While understanding that a fever plays an important role during an acute illness and should not be suppressed by an over the counter pain reliver, at times it is helpful to contain the fever in order to make the patient more comfortable. Homeopathic remedies can support the fever and help the immune system clear the illness efficiently. And there are other safe, time honored treatments that can bring a high fever down safely.
Sponge bathing: If the fever is above 103°, sponging the patient’s face and forehead can be helpful. Sponging one limb at a time with a warm washcloth until the skin is cool to touch will help drop the temperature by a couple degrees. This is based on the principle of evaporation to cool the body. Place the warm, wringed out washcloth on the arm or leg, trunk or back until the cloth is cool. Keep the rest of the body well covered, and let the limb dry before covering it again. Then move on to another limb. This should take 20-30 minutes. Or, if the patient is willing to sit in a bath filled with a couple inches of lukewarm water (85-90°), use a washcloth to wipe the water over the patient’s body. If the patient begins to shiver, stop.
Hydrotherapy: Also known as Wet Sock Treatment, this is another helpful technique that uses the principle of vascular dilation and constriction to cool the body during a fever while stimulating the immune system. This technique works best before going to bed, but it can be done anytime when the patient will be in bed for several hours.
- Wet a pair of thin cotton socks in cold water, or ice water, and wring them out
- Soak feet in warm water for several minutes until feet are warmed and pink. Dry them off.
- Place cold, wet cotton socks on the feet and cover the wet socks with thick, dry wool socks.
- Wear the socks overnight in bed or until they are dry. If during the night, the patient wakes up wet with sweat, change into dry pajamas. If the socks are dry, the wet sock treatment can be repeated, or the socks left on until morning. Often the socks will be dry after 4 hours.
Homeopathic Remedies: It is important to consider all the symptoms of the illness, not just the fever when choosing a homeopathic remedy. The following are several remedies that can be helpful in acute illness with fever.
- Aconite – is most useful at the start of an acute illness that comes on suddenly, especially after being chilled by a cold wind or after experiencing fright or a shock. Often this remedy can nip an illness in the bud if taken within the first day or two. There may be sneezing and chilliness, and the face may alternate between being red and hot or cold and pale. The person is sweaty, thirsty, and restless, and may have an anxious or shocked expression. You can read more about Aconite here.
- Arsenicum – is often anxious and fearful and desires company. There is excessive weakness and exhaustion that alternates with restlessness. Chills with cold sweat may alternate with feeling too hot. Fever peaks between midnight and 2 am. The patient is thirsty for frequent, small sips of water and is extremely cold, finding it hard to keep warm. There may be burning pains which are better for heat, but there is a desire for fresh air. You can read more about Arsenicum here.
- Belladonna – is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever (over 102°), a red flushed face, glassy eyes, and possibly delirium. The patient will be agitated, angry, and anxious. Although the body will feel very hot to touch, the hands and feet are cold. The fever is a dry heat without perspiration, or sweat will be on the clothed parts of the body only. Pains will be throbbing. You can read more about Belladonna here.
- Bryonia – fevers have dry, burning heat alternating with chills, without perspiration. The lips, mouth, and throat are dry, and the patient is very thirsty for large quantities of a cold drink. Sickness comes after a change of weather from cold to warm or from getting chilled after being overheated. The patient can be grumpy and irritable, does not want to move, be touched or disturbed because symptoms are worse from movement. The fever will be dry with heat and burning, alternating with chills. Symptoms are worse in the morning or around 9 pm. There may be a constant desire to sleep.
- Chamomilla – is very angry, irritable, and capricious when sick and is sensitive to pain. There is a hot, red face (one cheek might be pale), and sweat with a high fever, but the body may shiver with cold. Symptoms are worse before midnight. This is a useful remedy for teething babies, when there is a fever, who scream, cry, and want to be carried but are still inconsolable. The patient is usually not thirsty.
- Ferrum phos – is notable for not having strong symptoms. It is best given at the start of an acute illness when the patient has a pale face that flushes easily. A high fever may come on suddenly, or the fever is weak and insufficient. The patient may become exhausted easily and want to lie down but will often feel better for walking slowly in fresh air. There will be thirst during the chill, and the patient will feel better being uncovered when lying down.
- Gelsemium – fever comes on slowly, after a change in weather, with a feeling of trembling and heaviness. The patient will feel dizzy, drowsy, drunk, dull, and droopy. There is no thirst, and the patient just wants to be left alone to lie still and rest. Symptoms are worse during the late afternoon and evening hours. Chills tend to begin in the hands and feet and then run up and down the back. The fever is usually not too high, but there may be waves of heat alternating with the chills. The symptoms are not as severe, but the illness lingers. The patient will feel better after urinating or sweating.
- Nux vomica – fevers start with a chill. The patient is irritable and impatient and extremely sensitive to cold and drafts. This remedy should be considered when fever is due to overindulging in food or drink, from lack of sleep, or from medication. Chilliness with shivering alternating with heat and sweat is worse when the patient is uncovered. symptoms are worse in the morning and the patient is usually thirsty.
- Pulsatilla – patients have dry lips and mouths and are not thirsty. They are sensitive to becoming cold and wet, which may bring on an illness with a fever that has burning heat and chilliness. Symptoms are changeable. Sometime the patient will feel better for uncovering and sometimes will want to be covered. Or the patient will feel better one hour and worse the next, but symptoms are usually worse in the late afternoon towards evening. Pulsatilla patients want to be taken care of and may weep, whine, or moan for attention. The sick child will feel better when being held and comforted.
- Sulphur – is used when other remedies have failed to effectively act. There will be extreme thirst for large quantities of water. There will be burning heat with a red face and dry, red lips, and cold hands and feet. The tongue is often has a red tip and edges while coated with white. Symptoms are worse between 10-11 am and at night. With the fever, there will be heat alternating with chills, shivering and profuse smelly sweat. The patient may be unable to sleep, waking at 3 am, and feel worse when sweating.
Note: If you have taken a constitutional homeopathic remedy on the recommendation of a homeopath, an acute illness like a cold or other minor sickness is actually a good sign that the homeopathic remedy is acting. In that case, the illness should not be treated. It is part of the healing response and the body should be allowed to throw out the symptoms. Consult your homeopath before taking any other medication.
Resource articles:
Tepid sponge and sponge bath to change body temperature children with dengue fever
10 Natural Ways To Treat A Fever
How to Reduce a Fever Without Medication
Information contained on this site is for educational purposes only and should not be used to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by a physician. If you desire or need such advice, you should consult a professional healthcare provider.