It is near dark outside as I sit here typing to you. I can hear my husband in the other room exclaiming, "Oh Yeah!" as the television announcer shares the date for the long awaited Season Premier episode of our favorite show, the X-Files. I glance at the first star of evening out my window wondering what Fox Mulder and Dana Scully will share with us this year and if we will see *anything* in the heavens that might be similar. UFO's....what a topic! From ancient cave paintings to Crop Circles to video footage from selected Space Shuttle missions, who knows for sure if UFO's are real and bringing alien visitors to check out Earthlings? There certainly is some pretty interesting evidence out there to ponder. But, this has nothing to do with Homeopathy. As I'm sure you all know what UFO stands for, let me ask you this,...What does FUO stand for?????

As Autumn's days have almost half passed us by and the whisper of Winter's approach is looming in the near distance, I can clearly see Orion's belt looming in the sky overhead towards midnight now. Whenever the night is clear, I will stand outside in the chilly air and trace the belt from left to right, drawing an invisible line right over to the Pleiades. All of this while I stand in the dark waiting for my two black buddies to reappear from the shadows where they relieve their bladders before a warm, cozy night's sleep. I always go out with our pigs when it's cold outside. I figure that if they have to, it's only fair that I suffer too. As I struggle to wear shorts as long as possible while the warm days are followed by frosty nights, it's easy for our animal friends, not to mention ourselves, to be met with an FUO unexpectedly. This time it isn't something from outer space cruising the treetops or landing in the field down the road. An FUO is a Fever of Unknown Origin. Of course, if you have the flu, a cold, sudden ear ache or other ailment, the fevers associated are expected. However, for an out-of-the-blue fever which shows up with no apparent precursing symptoms, then it is deemed by this homeopath as an FUO.

Ferrum Phos. 30C is made from Phosphate of Iron. It has many uses which call for keeping this great remedy on hand about the house and barn. Ferr. Phos. is the first remedy to use for the first stages of all catarrhal and inflammatory disorders! This is why it is known as the FUO remedy. A fever is the first sign that something else is coming. You needn't wait for any other symptoms to arise, just go right to the remedy box and get out Ferr. Phos. Given promptly for the fever, it will often stop 'dis-ease' from going any further! Pneumonia is a serious problem for pigs as a species, whether they be commercial swine or their little pot bellied relatives. It is highly contagious from pig to pig and is transfered via cough or sneeze as it can with humans. From large pig farmers it has been reported that a person being near an infected pneumonic pig can transport the bacteria on clothing and/or boots to a pig or herd somewhere else, therefore infecting them as well. This leaves us lucky indeed that Ferrum Phos. is also a great pneumonia remedy - especially for a right sided pneumonia. If not caught at first sign of a fever, a Ferr. Phos. pneumonia will exhibit symptoms of: heavy, sore or congested chest, stitching pains that are worse on coughing and deep breathing, great prostration, emaciation, short, painful, tickling and hacking spasmodic cough that is worse morning and evening. They are better from cold applications, bleeding and lying down, worse at night, 4-6a.m., from a touch, jar, motion, right side, checked sweat and cold drinks. Among it's other great attributes, Ferr. Phos. is the #1 remedy for nosebleeds. It sports hemorrhages of bright red, thin blood from any orifice. Along with another iron preparation, Ferrum metallicum, it is considered the #1 remedy for anemia. Since pigs are born iron deficient, giving mom the homeopathic tissue cell-salt Ferr. met. or Ferr. phos. in a 6x or 12x potency daily, it will be transfered to the piglets while they nurse, helping to insure full absorption of the iron in their food, or the supplement given. Anemia will be checked quickly. If bottle feeding for any reason, whether piglet, foal, calf or human, where anemia is an issue, just crush the 2 or 3 remedy pellets between stainless steel spoons and drop it into the formula once or twice daily.

As there are many pneumonia and bronchitis remedies, I thought I would save them for a later topic specialized for Respiratory Problems. These involve more in-depth study and this article writing author is already in trouble for being tardy this month. We can quickly recap some of the fever remedies we've already talked about in past articles which you may have gotten for your kits already. They are:
Aconite: SUDDEN, violent fevers with hot, dry skin, especially after exposure to a cold, dry wind. Face is red, or alternating with paleness. Thirst for large quantities of cold water. Remember, Aconite is full of panic and fears. If you're treating an animal and aren't sure of what to give...figure out what you would give yourself! A lot of times we do this with infants. A parent will call at night, they are all panicky and fearful because their baby is crying as he/she has suddenly started a high fever - what to do? I first ask, "what was the weather today?" 80% of the time it was cold, dry and windy - typical winter weather. Then, I add in their panic and fear to round out the rest of the case. Voila! Aconite 30C every 30 minutes for 3-4 doses and check to be sure the temperature is NOT rising. If so, get out the Tylenol, as well as the:

