Natural Fever Remedies: Safe & Effective Relief

| Modified on Jan 27, 2024
Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy.

Fevers, a common symptom indicating the body's fight against infections or illness, can often be effectively managed with natural remedies. While fevers serve as an important part of the immune response, natural treatments can provide comfort and aid in the recovery process, especially when dealing with mild or moderate fevers.

Understanding Fevers: Natural Responses to Illness

A fever occurs when the body's internal thermostat raises the body temperature above the normal level, typically as a response to infection or illness. It can be accompanied by symptoms like sweating, shivering, headache, muscle aches, and dehydration.

Effective Natural Fever Remedies to Consider

Focusing on symptoms rather than just the temperature reading is important when managing a fever. Various natural treatments can provide comfort and assist in lowering fever.

Egg Whites: Quick Fever Relief

Egg whites are popular on Earth Clinic for their ability to rapidly reduce fever. Soak socks in egg whites and wear them, or apply egg whites to paper towels and place them on the soles of the feet. This method can lower fever within minutes to an hour. A sliced potato can be used similarly if allergic to eggs or dairy. Read more here.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Traditional Fever Reducer

Apple cider vinegar is a time-honored remedy known for its ability to draw out fever and boost the body's infection-fighting capabilities. For application, soak washcloths in apple cider vinegar and place one on the forehead and another on the stomach, or add a cup of vinegar to a warm bath.

Garlic: Immune-Boosting Fever Treatment

Garlic not only helps in lowering fever but also strengthens the immune system. Create a paste from crushed garlic mixed with olive or coconut oil, and apply it to the feet. Wrap the feet with gauze, leaving some areas uncovered, and leave overnight. In some cases, garlic can cause skin irritation, so use cautiously.

Herbal Infusions

Certain herbs like elderflower, peppermint, and chamomile have natural fever-reducing properties. Drinking herbal infusions from these herbs can help lower body temperature and soothe symptoms.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Most fevers can safely run their course with natural treatment. However, seek medical attention if a child is very young, has a high fever (over 104°F), experiences a fever for more than two days, or shows additional signs of illness. Always trust your instincts and judgment when it comes to health decisions.

Conclusion

Natural remedies like apple cider vinegar, egg whites, and garlic offer safe and effective ways to manage fevers at home. These remedies provide instant relief and support the body's natural healing processes. Share your experiences with natural fever treatments and explore Earth Clinic below for more user-submitted remedies. If you know of a fever remedy not yet listed, please share it with us!

Related Links:

Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ
Cough Remedies for Kids
Ted's Famous Alkalizing Remedies
Top 10 Natural Remedies for Flu




Apple Cider Vinegar

8 User Reviews
5 star (8) 
  100%

Posted by Danzi (Cape Town) on 12/26/2022
★★★★★

My 3 year old daughter recently had Herpangina (part of coxsackie virus family). Similar to hand foot and mouth disease, but it's main concerns are high fever and mouth sores. She had a fever of 39.2 Celsius (102.5 F). It kept climbing during the day despite a luke warm bath, taking off her clothes and pain med. I got very concerned and looked at cures on Earthclinic. For her I soaked two paper towels in the whites of two eggs and placed it into two butcher bags (one each). Put her feet in and tied the bag around her feet. Then I dipped a towel in a mixture of roughly 80% water and 20% ACV and wrung it out. Put that on the length of her body. Put her to bed like that, wearing only her night diaper. Every time I checked her fever during the night it was down and by morning it was back to normal.

A couple of days later my 2 year old boy got the same thing. His fever was 38 C (100.4 F) when I acted (which was at 1h00 AM in the morning). The egg whites are messy, so I decided to first see if ACV on its own won't do the trick. His skin is more sensitive, so I watered it down more. Roughly 1 part ACV to 6 parts water and just enough to wet a towel in a little basin. Wrung it out. Undressed him (save for his diaper) and put the towel on the length of his body. He protested a bit (towel was cold), but I stroked his head till he calmed down and he didn't throw it off. By 7 AM in the morning I checked again and his fever was down to normal. So with him nothing but ACV (no pain meds or bath or anything). It is summer here in South Africa, so I wasn't concerned about his temp should the fever break and his has a wet cloth on him.

