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Fever is the body's natural response to infection and inflammation. It helps recruit immune cells to fight infections effectively. Inflammatory processes like fever play a vital role in healing as they slow down microbes, aiding the immune system in combatting illnesses. Suppressing fever artificially may hinder the body's ability to fight infections and could prolong illnesses.
There is a misconception that fever reducers like Tylenol or Motrin prevent febrile seizures. However, studies show that these medications do not prevent febrile seizures unless a child has already had one during the illness. Fever reducers are primarily for comfort, not to normalize body temperature. Giving fever reducers indiscriminately can prolong illnesses, increase viral shedding, and not significantly impact recovery time.
During fever recovery, hydration remains crucial to help the body fight infections and maintain balance. Homemade electrolyte drinks, coconut water, and bone broth provide essential nutrients and hydration support. Natural remedies like acupressure, essential oils, and homeopathic medicines offer effective relief without suppressing the body's healing response, emphasizing personalized care for children during fevers.
When individuals fall sick due to infections like cold viruses, it is not the virus itself that makes them feel unwell, but their body's immune response causing oxidative stress. Immune systems vary in response, leading to different symptoms among individuals experiencing the same infection. Managing oxidative stress, crucial during sickness, can alleviate symptoms faster. Techniques like Epsom salt baths aid in increasing glutathione levels, a master antioxidant, to combat oxidative stress and boost recovery.
Addressing childhood illnesses involves strategic medicine usage to mitigate unintended consequences and promote recovery. Choices between acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen require consideration of their impacts on glutathione levels and gut microbiome health. Supporting gut microbiome health is vital, especially during sickness, as it impacts outcomes like COVID and long COVID. Parents transitioning to holistic approaches need to prioritize immune resilience, build nutrient-rich diets, assess nutrient deficiencies, and facilitate lifestyle changes to naturally combat illnesses and strengthen immunity.
This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth and Rupa Health.
Today on The Dhru Purohit Podcast, Dhru sits down with Dr. Elisa Song to discuss the best practices for approaching fevers and sickness in children. Dhru and Dr. Elisa discuss the top mistakes parents make when their child has a fever, why fever reducers can prolong infection, natural ways to support your child when they have a fever with hydration and homeopathic and herbal medicines, and the top diet mistakes you’re making when your child has a cold or flu.
Dr. Song is an integrative pediatrician, pediatric Functional Medicine expert, and mama. In her integrative pediatric practice, Whole Family Wellness, she’s helped thousands of kids get to the root causes of their health concerns and helped their parents understand how to help their children thrive in body, mind, and spirit by integrating conventional pediatrics with Functional Medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and essential oils.
Dr. Song created Healthy Kids Happy Kids, an online holistic pediatric resource to help practitioners and parents bridge the gap between conventional and integrative pediatrics with an evidence-based, pediatrician-backed approach.
In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Song dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):
-The top mistakes parents make when their kids have a fever (1:58 / 1:58)
-Drawbacks of fever reducers (7:25 / 4:53)
-Concerns about watching a child’s temperature and when to use fever blockers (12:18 / 9:54)
-Natural ways to help support a fever (17:35 / 15:16)
-Evidence surrounding homeopathic medicine for children (26:27 / 24:10)
-Top diet mistakes parents make when their kids get sick (31:04 / 28:40)
-What to do if your child loses their appetite when sick (39:17 / 36:67)
-Should you try and break your child’s fever? (41:32 / 39:11)
-What to expect when transitioning to a new, functional approach (48:15 / 45:55)
-How to prepare your family for the back-to-school season (53:36 / 51:14)
-Dismantling fears around fevers, Covid-19, and supporting immunity naturally (1:01:52 / 59:27)
Also mentioned in this episode:
-The Top 5 Mistakes Parents Make When Their Child Has a Fever (e-book)
-Food as Medicine for Immune Resilience (free guide)
For more on Dr. Elisa Song, you can follow her on Instagram @healthykids_happykids, Facebook @DrElisaSongMD, and through her website, healthykidshappykids.com.
Cozy Earth are the most comfortable, temperature-regulating, and nontoxic sheets on the market. Right now, get 40% off your Cozy Earth sheets. Just head over to cozyearth.com and use code DHRUP.
Rupa Health is a place where Functional Medicine practitioners can access more than 3,000 specialty lab tests from over 35 labs like DUTCH, Vibrant America, Genova, and Great Plains. You can check out a free, live demo with a Q&A or create an account at RupaHealth.com.
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