Conventional Treatment
Acetaminophen (found in Tylenol, Tempra, and other over-the-counter medications) is a drug that helps to lower fever. Acetaminophen is also an analgesic, so it eases the discomfort and body aches that accompany a fever. It is available in liquid or pill form, as well as in suppository form for infants.
Note: In excessive amounts, this drug can cause liver damage. Be careful not to exceed the correct dosage for your child's age and size.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, and others) is another fever-reducing medication that relieves mild to moderate aches and pains. When giving your child ibuprofen, be sure to give it with food to prevent an upset stomach. Ibuprofen is available in liquid or pill form. Follow dosage directions on the product label.

Do not give aspirin to a child with a fever. Many fevers are caused by viral infections, and the combination of aspirin and viral illness has been linked to the development of Reye's syndrome, a progressive and very dangerous liver disease.

Dietary Guidelines
Generous amounts of fluids are essential to prevent dehydration. Keep a feverish child well hydrated. Offer fruit-juice popsicles, spring water, herbal teas, soups, and diluted fruit juices.

Nutritional Supplements
For age-appropriate dosages of nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Herbs and Nutritional Supplements.

Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties and is helpful in resolving a fever associated with a minor infection. Select powdered mineral ascorbate vitamin C with bioflavonoids. For a child six years of age or older, give one dose, every two hours, for a total of four doses.

Herbal Treatment
For age-appropriate dosages of nutritional supplements, see Dosage Guidelines for Herbs and Nutritional Supplements.

Brew a fever-reducing herbal tea to help decrease chills and increase perspiration.

Use equal parts of some or all of the following lemon balm leaf, chamomile flower, peppermint leaf, licorice root, and elder flower. Lemon balm and elder flower are soothing and promote perspiration; chamomile calms and relaxes; peppermint cools a fever; licorice sweetens the tea and enhances the effects of the other herbs. To improve the flavor, you can sweeten the tea with a bit of honey. If you are using peppermint in the tea and also giving your child a homeopathic preparation, allow one hour both before and after administering the homeopathic and giving this tea Give a child over two years of age 1/2cup of tea, four times daily, for one day. For a breastfed baby, a nursing mother can take 1 cup, four times daily, for one day; the healing properties of the tea will be passed to her baby in her breast milk The tea should be taken as hot as possible.
Caution: Never give tea with honey in it to a child less than one year old. Honey has been associated with infant botulism, which can be life threatening.

JANET ZAND, O.M.D., L.Ac. is a nationally respected author, lecturer, practitioner and herbal products formulator whose work has helped thousands of people achieve better health....more