Anthroposophical Views

An inner glow

Dora Wagner

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

Attributed to Elbert Hubbard, 1915

The Dictionary of German Superstition defines fever as 'a healing process...sen[t] by demons' , a 'wild movement' that has 'to run riot'. Fever has long been depicted as an elusive phenomenon, possibly involving supernatural forces (Stäubli, 1929). Yet it is so familiar to us that we use the term not only to describe a rise in body temperature, but as a metaphor for crisis, increased excitement, exaggerated tension, or passionate desire.

Until the 19th century, patients described 'flying heat' , 'flushes' , 'relapses' , 'terrible heat', and 'great fire'. Humoral pathological concepts, according to which fever and heat arose from bodily fluids accumulating in the wrong places and spoiling, were still common until the early 20th century. Internal heat was understood as linked to the external cooling of the body. Thus, warmth was primarily used against fever and heat, with various complex and by no means harmless applications.

The first clinical thermometers date back to Daniel Fahrenheit and were difficult to handle. They typically measured about sixty centimetres, were slow to display results, and many healers who relied on intuition and their senses opposed 'objective' measurement by apparatus (Kucklick, 2017). In 1791, for example, de Grimaud argued the exact value of temperature was much less important than 'the acrid and irritating quality of feverish heat', and advised his French colleagues:

The physician must above all endeavour to distinguish between qualities in the heat of the fever which can only be perceived by a very experienced sense (de Grimaud, 1791).

This changed in the 1860s, when fever began to be recognised as a symptom of disease, rather than a disease in itself. In 1867, Thomas Allbutt invented the short clinical thermometer, allowing temperature readings to be taken by caregivers and interpreted by a doctor (O'Connor, 1991). Together with pulse and blood pressure, the regular monitoring of body temperature now forms part of our complex patient surveillance.

Isn't it a miracle how, despite varying ambient temperatures, the human organism efficiently maintains an average temperature of 37°C, give or take 0.5°C? It always comes as a surprise, then, when that inner glow rises through our body and fever occurs. These processes are controlled by a thermoregulation centre in the brain. Inflammatory substances released by pathogens trigger this inner guardian, which is prompted to raise our body temperature. This can also occur when we get passionate about something, in fear, excitement, or joy. To achieve higher inner warmth, our body has several ways of limiting the release of heat. Our skin may become dry, pale, and cold. We experience our normal 37°C as too cold and complain of feeling freezing. Our body constricts the vessels of the skin, which makes our muscles shiver to produce more heat. We help ourselves by wrapping up in warm clothing. Our liver lends a hand, cranking up the metabolism to produce more internal heat. Gradually, as we warm, our skin glows, our cheeks redden, our pulse and respiration increase. We may feel very thirsty. When the fever subsides and the body tries to return to normal, it cools down by sweating. Blood flow to the skin is elevated, causing it to give off heat, become red, moist, or sweaty. Even when the fever is over, we may still feel weak or have a reduced appetite for a while.

Nonetheless, an elevated temperature should not be taken as something that always needs to be counteracted. Fever is mostly a healthy reaction that helps us cope with illness. When we are feverish, the pathogens that trigger disease can only spread slowly, whilst our immune system works faster. Our endogenous defence system is also strengthened in the longer term. This is especially true for children, whose immune defences are still developing. Anthroposophical medicine considers fever a sign of an incipient self-healing process, with an important therapeutic function. Some anthroposophical doctors even introduced fever therapy as a complementary treatment for cancer (Gorter and Peper, 2011). This approach largely dispenses with antipyretic medicines, preferring external applications to help the patient cope with febrile conditions. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Arnica (Arnica montana) for the elderly, Lemons (Citrus x limon) for relieving restlessness, drowsiness, headaches, circulatory weakness, or for lowering the temperature. Depending on the complaint, many different external applications are possible, e.g.: Lemon slices on the soles of the feet; whole body washes; circular chest compresses; hand or wrist compresses; calf poultices; heart or forehead packs using Lemon water (GAÄD, 2022). In the treatment of hay fever, subcutaneous injections with highly diluted Lemon and Quince juice (Cydonia oblonga) are used for prophylaxis.

But even if you are not ill— just tired, sweaty, or exhausted —a hand or foot bath with Lemon juice in combination with Lemon essential oil helps to revive your spirits. The essential oils of Lemons dissolve better in hot water but should not be allowed to escape, so for this treatment pour about half a litre of boiling water over a whole Lemon lying in a bowl. Now, using a knife and a fork, cut the Lemon in half while it is submerged under the water. Hold each half with the fork and cut into the peel all around. Now squish the Lemon with the bottom of a cup. Leave it in the water as you add cold water until you reach your desired temperature (not warmer than body temperature). Stir the water with your hand in the shape of a horizontal eight (lemniscate). Bathe your hands or your feet, or both, for ten minutes each. If bathing both sequentially, you can use the same water. After drying the feet, put on fresh socks, then rest for another ten minutes to enjoy your refreshed body.