Belladonna: HIGH FEVERS. The key to remember here is that the fever is so hot you can feel the heat about 6 inches above the body! These are your 105o+ fevers. It is burning, steaming heat, but their feet are icy cold and their head is not sweating as the rest of the body. You'll know these fevers. They are so high that they are hallucinating! The Carotid Artery in the neck will be so distended and throbbing that you can see it. And they will not be thirsty. Of course you don't want to see a fever that goes so high convulsions start, so give the remedy, but keep a watchful eye on the temp. A tepid bath will cool them down if it progresses to dangerous levels and Professional Medical Help can be sought out too. You should keep this in mind when you are facing a Aconite or Belladonna fever - this is a HEALTHY FEVER. What it is showing you is that the immune system is so strong that it can spike a high fever like this. Why is this good? Because it is the body's way of burning off bacteria or viruses that are present and shouldn't be! Did you know that when a 104-105+ fever is spiked, our bodies release Interferon into our bloodstreams? Does Interferon sound familiar to you? It should. It is one of the big Cancer treatments being used today. To go in and automatically give a Tylenol or Aspirin (the latter NEVER to be given to babies or children with a fever for risk of Reye's Syndrome) to a child or adult, baby or animal because a fever is starting, you are suppressing the immune system and not letting it do what nature intended for it to do ~ heal itself. Save the OTC preparations for if/when it is really needed. A 106+ fever or a 105 on the rise is a good time to pop the chewable and give Belladonna 30C every 10-30 minutes until it starts coming down or after 5 doses - which ever comes first. The drug will take about 20 minutes to enter the bloodstream. The remedy will be in as soon as it hits a mucus membrane. A tepid bath is ready and waiting. It has been said that the highest fever a child spikes in the first year of it's life, is the typical fever they will run the rest of their lives.

Arsenicum Album: SEPTIC FEVERS. The #1 remedy for Food Poisoning. High fevers with cold sweats and the body will be cold as ice. They have external coldness with internal burning heat. There will be complete exhaustion, nervousness, restlessness and great fear of death. They are oversensitive and fastidious. Typically worse about midnight to 3 a.m. and they are generally thirsty for small sips of warm drinks. With an animal, look for the fever as well as them constantly getting up to change position, hugging the heat, anxious or fearful look in their eyes and great exhaustion. Ars. alb. 30C every hour for the first 3 doses and then re-evaluate the case if needed. Otherwise continue with the remedy every 2-4 hours and back it off as improvement sets in. Offer them warm water, they may wish to drink in small sips. Remember, no matter what the fever remedy - always watch for dehydration!

What will a constant Tylenol thwarted fever turn into? Case studies have shown that it wears down the immune system so that it can not spike a high fever at all. Many children and adults today are plagued by the "Low Grade Fever". These are fevers of 99-100o. Fevers that are not capable of burning off infection, but high enough to give it a nice, toasty environment to multiply and conquer in. This is sad because it is a true reflection of the state of the immune system. Good nutrition, healthy life-style, and immune enhancing therapies should be employed for these individuals. And by all means, think twice before being so quick to thwart a normal (99.9-103.7o) fever. There is much truth to the old saying: "Don't fool with Mother Nature!"

It is ALWAYS necessary to keep in mind that Common Sense is an important thing to keep about you at all times ~ most especially when dealing with health issues. If you are frightened or panicky and can't think - get someone who can, or take a dose of Aconite yourself to help you calm down. You are no good to anyone if you can't think! Two ways to help prepare yourself for frightening situations where you may be caught off guard and possibly far from quick medical attention, is to study the remedies beforehand and to have them ON HAND. The knowledge will do you no good if you don't have the remedy to give. As with all Severe or Life Threatening Situations, SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY! And by all means - give the indicated remedy WHILE you are transporting to Emergency Medical Facilities or while waiting for Emergency Medical Help to Arrive.

Well, it's time for me to coax my drowsy pig pals out of their warm bed to take a walk outside in the very chilly night air. I'll be thinking of all of the other pot bellied pigs out there as Clover & Harry disappear into the dark shadows of the night. I'll be remembering all we spoke of here as this article races it's way along the Internet to it's layout destination in Texas. You can be sure that I'll be looking upwards for Orion's belt and the Pleiades in the heavens, and hey, you never know what else I might see....I hope it won't be an FUO.

© Colleen Nicholson 1996