Herbal Treatments for Fever

People have used a variety of plants to treat fever for hundreds, even thousands of years. In Indonesia there are 256 plants used to fight fever.

Fever is the body’s natural response to an invasion. When microorganisms enter the body and try to set up camp, the body depends itself by raising the temperature. Many microorganisms can’t live in high temperatures so fever is the body’s way of killing them. Unless you have an extremely high fever, it should be allowed to run its course for up to two days.
When you take aspirin, acetaminophen or other fever reducers, you may be counteracting what the body’s defense mechanism is trying to accomplish.

Willow is the number one choice of herbalists everywhere. This is where aspirin comes from and can be found world wide. Willow bark has a very bitter taste, like an aspirin does if you don’t swallow it soon enough. All herbs that help reduce fever will have a bitter taste, so expect it if you chose to use herbal remedies.

Willow, like aspirin, should not be given to children who have a viral infection like colds, flu or chicken pox. It could cause them to develop Reye’s Syndrome. Reye’s Syndrome can be extremely fatal and causes damage to the liver and brain.

Willow bark can be chewed but it’s very bitter, or you can make a tea by steeping the dried bark in a cup of boiling water. You can add other spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to help with the bitter taste. If you are allergic to aspirin you will most likely be allergic to willow as well.

Meadowsweet is another plant that contains salicin. You can make a tea with meadowsweet flowers and drink up to three cups a day.

Elder can be used in a tea for feverish chills.

Ginger and peppermint may help reduce fever and can be added to the more bitter teas to help the taste.

Red pepper, cinnamon and cranberry may also help reduce fever. Red pepper is hot so it may help you sweat out the microorganisms causing your fever. You can also top some cranberry sauce with cinnamon for a special fever treat.

Remember that fever serves a purpose and unless it’s extremely high, it should be allowed to serve its purpose.