How to Reduce a Fever?

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Does aspirin reduce fever effectively? How to reduce fever in adults naturally? How to reduce fever in child naturally?

These are just some of the common questions that we get when we discuss health and wellness on our blog. Fortunately for everyone today, we have the answers. Fevers are but a meal away from being extinguished if you know how to use effective home remedies.

Understanding Fevers

Developing a fever is the body’s natural way of fighting off infections. On their own, fevers are not usually harmful, but they can be worrisome, especially if fevers exceed the 39˚ Celsius (102º Fahrenheit) mark. The body’s natural temperature is around 36.5˚-37˚ Celsius (97.7º – 98.6º Fahrenheit), so it’s easy to spot if a person is developing a fever.

Both viral infections and bacterial infections can trigger fevers, with viral infections triggering fevers on the lower range.

During a viral infection, such as the onset of cough, colds, or flu, the body may develop a fever in response to the presence of the virus in the body. During this time, proper management of the fever will ensure the patient’s utmost comfort as his body fights off the infection naturally.

Fevers in children are considered more dangerous because of their small bodies and lower immunity defense against common pathogens. Seek medical assistance when the following temperatures are detected per age bracket:

Zero to three months – 38˚ Celsius (100.4º Fahrenheit) 

Three to six months – 39˚ Celsius (102º Fahrenheit)

Six to twenty-four months – 39˚ Celsius (102º Fahrenheit)

Different types of thermometers can be used to ascertain the temperature of a small child, including rectal thermometers and digital ear thermometers.

If you are taking care of a feverish adult, make sure that he/she can get adequate medical attention if the fever reaches or exceeds 39˚ Celsius (102º Fahrenheit). Also watch out for additional symptoms that may point to the presence of more serious pathogens in the body, such as rashes, painful headaches, sensitivity to light, sudden bleeding from any of the orifices, frequent vomiting, respiratory distress, chest pain, stomach pain, and the onset of seizures.

Home Management of Fever

Proper home management of fever can help make your patient more comfortable and improve his sick time (i.e., reduce the number of sick days to the bare minimum for the current condition). The first thing you should do is to make sure that the person with fever is as cool and as comfortable as possible in bed.

Remove unnecessary layers of clothing to ensure that heat is dissipated naturally. Keep the person hydrated by offering fruit juices and water, whichever is more tolerable.

There will be times when the person’s throat is painful, so drinking is also painful. Just make sure that he can hydrate regularly, to help reduce his temperature, too.

Infants that are less than six months old should never be given ibuprofen to control their temperature, as it can be harmful to their organs. Ask your doctor what the best NSAID should be, given the patient’s current condition. Take note that in children and adults, fevers can take place after immunizations.

So if you are an adult and you just got your flu shot, there may be muscular discomfort and fever as the body makes use of the immunization. If the person’s fever does not change or go down in two days, it would be best to seek immediate medical help.

How to Break a Fever Naturally

Breaking a fever natural can be as simple as introducing anti-inflammation and anti-fever food items to the menu. Among the most effective ones are:

Garlic

Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties, and it also thins the blood and benefits various organs in the body, including the liver and the spleen. Garlic also warms the body, which helps produce sweat. Sweating can help cool down a feverish body faster.

Chicken soup

Chicken soup possesses the compound cysteine, which helps the body in so many ways. Cysteine is naturally anti-inflammatory and also stimulates the kidneys and liver to detoxify the body more efficiently. Additionally, chicken soup helps improve the hydration of a patient by introducing water and electrolytes, in addition to macronutrients and micronutrients.

Ginger

Ginger has been used for thousands of years because of its unbelievable anti-inflammatory properties. In contrast with garlic, ginger has a general cooling effect on the body. You can combine dried ginger powder to one cup of hot water to create ginger tea. One and a half teaspoons of dried ginger powder are sufficient per serving for adults.

Apple cider vinegar

Combine two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with one tablespoon of raw honey in one glass of water. Stir well and serve as a drink to the feverish person. The acids in apple cider vinegar are said to draw away heat.

What Herbs Reduce Fever?

1. Moringa – The extracts of moringa leaves have been linked to lowering fever in animal tests. Moringa is also naturally abundant in trace nutrients, and creating a broth from moringa leaves, along with its fruit, can help improve the nutritional outlook of someone who cannot eat normally.
   The use of moringa is contraindicated for individuals who have a risk for Stevens-Johnson syndrome or SJS, pregnant women, and patients who take medication like lovastatin and fexofenadine.
2. Kudzu root – The kudzu root is popular in traditional Chinese medicine. The kudzu root has natural, anti-inflammatory effects on the body, and it has been said that it can also reduce fevers. You may not take this herbal remedy if you are taking tamoxifen, breast cancer, or if you take methotrexate.
3. Menta herbs – Menta refers to the family of plants that include spearmint, mint, pennyroyal, and wild mint. Making hot tea from the fresh or dried leaves of spearmint or mint can help alleviate some symptoms of fever.
4. Cilantro – 1.5 cups of cilantro leaves may be blended with 1/3 cup of hot water and then strained to produce a concoction that can help reduce fevers.