NO Fear of the Fever

I started the morning at 5 am, with my sweet eldest (3 1/2 years old) asking for his dinner and chewing on the garlic bread he had left behind the night before.  At dinner he was listless, drank his diluted juice and wanted to be excused to play his harmonica.  He happily fell asleep at 7:45 to awake at 11:30 with a high fever crying for Mama.  I managed to plop Belladonna in his mouth between cries, held him, and soothed him into a deep sleep that lasted until 5 am.  Fever gone, hunger back.
Fast forward 5 hours and little brother (almost 2) came down with the fever.  His hands were cold, his head slightly warm, he nursed to sleep.  He awoke 40 minutes later screaming Mama with a fever of 104 F. I slipped Belladonna and Aconite onto his wailing tongue. 1 hour later he was sleeping in his bed.

It has taken me 3 1/2 years to learn that I do not need to fear the fever.

I took a class years ago from an Anthroposophic nurse at a Teacher's Conference. She described the home
remedies to do for a fever and that the fever is there for a reason. But for many reasons, mostly my loved ones and pediatrician suggesting the Tylenol, I often gave Tylenol or Advil if the fever was over 102.
I wish I kept an accurate journal of the middle of the night fevers and treatments we have been through.
I am quite certain that the fevers that were medicated with Tylenol and Advil lasted longer.
The experience has given me the observation skills and trust to no longer, FEAR THE FEVER.

Here are a few tips I heard about but now know are true:

1.  If the hands and feet are cold the fever is still rising.  Keep them comfortable without chill.

2. If hands and feet are about the same temp as the stomach, the fever is done rising.  Now you can give cool wash cloth, bath, or lemon wrap on the feet.

3. Treating with Tylenol or Advil may make the child more comfortable to sleep for a bit, but when it wears off the temperature will probably try to rise again to ward off the illness, making the illness last longer.

4. It seems a whole lot easier to hold my children, help them sleep, and give them some homeopathic remedies, rather than to convince them that the gooey, sticky medicine they don't want is good for them. (Especially now, that I feel that it isn't)

5. The Homeopathic Travel Kit from my local Homeopathic Doctor has been one the the best purchases of my life. $90 and it will last for years.  They will refill the bottles for $2 when needed.

6. Belladonna for sudden onset of high fever with flushed face.  Aconite for fever with pale face, intense thirst and restlessness. Pulsatilla for fevers with low thirst and clinging whining babes.

7. Rescue Remedies Pastilles are a great distraction from their ailments.  My little guys think they are a treat and it calms them.

8. If their throat hurts after the homeopathic medicine has been given, Tylenol can be comforting, but I try to use it very sparingly and not for the purpose of bringing down a fever. (Our last illness turned to sore throats and coughing for a week.  I did give them Tylenol when my boys were crying in pain and so they could drink fluid. I had to take an ibuprofen myself one night in order to get my head and throat from hurting so I could fall asleep.)  So I do use it as pain relief when necessary to keep comfortable while the body battles the illness, but not to cover the illness or fever.

Which would I rather give to my little guys?  The pretty ones without red #5.