Fever is a condition in which the body’s temperature is higher than the normal range. The normal temperature is considered to be 37 °C or 98.6 °F, but this is not a set number that applies universally to all people.
The normal body temperature is different for children and adults, and it can vary among individuals.
There was one study in which is said that a child has a fever when his or her body temperature is higher than 37.5 °C or 99.5 °F [1]. Also, in this study was said that an adult has a fever when his or her body temperature exceeds 37.2 to 37.5 °C or 99 to 99.5 °F.
Fever is a symptom of another illness or condition. Fever can happen when your body is fighting against infection, such as the flu. Also, there are additional reasons for fever, such as blood clots, cancer, autoimmune disorders, gastroenteritis, certain inflammatory diseases, urinary tract infections, ear infections, and the response to immunization in children.
Also, the unhygienic lifestyle and sudden changes in the weather can lead to a fever. The most common symptoms which are associated with fever are loss of appetite, slight shivering, weakness, dehydration, muscle ache, headache, and sweating.
Fever will usually go on its own in a period of a few days. But if the fever is making you uncomfortable, then you can try some simple and easy home remedies to cool your body down, and they can make you feel better. But if your fever exceeds 40 °C or 101 °F, then it can become very dangerous. In this situation, you must call emergency help. You need to speak with your doctor about the best natural treatment for you. Do not take any of the below-mentioned home remedies without a doctor’s advice. [2,3]
8 Home remedies for fever
Contents
Ginger
This home remedy can help your body to expel heat which in turn will help to reduce the fever. Also, this is an antibacterial and antiviral agent, and it can help your immune system to fight any kind of infection.
You should put 2 tablespoons of ginger powder in a bathtub filled with warm water and mix them well. You should soak your body in this water for ten minutes. You should pat dry your body and then go to bed. You should cover yourself completely with a blanket. Soon you will start sweating, and the fever will come down. Before you take this detoxifying ginger bath, you need to perform a patch test on your forearm to see if it suits you.
There is another option, and that is to make ginger tea by adding ½ teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to one cup of boiling water and letting it steep for a few minutes. You should add some honey and enjoy this tea 3 or 4 times per day. Also, there is another option, and that is to mix together ½ teaspoon of ginger juice, one tablespoon of honey, and one teaspoon of lemon juice. You should consume this home remedy 3 or 4 times per day until the fever is gone. [4]
Mint
This home remedy has cooling properties, which can help to keep the internal system cool, and it can help to reduce the body temperature. Also, it can help to extract excess heat from your body. You should add one tablespoon of crushed mint leaves to one cup of hot water. You should allow it to steep for ten minutes, strain it and then add some honey to it. You should drink this home remedy 3 or 4 times per day to get a quick recovery.
Raisins
This home remedy can reduce fever and help your body fight against infections. They have phenolic phytonutrients, which are known to have antioxidant and antibacterial properties [5]. Also, this home remedy acts as a tonic for your body when you have a fever. You should soak 25 raisins in ½ cup of water for one hour or until the raisins become soft. You should crush the soaked raisins in the water and strain this liquid. You should add the juice of half a lemon to this home remedy. You should have this home remedy 2 times per day until the fever is gone.
Garlic
This home remedy has a warming nature which can lower a high fever by promoting sweating. It can help to eliminate harmful toxins from your body, and it can speed up the recovery process. Also, it has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can help your body to fight against infections and to ward off diseases.
You should finely mince one garlic clove and add it to one cup of hot water. You should steep for ten minutes. Then, strain it and sip it slowly. You should drink this home remedy two times per day, and the next day, you will feel much better.
Also, you can warm a mixture of 2 crushed garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. You should apply this mixture over the sole of each foot, and you should let a few spots uncovered. You should wrap your feet with gauze to keep the garlic in place and let it stay there throughout the night. For some people, this type of home remedy can eliminate their fever in just one night. This home remedy is not recommended for small children and pregnant ladies. [6]
Apple cider vinegar
This is an inexpensive and highly effective home remedy for fever. It can help to reduce the fever very quickly because it has acid, which can help to draw heat out of the skin. Also, it is rich in minerals, and it can help to replenish minerals that get eliminated from the body that is caused by fever.
