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Fever is a common ailment in children. No matter how hard we try, when children go out or even if they stay at home, there are chances of infection leading to fever. While going to a doctor is the most appropriate thing to do if your kid is down with a fever, there are certain ways to reduce fever naturally too. These recommended home remedies can help to bring down the elevated temperature amongst children naturally.
During odd hours of the day, when doctors are usually not available or for minor fevers when you don’t want to give antibiotics to your kids, here are a few home remedies that can help to reduce fever naturally:
8 Simple Home Remedies To Reduce Fever Naturally
1. Ginger bath:
Ginger is one of those ingredients which are readily available, and to your surprise, it has the capability of killing all those germs responsible for fever amongst children. It helps in sweating and releasing the toxins from the body. To give instant relief to your kid, add two tablespoons of ginger powder in a bathtub of warm water. Stir it well till it mixes with water completely. Now once the water is ready, make your child sit in a bathtub and give him a ginger bath. After bathing you will find excessive sweating that will help to flush out toxins and heat from the body. However, the only thing to keep in mind is to avoid eye contact while giving a bath to your kid.
2. Massage with Mustard oil and garlic
Another effective measure to reduce the elevated body temperature is to massage your child’s body with a mixture of mustard oil and garlic. All you need to do is to add two tablespoons of mustard oil with one spoon of garlic paste, mix it well and then apply the same mixture to the chest, palms, feet, and neck before going to bed. It will help to flush out all the toxins and will also help to reduce body pain.
3. Raisins
We all know that raisins have antibacterial and antioxidant properties that help the body to build up immunity and fight against the germs responsible for fever in your child’s body. Soak around 25-30 raisins in half a cup of water for about one hour, after that crush the same and strain all the liquid. Now add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it. Feeding this mixture to your child twice a day will help to reduce fever naturally.
4. Onion massage
If you don’t know about the medicinal properties of onion then you must sit with your grandparents and they will let you know how beneficial onion is in fighting against viral and infections. Not only does it help in lowering down the body temperature but also helps in relieving body aches. All you have to do it is to cut onions in two halves and rub the pieces on your child’s feet for a few minutes. Do it at least twice a week and you will see a noticeable difference in your child within a day or two.
5. Chamomile tea
Chamomile tea has all the properties of fighting against fever, just soak chamomile leaves in boiled water, and add a few drops of honey to the same. Make your child drink this tea at least twice a day, and you will see a noticeable difference in your little one. However, it is really difficult to make your child drink this tea as it can have a really weird and unpleasant taste.
6. Coconut oil
Coconut oil also has medicinal properties. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties help to fight infections. Add it to your child’s food and make him consume the same. It will automatically build up a strong immunity and will help to lower down the body temperature.
7. Keep your child hydrated
Make sure that your child drinks plenty of fluids when down with a fever. Add more soups, water, and juices in his daily diet. Drinks like fruit juice, barley water, buttermilk and coconut water help to bring back the lost energy in your child. These drinks also provide strength to fight against the virus and bacteria that may have contracted your child’s body. If your child is still breastfeeding then you must ensure to breastfeed him after every 30 minutes, if he is on bottle feed, double the number of feeds. The more your child urinates, the more the number of bacteria that will be flushed out of his body.
8. Using cold compress
Another tried and tested way to reduce fever naturally is to use a cold compress on the forehead. Adding two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar further helps to lower down the temperature as it is effective in removing body heat. However, make sure to use a clean piece of cloth and remove all the excess water before placing it on the forehead of your child.
With these natural home remedies, you can avoid the intake of antibiotics. The best part of trying these home remedies is that there is no side effect of using the same and you can ensure that even if the fever doesn’t go down, your child will not face any other problem. Apart from these natural home remedies, you must ensure that your child gets adequate rest and sleep, as a well-rested body is capable of healing faster than a tired body. In case your child doesn’t want to sleep then try engaging him in activities that don’t require much of physical strength and those that restrict movements.
Say No to Smoking !
If you have any smoker at home, then make sure that your child is not getting exposed to that smoke. Smoke leads to suppression of the immune system and becomes difficult for the body to fight against fever-causing viruses and bacteria. You must not only avoid exposure to smoke but also exposure from nicotine or tobacco.
It is really important to understand the reason for the fever before treating the same. Parents need to understand that fever is one of those self-defense mechanisms that help the body to fight against infections. When body temperature is elevated, white blood cells are produced which help to fight against the virus or any form of bacteria.
Parents need to analyze when to intervene if the child has a fever. In case the fever is low and your kid is active as before then you must avoid interfering with this body mechanism. The only thing that you need to ensure at this time is to monitor food and provide as many fluids as you can. Higher frequency of urination will help to lower down the fever in the best possible time. However, if your child is feeling discomfort and his/her fever is not coming down then you must rush to the doctor before things go out of hand.
Though these remedies are tried and tested ways of lowering down elevated temperatures, we still recommend consulting a doctor at the earliest in case the fever doesn’t go down even after two days.