A lady I know says her grandmother always makes vinegar cloths (she used plain spirit vinegar) to wipe their foreheads during a fever and it works well. I figured a cloth down the length of your body will be even better and will also cool the body. And ACV is off course better than regular for various health reasons, but in a pinch, try the regular spirit vinegar.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Samantha (Bc) on 04/04/2018
★★★★★

I'm tending to get more frequent fevers, for whatever reason. I tried the AVC methods with the washcloths and this helped really quickly, within 20 minutes! First, I drank some ACV water, about 1 tablespoon in a large glass (maybe 2 cups?), hoping that it would speed things up. Then I got the 2 washcloths, wet them with water and wrung them out. I then poured a 50/50 mix of water + ACV onto them and wrung them out lightly.

I put one on my head and one on my stomach and lie down. Within 20 minutes the high temperature was gone! Thanks for this info!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Claire (Westport, Ct) on 07/30/2014
★★★★★

My mother used washclothes dipped in apple cider vinegar and applied to our foreheads for fever many times when we were children. I believe it worked each time to reduce a fever. It was always after a hot bath.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ash (London, Uk) on 12/14/2013
★★★★★

I tried the ACV after developing a fever. I used half ACV half water and applied the wet napkin to my forehead and stomach and the fever was gone within 30 mins. Ash


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Krezp82 (Singapore) on 10/02/2013
★★★★★

Thanks for all the tips! My fiance had a slight fever last night and I quickly checked out this site. Tried the ACV with washcloths method, at the same time, I made him drink some honeygar which was in the fridge. His fever was gone within half hour and no paracetamol required!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Glen (Pasadena , CA, U.S.A.) on 05/05/2008

None of this stuff works!!! I tried quite a bunch of this kind of stuff and none of it helped! My 4yr old son has had a fever (101-103) for 6 days now. I've been to the emergency room with no success either. His white blood cells are immature and high for normal standards. We had a u.a done and an x-ray on his lungs. None of these showed any problems. He has a cough that has become hacking and coming up mucosa. He has post nasal drip... none that is yellow or green. All clear. But coughs up whit/ yellow Flem. X-ray on the lungs showed nothing. WHAT is WRONG here?!

Replied by Karen
(Mount Juliet, Tn)
10/14/2012
★★★★★

This is what you should have done. Put 2 tablespoons of pure honey and 2 tablespoons of apple cyder vinger 3 times a day. Mix it real good and give it to them in a spoon full.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Dixie (NYC) on 02/07/2007
★★★★★

Hi, I found this site and am amazed by what I am reading. My mother always told a story of how in the thirties, my uncle was a little boy and desperately ill. The doctors could not figure out what was wrong or how to help him and finally told my grandparents to prepare for the worst. Apparently all he kept asking for was vinegar (my mom never specified if it was ACV) and when things looked really bleak, they decided to let him have it since he never stopped asking for it and since there was no real reason to deny him, however bizarre it seemed to give it to him. He apparently struggled to drink it, but got through a whole bottle in a few hours despite his weakness. The fever suddenly broke and he fully recovered, and to this day no one in my family really understood how. Now I'm getting a clue as to why! So, I thought I would try the honey/water/AVC drink three times a day- today is day 5 and while I didn't see any real weight loss until today, today my jeans are suddenly loose! Also been using it as a toner and guess what! No trip to the dermo like I planned because my pores are getting smaller on their own! Depression doing a lot better too - though the jury is still out on that since today I was a bit down after a few up days - will check back in and let everyone know- but WOW! I'm amazed! My little uncle was really on to something, clearly!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nick (DeWitt, MI) on 08/24/2006
★★★★★

I got home from work to find my wife with a fever over 103. We had tried a bath before I wen to work, and it helped to lower it, but it came back. She had also been taking motrin, but it did not help. I google searched and found your site. I wanted to do the egg whites, but we had just finished off the eggs this morning. I saw the posting for apple cider vinegar, which we had, and tried it just as described. The last time I checked her fever had dropped, and is nearing normal. The smell is the smell, I mean, it's vinegar, but the ends justify the means. What's a little odor, when you get a lowered fever in return? Thank you so much for providing this information for free. I have added this site to our favorites list.


