Coping with viral fever

Monsoon is the time when viral infections become active and spread fast. Such infections are very virulent and tend to quickly infect people in the immediate vicinity. They are particularly common in schools and in homes as these are places where people are in close proximity to each other. Most of us panic when we get fever and tend to treat it aggressively. Doctors advise patients to rest, drink lots of fluids and take a symptomatic mild treatment for common viral fever, but we are so impatient, we cut short the natural duration of illness by proactively taking extra medicines!

How does fever occur?
When we contract an infection due to a temporary episode of low immunity, viruses get into the body and after a period of incubation, begin to multiply. At this time, the body's defense system gets the signal that the body is infected and revs up the production of immune cells along with a fever producing biological pyrogen (fever causing substance). The cycle of fever and sweating is the body's defense mechanism to fight and throw the virus out of the body and medical treatment helps this process.

Natural management of fever
Drink lot of fluids- they are the bedrock of viral treatment. The fluids can be in the form of room temperature water, herbal teas, or electrolyte solutions. Water is important because when the body is continuously sweating it needs fluids to replenish the resources of water and electrolytes. Use room temperature compress (not cold / ice compress) for adults.
Herbs like yarrow, peppermint, and cinnamon are very good infusion tea.
Change the bed linen daily. Also, use a large towel as a bed sheet to absorb the sweat and make sure you change it every day.
Air the room once a day to prevent infections within the family. Use antiseptic herbal room aromas to disinfect the area.
Vegetable and lentil soups give nourishment without overloading the system.
Take steam inhalation with eucalyptus essence, it clears the throat. Finally, rest and sleep are the best forms of treatment.