How I Handle Fevers As A Natural Minded Mom

As a mom, it can be so hard to watch your kids be sick! Sometimes, even though I try to have everything on hand, I catch myself feeling like I don’t know what to do when one of my kids spikes a high fever out of nowhere. After a deep breath, I arrange the following items so I can treat the fever as naturally as possible.

Homeopathy

Belladonna is one of my favorites for high sudden fevers, headaches and inflammation

Aconitum Napellus is great for cold/flu pain, high fever, general pain

Arnica Montana is great for general pain

Oscillococcinum is great for fever/flu like symptoms

Arsenicum Album is great for high fever and a kiddo that only can take sips of water

These are my personal favorites but lots to choose from!

Cold wet socks

I run a pair of cotton socks under cold water and wring them out. Then, put the wet socks on your kiddos feet and cover wet socks with a pair of dry wool socks. Go to sleep and remove in the morning!

Luke warm bath

If my kiddos are up for it, we will do a Luke warm bath with Epsom salt for detoxing

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Essential oils

I don't use them all the time but I love EOs during sickness as another aid. I love to dilute peppermint EO (kid appropriate dilution) with fractionated coconut oil and put it in a roller and rub down my kiddos spine and bottom of their feet for the cooling effect. I typically diffuse the immunity blend from Rowe casa for its anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties. Eucalyptus is another I like to dilute in a roller and use as a rub. It has antioxidant, pain relieving and anti inflammatory properties. Frankincense is another I love.

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Red light therapy

I especially love this if a fever is accompanied by pain on the body. I will typically use it 2x/day for 10 mins each session and place the RLT device directly where there is pain.

Otherwise I use it 2x a day for 10 mins pointed toward my kiddo about a foot or so away from them.

Supportive herbs

My most used are:

Dr Green Mom temperature tamer

lemon balm calm

Earthley feel better fast

I also love to do herbal teas with raw honey if they are up for drinking it

Elderberry syrup

Great way to ease fevers, especially those that also have flu like symptoms. I typically will give it the second a kiddo feels "bad"

Rest & hydration

This one is so important. Stay in bed, or if the day is nice, laying outside for a little bit and letting the sun (yes talking about safe sun exposure) do its thing is so helpful!

But also STAY HYDRATED. If my kiddos will sip on bone broth, I'll give them that. If they'll sip on electrolytes, I'll give them that. They love the Just Ingredients grape electrolytes, so I always have them on hand.

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Sourdough & butter

One of the first things they typically snack on during a fever is sourdough and butter. I add butter for butyrate.

Ice roller

While I absolutely agree that keeping the body warm during a fever is important, my kids love a cool ice roller on their face during a fever. Ironically, it helps them relax and often I can get them to sleep after it.

Potato in the sock

Occasionally I'll do the potato in the sock trick. Essentially you slice a potato and put a piece in the kiddos sock over night to help draw out toxins - but I prefer cold wet socks.

Chiro care

A chiropractic adjustment can also be beneficial during a fever. No, it doesn't treat the fever but it can aid to remove some of the stress from the body to allow the body to fight back against the fever.

Supplement where needed.

I like to keep things like magnesium, zinc, probiotics, vitamin b, c, d, and other herbal remedies on hand for sickness and general support.

Real Whole Foods.

We especially aim to avoid all ultra processed foods when sick. We go for immune system supporting, nutritious whole foods. I really aim for comforting soups! My kids love them! I really like to incorporate onions and garlic into whatever I'm cooking during sickness too!

My biggest thing with fevers is watching my kiddo vs the temp on a thermometer. Fevers purify the body and help rid it of toxins. It's okay to be still and allow the body to work

Overall, I aim to let a fever do its job. It's there for a reason and is a good thing. Even the AAP is quick to caution parents to immediately reduce a fever. But with that, if my child is absolutely miserable, lethargic, not sleeping, etc. that *usually* is the point I'll consider something like dye free Motrin. (Tho I have been quicker to reduce with Everett as his breathing is already fast/retracts at his baseline it can get out of hand much faster than my other two kiddos).

Sleep is incredibly important too, don't forget that.

Yes, it can prolong the fever but if it allows my child to sleep 12 hours after being miserable, I absolutely think the benefit is there.

Supporting the body vs suppressing the body is generally what I aim to do - but please do remember that even some natural remedies can still actually suppress the body/fever.

Sometimes it's just weighing the pros and cons and honestly... follow your mom intuition. YOU know your child best.

I hope this helps empower you with ideas on how to natural support a fever. But most of all, I hope it reminds you that you know your child best and to follow your intuition 💗