CHAPTER 5: FEVERS (in minor acute ailments)

from ‘Basic Homeopathic Therapeutics’ by Karen Johnson

ACONITE
For fevers having a sudden onset especially after excitement, fatigue, or exposure to cold dry winds. (This remedy is useful in the very first stages of inflammations e.g., colds, sore throats, earache.) Characteristic symptoms include: – Fever, sudden onset with chill. Increased thirst: bright red face, though one cheek may be red and hot, the other cold and pale; constricted pupils; dry burning heat; chill alternating with heat. Marked mental and emotional state of great anxiety, fearfulness, and restlessness, and may even think they are going to die. (There is always restlessness and thirst in Aconite fevers.) Fevers that start or worsen in the evening or at midnight. Patients are very thirsty during the hot or chilly phase of the fever. oversensitive to pain. Generally, not sweaty fevers. patient feels better for motion and wants to uncover, they don’t want to be in a warm room

APIS MEL.
The characteristic symptoms of fevers requiring this remedy include a darker red face than Aconite or Belladonna. Fevers associated with allergic reactions or vaccination reactions. Chill with dyspnoea or urticaria; chill alternating with burning heat. Patient wants drinks when chilly and is thirst less when hot. Patient feels chilly when he moves. One part of the patient can feel hot and another part cold. There is dry burning heat, and if any sweating occurs it dries really quickly. The symptoms will be helped by cold bathing, and they want cold fresh air. Patient wants to be uncovered and generally is sleepy, stuporous, and lethargic, especially at 4pm. Patient can scream during fever (brain cry).

ARSENICUM ALB.
Can be useful in fevers e.g. influenza, where there is the usual Arsenicum great anxiety and restlessness. The fever has pronounced chilliness sometimes with nausea, may have rigors and they are much improved by warmth, external heat, small sips of hot drinks, BUT they like their head to be cold. There may be a state of collapse far greater than would be expected for the severity of the fever. Any burning pains would have the Arsenicum keynote of being better for warmth.

BELLADONNA
One of the most common and easily recognised fever remedies especially in children. This remedy also has fevers with a sudden onset, especially at 3 am or pm but any high fever with comparative absence of toxaemia and sudden onset. Bright red face with great heat. (Scarlatina like fevers). Internal coldness with external pungent steamy heat. Cold hands and feet and rest of patient is very dry and hot (can feel the heat inches from the patient’s body). Covered parts may be very sweaty though. Generally, not thirsty in fever but may crave lemon drinks. Throbbing pounding headache. Patient can have a glazed look, dilated pupils and sensitivity to light are common. There can be delirium, patient may not recognise people, may try to hit or bite them, may see things e.g., monsters etc.

BRYONIA
The onset of a Bryonia fever is usually slow and occurs with very painful inflammation e.g., pleurisy. The patient is irritable, wants to be left alone and may worry about work and what is not being accomplished, and may ask to go home- even if they already are. They also tend to reject something they have just asked for. They are extremely thirsty, drinking large quantities especially for cold drinks during the chilly stage. They are very much aggravated by the slightest movement, so try and keep very still or lie on any painful part. They are chilly with a hot head, dark red face and can look “besotted”. There can be dry burning heat which aggravates all their symptoms. Fever tends to rise in the evening and can be prolonged and the sweat is sour.

CHAMOMILLA
Consider especially fever when teething, there is intense heat in the fever, which can be felt on one side of the body-front or back. Like Aconite one cheek can be pale and one red. The fever can be followed by sweating, also the face can be quite sweaty. There will also be the irritability and changeability that is usual with Chamomilla, nothing will satisfy them and if the patient is a small child they will want to be held and carried (see dentition).

FERRUM PHOS.
This is another remedy to consider in the very early stages of a fever. Patients requiring this remedy tend to be less restless than Aconite but more alert and aware of their surroundings and what is going on than Belladonna. This remedy is especially indicated when there is a throbbing headache. Patient pales and reddens alternately but the facial redness is confined to circular red patches. Heat with sweaty hands. Chill at 1 pm.

GELSEMIUM
The patient has the typical droopy Gelsemium appearance and usual weakness and shakiness. The face is dusky red and dull looking. There are cold shivers up and down the spine with terrible aching soreness and heaviness. Cold hands and feet. During the heat they can be very drowsy and weak. The sweat is cold. There can be very bad headaches. They can also have fevers with nausea. They are thirst less, feel better for profuse urination, lying with head high and for stimulants.

NUX VOMICA
Dreadful chills and rigors brought on by the least movement under the bedclothes or uncovering, have to lie still (so compare with Bryonia) and phases of burning heat which make the patient restless, but if they uncover or move around, they get a chilly phase again. They want hot drink and external heat, both of which help. The more severe the fever the less irritable is this usually irritable remedy.

PULSATILLA
This remedy is generally indicated by the mental and emotional state, which is whiny, clingy, weepy, sad, wanting attention, company, and affection. Chilly but does not want to be warmed. Pain with sweating. Erratic and changeable symptoms. Patient can feel feverish and hot, but temperature is normal. Patient is usually not thirsty or hungry, they are worse in warm stuffy room and want fresh air which helps all phases of the fever. Motion, walking in fresh air can help (if patient is able to get up). Pulsatilla fevers can be as intense as Belladonna. An unusual symptom to look for is watering of the eyes during the fever.

RHUS. TOX.
To be considered in fevers with terrible stiffness, aching and restlessness. The stiffness gets worse before and during the chilly phase. Pain and stiffness cause patient to have to walk around. As usual with Rhus tox the patient is worse in cold damp weather, is worse for uncovering or undressing, and overheating. Warmth and continued gentle exertion (after the initial aggravation on motion) help. patient can be very restless and anxious during the fever (compare with Arsenicum Alb). May crave milk. Tip of tongue may show a triangular area of marked redness.

STRAMONIUM
The remedy to consider if Belladonna fails to reduce temperature in very high fevers. It therefore shows symptoms of violent fever with delusions, ravings. Profuse sweat. The eyes are fixed, sparkling and staring. Child seems half awake/half asleep, may not recognise anyone. Patient is much worse in the dark and better for having the lights on. They may see black dogs or other black animals. Children who wake from bad nightmares, screaming, are half awake and disoriented.