Hypothermia


 * IBIS:**

Definition:
Generalized lowering of the body temperature to less than 35° C (95° F). Usually termed "accidental hypothermia". This is a medical emergency.

Etiology:
This is seen particularly in the elderly and inebriated and especially in the sick elderly person. Factors that predispose to hypothermia are Addison's disease; hypoglycemia; myxedema; cirrhosis; pituitary insufficiency; starvation; brain injury; and any illness that immobilizes the patient. Hypothermia is usually seen during the winter months. Elderly patients may become hypothermic even in homes where the temperature is kept at 65° F, where previous cold exposure was at substantially lower temperatures.

Nutrition:
therapeutic foods: • food that is Warming, Hot foods, foods that tonify the Qi and Xue (Blood) • cinnamon tea • foods rich in Vitamin C

specific remedies: » frostbite: • wash affected area in bell pepper and cinnamon tea, and drink the tea (Ni, p. 29) • wash the are in warm cabbage and green onion tea (Ni, p. 31) • wash area in eggplant tea (Ni, p. 37) • wash area in grapefruit peel tea (Ni, p. 6l)

Botanicals
Caution: If the body temperature is low enough, shock may occur if warm blood from the interior is ushered to the exterior, cools, and then returns to the interior.

• Panax ginseng: normalizes temperature (NCNM Botanicals)

consider: • Capsicum frutescens • Zingiber officinale

Acupuncture
after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: external Cold Wind

» illustrative combinations: • UB-13, GB-20, TW-5 and St-36: activate Wei (Protective) Qi • GV-19 (D), GV-4 (D) and GV-26 (+): invigorate Yang (LaRosa) • LI-4, Lu-7 and GV-14: moxa; build Yang and Wei (Protective) Qi • PC-9, Kd-1, GV-26 and St-36: for shock present to shock points

Homeopathy
• Ammonium muriaticum: icy coldness between scapulae not relieved by warm wraps • Calcarea carbonica: icy coldness with cold sweat • Camphora: icy coldness of hands; outside coldness with internal heat • Cuprum arsenicosum: icy coldness with cramps and obstinate hiccough; frequent vomiting, cold sweat • Heloderma suspectum: coldness of whole body, of all internal parts; even breath is cold; body frozen with slow pulse • Laurocerasus: great general coldness; goes into warm room to relieve cold, gets nausea and sweat breaks out on forehead which causes chill again; only warmed up in open air • Petroleum: coldness in spots, such as stomach, uterus, abdomen, heart • Ruta graveolens: coldness from spine downwards • Thuja occidentalis: coldness through entire length of spine • Veratrum album: creeping coldness throughout whole body; hands blue, icy cold