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Ways To Naturally Manage Fevers At Home

It’s a widely known fact in the world of wellness that suppressing fevers does little more than provide comfort while possibly prolonging illness unnecessarily. The common drug of choice for fever reduction, tylenol, is incredibly taxing on the liver and depletes glutathione, an antioxidant present in the body necessary for detoxification. Rather than suppress, consider letting the fever do what is was intended to do. Fever plays an important role in the immune system and in fighting off illness.

I will note that I have one child in treatment for leukemia and another with epilepsy, so fevers can be concerning for those children. I do have to treat fevers differently with them. But for my other 6 children, I am easily able to manage fevers at home using natural methods like described below.
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Instead of suppressing a fever, focus on these things:

  1. Fevers are a protective mechanism and sign that your immune system is working in fighting off invaders. A fever is a GOOD thing, and helps the body fight infection.

  2. Certain organisms need an ideal temperature to survive. A fever helps make your body unsuitable to foreign invaders.

  3. The only reason to reduce your child’s fever is for comfort.

  4. Pay attention to how your child is behaving (are they eating and drinking? Having wet diapers or going to the bathroom enough? How is their mental state?) rather than the number on the thermometer. I’ve seen kids VERY sick with a 101 fever, and others seem to just be very sleepy with a fever of 103.

  5. Fevers between 100 and 104 are good for sick children. It’s important to challenge the immune system every now and then. Most fevers from infection don’t go above 103 or 104. They rarely got to 105 or 106. While fevers this high can be scary, they are also generally harmless.

Benefits of a Fever:

  • Raising of body temperature kills many microorganisms and has an adverse effect on the growth and replication of others. Viruses and bacteria actually grow best at temperatures lower than that of the human body.

  • Increased temperature causes lysosomal breakdown and auto-destruction of cells thus preventing viral replication in infected cells.

  • Heat increases white blood cell formation and motility, thus facilitating the immune response. The white blood cells, which carry out the destruction of the invaders, get where they are needed faster and do their job more efficiently.

  • Phagocytosis (cellular clean up) is enhanced and production of antiviral interferon may be augmented.

When a fever is concerning:

  • A fever (at any temperature) in an infant under 3 months of age could be the result of a bacterial infection which could become life threatening very quickly.

  • A feverish child who is lethargic and/or difficult to awaken.

  • A child with fever and a stiff neck or one who cries when moved or touched.

  • If the child experiences a febrile seizure (only 4% of children).

  • If your child is immunocompromised.
  • High fever (108°F) for a prolonged period of time can cause brain damage. Fevers rarely get this high.

Ways I Like to Manage Fever at Home:

  • cool compress to forehead or back of the neck.

  • light clothing.

  • Luke warm detox bath with Redmond clay, epsom salt, and frankincense and tea tree essential oils.

  • Peppermint essential oil, diluted and applied to bottoms of feet or up and down the spine. I use lemon essential oil if the child is under 3 years.

  • Keep them hydrated by offering sips of whatever drink they can tolerate.

  • Support of the immune system with things like Vitamin C, elderberry syrup, OnGuard essential oil blend, and zinc. If you are interested in how we supported our immune systems while dealing with the newest respiratory virus, you can read that here.

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As always please do not consider this medical advice, just a perspective from one mom to another. Remember to always consulted with a TRUSTED HCP.

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