Fevers: Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them

The modern medical school educational system was born out of several factors but one was the great influenza pandemic. The desire to prevent such a destructive event is admirable. But the zeal that lead to the fight against the flu may have helped spread chronic disease. 

 I have been giving talks in Portland, Oregon recently about various health topics. A couple of weeks ago I gave a talk about Natural Remedies for flu season. I found some interesting information about fevers. As a Naturopathic Physician, I learned that fevers are a good thing! In fact, fevers not only help the body create an inhospitable environment for the virus or bacteria that is infecting the body, they may help prevent cancer! New theories about fevers are abound and it now believed that people who have efficient fevers are more likely to avoid cancer. Not only that but kids who don't get infections as children are more likely to develop a chronic disease later in life such as diabetes, Crohn's  disease, Multiple Sclerosis or Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

In doing this research too I found a few guidelines about when to call your doctor. One should always speak to their doctor about this but I found it interesting that several medical schools are now teaching that high fevers are not a concern. In fact, the Yale School of Medicine does not advise patients to call their doctor until they have a 105 F fever! 

Fevers while uncomfortable and sometimes even scary play an important function in the human body. Fevers help the body achieve a type of homeostasis. There is a purging of the old; like a spring cleaning, the body cleans out debris, viruses and other components it no longer needs. 

If you are in the neighborhood of Multnomah Village, please come by to visit us.