Fever

Fevers indicate a robust immune system is trying to fight off a pathogen.  Fevers are a good sign and do not always need to be treated.  See the notes that follow.

Choose:  If you choose to treat a fever, select a remedy from the list below that most closely matches your symptoms.

Dosage:

• 12X every 2-3 hours or 30C every 4-6 hours.
• If no improvement after 3 doses, choose a different remedy.
• Or, see the Dosage Chart.

Notes:

• The following should be evaluated by your medical provider:
  • Fever in a newborn
  • Infants under 6 months with a fever over 100.5
  • A child with a fever over 101 that lasts more than 24 hours or a fever over 102 for several hours
  • A fever with lethargy, stiff neck, mental confusion, irritability, seizures, recurring vomiting, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe pain, pain urinating, swelling anywhere on your body, foul smelling vaginal discharge, after surgery when home from the hospital.
  • An adult’s fever higher than 103 for 6 or more hours.
• If a self-selected remedy – however well indicated – does not help, you need to seek medical expertise.  A doctor will provide a diagnosis and/or a professional homeopath can treat your symptoms in the context of your whole person.

Symptoms	Remedy
Sudden onset of high fever Red, flushed, dry, hot face hands and feet cold Dilated pupils Glassy eyes Irritable or mentally dull, agitated May be confused/hallucinate Better: standing or sitting up View Remedy	Belladonna
Given at onset of symptoms Sudden onset Fever coming on after being chilled Restless, anxious, frightened fear death is imminent May feel like a cold or flu coming on Startles easily Chills Worse: evening, night View Remedy	Aconitum napellus
Given in early stage of illness Gradual onset Symptoms vague Slight fever Not as intense or with rapid onset of Belladonna Chilly but may sweat Tired Face may have mild flush Better: cold packs lying down touch View Remedy	Ferrum phosphoricum
Cries easily and wants to be snuggled craves sympathy and attention Clingy Mood changeable Little thirst Worse: evening until midnight warm rooms eating rich food Better: open air View Remedy	Pulsatilla
Slow onset Irritable Does not want to be touched Does not want to move Wants to be left alone Very thirsty gulps drinks Worse: least movement if someone tries to touch them View Remedy	Bryonia
Fever with teething Irritable Face hot and perspiring Wants something, then throws it away One cheek may be red and the other pale View Remedy	Chamomilla
Worse: Midnight-2am Restless, anxious Tired, weak Chilly Thirsty but only for small sips Face warm, body chilly Better: warmth warm drinks View Remedy	Arsenicum album
Chilly chills run up and down back chills starting in hands and feet Feeling as if flu coming on Dull, drowsy, weak during fever Very little thirst during fever View Remedy	Gelsemium
Profuse salivation Sweats profusely Foul smelling breath and perspiration Worse: change of temperatures View Remedy	Mercurious vivus or solubilis
Looks well despite fever Apathy Wants sympathy Appetite good Craves cold drinks (may be vomited up) May have chest symptoms View Remedy	Phosphorus
Early morning diarrhea drives out of bed Reddish skin Profuse sweating sweat has offensive smell View Remedy	Sulphur
Heat and chill alternate Chilly relieved only by hot bathing May have headache, digestive symptoms Irritable Worse: uncovering open air Better: warm drinks external heat View Remedy	Nux vomica
Fever or chills with aching and stiffness better with movement Restless Red, itchy rash during fever or chill Heat on left side, chill on right side View Remedy	Rhus toxicodendron
Blood poisoning (sepsis) Temperature fluctuates Pulse weak and rapid Restless Achey Chills and heat alternate Bed feels too hard View Remedy	Pyrogenium Available in European pharmacies Helios, Ainsworths, Remedia
Heat with prickling all over the body Skin sensitive to touch Worse: drafts motion View Remedy	Cinchona (China)
Intermittent fever Severe headache Hands and fingers cold and blue during chill Chills begin in fingers or toes Worse: 10-12am View Remedy	Natrum muriaticum
High fever with sleepiness Fever high during sleep Unbothered by heat View Remedy	Opium Available in European pharmacies Helios, Ainsworths, Remedia, etc.

References

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Ahmad S, Rehman T, Abbasi WM. Effects of homeopathic ultrahigh dilutions of Aconitum napellus on Baker’s yeast induced fever in rabbits. J Integr Med. 2017 May; 15(3):209-213.

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Mayo Clinic Staff.  Fever treatment:  Quick guide to treating a fever.  Mayo Clinic.  Feb 26, 2022.

Morrison, Roger. Desktop Companion to Physical Pathology.  Hahnemann Clinic Publishing, CA. 1998: pp. 519-570.

Rabe A, Weiser M, Klein P. Effectiveness and tolerability of a homoeopathic remedy compared with conventional therapy for mild viral infections. Int J Clin Pract. 2004 Sep; 58(9): 827-32.

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Panos, Maesimund and Heimlich Jane.  Homeopathic Medicine at Home.  Jeremy P. Tarcher/Perigree, Los Angeles. 1980; pp. 88-89.

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