically, and let the fever run it’s course? Are the above remedies really more for the parent’s comfort as some feel that they need to do something? I don’t want to jump in with a remedy when perhaps it’s best to let the body learn and so I’m a bit confused. Thank you Mrs. Calabrese!
When my children had fevers I usually allowed them to carry on without homeopathy. However, if the fever was accompanied by something else that was painful or uncomfortable and inadvertently corrected the fever, I used that medicine to do the work. I’m referencing a fever in a normal childhood illness that might last a few days or so.
Thank you Mrs. Calabrese! I’ve wondered this for years and your answer is good as gold to me. I wish I could give you a great big hug right now, bless you for helping us mommies!
Mrs. Calabrese,
I find myself a bit confused and feeling a little stuck between two Titans!
The venerated Dr. Mendelsohn said that even a temperature of 105 need not be cause for concern, yet on Pg. 77 of The Banerji Book, the honored Drs. Banerji list remedies to take if there is a “very high temperature (102.5 – 103 and above)” as it will “definitely stop the rise of temperature, and also prevent fits and concussions. The temperature will come down slowly.”
If a blossoming fever, unfolding to the level the body needs in order to cook off the illness, can be stopped with the Banerji’s recommendation, wouldn’t that make using that protocol suppressive and therefore undesirable? Wouldn’t it interfere with the body reaching the necessary temperature?
I have unending respect for all three of these men… can you help me cut through this fog?
THANK YOU most sincerely!
Thank you for this knowledge. I return to the article when I need a refresher. Tonight it helped for my dog who caught a cold at the kennel despite being current on his kennel shots. After realizing that he had not drank anything all afternoon and feeling he was very hot to the touch, out came your article. He got motivated to drink with some broth with the Banerji mix a little later. About an hour later he was a different pup. Now hoping that he clears this bug quickly, poor pup.
Good job, Tamera.
Would this information apply to a child that has possible recurrent fever syndrome? Or would that be a different protocol? I have a three year old that has fevers every 3-4 weeks. No active infection. No one else gets sick.
How long should you let your child go with a fever? Currently, my one year old has had a fever over 24 hours. It stays right around 102. Belladonna brought it down a little, but it went back up. Then I tried gelsemium in case it was flu related, but that didn’t seem to make a change. Trying to just watch her and let it run it’s course, but I am a worrier! I’m also new to homeopathy, so I’m not always sure I have the right remedy (and I’m still building my supply, so I don’t have the ones recommended in your post!).
My question: what’s the worry?
Does this apply to newborns or infants under 12 weeks as well?
I’m super excited to report that I used the protocol for fever on my 17 year old daughter last night. Her fever was 102.5. I gave her two doses. A few hours after the first dose, she was down to 101. I reminded her that’s actually good for her, but she was so miserable that I gave her another dose before bed. No fever this morning. Thanks, Joette! I’m going to ask for one of your courses for Christmas!!!! God bless.
You go Tracey!
Coming back to this article for my adult children who have children, what a resource these have been over the years and I am so thankful that you share your knowledge! Reading the comments I think people are still considering remedies take the fever down, we are so indoctrinated in that way and it is a difficult shift. I struggled to learn this, but believe it was key to the health of my boys. We found homeopathy when my youngest was prescribed steroids and an inhaler at age 2 for chronic bronchitis and coughing. It was truly a scary time, but our homeopath cleared him over a period of 1-2 years, he needed no other intervention, and what I learned I continued to apply, including running fevers and Ferrum Phos 6x. He grew into a star athlete with no lung/breathing issues. My sons visited a doctor for yearly required sports physicals (and a couple of related injuries which I treated with remedies as well), but never “had” a doctor. These articles and resources have been an incredible source of support all these years.