Fever: Views in Anthroposophic Medicine and Their Scientific Validity

Abstract

Objective. To conduct a scoping review to characterize how fever is viewed in anthroposophic medicine (AM) and discuss the scientific validity of these views. Methods. Systematic searches were run in Medline, Embase, CAMbase, and Google Scholar. Material from anthroposophic medical textbooks and articles was also used. Data was extracted and interpreted. Results. Most of the anthroposophic literature on this subject is in the German language. Anthroposophic physicians hold a beneficial view on fever, rarely suppress fever with antipyretics, and often use complementary means of alleviating discomfort. In AM, fever is considered to have the following potential benefits: promoting more complete recovery; preventing infection recurrences and atopic diseases; providing a unique opportunity for caregivers to provide loving care; facilitating individual development and resilience; protecting against cancer and boosting the anticancer effects of mistletoe products. These views are discussed with regard to the available scientific data. Conclusion. AM postulates that fever can be of short-term and long-term benefit in several ways; many of these opinions have become evidence-based (though still often not practiced) while others still need empirical studies to be validated, refuted, or modified.

Acceptance, satisfaction and cost of an integrative anthroposophic program for pediatric respiratory diseases in a Swiss teaching hospital: An implementation report

“…Furthermore, the fever management protocol with focus on comfort rather than fever suppression was only partially implemented because it meant a culture change for the staff that we did not achieve during the pilot phase. Reduced fever suppression is a core element of the anthroposophic approach to infectious disease management 24 and is in line with current evidence. 25 When considering lessons learnt, the following factors seem to have contributed to a successful project and might make it replicable elsewhere: strong support from the head of department and hospital direction; having a complementary medicine certified physician to champion the project and work with a coordination group; beginning small with a clear treatment protocol for selected pathologies.…”

Parental and clinician agreement of illness severity in children with RTIs: secondary analysis of data from a prospective cohort study

“…24 Advice on selfmanagement for parents and carers could be provided to help patients self-manage fever. 25 However, severe fever in a primary care setting is also associated with serious infection 26 so parents may be correct to be concerned; as such, fever and fever management should be an important item in guidelines (produced, for example, by NICE) and telephone triage protocols (for example, via NHS 111) on acute RTI.…”

Fieberkrämpfe: Hilft Wärme im Fieberanstieg?

“…Zusammenfassend möchte der Autor mit diesem Fallbericht [9] randomisierte multizentrische Studien anregen, in denen verschiedene Modalitäten im Umgang mit Fieber und Fieberkrämpfen miteinander verglichen werden [7]. ▬…”

“…Anzeichen einer fieberhaften Erkrankung dazu führen könnte, dass weniger endogene Pyrogene ausgeschüttet werden, wodurch die Krampfschwelle weniger herabgedämpft wird und somit die Häufigkeit und der Schweregrad von Fieberkrämpfen reduziert werden könnten [7]. Dies bedingt eine zweite Hypothese, nämlich, dass die endogenen Pyrogene nicht die eigentliche Ursache des Fiebers sind, sondern lediglich Signale dafür, dass die Körpertemperatur erhöht werden sollte -Signale, die sich teilweise erübrigen, wenn eine Erhöhung der Körpertemperatur von außen unterstützt wird.…”