Reduce a Fever without Medication

When a child has a fever, most people rush to the medicine cabinet for the acetaminophen. Before you force your kids to choke down all those chemicals, attempt some of these tried and true natural fever reducers.

Steps

 * 1) Wet socks and apply them to ankles. Sounds weird but works wonders for a high fever in  children. Take a pair of cotton socks that are long enough to cover the child's ankles. Thoroughly wet the socks in cold tap water. Wring out excess water. Put the socks on the  child's feet and repeat process when the socks dry out. Some kids will hate this but usually after the socks are on they calm down and enjoy the relief it gives.
 * 2)  Feed the child sage and lemon balm tea. For kids who are willing to drink make a tea made from a few leaves each of sage and lemon balm. Add leaves to a mug and cover with boiling water. Cover the  mug with a plate and let steep for about ten minutes. Add a little honey or sweetener and let the child sip this down. These herbs will help the child start to sweat which will bring the fever down
 * 3)  Use a rub. For babies under two years of age, rub the entire body with pure olive oil before bed and wrap them up well in cotton clothing and a blanket. Give them a bath in the morning to remove the oil. This step works well with the wet socks.
 * 4)  Cool the head and neck. For very high fevers take a large cotton scarf and soak well in water, wringing out the excess. Wrap the scarf around the child's head and neck. Repeat when the scarf dries out.

Tips

 * Fever is not public enemy number one. It is a wonderful defense that our body uses to fight off disease.
 * Relax and support your child. When adults panic children feel this and it makes it that much harder for them to heal.
 * Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids, water, natural juices and herbal teas. Note that soda pop is not necessarily the best liquid.

Warnings

 * Keep in touch with the child's doctor throughout the entire process, particularly for fevers of 101 or higher.
 * If a fever persists for more than three days or does not respond to any of above methods take your child to a qualified health care provider.