Health Notes #16

Pain and Fever Control Without Aspirin

The most common uses of aspirin are pain relief and fever reduction. But aspirin is a major cause of death in children up to 6 years of age, mainly from overdoses. Children, especially, should not be exposed unnecessarily to any drug, and never expose the unborn baby to drugs, no matter how mild, as many infants are marked for life because of a small exposure to a chemical which the mother took while she was pregnant. Often the defect in the child is of a biochemical nature rather than structural damage. This means they may lack certain enzymes needed to digest particular nutrients, or make an essential blood component.

To control pain use hot and cold, or alternating applications of both, applying the heat or cold by a variety of different routes: heating pad, hot water bottle, ice cap, or an ordinary jar filled with ice or hot water and wrapped in a towel. Other methods include a hot tub bath, a hot shower, a short cold bath or shower (30-120 seconds in cold water of 50-65 degrees). Usually, hot water applied directly to the pain, if practicable, is the most effective, the temperature being 105-110 degrees. Generally the hot application should be as hot as can be tolerated and the cold applications should be as cold as you can get them. Wring a towel from hot water and place it on the painful part for 3-6 minutes. Replace the hot compress with an ice-cold compress for 30-60 seconds. Alternate in this fashion for 3-5 changes.

If headache relief is needed, put the feet in hot water for 30 minutes. The headache will dissolve into the footbath! If you have severe diabetes or have had blockage of arteries to the legs don't use this treatment.

Common fevers can easily be treated by sitting in a hot tub from 105-110 degrees until the skin is quite red, and profuse sweating occurs. Keep an ice cold cloth on the forehead. Take a cup of hot water or hot tea when sweating begins. When the skin is red and sweating profusely, after 10-20 minutes, then finish off the remedy as follows:

(1) work fast to take a brief spray of cool water over the entire body from the chin downward;

(2) then a quick friction rub-down with a course towel;

(3) wrap a bathrobe around you, jump into bed and sweat for half an hour;

(4) arise, take a brief, normal shower if needed to cleanse the skin and relieve a sense of chilliness after sweating, and

(5) re-dress.

If the treatment has been a good one, a sensation of weakness may develop after a minute or so of standing, because of the transfer of blood from the interior of the body to the exterior, much as in a sunburn. This is normal, because of extensive reddening of the skin.

If you feel yourself in the very beginning stages of a cold or illness, try the hot bath and cold quick shower, drinking large amounts of warm water to cleanse your system. You may never get the bug because this treatment will put your immune system into high gear.

Summer Salads

Tomato Cottage Cheese Stars

2 c. mashed tofu

3/4 tsp. salt

1/3 c. tofu mayonnaise*

1/2 tsp. garlic pwd.

1 tsp. onion pwd

2 T. dried parsley

Rinse, drain and mash tofu. Measure and put into bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix together well. Chill. Take out the center stem in a medium to large tomato. With the stem side up, cut the tomato into wedges but only cutting of the way to the bottom of the tomato. Stuff the cottage cheese into the tomato gently pulling the wedges apart. Sprinkle the top with paprika and add an olive to the center. Serve on a crisp lettuce leaf.

* see Health Notes # 14.

Three Bean Salad

2 c. cooked green or wax beans

2 c. cooked kidney beans

2 c. cooked garbanzos

1 c. onion rings or strips

1 med. pepper rings or strips

1/2 c. chopped or sliced black olives

1/4 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. honey

1/4 c. oil

Mix liquid ingredients with a fork and pour over the rest. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Stir gently two or three times so the marinade flavor is evenly mixed with the other ingredients.

Every act of life is a revelation of character.