Natural Remedies for Fever

| Modified on Dec 26, 2022
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Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy.

Whether you are in the “fevers are scary” or “fevers are natural” camp, knowing a few ways to treat a fever is essential. While most fevers are your body’s natural response to illness, the chills and up-and-down temperature fluctuations can leave you exhausted.

Applying natural remedies can not just reduce a fever for the duration of the medicine but will help your body cope with the illness it is fighting. The next time you or one of your loved ones spikes a fever, consider using apple cider vinegar, egg whites, garlic, or other natural remedies.

What Natural Fever Remedies Should I Use?

Your best strategy for dealing with a fever is to watch the symptoms rather than the thermometer. You can apply various natural treatments to help keep yourself or the affected individual comfortable while the fever works its way down. Some of the most effective fever remedies include apple cider vinegar, egg whites (most popular), garlic, potato, peppermint, and calcium lactate.

Apple Cider Vinegar

You can consider apple cider vinegar an “old folk remedy” for fevers. This remedy is effective as it functions to “draw out” the fever and support your body’s ability to fight off the infection or whatever the cause of the fever. To apply the apple cider vinegar, soak two washcloths in the vinegar. Place one on the forehead and one on the stomach. Alternatively, you can add a cup of ACV to a warm bath.

Egg Whites

Egg whites also draw the fever and infection out of your body. You can apply this remedy in a couple of different ways. Soak a pair of socks in egg whites and put the socks on your feet. Otherwise, apply egg whites to paper towels and place the paper towels on the bottom of your feet. With this method, you should see the fever drop within 10 minutes to an hour. You can use a potato similarly if you have an egg or dairy allergen.

Garlic

Garlic helps lower a fever and boosts your body’s immune system. Apply this remedy by crushing enough garlic to make a paste. Blend the crushed garlic with olive or coconut oil and apply the paste to the feet. Leaving a few spots uncovered, wrap the feet with gauze and leave overnight. Be careful with this remedy, as the garlic paste can be too hot for some and cause mild skin irritation or burning.

In most cases, allowing a fever to run its course and treating it naturally is a safe practice. In some instances, you should seek medical attention for a fever. If your child is very young, has a fever over 104, carries a fever for more than two days, or exhibits additional signs of illness, you should seek medical attention. In any case, use your best judgment and follow your instincts – that is what natural medicine is primarily founded on anyway.


Below you will discover many user-submitted treatments for instant fever relief.

Our most popular home remedy, with over 140 thumbs up, is egg whites.

Let us know what you try from Earth Clinic to fight off fevers. Know of a remedy yet to be listed here? Please feel free to share your remedy 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
5 out of 5 stars

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
5 out of 5 stars

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
5 out of 5 stars

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
5 out of 5 stars

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
5 out of 5 stars

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 Dixie (NYC) on 02/07/2007
5 out of 5 stars

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
5 out of 5 stars

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.


Replied by Lexi
(Baytown, Tx.)
10/21/2011

I used the egg whites, potatoes, and onion, worked but my sons temp rose back up to 100.2, so now I got him in a bath 1/4 full of warm water and 1 cup of ACV. I also annointed him with virgin olive oil and prayed over him..

Hope this ACV works this time.

Replied by Karen
(Clarkston)
06/28/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Vinegar works for a lot of ails. In the bible, did not Mary wipe vinegar on Jesus in his hour of pain? Nothing I have used it for comes back void. It works every time. Staple in our house!!

Aspirin and Zinc

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Tish (Toronto, On, XA) on 10/07/2010
5 out of 5 stars

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


Banana Leaves

1 User Review
1 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Triniboy (Penal, Trinidad And Tobago) on 06/17/2012
1 out of 5 stars

I started using young banana leaves on the inside of my wife's socks, she was running a high fever, my grandma used to do this for me when I was younger. When I checked them back 3 hours later they were drying and brown in her socks, but her fever only decreased a little, I going to try the potato remedy now, I hope this works.


Cup of Hot Water

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Samantha (Bc) on 04/04/2018
5 out of 5 stars

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)
5 out of 5 stars

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
5 out of 5 stars

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


Ginger Root

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Christina (Bel Air MD) on 05/23/2006
5 out of 5 stars

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.


Glandular Fever Remedies

Posted by Coral-leigh (Australia, Nsw) on 11/28/2014

Hi, my name is Coral-Leigh. My best friends has been diagnosed with glandular fever, and has received this through swapping saliva with her boyfriend that also had it more than a year ago. I've been following this website for years and can't seem to find anything on this particular problem. If anyone knows a natural and effective way to solve this problem it was be much appreciated. Thanks

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee)
11/28/2014

Dear Coral-Leigh,

Glandular Fever is another name for Mono. There is a lot of information here:

https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/mononucleosis.html

Our family's favorite mono treatment is extra virgin coconut oil. It is amazing for this. We give 1 Tablespoon three times a day for an adult sized person. Lots of vitamin C is good, too.

~Mama to Many~


Ground Salt in Belly Button

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Mark B (Deming, Nm) on 10/30/2016
5 out of 5 stars

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.



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