A fever is often one of the first signs that you’re getting sick. It’s not a pleasant feeling, which is why most people do everything possible to lower fevers as quickly as possible. Getting your temperature down to 98.6 degrees will make you feel better right away. However, feelings can be deceptive. When you’re sick and have a mild fever, lowering it is about the worst thing you can do.
Bacteria and viruses can only survive at certain temperatures. The fever you get when you’re sick isn’t part of the illness; it’s part of your body’s defense. “By heating itself up, the body slows down the growth of invading organisms,” explains John C. Roers, M.D., of the Department of Family Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Native Americans understood the importance of fever. Not only did they often let fevers run their course, sometimes they made things hotter by sending feverish people into sweat lodges. In a way, the sweat lodge was nothing more than a room-sized “fever.”
Doctors today are unlikely to send patients with fevers into steam rooms. It’s not that they disagree with the principle. It’s just that most people wouldn’t be willing to do it. So a compromise has been reached. Doctors usually recommend letting a fever run its course as long as it’s under 103 degrees. Higher temperatures, or any fever that lasts longer than 48 hours, should be checked out by a doctor.
However, to beat mild infections and low fevers, it’s worth taking a hint from Native Americans. They used herbs called diaphoretics that raised the body temperature just enough to give the immune system an extra boost. According to herbalist David Hoffmann, these herbs aid “the body’s own innate recuperative powers.”
Herbs that are recommended for fever include cayenne, ginger, sage, peppermint, boneset, goldenseal, milkweed, hops, rose, honeysuckle, and yarrow. These herbs are best taken as teas, which serves the double purpose of keeping the body hydrated while washing out the very germs they kill. Add a teaspoon of dried herb (two teaspoons if fresh) to a cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for 15 minutes, strain, and drink up to three cups daily.
To lower a fever, Native Americans used willow bark, which contains salicin, a fever-reducing compound similar to the active ingredient in aspirin. Just steep a teaspoon or so in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes, strain, and drink as needed.
Caution: Because willow bark contains compounds similar to those in aspirin, don’t give it to children, as it may increase the risk of a potentially serious neurological disorder called Reye’s syndrome.
This how to lower a fever article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
