With cold and flu season upon us, you may be wondering if the long-standing rule of feed a cold – starve a fever is true. In a time where people reach for the medicine cabinet at the first sign of a cold, flu, or fever, it turns out grandma may have known what she was talking about.
Holistic Treatment Tips
While over the counter medications may help relieve the symptoms, they do not work to treat the cause. The rule of starving a fever and feeding a cold has to do with allowing your body to do what it does best: fight infections naturally.
Here are some health truths and holistic treatment tips:
Feeding A Cold
Catching a cold indicates that your immune system is not functioning at full capacity. In order to bolster your immune system you need to feed it with nutrients that can support high immune function to fight the cold.
If you feel a cold coming on, reach for the fruit bowl rather than the medicine cabinet, for a natural and holistic approach. Foods rich in vitamin C will help improve your immune function to fight off that pesky cold.
You have probably heard that chicken soup is great for colds. This is true if you are eating the right kind of soup. While canned soup may make you feel better, homemade soup contains the nutrients your body needs. Making a homemade soup containing chicken, broth, and vegetables will have you feeling better in no time.
Starving A Fever
While there has been little research to prove that starving a fever has any effect on the length of your fever, you probably have noticed that while feeling feverish, you don’t have an appetite. However, you should always eat when you are hungry while avoiding particular foods while running a fever.
One food group you should avoid while running a fever is dairy. Excessive body heat can cause the dairy to break down to quickly and spoil in your stomach. This can lead to nausea and vomiting to go along with your fever. If you are hungry, you should opt for light foods such as soup, broth, crackers, and dry toast.
Holistic Treatment Options
Many people are turning to holistic treatment options to fighting and preventing illness. These approaches have been working for generations and include massage, nutrition, and even essential oils that improve your overall health without the side effects of prescriptions and over the counter medications.
Customized Prescription Compound
We here at Compounding Pharmacy of America strive for natural healing and health. If you do however need a prescription, talk to your doctor about a more holistic approach or prescription that can be fulfilled by a compounding pharmacy. Then call us to create a customized prescription compound made just for you!
We Are Just A Phone Call Away – Make Your Health And Happiness A Priority Today!
Chief Operating Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America
Matthew Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated with Honors from Lee University with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. After his undergraduate training, he completed the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 2004. Dr. Poteet has spent much of his pharmacy career on staff at two of the most prestigious academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast; Emory University in Atlanta and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At these institutions he received extensive experience and training in sterile products compounding.
He returned home to East Tennessee in 2010, where he has held the position of Pharmacy Director at two sterile products pharmacies in Knoxville. Matthew lives in Knoxville with his wife, Chris. Dr. Poteet is Tennessee’s first Board Certified Anti-Aging Pharmacist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
