There’s nothing most of us dread more during the winter than getting sick and feeling both hot and cold with a fever.
If you do a quick search on the internet, you’re probably come up with all kinds of remedies to help break a fever. Today, I want to share with you a few natural remedies that can help you get over your severe cold or flu a lot faster.
Before we get started, I do want to tell you one thing that might be surprising: Having a fever isn’t really all that bad news. In fact, having a fever is a clear indication that your body’s immune system is working well.
If you have a fever, you’re right on the verge of healing…
… but a fever can be very uncomfortable, and it can disturb your sleep and your ability to just feel okay during the day.
So let’s look at some natural methods that can help your body heal quickly so you can get back to your life.
What Is A Fever, Anyway?
In simple terms, fever happens anytime your temperature is above normal range. The average body temperature is somewhere between 97.5 and 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
A temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is usually considered a sign of a fever by doctors. This kind of fever is mild and can be treated at home… and you should know that infants have higher temperatures than older children, in general.
Your temperature is generally higher first thing in the morning and later in the evening, so it’s a good idea to check your temperature after waking so you won’t get a false positive and be worried for nothing.
If you or your loved ones temperature goes over a hundred and five degrees Fahrenheit, get to the hospital as quickly as you can. Brain damage happens at 107 degrees Fahrenheit – and you don’t want to run the risk of that happening.
Furthermore, if you or your loved one can’t recall the date, their name, or other pieces of information that they should know, regardless of their temperature, take him to the emergency room right away!
Finally, if your fever is mild and has lasted for more than 3 days, you’ll probably want to call your doctor to make sure something more serious isn’t happening.
How To Get Rid Of A Fever
Here’s some of the best ways I have found to break a fever. These methods are time-tested, and they are safe for all ages.
Please keep in mind that getting over a fever in one day isn’t always the best thing. Your fever is telling you your body is fighting some kind of infection or inflammation. You don’t want to disrupt that process.
The goal is to feel better while your immune system does its job.
With that in mind, here are the best ways to get over a fever quickly.
- Get in bed. Resting is so important to healing. Even better than just resting would be going to sleep. When you sleep, your body manufactures more white blood cells. Research has shown that sick people who don’t sleep well stay sick longer. so rest!
- Get lots of water. When you don’t feel well, the tendency is to go for whatever makes you feel comfortable. You might find yourself craving juice more than usual. My recommendation is to water down all your juices Since bacteria and viruses use sugar for food. Even better…just drink unsweetened herbal tea or plain water. The fluid you drink will help get rid of toxins. (Side note: if you’ve had any nausea or vomiting, coconut water can help replace lost electrolytes.)
- Get some baby food. Just kidding. But DO eat a bland diet. Bland foods include things like potatoes, brown rice, jello, and bananas. If the person with the fever has a sweet tooth, fruit juice popsicles are perfect.
- Get regular. Now, it might seem a little strange to worry about your digestion when you have a fever, but over 70% of your immune system is located in your digestive tract. So when you treat your digestive tract with probiotics and high-fiber food, it’s easier to get healthy again.
- Get Vitamin C and Zinc. There’s a reason why people tell you to drink orange juice when you have a cold. It’s because oranges are full of vitamin C. So are elderberries. Vitamin C gives your immune system a boost and can help you fight a cold a lot faster. Zinc does the same thing – and the two work very well together!
- Get a warm bath or shower. If you have the energy to stand, take a quick shower and let the warm water run over your body. This will ease any aching muscles, and relax you. Same with a bath. Just choose the one you prefer, and relax your body. Be sure not to use a cold bath as this can actually make the situation worse.
- Get an OTC fever reducer. Now, this is a last resort because you do want your body to try to heal itself… but if you’re experiencing pain and simply cannot get to sleep at night, you might need to use an over-the-counter fever reducer. These products work, and they can help you or your loved one rest. Just keep in mind that when you lower your fever with medicine, your body is not able to fight sickness as effectively.
When Should You Go To The Doctor For Your Fever?
Right now, almost everyone I know is trying to save money on health insurance and medical costs. The last thing most of us want to do is spend money going to the doctor.
However, you should know there are sometimes you have a fever when you are going to need to go to either the emergency room, your family physician, or your child’s pediatrician.
Always call the doctor when the following symptoms are present:
- The fever leaves after a day or 3 but then comes back.
- You or your loved one can’t find a comfortable position no matter what, and the fever is gone.
- You or your loved ones can’t create tears when they cry, and they haven’t urinated in 8 hours or more.
- You or your loved one have other symptoms happening at the same time, for example vomiting, diarrhea, a cough, or an earache.
- Fevers have come and go throughout the week, and you and or your loved one are not feeling better yet.
- The fever is over 105 degrees Fahrenheit and will not come down with treatment.
- The fever is accompanied by confusion, a stiff neck, inability to walk or walk straight, or seizure.
Love Your Fever But Let It Go!
Being sick and having a fever is absolutely no fun, but it is your body’s way of letting you know then all is well, and your immune system is fighting on your behalf.
Because of this, on one hand, we love fevers. Having a fever means that your white blood cells are actively scouring your body for bacteria, viruses, and infections.
At the same time, having a fever is very uncomfortable.
Hopefully, this article has given you some good tips and tricks to get over a fever quickly.
Have you been sick this winter? How do you break a fever quickly so you can get on with your life?