The Lemon (Citrus x limon) is one species of small, evergreen tree in the Rutaceae family. One genomic study (Curk et al., 2016) suggests it was a hybrid between Bitter Orange (Citrus x aurantium) and Citrus medica, an oversized Lemon with a thick rind and a grainy skin that may have a crown-like ending at the tip. Citrus medica is one of the original citrus fruits from which all other citrus species have evolved. Its fruits are symbolic in many religious traditions, such as the variety 'Buddha's Hand' (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis), native to China, which is sacrificed in Buddhist temples. Under the Hebrew name 'Etrog' , Citrus medica is traditionally equated with the 'apple of paradise' during the Jewish harvest festival Sukkot (Herlitz and Kirschner,1927). After the fall of Jerusalem in 70CE, expelled Jewish citizens planted citrus orchards wherever the climate permitted, spreading its cultivation to Spain, Greece, and Italy, to more northern latitudes, and sheltered places.

Our familiar Lemon (Citrus x limon) is now widespread throughout the world, although it must be overwintered frost-free in our latitudes. The evergreen tree is cultivated both for its fruits and as an ornamental plant, for the flesh and peel of its fruits and the strongly fragrant oil of its wood. It has the peculiarity of flowering and fruiting at the same time, so Lemons can be harvested several times a year. Even in my cool, central European garden, a Lemon tree bears many fruits. This is indicative of the strong vitality of the plant, with its anti-inflammatory, decongestant, analgesic, and diuretic properties. Indeed, part of the Lemon' s appeal lies in its versatility. The juice, containing citric acid and a lot of vitamin C, has an astringent and structuring effect, and can be used as a remedy for nausea and seasickness. Lemon peels can be used to treat insect bites and its essential oil as a repellent. The unmistakable scent of its white blossoms, often used as a perfume, lifts the mood, and contributes to relaxation. The flowers may be dried to preserve the fragrance or used as an additive to tea. The mostly shiny, evergreen leaves can be chewed or used to make a tea. When exposed to sunlight, the essential oils contained in the foliage are released.

We should be grateful that life has gifted us Lemons and sing the praises of this faithful companion. Lemons contain citric acid, vitamin C, pectin, and essential oils, and are among the low-sugar fruits that are suitable for eating raw. A highly versatile fruit, they can be fermented with salt, boiled down with sugar to make pastilles, enjoyed as Lemon curd on hot buttered toast or with scones at afternoon tea. What would we do without this fruit in all our summer drinks, without hot Lemon with honey in times of colds, without candied Lemon peel and jam, without limoncello, Lemon cake or ice cream? In 1796, in the first line of one of his most famous poems, Goethe asks 'Do you know the land where the lemons bloom?', and the poem ends with, 'There! Thither! That is our way; O Lord, let us go!'

I would like to add my counsel that only those who are feverishly dedicated to their goal may reach it.

Images

Dora Wagner from Creative Commons

Gerdorff, H. (1526) Woodcut detail from 'A doctor feels whether a sick patient has already been seized by fever', in Feldtbůch der Wundartzney. Ed. Johann Schott. Strasbourg. Digitised version. Public domain.

Redouté, P. J. (1759-1840) Citronier de Médie (Citrus medica). Public Domain

References

Curk, F., Ollitrault, F., Garcia-Lor, A., Luro, F., Navarro, L., and Ollitrault, P. (2016) 'Phylogenetic origin of limes and lemons', in Annals of Botany, 117(4):565-83

GAÄD (2022) Pocket-Vademecum, Anthroposophische Arzneimittel und Äußere Anwendungen. Merkurstab: München

Goethe, J.W. von (1796/ 1996) 'Mignon' , in Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre. Goethes Werke, Band VII. Beck: München

Gorter, R. and Peper, E. (2011) Fighting Cancer - a Non-Toxic Approach to Treatment. North Atlantic: Berkeley

de Grimaud, J.C.M.G. (1791) Cours complet de fievres. Montpellier

Herlitz, G. and Kirschner, B. (1927) Jüdisches Lexikon. Jüdischer Verlag: Berlin

Hubbard, E. (1922) Selected Writings of Elbert Hubbard. Vol. v. Wise & Co.: New York

Kucklick, C. (2017) 100 Triumphe der Medizin. GEO Chronik 1. Gruner & Jahr: Hamburg

O'Connor, W. J. (1991) British Physiologists 1885-1914. Manchester University Press: Manchester

Stäubli, H-B. (1929) Handwörterbuch des deutschen Aberglaubens. Walter de Gruyter: Berlin/Boston

Zech-Matterne, V., Véronique, F., Girolamo, L., Coubray, S., and Luro, F. (2017) Archaeology and history of citrus fruit in the Mediterranean. Publications du Centre Jean Bérard. Available online, accessed 09.06.2022