Thread: Sick infant
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Old 21st February 2002, 09:10 PM
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Snoopy,
I never said, nor was I advocating not treating symptoms if they are truly bothersome and are inhibiting a patient from functioning.

But, not every illness needs a remedy. If that were so, we'd all be dead. Our bodies (vital force) are quite able to handle some acutes on their own without interferring. Sometimes its a wee message for us to slow down and rest. And sometimes that is all that is needed.

In fact, one could look at the expression of the acute - note them down - and then see what chronic symptoms manifest after the acute has subsided and then prescribe on that - further strengthening the patient (and if they get colds easily - hopefully prescribing on the chronic would help with that susceptibility).

I thought that was more appropriate here - from what Allysa posted - since the baby's symptoms weren't too intense - were changing - and seemed to be moving in the right direction on their own (healthy fever - discharges flowing, etc).

Why jump to give a remedy for every little cough, sneeze or lowish fever (risk of suppression -- why don't you consider that)? This mother said the fever was mild, hence the information I posted advising to leave it unless it became too high/too long, etc.

Fever is a healthy expression - as I said above - as long as it doesn't last too long or go on too high. If a cough is productive- then the body is ridding itself of something. It is a flowing discharge - why mess with it? If it is not productive - then sure, get it moving with a remedy.

We can't presume to know if a there is a genuine situation that needs addressing with a remedy, or something that will resolve rather quickly on its own with a bit of bed rest and TLC without asking questions to qualify the situation or sharing information to help clarify things like fevers being okay within certain limits, etc - or a sneeze is okay, runny nose (discharges flowing, etc).

That is all I was saying before.

I don't have a problem treating acutes. Not at all! But I do think we need to discern what really needs treating. And I'm certainly not going to treat every cold without looking at a case a little more deeply than; assess if the Vital Force needs a hand or if it is coping okay with a little rest, etc.

And, I'm certainly not going to prescribe out of fear - i.e. the Jim Henson scenario you painted. He wasn't suffering an acute then - it was obviously a chronic situation....any flare-ups then were more than likely an acute manifestation of the chronic.

Quite a different scenario from a child having a common cold.

And I didn't see anywhere where Allysa said the baby was suffering terribly high fever - or a cough that is non-productive and debilitating. What I understood from reading her post was that her baby is having a cold which has lingered for a week now. Not severe from the sound of it, but understandably she wants to help her baby. That it has gone on for a week isn't too long to worry just yet. The symptoms seem to be changing too - and they do not seem to be going 'the wrong direction' which leads me to believe her Vital Force is coping just fine at the moment (even if a bit unpleasant...and I'm not without sympathy!!). If it lingers for 3 or 4 weeks, then I'd look again and see what is happening. How else can you tell what is really going on if you don't observe?

Allysa, I hope your daughter is feeling better now...if not - and her symptoms are worsening - then by all means post what is happening and try to figure out what she needs.

Best wishes,
Lisa
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