10 Best Home Remedies for Fever

Table of Content

• Causes For Fever

• Common Symptoms Of Fever

• Natural Remedies For Fever

• When To See A Doctor?

• Take-Home Points

• FAQ on Best Home Remedies for Fever

Introduction

A fever is a sudden and temporary rise in the body temperature as the result of the immune response from the infection. In the case of infants, fever should be taken seriously as they are more prone to serious infections. So, we kindly request you consult your doctor before treating you with any home remedies. In this article, you will find 10 natural remedies for fever that can help you in fever treatment at home. 

Causes For Fever

Before knowing natural ways to reduce fever, let us introduce you to some of the common causes of fever. They are, 

• Viral infections 

• Bacterial infections 

• Inflammations like rheumatoid arthritis

• Cancerous or malignant tumours 

• Some medications used for high blood pressure and seizures

• Heat exhaustion

• Some vaccines like diphtheria, tetanus or covid

Common Symptoms Of Fever

The average temperature of the human body is around 98.6 F ( 37 C). The temperature of the body when it rises to 100 F (37.8) or higher is considered a fever. Other than the elevated body temperature, some other symptoms of fever are, 

• Chills 

• Shivering 

• Sweating 

• Headache

• Muscle ache

• Loss of appetite

• Irritability 

• General weakness

• Dehydration

Natural Remedies For Fever

Here are 10 home remedies for high fever that can help you in quick recovery,

1. Hydrate Yourself Well

Drinking enough water during a fever can help you in preventing dehydration and ease your symptoms. Having elevated temperatures can be highly uncomfortable, especially for children. At such times, having a good amount of fluids can help you feel comfortable. The types of fluids you can have during fever are water, sports drinks, decaffeinated coffees or fresh juices. It is advised to avoid caffeinated tea, coffee or sodas as that can cause dehydration. Drinking fluids would not essentially bring down your fever but it will help you in keeping yourself cosy and comfortable.  

2. Give Your Body Enough Rest

More than anything, you should allow your body to rest and fight the fever. It’s because it needs the energy to fight the infection and recover quickly. 

3. Take OTC Medications

Taking OTC supplements like ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen and aspirin can help you in reducing the fever pretty quickly. The best thing about these OTC medicines is that they not only reduce fever but also ease the symptoms like cold, cough and sore throat. For these medicines to work efficiently, you need to take them after meals and take good bed rest. But we advise you to take these medicines after consulting your doctor as abnormal dosage can end up being dangerous to your health. 

4. Apply Cold Compresses

Applying cold compresses over the forehead and the wrists can help you in bringing down the core body temperature, thereby reducing fever. You can give these compresses in your armpits or groin for around 5 minutes. 

5. Take Lukewarm Bath

Having a lukewarm (not too hot or too cold) bath can help you in bringing down the temperature and feel relaxed. 

6. Use Humidifiers

Using humidifiers will not necessarily bring down your fever but it will help in alleviating the symptoms like dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose.

7. Have Soups 

Having solid meals during a fever is difficult as the appetite would be down and you would generally feel nauseous. So, having liquid meals like broth and soups will supply all the essential nutrients while being easy on your food pipe. 

8. Try Herbal Remedies

There are various herbal medicines like moringa and kudzu root that have been found to reduce fever in animals like rats and rabbits. However, more research is needed to find out about the role of herbs in reducing fever. If you are taking herbs as medicine, it’s better to consult with your healthcare provider beforehand. This is because herbs can prove dangerous if taken in abnormal proportions or quantities.  

9. Wear Comfortable And Lightweight Clothing

Many people have this misconception that wearing heavy clothes and blankets over the body will help them in reducing chills and thereby bring down their fever. But, only the opposite is true! Wearing comfortable clothes and light blankets can only keep your temperature down and thereby reduce fever. 

10. Eat Small Meals

Digestive systems would usually be at their weakest during fever. Having a heavy meal would put a lot of pressure on them and thereby, increases their recovery time. So, having small yet nutritious meals is the best choice to avoid digestive problems.

When To See A Doctor?

In the case of infants, it's advised to consult a medical professional immediately. But even children and adults require immediate medical attention if they are experiencing symptoms like, 

• Severe headache 

• Rashes 

• Unusual sensitivity to light 

• Stiff neck accompanied by pains 

• Mental confusion

• Strange behaviour 

• Altered speech 

• Persistent vomiting 

• Chest pain or difficulty breathing 

• Abdominal pain 

• Pain during urination 

• Convulsions or seizures 

Take-Home Points

• An elevated body temperature or fever is the response of the immune system to infections, vaccines or inflammation. 

• Taking good rest, drinking hydrating fluids, taking lukewarm baths and applying cold compresses can serve as a great fever cure at home. 

• If you have symptoms like rashes, distorted mental abilities, abdominal pain, chest pain and seizures along with fever, you should immediately visit a doctor.