Aspirin and Zinc

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Tish (Toronto, On, XA) on 10/07/2010
★★★★★

High fever: hello everyone, just a feedback, been down with a fever since monday, 103 is way high!!

I tried the egg whites didn't work, but now I know why cause it is a viral fever.

Tried ted's remedy, crushed the zinc tablet took it w/water also took asprin, well what do you know the fever is down to 100, and only did it once last nite and once this morning!! (my hubby is still wondering what i did! lol). So if its viral, egg white will not help. I'm sure it has worked for a lot of ppl.

My bronchitis was starting up so half lemon 1tab raw honey and icap ful of acv, stopped the bugger right away!! love my fav website "earthclinic".

EC: Tish is likely referring to Ted's aspirin cure on the Swine Flu page here: https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/swine-flu.html


Cup of Hot Water

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Samantha (Bc) on 04/04/2018
★★★★★

This is a method for curing fever I read about in Ayurvedic medicine: drinking a cup of hot water (cooled to room temp) dissipates the heat. It seems illogical but works on a like-to-like level, where heat removes heat. So I tried it: I boiled a cup of water and added a bit of cool water so I could drink it right away without waiting. After 20 minutes of consuming it, I felt a wave of heat leaving my body. It was unusual but effective!

If I remember correctly, in Ayurvedic medicine, fevers originate in the stomach, which could be why this is effective. Hope it helps someone else!


Fenugreek Seeds

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Emmanuella (Long Beach, CA)
★★★★★

When I was a child my mother used to give me Fenugreek tea. It doesn't taste very good, but she would give me a cup of this and two excederin and I would wake up a few hours later, with a broken fever. I had my appetite back and felt much better. This tea does come out through your pores, so it won't smell very nice. This tea worked for me, maybe it can work for someone else too.


Feverfew

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Hoke (Oakland) on 11/16/2012
★★★★★

Feverfew is great for fever, natural tylenol alternative, the name says it all and more.


Ginger Tea Bath

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Christina (Bel Air MD) on 05/23/2006
★★★★★

You take raw ginger put it in water and bring it to a boil. Use a big pot (the one you use for spagetti). After it boils for 15 to 20 min, take it off the heat. Run water in the tub, the water should be as warm as the person can take. Before the person gets in put the ginger root water in the tub. Mix it around. The whole body should be covered. Let them sit there for as long as they can take it. Once out. Put them in long pajamas, wrap them with a blanket, put them to bed, and put the other blankets on top. They'll start to sweat out the fever. Found this on www.herbalhealer.com website when my tots had high fevers.


Ground Salt in Belly Button

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Mark B (Deming, Nm) on 10/30/2016
★★★★★

A Chinese acupuncturist taught us about using FINE ground salt for dropping fevers. Fill the belly button cavity with fine ground salt (use a mortar and pestel if you have one to get it ground nice and fine so it doesn't irritate the sensitive skin), preferably sea salt, and cover well with skin tape (first aid type) or a couple of band-aids. Drink plenty of water and try to get some sleep. Good to do over night, then take a little break by cleaning the belly button out with water, drying gently and applying a tiny bit of oil (coconut, olive, jojoba, or castor). Repeat as needed after a few hours. Works well and is the go-to in our family.


Lard and Baking Soda

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%

Posted by Jennifer Y Roehm (United States) on 06/06/2020
★★★★★

When i was 15 yo (1996), i was extremely sick. I spiked a fever of 104 degrees. My mother mixed lard & baking soda together, smothered it on my feet & put a 1 gallon freezer zip lock bag on each foot. This was to keep the nasty stuff from getting on my sheets. I truly thought she was nuts! I fell asleep & woke up 2 hrs later to my sheets being completely soaked from the fever breaking. She told me that my great grandmother told her about this remedy when she was a kid. And that was the first time she tried it.



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