Fever

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What Is Fever

A Fever, which can also be high temperature, is not necessarily and illness. Depending on the age and physical condition, a person may experience mild or more intense pain. When the body develops a Fever there is an elevation in internal body temperature, usually indicated by a temperature above 100.4 degress, which is not the normal 98.6 degrees. Fevers are not considered dangerous, but Hypothermia, which can be caused by injury or extreme temperatures, can cause the body to rise to dangerous temperatures.

Signs Of Fever

Symptoms of a Fever can occur when the body rises above its normal temperature of 98.6 degress. Depending on the cause of the fever, symptoms may vary. The most common symptoms are:

Headache
Sweating
Muscle Aches
Shivering
Low Appetite
Increased Pain Sensitivity
Dehydration
Sleepiness
General Weakness

What Causes Fever

A Fever is usually the body's response to foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, drugs, or other toxins. These foreign invaders (pyrogens) trigger the hypothalamus in the brain to increase the set point of the body's regular temperature to help fight off infection. This may cause the person to feel cold and he/she may shiver in attempt to increase body heat, which eventually ends up as an elevated body temperature. Fevers may be caused by:

Viruses
Bacterial Infection
Diseases (HIV, Common Cold, Influenza, Malaria, or Mononucleosis, or Gastroenteritis)
Extreme Sunburn
Heat Stroke
Inflammatory Conditions (like Rheumatoid Arthritis)
Medications like Antibiotics
Trauma (injuries like a heart attack, stroke, burns, or heat exhaustion)

Dherbs Approach...adjusting your diet is always key!

Natural Remedies

When a person has a Fever it is important for him/her to stay hydrated. Replenishing the body with fluids is integral to a successful recovery. Drinking the suggested eight 8oz glasses of water a day is a good rule of thumb. Another measurement is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces of water per day. If you weigh 150lbs, you should drink 75oz of water every day. You can also add fresh lemon juice to your water as an additional hydration aid. Herbal teas like peppermint, chamomile, or hibiscus tea are also good options.
Taking warm baths with Epsom salt or magnesium (you can also sprinkle powdered ginger in the water) can help alleviate muscle aches if the person is experiencing aches. Drinking peppermint tea also helps calm headaches or muscle aches.
You can try making a natural sleep tincture or chamomile tincture to sooth achy muscles or help with going to sleep. Tinctures are made up of essential oils, plant extracts, and glycerine. You don't want to make or get tinctures that have alcohol in them as this is not good for the body. Use tinctures that have glycerine or apple cider vinegar.
Try to keep rooms at low temperatures because high temperatures can prolong the Fever. Heat can cause intense sweating, which can lead to dehydration. Try to keep room temperatures between 73 and 77 degrees.
Warm a mixture of two tablespoons of olive oil and 2 crushed garlic cloves. Apple the mixture to the bottoms of your feet and cover with plastic wrap overnight. Both olive oil and garlic are known to naturally bring down a Fever.

Things you should eat