We've all had fevers.

A fever isn't a disease, it's the reaction of the body to a foreign invader - bacterial or viral. The presence of these invaders kicks the body's immune response into high gear. The raised body temperature causes the spleen to produce increased white blood cells to fight these invaders.

When the fever is reduced by artifical means, the ability of the body to fight these infections is diminished and the recovery takes longer.

Twenty years ago my father had cancer of the spleen. When they removed his 8 pound spleen he was left with very little ability to fight infections.

A small cold would ramp his fevers up to 104 degrees. He would put an ice pack on his head to combat the heat, but the body's reaction to that is to ramp up the heat to combat the ice. He ended up with pneumonia every time (up to 3 times a year). This then led to congestive heart issues.

Finally I had to say something. He doesn't like to go to the doctors and really doesn't like to be given advice.. very stubborn. So during his worst bout about 5 years ago I went to my mom and said, look, this is the solution. Don't tell him what you're doing. Just do it. Good girl, my mom. He fought her and fought her, but that was the last time he had to. He's not had pneumonia since.

Here's the advice I was given by a Naturpathic Physician. It has worked every time. It has saved my father's life.

It's called ice packs.

On your feet.

This is the same effect the body uses when you go out into the cold and your nose and ears to turn red and heat up if they aren't covered.

When you have a fever, it will always go to your head. On infants these tempuratures can pop 103-105 degrees and it is scary.

Putting ice on the feet draws the fever from the head. It does not get rid of the fever. It does not diminish white blood cell production. It only draws the fever away from the brain. Reducing convulsions in infants, calms down toddlers in a very short amount of time.

For babies and toddlers all you have to do is soak their booties or socks in ice water, put them on their feet. When they heat up, take them off, soak them again and repeat. I've seen it work in 15 minutes.

Here are a few of the more popular over the counter products, what they are and possible side effects: Understand, I'm not a doctor and I'm not giving medical advice. This is information available to everyone.

The active ingredient is acetaminophen (or paracetamol outside of North America) and is widely taken to relieve symptoms of everything from allergies to the flu, for headaches to arthritis. However....it can cause liver, kidney and other organ damage and can have fatal interactions with alcohol even in the recommended dosages.

This is an NSAID - non steroidal antinflamatory drug. Common side effects are photosensitivity (be careful being in the sun!! You'll could burn easily), raised liver enzymes, diarrhea, headaches (isn't that why you took it?) dizziness and hypertension. At the extreme end with higher dosages the risk of myocardial infarction may increase.

This is also an NSAID, but because of the possible adverse effects on children: Reye's Syndrome, physicians warn parent's to avoid this one except when used to prevent blood clot formation.

I have shared this with countless people and without fail there is skepticism. There is also amazing surprise that it works. That's ok. All you have to do is try it . My step daughter was over with her 2 year old daughter, who was running a high temp. I said please, just try it, you can give her Tylenol later if it doesn't work. Bless her heart she did, the fever broke in 10 minutes and the grandbaby was fast asleep in 15.

There is a place for Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin. But with the side effects, especially on young children, a fever isn't always worth the risk. Again, I'm not a physician (medical disclaimer here!) I just want people to educate themselves. So often, as a parent, we want to make our kids better and fast! I think sometimes it makes us feel better more than it makes our kids feel better!

Check with your doctor if you need to. Give it a try and tell me what you think.