Fever is not always a cause for a remedy. In fact it is often better left to complete itself because it is a valuable cure. Fever “cooks off” a viral or bacterial infection more effectively than any external means. When we reduce a fever via medications it keeps the body from healing properly. The body has the additional burden of processing the unnatural drug. Although advised by medical doctors for years, aspirin is a particularly dangerous drug when given during fever. It is only recently that doctors have shied away from this practice. Now Ibuprofen is prescribed, and again we are learning of the toll this practice takes on our families.
Throughout history, homeopathy has maintained the same position: let a fever run its course, augment the nutrition and fluids and make the person comfortable. This is a rather sweeping statement and circumstances will determine the strength of this guideline. Yet there are occasions when it may be valuable to treat fever. When a high fever, of approximately 103-106° continues for days without interruption, the concern generally is not for fever but for dehydration. To minimize dehydration, coat the palms of the hands and bottoms of feet with olive oil and insist on fluids. Homemade popsicles are considered fluids and are more accepted by children. Dehydration can be dangerous, and if it goes too far, may require immediate hospitalization for treatment with an IV. In any case, long lasting high fevers should be treated homeopathically as well as painful or spasmodic coughs with accompanying fevers.
If you give the chosen remedy and the patient falls asleep, consider this a good sign. The best healing is done during sleep. If in the morning the fever and its accompanying symptoms are gone, you have chosen the correct remedy. If the same symptoms return, repeat the same remedy. If this does not result in increased health then it is time to try another remedy. A useful sign is to see vitality returned to a languid sufferer and peace restored to an agitated one. When a crying child who is clinging and feverish stops crying yet the fever and clinging remain, consider this a move in the right direction. Do not repeat the remedy until a positive direction ceases. The mental or psychological presentations are often our most accurate indications of pathology.
Homeopathy requires the art of observation and hones skills of interpretation. Finding the right remedy is a crucial step in healing someone, but what to do next can be perplexing if these rules are not adhered to.
Three Leading Remedies for Fever
1.) Belladonna
- Best remedy to try first
- Give during early stages
- Most commonly given for fever
- Red face
- Hot skin
- Glassy eyes and dilated pupils
- Restless and agitated
- Can be a bit incoherent
- Nervous excitability
2.) Nux vomica
- Extremely chilled – worsened by moving or removing blankets
- Symptoms can be triggered by overindulgences
- Can be accompanied by digestive symptoms or heaviness in head
- Can be worse in morning and in the open air
3.) Pulsatilla
- Give when fever is the only symptom
- For persons who have classic Pulsatilla emotion symptoms – weepy, clingy, craving affection … changeable moods, whiny-type irritability
- Do not like external heat and do not like to be covered
- Triggered by overeating and worse at night
- Often not thirsty
absolutely correct ! Observation & interpretations are the essential steps in homeopathic prescibing.
Thank you for commenting. Are you a homeopathic physician and where do you practice?
Hi Joette, I have found 3 different articles of yours that address fevers:
(1) Fevers – October 9th, 2008,
(2) Handle Fevers with Homeopathy not Drugs – April 19th, 2012,
(3) Get your kids High: Fever is Good – October 4th, 2015
Since these articles span 7 years, I can easily imagine that our understanding of how to apply homeopathy has evolved (yes?). For example, each article presents a different set of remedies (except Belladonna 30c, which is in 2 of the 3 articles) as well as a different sequence of what to try (Belladonna 30c is listed as the 1st remedy to try in one, but I believe the 2nd to try in the ABC article). Can you help me understand which article (and protocol) to follow? And when? Thank you!
The reason I ask is because I was in the “heat of the battle” (no pun intended) last week with my son who was running a temperature. While searching your site as I usually do first when my son is not feeling well, I was confused with the 3 different articles and not sure what to do. I ended up doing the AB of ABC (since my son is past teething age so I figured Chamomilla is no longer appropriate…but maybe I’m wrong about that?)…as well as a combination Hyland’s Complete Cold & Flu…along with a bunch of other Gaia and other stuff. He’s still got a lot of congestion, but not running a fever. So, now that the heat of the battle has “cooled down” (no pun intended), I wanted to ask you about this before I’m in the situation again so that I can have a better understanding of what to follow. Thank you!
They are all correct. I have moved more closely in alignment with the Banerji Protocols for simplicity in teaching, but there are many ways to skin a cat. If you find that one method has acted, that’s where to start next time for the same person with the same condition. I urge you to join a (virtual or local) study group where questions like yours are more fully explained and you’ll learn from others. Should you be interested, go to my front page and click on the Quick Start Guide; super easy, fun to meet others in the same boat and not expensive. Many are starting up in Jan.
PS Chamomilla is not eliminated just because teething isn’t present.
Have a foster puppy with a fever. Wish i had seen this article when it began. Because it was a mild fever i began with another remedy Acon napell.but it seemes not to helped. The fever still hanging on a more intense at night. Just tried belladonna and he fell right off to sleep so I am hopeful this is a better remedy. Anybody ever have a dog with a fever?
I have covid and have had a fever between 99-101 for over a week. I just started taking Bella… it hasn’t made a difference yet. Every time I lay down and get up I’m hotter and feel worse. Any advice on what to take? I also have a cough.
I would love to know what you ended up using and what worked
I have a friend whose son is 8 and he has recurring fevers monthly. Sometimes so high he has a seizure. Also the roof of his mouth hurts. Any idea on what could be going on?
It sounds like there’s more to this case than what meets the eye. Let me start by saying that homeopaths know that fever-reducing drugs can cause repeated and more sobering effects. Read my article GEt Your Kids High here:
https://joettecalabrese.com/blog/get-your-kids-high-fever-is-good/