This is the final part of my 3-part series on home remedies to help boost your immunity and naturally fight colds and flu. In Part 1 we looked at how to boost your immunity at the onset of a cold or flu. In Part 2 we looked at natural remedies to help with a head cold or flu. Today we’ll explore homeopathic medicines to help with a fever.
Before we go any further, please note that the following remedies are for mild fevers only and DO NOT replace proper medical care. If the fever is severe then please see a qualified homoeopath or seek medical help.
What is a fever?
A fever is a rise in body temperature of 1ºC above your personal baseline and is usually the body’s normal immune response to an infection.
Some fevers can be treated safely at home, however it is important to see a doctor or seek medical help if:
A baby under the age of 3 months has a raised temperature of 38 ºC or higher.
A baby between 3-6 months has a raised temperature of 38.9 ºC or higher.
An adult or child has a temperature of 38.9 ºC or above and:
seems sluggish/sleepy and in pain or discomfort
has other signs of infection such as vomiting, diarrhoea, a cough or a rash
has a severe headache, stiff neck and sensitivity to bright light
has chest or abdominal pain, or pain on urination with the fever
has mental confusion, altered behaviour or a seizure with the fever.
If a child is under 2 years and the fever lasts more than one day.
If the fever lasts more than 3 days in an older child or adult.
You have relapsing fevers.
When treating a fever at home, especially with children, please monitor the situation carefully and call your doctor if you are at all worried.
Top homeopathic medicines to help with a fever
There are three remedies I think every parent should have at home when they have little children who tend to get fevers or flu regularly: Aconite, Belladonna and Ferrum Phos.
I've already described how to recognise if someone needs Aconite or Ferrum Phos (see my blog here) so I’ll only chat about Belladonna here, as well as some other important remedies:
Atropa belladonna – The word belladonna means beautiful woman and apparently women once took Belladonna to help dilate their pupils and make them more attractive. Unfortunately, Belladonna also produced hallucinations and confusion in these women. Knowing this, if you apply the theory of ‘like cures like’ (see my blog What is Homeopathy), then you’ll clearly see when a person is in need of Belladonna: they will have a flushed face, glistening wide eyes with dilated pupils and appear confused, even delirious. Feverish children needing Belladonna may also become quite violent or imagine seeing scary things such as ghosts or hideous faces. It is a very intense fever remedy!
Arsenicum album – Arsenicum is also a remedy for high, violent fevers but with these fevers comes great anxiety. The feverish person may think they are dying and that you’re trying to poison them with your medicines. They will also say they feel like they’re burning up, yet they will want to be kept warm despite feeling so hot.
Bryonia alba – This was the remedy I needed when I had Covid for the first time. I had a very high fever with the most intense headache (I thought my head was going to burst) and all I wanted to do was be left alone and stay as still as possible in my bed. Everytime I moved everything hurt! Another indicator for Bryonia is that the person will be very thirsty and when you give them a glass of water they will down it in one go (this is the opposite to Arsenicum who will be thirsty but for small sips of water).
There are many other homeopathic remedies that can help with fevers and flu including some that I mentioned in my previous blogs – Gelsemium, Nux Vom, Pulsatilla – but I don’t want to overload you here.
Instead, to keep things simple, I’ve made up a ‘Children’s Fever Cheat Sheet’ for you to print out and keep handy for the next time your child (or you) has a fever. You’ll find this in the Subscribers-Only page so if you haven’t already subscribed do so now at the bottom of this page.
Home remedies to help with a fever
Fevers are the body’s natural response to infection and consume a lot of energy so rest and hydration are the most important home remedies for a fever. If you have a fever go to bed and rest!!! Drinking peppermint tea may also help you feel a bit better whilst keeping you hydrated.
Something I found helpful when my children were young was soaking some washcloths in vinegar and water and then placing them over their foreheads, abdomens and legs when they had fevers. Although this is an old wives’ remedy for fevers, it always seemed to help.
That’s all for today. You can take a deeper dive into the physiology behind fevers in my blog, "Understanding Viruses and Viral Infections: Your Body's Immune Response Explained". Also, don’t forget to subscribe if you would like to access my ‘Children’s Fever Cheat Sheet’ on my Subscribers-Only page.
And if you or your child is struggling with repeated infections or fevers, or just have never really recovered after an infection, then book a consultation with me and together we can try a natural approach to rebuilding your or your child's immunity.