Over the past month or so I’ve written about my take on fevers.  2 Ways A Fever Is Good For Your Child and Why Tylenol Is The Last Thing I Would Use For Fevers are a couple posts I’ve written on this subject.  So if I think fevers are a good thing and I avoid using Tylenol for them, exactly how do I handle them?

I’m glad you asked. 🙂  Fevers are a very vital part in fighting illnesses and should be worked with and not against.

How To Treat A Fever Naturally

Help The Body Heat Up With Herbal Teas

Many times when a person comes down with a fever, they are cold.  The body begins to shiver trying to heat up and get the fever going.  Besides covering the patient up with a cover or sheet that is 100% cotton {Why It Matters What Your Children Wear When They’re Sick}, administering warm herbal teas greatly aids a fever.  The herbs you should turn to for fevers are the ones that stimulate, produce perspiration, and help to heat up the body’s system.  The thing about these herbs is that they aid a fever, but they also help to keep it in control.

Catnip – Catnip is a gentle herb, making it a great choice for children and people of all ages.

To use in babies under 1 year of age – administer 1/16 cup of tea 3 times a day
Children 1-5 years old – administer 1/4 cup of tea 3 times a day
6-12 years old – administer 1/2 cup 3 times a day
13 and over – 1 cup 3 times a day

Elderflower – The elderberries of the elder bush are a favorite flu remedy and preventative, and also make delicious pies and jellies.  The elderflowers are what blooms before the berries and are a great remedy for fevers!  I have found myself out in the woods more than once gathering elderflowers for a fevering child.

Yarrow – Yarrow is also great to use for colds, flus, and fevers.  It opens pores, relaxes the skin, and produces perspiration.  For fevers, it must be drunk warm.  Yarrow is a bitter herb and combines well with peppermint for improved flavor.  Combine equal amounts of yarrow and peppermint and make a cup of tea as normal.

How To Make The Herbal Tea

Combine 1-2 tsp. of dried herb with one cup of boiling water.  Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 5-15 minutes for flowers, and 15-20 minutes for harder herbs like berries and bark.  Strain the herbs from the liquid and consume.

Dosage:

Adults – 1 cup 3 times a day
Children 6 and older – half the adult dose
Children 1-5 years old – 1/4 cup 3 times a day
Babies under 1 – 1/16 {which is half of 1/8 cup} cup 3 times a day
Note: I have given doses hourly if the situation is more severe.

Prevent Dehydration

One of the most important things to do during a fever is to make sure the patient stays hydrated.  Dehydration can happen easily, especially with babies and small children, and it can be deadly.  If the patient is too ill or sick to the stomach to drink water and herbal teas by the cupful, give them liquid every 15 minutes or so, even if it’s only a spoonful, or a squirt in the mouth with a syringe.  Food is not always the best idea with fevers because the body will use energy to digest food that it needs to fight the illness,  but make sure the patient stays hydrated with liquids!  

Immune Boosters

When a fever is present, we know that it was designed by God to kick the immune system into high gear and fight whatever is going on internally.  I like to use other remedies to help assist the body in fighting the illness and healing itself.  Many times I will toss in some immune boosting herbs with the herbs I’m giving for fevers {in a 50/50 ratio}.

Some of my favorite natural antibiotics and immune boosters: 

Echinacea – a powerful infection fighter and natural antibiotic 

Elderberry – I’ve already mentioned elderflowers for fevers.  I also use the berries from the elderbush for an immune booster.  They taste really yummy too!  One of my favorite ways to consume elderberry is by making syrup.  Read How To Make Elderberry Syrup here.

Vitamin C – Rosehips are a good source of vitamin C.  You can also buy vitamin C in powdered form for good absorption.  Unfortunately the sugary chewables are not the best option.  Nutribiotic Ascorbic Acid is a great brand that I use of powered vitamin C.  The company Beeyoutiful makes a chewable vitamin C sweetened with xylitol.

Colloidal Silver – Read all about colloidal silver here.  Check out this website for a good silver product.

Double E Immune Booster – You can buy these herbs individually, or only use one of them, but you can also take a combination of immune boosting herbs!  The power of echinacea, elderberry, vitamin C {rosehips}, plus other healthy herbs are all mixed together in this booster!  I almost always have this on hand.  When my children are not well, I will many times make a pint of this tea and have them drink it a little at a time throughout the day.  For adults, I make a quart of tea.  Sweeten with raw honey or mix with juice for a sweetener if needed.  I like it plain, but some may not.

Epsom Detox Baths

An epsom salt bath is another great thing to do for fevers.  Epsom salt provides the body with hydration, magnesium, and helps remove toxins.  Add 2 cups of the salts to a full, warm bath and soak.  It should be sufficient for children to soak for 10-15 minutes, and adults for 20-30 minutes. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a remedy used for fevers for many years.  Read Using Vinegar To Reduce Fevers to see how I use it!

Peppermint Essential Oil

1. Place a teaspoon of a carrier oil like olive, almond, coconut, etc. in a bowl
2. Add 1 drop of peppermint essential oil and mix.
3. Apply the oil on the bottoms of the feet and back of the neck.
4. In 30 minutes to an hour, the fever should be reduced by a degree or two.  Notice that I didn’t say that the oil would break the fever.  Our goal isn’t to break a fever, but to reduce it to a more comfortable level if needed.  This works for me every time.

Note: Never use peppermint oil internally or near the face of those under age 6.  Some people say it’s not safe to use peppermint oil externally either under age 6, but my essential oil book does not use that caution.  My then 4 year old had no problems whatsoever when I used it diluted on the bottoms of her feet and back of the neck.  Use your own discretion and research.

I buy peppermint essential oil here.

When You Need To See A Doctor

Always see a doctor if:

• A stiff neck or pain in the neck is present.  Most of us get a stiff or sore neck when we’ve laid around too long, but I’m talking about a stiff neck that won’t go away or be relieved with sitting up and rubbing it.
• The patient has no tears when they cry, or their skin stays pinched together instead of going back to its normal state.  Also, be sure the patient is urinating as normal.  These are signs of dehydration.
• If the patient is lethargic and not improving after a day or so.
• If your parental instincts tell you that a doctor needs to be seen or that you have an emergency on your hands.  No one knows a child like his/her parents.  No one knows when a doctor is needed like a mom or dad.  Most illnesses are not serious, but I never hesitate to get medical help if one of my children needs it.  I’m so thankful for caring, experienced doctors and staff when they are needed!

How Do You Treat Fevers In Your Home?

Resources:

Visser, M. (2014, January 22). 3 Benefits of Using Herbal Tea During a Fever. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://wellnessmama.com/13173/herbal-tea-fever-benefits/
Grandma’s Organic Catnip Tea & Medicinal Recipes. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://www.grandmas-wisdom.com/catnip-tea.html
How to Reduce a Fever Naturally. (2012, August 29). Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://wellnessmama.com/5820/dont-reduce-fever/

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