Treating at home really us easy enough with natural options. The key is, and be sure to remember this…consistency is key. Where you might only apply a natural substance once or twice a day when healthy, with a fever or any illness in my opinion it needs to be every 30min to every hour.

Reducing the fever is actually not the goal, the fever needs to do what it does to fight, the natural remedies just help it do that better and encourage the fight.

Homeopathics

One to always have on hand is belladonna. The fever with radiating heat and flushing red skin are perfect for belladonna. Older children who need this will often complain of a headache, babies will often be quiet and subdued or very hot to the touch.

Belladonna is also indicated BEFORE significant discharge develops with a cold.If a child is very uncomfortable and screaming then you may want to try chamomilla. Often one dose will calm them and they will go back to sleep.

Herbs for immune-boosting is ALWAYS a good idea! Elderberry syrup, echinacea.

Be sure to pop them into a detox bath of tepid water and baking soda at the first sign of illness and then every few hours.

Why? well if you are using all the natural things and they are doing their job, you still need to help to body push that junk out. And baking soda is a natural fever fighter.

Essential Oils

My go-to to support overall stuff is a mixture of:

• Oregano
• Thyme
• Basil
• Cypress
• Frankincense
• Myrrh
• Marjoram
• Peppermint

Mix about 10 drops of each into a 2-3oz bottle and fill the rest with olive oil. Pour copious amount in the chest and back often.

Straight on the top of the head, I have a lot of success with Sacred Frank to calm the emotions associated with illness and also brain function.

Again, the key is to be consistent.What are the concerns with Drugs and Fever? It is best to avoid common fever reducers like Tylenol and Ibuprofen when possible. Use your best gut instinct always.

Acetaminophen

This is not the best choice for babies because it is potentially toxic to the liver. I can think back to when I was a new mom and the nurse on the phone would tell me to rotate Tylenol and Advil for my little baby! Ugh. Know better do better.

There have been studies to show liver toxicity with high use of acetaminophen, however, why take the chance when we do not have to?

It also seems that suppressing a fever with acetaminophen increases the length of a viral illness. In one study of the flu, giving Tylenol during the illness to reduce the fever the flu was 9 days compared to the average 5. (Plaisance et al 2000) Suppressing fevers in the first year of life is also associated with an increased risk of allergies, eczema, and asthma later in childhood.

Ibuprofen

This also has some risks, though it is a “better” choice. Ibuprofen can cause a relatively rare condition called Stephens-johnson syndrome. This is a serious and sometimes fatal skin condition that occurs when there is ibuprofen and other medications taken together and an allergic reaction occurs.

Aspirin

this should never be given to children with fevers. Aspirin given during a fever can cause Reye’s syndrome, severe liver dysfunction, and even brain swelling. Symptoms would be vomiting, lethargy, delirium, seizures, coma. There are much safer options to aspirin and we have never kept it in our home.

Prevention of Progression of Illness

When your baby is showing signs of illness with a fever you may want to start the immune-boosting STAT. Things that are listed above like elderberry, echinacea, essential oils, antioxidant drinks, additional probiotics and remove all dairy!All these interventions should help assist the bodies healing mechanisms and keep pain and discomfort at a reasonable level.