Introduction to Fever

A fever can be a mild increment in your body temperature to an exceptionally high change in the same. Using a thermometer to read your body temperature shall help you detect any unusual change than the normal reading of 98.6°F (37°C). A fever is usually accompanied by a feeling of discomfort, irritability, infections, cold, and cough.

Viral Fever: Causes and Symptoms

Viral fever is any fever that happens as a result of a viral infection. Viruses are tiny living organisms that spread easily from person to person. The most common ways of getting a viral fever include:

  • Inhalation of infected droplets released during coughing or sneezing by an ill person.

  • Through contaminated foods or drinks. 

  • Through insects and animals that carry viruses.  

Viral fevers can range in temperature from 99°F (37.2°C) to over 103°F (39°C), depending on the underlying virus. General symptoms of viral fever are chills, headache, a feeling of extreme weakness, muscle pain and aches, etc. 

A viral fever, whether mild, moderate, or severe, can be treated with simple ayurvedic remedies. Before we jump into the remedies, let us understand a viral fever from an ayurvedic point of view.

Fever in Ayurveda

In ayurveda, each individual is born with 5 elements of nature which are Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Space. The balance of these elements is known as Dosha. There are 3 main doshas- Vata (energy of movement, composed of space and air), Pitta (digestion and metabolism composed of fire and water), and Kapha (structure and lubrication, composed of water and earth). An imbalance in the above doshas results in illnesses and infections.

Ayurveda describes fever as Jwara roga. An imbalance between kapha and vata dosha leads to the development of a fever. High kapha in the body leads to cold and excess vata reduces the digestive fire because of which you experience chills, indigestion, and fatigue.

Ayurveda suggests simple home remedies to restore the balance of your doshas to treat low-grade to mild fever or viral fever.

Remedies For Viral Fever From The House Of Ayurveda

1. Herbal tulsi kadha (concoction) for viral fever. A high fever generally dehydrates your body inviting inflammatory responses from your body. Your body needs a lot of fluids to keep up with your immune system and what better way to fulfill the hydration requirements than an herbal kadha (ayurvedic drink prepared with several herbs and spices boiled together) of tulsi (basil). 

You can prepare it easily by boiling some tulsi leaves with a pinch of black pepper and jaggery. Consume it while it’s still hot.

Tulsi kadha is a natural immunity booster and can help relieve symptoms of a viral fever such as sore throat and cough. Tulsi has antioxidant, anti inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that will fight off infections and reduce your viral fever.

2. Kudzu root to fight off a viral fever. Kudzu is a well established medicinal plant in ayurveda and its roots help a lot in complimenting your immune system to attack the infestation of germs. It is a climbing vine that belongs to the pea family. 

Kudzu is an age-old traditional remedy for treating fevers in the Chinese culture. You can boil a cleaned kudzu root for fifteen minutes and store it for consumption during the whole day. 

3. Turmeric milk to deal with your viral fever. The favorite herbal remedy of all the Indian mothers out there has to be turmeric milk (haldi ka doodh). And why not? This powerful drink boosts your immunity and helps you heal from terrible infections in a zilch of a moment. 

Turmeric milk, also known as “golden milk” owing to its colour, has anti inflammatory properties that will reduce your nasal congestion, soothe a sore throat, boost immunity and reduce your fever. 

4. Dried ginger powder is another magic ingredient. Ginger is also a therapeutic ingredient to help you up your immunity game. Viral fever is all about your body’s ability to fight off germs and a combination of ginger and turmeric will work wonders to get the job done. 

Besides the above remedies, ayurveda recommends that your overall diet during a viral fever should be light, easy to digest, and full of fluids. Adding spices like cumin, pepper, cinnamon can relieve symptoms of viral fever like coughing, vomiting, increased sinus, and congestion. 

If your fever is persistent for more than 2 days, consult your physician or an ENT specialist to understand if any serious infection is the underlying cause of your viral fever.


Disclaimer: This article is written by the Practitioner for informational and educational purposes only. The content presented on this page should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please "DO NOT SELF-MEDICATE" and seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns. Practo will not be responsible for any act or omission arising from the interpretation of the content present on this page.