Natural health: Fever's and cellulite

While we typically associate a fever with sickness, it is actually the body healing itself, says Megan Sheppard.

Q. I recently read about fever being beneficial rather than harmful. Is this also true for young children? I am worried about potential seizures if I let the fever run too high.

A. There are indeed situations that should always ring alarm bells when it comes to fevers and require immediate attention.

Extreme listlessness, abnormal behaviour, and respiratory difficulty may indicate the presence of serious diseases such as diphtheria or meningitis.

Collapsing and lapsing into unconsciousness, even briefly, following strenuous activity, sun exposure, or time in the jacuzzi/sauna is also an emergency situation and should be treated as such.

Finally, a fever that follows the ingestion of or exposure to poison requires an immediate trip to the emergency department.

If this happens you should take the poison/chemical to the hospital with you so that the staff can act accordingly.

While we typically associate a fever with sickness, it is actually the body healing itself — even with our little ones.

When the body temperature rises above the natural state of around 37°C (98.6°F) this enables our body to utilise the major organ of elimination, the skin, to rid itself of toxins via perspiration.

Most people will take medication or see a doctor when they observe a temperature reading above 38°C (100.4°F), however, this can suppress the healing process while adding more toxins to be eliminated.

Plenty of rest and water, taken throughout the day/night in small sips, is the best initial treatment. Keep an eye on the patient and watch for any unusual changes or symptoms.

Most people lose their appetite during a fever, which is the body indicating that a natural fasting period is necessary to facilitate healing.

Tepid baths can help, or sponging down with a lukewarm cloth. Adding a cup or two of sea salt to the bath is beneficial, as are essential oils such as peppermint and ginger.

If you have fresh ginger root, mint leaves, or even in the dried tea or herb form then use them instead.

If you feel the need to take internal tonics when you are ill, and some of us do, then choose from the following: yarrow, ginger root, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves.

They will help to promote perspiration which in turn will cool you down and eliminate toxins further.

Open at least one window in the room where the ill person is resting to ensure circulation of fresh air.

Q. I have recently noticed an increase in cellulite on my thighs and upper arms. I have gained some weight, but not an extreme amount.

Is there anything natural to help get rid of these dimples?

A. Long thought to be inevitable for overweight individuals, cellulite does not discriminate between larger buttocks and thighs and slim ones.

While it does occur in the fatty reserve areas (found in breast, belly, buttock, thigh and upper arm regions), cellulite has more to do with diet and lifestyle than clothing size.

Cellulite is a fatty deposit in the reserve areas which causes the skin to appear dimpled and uneven.

Basically, the presence of cellulite indicates fluid waste products are being held by the body — a combination of unhealthy diet, insufficient exercise and poor elimination.

Eat whole foods, locally grown and organic where possible, with a high intake of raw fruit and vegetables. Water will flush out toxins.

Movement is also important to prevent cellulite, as the body uses fat as fuel — if you don’t exercise daily (even a 20 to 30-minute brisk walk will do) then the fat is stored.

Tight clothing is also counter-productive, as this impairs circulation of the lymph fluid.

Dry skin brushing each morning before your shower will help activate the lymph and reduce cellulite.

You can also stimulate the release of fluids that can cause cellulite to build up by adding essential oils such as juniper, grapefruit, fennel, cypress, and eucalyptus to a base oil and massaging it into your skin.