Natural Remedies for Fevers & the Flu

Written By Moriah .

Uh-oh… the dreaded respiratory flu & high fever has arrived at your front door.

Let me first just say, I feel for you. Being sick is terrible, and a high fever in particular can be pretty anxiety-inducing. While it’s too late for preventative measures now, you can still take the time to prepare your body for the next sickness going around once you’ve recovered by downloading my free Immunity Guide. It’s FILLED with high-quality products, recipes, and information to help prevent future illness.

However, I know you’re focused right now on simply feeling better, so let’s talk about what you can do RIGHT NOW to help your body fight the flu.

Since fevers are often a huge stressor, let’s talk about those first:

In my personal and professional opinion, one of the last things you should do when you, your child, or a family member has a fever is give ibuprofen or another fever-reducing medication. These over-the-counter medications come with a whole list of side effects, including damage to the liver and kidneys.

More importantly, though, a fever has a JOB. Your body is deliberately heating up to kill off the pathogens that are making you sick. By unnaturally reducing that fever, you are interrupting a natural process taking place in your body.

So, what should you do instead when you or your child gets a fever, runny nose, cough, body aches and pains, or other flu-like symptoms?

To start, resting and napping are the top ways to offer support. Your body is working hard to fight something off, so it needs adequate rest to stay strong. Working on the lymphatic system through movement is also crucial for keeping toxins moving out of the body.

For full body support, try some of these natural remedies, some of which use ingredients and items you may already have at home:

  • Epsom salt baths with ginger (use powdered ginger like for baking). Great for fevers and body aches.

  • Stay hydrated and add electrolytes to your water (you can use a supplement or powder, or simply add a good salt and cream of tartar. The rule of thumb is about 1/4 tsp of each for every 8 to 10 oz. of water).

  • Drink bone broth for added minerals and nutrition (you can make your own or keep Perfect Supplements’ Bone Broth powder on hand).

  • Ginger or Echinacea tea (look at the Traditional Medicinals brand, or use fresh or powdered ginger from your spice cabinet).

  • Lymphatic massage (with or without a lotion) or dry brushing (you can find a great Lymphatic cream at Earthley).

  • Cool washcloth on the back of the neck.

  • Potato slices or onions on the bottom of the feet (put on socks over them). Both help to pull toxins out of the body that may be contributing to fever and sickness.

PLEASE NOTE: You should always closely monitor the person with the fever. If they are acting relatively normal, eating, drinking water and other clear fluids, and aren't lethargic when awake, you can continue to let that fever run its course while supporting their body. If you are ever unsure, please DO NOT hesitate to contact your family doctor.

Let’s move on to respiratory issues, which can be just as uncomfortable as fevers but often resolved with natural remedies.

Keeping your natural medicine cabinet stocked is especially important when it comes to breathing concerns. The sooner you can offer support, the better the success you will have in the long run.

Many recommendations below are in the form of herbal tinctures. If you aren’t familiar with tinctures, here’s a quick rundown: essentially, tinctures are herbal remedies created by soaking herbs in an alcohol or glycerin base for a period of time, then strained and bottled. Most are shelf-stable for several years, making them a great item to stock up on. Tinctures can be taken straight or added to a bit of water or juice if the taste is unpleasant. Many are safe for all ages, starting around 6 months to 1 year, but be sure to check labels on individual supplements before giving to children.

You can start to build your arsenal with some of the products listed below:

If I had to pick a favorite from this list, it’d be colloidal silver. A total powerhouse, it’s considered a noble metal with antimicrobial properties, meaning it helps fight viruses, bacteria, and molds/fungi. 

Silver can be used internally by drinking it, externally as a salve or paste, or on soaked rags or bandages, or nebulized during respiratory infections. You can often get a nebulizer through insurance if your respiratory system is in distress (such as pneumonia or asthma), or you can buy your own from Amazon or a medical supply company. 

To nebulize silver, you’ll want to use a 20 PPM (parts per million) dilution. If yours is a higher concentration, you can simply dilute it with distilled water. Add the silver to the medicine cup on the nebulizer. Turn on the machine, place the mask over your face, and breathe in. For children, I usually recommend using it multiple times a day for a couple of minutes (mainly because most children aren’t going to sit still for long). Adults can use it for 10-15 minutes at a time, 3-5 times a day. 

Here’s the thing about the flu:

You can use all the natural remedies in the world, but if you’re not eating a diet of whole, healthy foods, every illness will hang on much longer than it has to.

Whether you’re currently sick, recovering, or coming down with a new illness, eating a whole foods diet is absolutely crucial. If it didn’t come from the earth, it probably shouldn’t be going into your body. Especially when you are sick, you should avoid sugars (real and artificial), food dyes, processed foods, and highly refined carbohydrates like bread, crackers, etc., and instead opt for easy-to-digest foods like chicken, fish, well-cooked vegetables, fruits, and bone broths. Adults may choose not to eat much at all, allowing the body to send more energy to healing rather than to digestion. But no matter what, please still drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Whether you are using all herbs and natural remedies, or a mix of OTC meds and herbals, please DO NOT hesitate to contact your doctor, hospital, or other medical professional if you or your child is not recovering within a few days, especially if there is respiratory distress, if the person has trouble standing up/walking around the house, or if the person is lethargic and stops eating/drinking for more than 24 hours.

Your health is your most important asset, so ultimately, you have to do what is right for you and your body.

To find all the companies listed above, my affiliate links, and a discount code for you to use, please visit my RESOURCES page and scroll down to find the companies!

Looking for more information about herbs, natural remedies, and how to use them?

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*This blog contains affiliate links, which may earn me a small commission.
**Please note that this article is not deemed to be medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any disease and/or illness.

 
Moriah .
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