Causes of Common Fever:n the case of common fevers, where there are no complications or where the exact cause is not known, unless the temperature goes beyond tolerable limits no medication is necessary because such a fever might be the way of nature to get rid of the various poisons accumulated in the body. In the modern age, being used to an ease-loving life and habits, people rush to the doctors the moment they find that their temperature goes a little above the normal. But the Hakims and the Vaids in the past, when the modern system of medicine had not made inroads into our life, frowned on immediate medication for a fever. They merely advised the patient to fast and take nothing but water for a couple of days. The patient generally got rid of the malady in 48 to 72 hours and was none the worse for his trouble.
Treatment for Common Fever:
The commonsense exhibited by the Hakims and Vaids still holds good since it is in total conformity with the laws of nature. Fever, unless it is accompanied by dangerous symptoms, e.g., a closing glottis as in diptheria, should not be interfered with for the first three days. If it does not subside then or goes beyond manageable limits, for example, if the temperature threatens to rise above 106°F action should be taken to bring it back to normal. The very first thing (and completely safe too) to be undertaken in the case of rising fever is to wash the forehead of the patient with cold water in which rose water and little vinegar has been mixed. Cold compresses should be kept on his head if the temperature is above 103°F. If in spite of the cold compresses the fever continues to rise and reaches 106°F, immediate emergency procedures should be started. The clothes of the patient should be removed and he should be wrapped in a cotton sheet dipped in ice-cold water and a blanket wrapped over it. The temperature would start coming down. The sheet should be changed every fifteen minutes. Or, the body of the patient should be bathed in cold water while the fan is working at full speed. When the temperature has come down to 103"F, only a cold compress on the head would do. At the first sign of falling temperature, cold compresses should also be discontinued.
During fever, the patient should not be fed. Most people lose their appetite during fever and that should be taken' as a warning from the nature. It is not natural for a person to feel hungry when his system is fighting a fever and there is no earthly reason to forcefeed him under the mistaken notion that fever will weaken him if he is allowed to go hungry. Doctors do caution the patient not to eat any solids when he is in the grip of typhoid, but in other fevers this precaution is not, unfortunately, taken. The only thing that a patient suffering from fever should be allowed is fruit juices. Juice of lemon in a glass of water with a pinch of salt should be given to him. The patient must take as much water as he can drink, because the heat of the fever tends to dry up the humous of the body. Lack of liquids may lead to dehydration which is much more difficult to handle than an ordinary fever.
Natural Home Cures for Common Fever:
As for medication, the Holy Basil (Tulsi) plant and its tender leaves are a specific for many fevers. During the rainy season when malaria and dengue fever are common some tender leaves of Holy Basil (Tulsi) boiled with common afternoon tea act as a prophylactic. In the case of acute fevers of unknown origin, a decoction made of about 12 grams of Holy Basil (Tulsi) leaves boiled with powdered Cardamom in half a litre of water, mixed with sugar and milk, would bring down the temperature. Powder of the root of the Horse Radish (Shigru) is another remedy for common fevers in their preliminary stages.
See Also: Home Remedies for Common Fever