You should add ½ cup of apple cider vinegar to lukewarm bath water. You should soak your body in this water for 5 – 10 minutes. In twenty minutes, you will notice improvements in your condition. You should repeat this natural treatment again when your body temperature is high. You should soak a washcloth in a mixture of 2 parts of cool water and one part of apple cider vinegar. You should wring out the excess solution and place it on your tummy and forehead.
Also, you can wrap one around the soles of your feet. Once the washcloth becomes warm, you should change it with a new one soaked in this cool mixture. You should repeat this natural treatment as much as you need until you have noticed that the fever is reduced.
Also, there is another option, and that is to mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey in one glass of water. You should drink this natural cure 2 or 3 times per day.
Basil
This is a very effective home remedy that can help you to bring down the fever. This is a very effective home remedy, just like many types of antibiotics you can find on the market. It has healing properties, which can help to reduce the fever very quickly. You should boil together twenty basil leaves and one teaspoon of crushed ginger in one cup of water until this home remedy gets reduced to half. You should add a little honey and drink this home remedy 2 or 3 times per day for a period of 3 days.
Also, you can make basil tea by mixing one teaspoon of basil with ¼ of pepper in one cup of boiling water. You should steep it for 5 minutes. Then, strain it and drink this home remedy. You should drink this home remedy 2 or 3 times per day until your fever heals completely. [7]
Cool water
You should soak a washcloth in cool tap water. Wring out the excess water. Then, sponge areas like your groin, hands, feet, and armpits to reduce the fever. Also, you can place cold and damp washcloths on the back of your neck and on your forehead. You should regularly change the cloth pieces in a period of a few minutes. This is a very effective home remedy for dealing with high fever because it can keep the temperature under control.
Also, you can take a lukewarm bath to relax your body. Taking shower may not be a good idea. Also, you should take as much rest as possible because it can help your body to fight against the illness. You should not use very cold water because it can cause the internal body temperature to increase.
Egg white
Egg whites are a very helpful home remedy for reducing the high body temperature during a fever. This home remedy works as a cool gel that can absorb heat. Within half an hour, it can draw the fever from the head to the feet. You should break 2 or 3 eggs and separate the yolks. You should beat the egg white for a minute. You should soak a paper towel or a thin handkerchief in the egg white. You should place the soaked cloth on the soles of your feet. You need to wear socks because this will keep the egg white soaked in place. When the clothes dry out, and they become warm, then you should replace them with a new one. You should repeat this natural treatment until the fever is reduced to a safe level.
References
[1] Atas Berksoy E, Bag O, Yazici S, Celik T. Use of noncontact infrared thermography to measure temperature in children in a triage room. Medicine. 2018;97(5):e9737.
[2] Sahib Mehdi El-Radhi A. Fever management: Evidence vs current practice. World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics. 2012;1(4):29-33.
[3] Gonzalez Plaza JJ, Hulak N, Zhumadilov Z, Akilchanova A. Fever as an important resource for infectious diseases research. Intractable & Rare Diseases Research. 2016;5(2):97-102.
[4] Khayat S, Kheirkhah M, Moghadam ZB, et al. Effect of treatment with ginger on the severity of premenstrual syndrome symptoms. ISRN Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2014.
[5] Williamson G, Carughi A. Polyphenol content and health benefits of raisins. Nutrition Research. 2010;30(8):511-9.
[6] Petrovska BB, Cekovska S. Extracts from the history and medical properties of garlic. Pharmacognosy Review. 2010;4(7):106-110.
[7] Cohen MM. Tulsi – Ocimum sanctum: A herb for all reasons. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2014;5(4):251-259.
