Indian Home Remedies for Fever (Ayurvedic Remedies)

Last Updated on September 25, 2024 by Kiersten James, BS, RN

If you’re looking for natural remedies to bring down a temperature with your run-of-the-mill cold or flu, these Indian home remedies for fever have been in use in Ayurveda for over 5,000 years.

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We’ve all had one and are likely to have another in our lifetime. Fevers can be really uncomfortable but ultimately serve an important purpose in the immune system’s cascade to fight infection.

According to Ayurvedic principles, fever is secondary to toxicity that has built up in the body’s core vital tissue and moves about through the circulatory system, or blood. When the toxins (called “ama”) have been removed and eliminated, the fever goes away.

While I do reach for over the counter fever reducers from time to time, if the fever is not high enough to be accompanied by pain or chills, I will choose natural remedies over standard medication.

During “sick seasons” from September to April, we rely most often on home remedies like Amish cough syrup, steam therapy to clear congestion, elderberry syrup, basic salves, infused oils for ear aches, and lots of herbal teas.

The Indian home remedies for fevers below are simple to make and include common spices or ingredients already found in the pantry. Outliers like dried lemongrass and holy basil are easy to obtain within a day or two of shipping.

A Note About Fevers:

Putting on my RN hat for a minute, keep these guidelines in mind when dealing with any fevers:

Any temperature over 103F in an adult or 104F in a child less than 12 years old should receive medical evaluation from a licensed healthcare provider.
Babies under 4 months with any temperature over 99.9F should seek evaluation within 4 hours.
Any fever lasting more than 72 hours should be evaluated.
Any fever that is accompanied by a stiff neck or severe headache with or without vomiting should also be evaluated within 4 hours.

Influenza in particular is known for causing very high fevers with very little notice. If temperatures reach into the 103s and 104s, I do give ibuprofen to help bring it down a degree or two to a manageable level.

If ibuprofen isn’t effective, I will then alternate with acetaminophen every 2.5-3 hours depending on how long the temperature holds.

Indian Home Remedies for Fever

Cooled Salt Water With Onion

One onion, grated or finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
Cold water

Add one teaspoon of salt to a medium sized bowl filled with cool water. Take two tea towels or wash cloths and submerge them in the water. Wring them out so they are damp but not dripping.

Fold half of the grated onion inside one of the cloths, and the other half of the onion in the other.

Place one cloth across the forehead and one over the belly button. Dampen the cloth again as often as needed.

“Feed a Fever, Starve a Cold”

Likely, you’ve heard this phrase growing up or from your grandparents. This is among the very first recommendations you will receive from an Ayurvedic practitioner is to stop eating and begin a short-term fasting period.

For those who are strong enough to go without eating, the person who has fallen ill should refrain from ingesting any food for as long as the acute fever period lasts. Drink water or clear broth only.

In compromised people or those who can’t go without eating as is true in pregnancy and diabetics, recommendations are to consume water, fruit juice, and herbal teas until the fever begins to break.

It is strongly believed that milk and dairy products will worsen the fever and promote the onset of diarrhea unrelated to the core illness.

Cilantro Juice

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Cilantro juice is among the easiest remedies to whip up. The herb is readily available in cool weather gardens and almost all grocery stores.

You’ll need:

Handful of fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup filtered water
Fine mesh strainer

Add the cilantro leaves and water to a blender. Pulse until it is blended into a fine mixture. Strain out the cilantro pulp. Take 1 tablespoon of the liquid three times daily to reduce the fever.

Lemongrass, Holy Basil, Fennel Tea

Add each component in equal parts. Use 2 tablespoons herb mixture to 4 cups water

Steep herbs in a quart sized mason jar filled with 4 cups of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain the herbs, allow the tea cool to a temperature that is still hot but comfortable for drinking. Add honey or agave syrup as a sweetener, if desired.

This tea is a diaphoretic and will help you sweat to bring down the temperature of the fever.

Coriander, Cinnamon, and Ginger Tea

Ground coriander – 2 parts
Ground cinnamon – 2 parts
Ground ginger – 1 part

Steep one teaspoon of the above spice blend in a mug of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Add honey as a sweetener, if desired and drink. Drink one cup often throughout the day until the fever begins to subside.

Avoid Cold Drinks

Despite what you would think, when the body is fighting a fever, it is best not to consume anything that is cold. The vast difference in temperature becomes difficult to absorb and can pass through the body instead of hydrating by way of diarrhea or vomiting.

Any hot tea (or at least room temperature) like the herbal teas mentioned above and others used for cold and flu will help to ignite the body’s digestive fire to remove the toxins from circulation. Per Ayurvedic beliefs, once the toxins (ama) are burned out, the temperature will come back down to normal.

A Smaller Note About Acetaminophen:

I am 99.9% of the time in the camp of not giving acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol or Paracetamol depending on what part of the world you’re from) to children, especially boys under the age of 12.

In situations of true illness, it is wise to initiate a risk/benefit response and accept that administering acetaminophen for the purposes of relieving a 104F overnight temperature is not going to cause permanent damage or autism.

The studies that have spread like wildfire across social media last year mostly were based on repeated administration of the medication in toddlers to quell pain from teething, as well as children of mothers who relied on Tylenol in excessive amounts for aches and pains during their pregnancies. Do your research and follow your instincts for what you feel is appropriate.