Natural Remedies to Treat a Fever

When your child has a fever, you will do anything it takes to break it, won’t you? Many parents panic when this happens, and try numerous methods to reduce the temperature of their kid’s body, by using pills or homemade remedies. But before you take any action, there are a few things you need to know about fever.

First of all, you must know what fever means. For adults, an oral temperature higher than 100.4°F (38°C) means a fever. In the case of rectal or ear temperature, anything above 101°F (38.3°C) is considered a fever. For children, the normal rectal temperature should be below 100.4°F (38°C), otherwise, you have to deal with a fever.

Then, not any fever is bad. In fact, this is a normal response of your body, and a high temperature can play an essential role in fighting infections. In some cases, a fever is a sign that your immune system is working properly, and fights viruses and bacteria. Many doctors and scientists agree that breaking such a fever can lead to a slower healing. This is the case of mild fevers. In these circumstances, it is better to focus on comforting yourself or the suffering person, rather than lowering his or her temperature.

Enough rest

One of the most important things you need to do when you have a fever is to rest. It is not the moment to be a hero and work or even stay more at your office. You need to rest more and monitor your temperature every 2 hours. Also, while doing this, don’t forget to hydrate yourself properly, by drinking water or tea. Never opt for coke or similar beverages, and don’t ingest cold fluids.

You can also use a cotton sock or a piece of cloth to reduce the fever while resting. A cool, damp facecloth placed on your forehead has this effect.

If you or your child has a fever, remove any excess clothing or blankets.

A lukewarm shower

An amazing way to reduce fever and relax is to take a lukewarm shower. You can also opt for a bath as the effect is the same. However, never go with a cold shower or bath, no matter how tempting it may sound when you have a fever. Instead of lowering your body temperature, this kind of treatment will raise it. The shivering caused by the contact with cold water alerts your body and raises its temperature even more.

Herbal teas

Even from ancient times, people have used herbal teas in order to break a fever. Consequently, some of these teas have proved their effectiveness. Moreover, it is vital to keep yourself or your kid hydrated when dealing with a fever. So, such a beverage is the perfect solution. If you want to cool off your body, you can try peppermint, cinnamon, oregano, Echinacea, ginger, thyme, or red clover tea. However, never drink the beverage hot or ice cold, but lukewarm.