

2. Give the child herbal water with mint and cinnamon
Star Basil, also known as Star Anise Basil, Thai Basil, or Thai Honeymoon... The scientific name of Star Basil is Ocimum basilicum, belonging to the Lamiaceae Mint family. This is a perennial herb, with smooth stems and sometimes hairy, usually branching from the base and reaching a height of about 50-60cm. The opposite leaves have a long, tapering blade, with green or very pale blackish-purple color. The small white or slightly purple flowers grow in branching clusters. The fruit contains shiny black seeds. Star Basil is widely cultivated in tropical countries and is used as a spice, refreshing beverage, and in traditional Chinese medicine.
In traditional Chinese medicine, Star Basil has a spicy taste, a warm nature, and is effective in calming the mind, reducing stress, treating fever, and alleviating depression. Additionally, when a child has a mild fever, mothers can prepare Star Basil water for them to drink, which will quickly relieve the child's fever symptoms. Clean 20 Star Basil leaves, then boil them with 200ml of water and 1 teaspoon of finely chopped ginger. Simmer on low heat until the water reduces to only a small bowl, then turn off the heat. Strain and discard the residue, then mix the water with 1 teaspoon of honey. Administer this evenly to the child 2-3 times a day for continuous consumption over 3 days to reduce the child's fever.


3. Utilize Water Massage
Typically, parents tend to feel concerned about their baby's health when facing high fever. Using fever-reducing medication is a common approach for mothers, but it must be done correctly and in the right dosage. Incorrect usage can lead to dangerous complications for the child. In reality, a body temperature between 37.1°C - 38.4°C is considered a mild fever, so mothers should not overly worry because this range is safe for children and stimulates the immune system. Mothers should only use fever-reducing medication when the child's temperature is 38.5°C or higher.
If the room has air conditioning, parents can set the temperature between 27 - 28°C! Prepare a soft cotton towel and a bowl of lukewarm water. Additionally, add a chamomile tea bag or a few drops of essential oil suitable for children. Undress the baby and place them on the towel. Dip mom's hand into the water and gently massage in a heart-shaped motion from the chest to the abdomen. Continue using a hand to dip into the massage water and stroke along the baby's arms and legs. Repeat several times until the baby feels less feverish.


4. Drink Smartweed Water
Smartweed plant belongs to the herb family, asteraceae, with gray roots and a height ranging from 20 - 40cm. The stem is green or purple-red, densely covered in stiff hairs, and the small flowers are white, with a cool taste and a sweet flavor. Smartweed plants grow in various regions of countries such as Vietnam, India, China, Thailand, etc. They thrive along bushes, canals, and field edges throughout the central and delta regions. Smartweed can be used in dried or fresh form. One of its benefits is reducing fever in children. It is effective for mild fevers caused by common colds or dengue fever. However, if the fever exceeds 39 degrees, it is advisable to give the child fever-reducing medication and seek medical attention to ensure safety.
To make the remedy for reducing fever with smartweed, harvest both the stem and leaves, discard damaged parts, and then wash thoroughly with water 3 - 4 times, avoiding crushing the plant. Subsequently, soak the smartweed in diluted saltwater for about 3 minutes. Remove and drain, then grind it in a mortar to a smooth consistency. Mix the finely ground mixture with boiled and cooled water, filter through a strainer to remove residue. For children with mild fevers, administer three times a day, one tablespoon each time. If the child has difficulty swallowing, a little sugar can be added, and for coughing children, a few grains of table salt can be included. The filtered residue can be divided and applied to the forehead, armpits, and groin to help reduce the child's body temperature.


5. Aloe Vera Massage
We often know about the benefits of aloe vera for beauty. Besides, aloe vera is also effective in quickly reducing fever in small children. Mothers can apply the gel inside aloe vera gently on the child's body, on the feet, hands, forehead, or back. Then, massage gently. The gel will provide a comfortable, cool sensation, helping the child's body temperature drop quickly and the fever to subside. Aloe vera is not only a refreshing drink but also has the ability to quickly, effectively, and safely lower body temperature. Therefore, you can easily do this at home with the simplest method.
According to the Biletung Nursing Journal, when children have a fever, cooling is a basic and easy action to help lower their temperature. Specifically, cooling with aloe vera is considered a highly effective method. In research involving control groups (over 40 children), the results showed that after aloe vera cooling, the body temperature of the children decreased more than with warm water cooling. Additionally, aloe vera is listed among the 32 plant species with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat fever and malaria.


6. Hydrate Your Child
Fever, especially high fever, easily leads to dehydration, and timely intervention is crucial for health. The higher the fever, the more the body loses water, causing fatigue and susceptibility to weakness. This is explained by the body's self-protective mechanism during fever, which involves lowering the temperature through rapid breathing, sweating, and quick evaporation of moisture from the skin. At that time, it is evident that patients need to replenish a significant amount of water to compensate for the loss caused by the aforementioned mechanisms.
One of the simplest and quickest ways to help a child reduce fever is continuous hydration. For very young babies breastfeeding, encourage them to breastfeed more frequently or increase the milk amount for formula-fed babies. For those eating solid food, explore delicious and nutritious baby food recipes to entice them and speed up recovery. Additionally, parents can provide the child with water-replenishing and electrolyte-balancing products such as oral rehydration solutions and hydrites. This helps replenish fluids, detoxify the body, and aids in a faster fever reduction for the child.


7. Steam for the Baby
Steaming can be considered a traditional method that has been used for a long time, yet it brings unexpected effectiveness. During steaming, the body regulates temperature by releasing sweat controlled by the nervous system. Steaming helps dilate blood vessels, detoxify, and even lower blood pressure. The traditional tool used for steaming is a steamer pot. When hot steam rises from the steamer pot, it stimulates blood circulation, releases heat through sweat glands, thereby reducing discomfort and fever.
Pour hot water into a bathtub or a large basin and add a spoonful of eucalyptus or benzoin oil. The bathroom must be tightly closed to prevent steam from escaping. Hold the baby in your arms or let them sit on a towel-covered floor. Wrap a bath towel around the baby, without wearing clothes. The baby will sweat a lot. The steam with added oil will penetrate the baby's skin as they breathe it into their lungs. This method will help the baby reduce fever quickly.


8. Dress Your Baby in Cool, Loose-Fitting Clothes
Amidst all the challenges of the motherhood journey, having a fever is perhaps one of the biggest fears when taking care of the little one. Many mothers seek ways to quickly reduce fever without using medication to avoid side effects, unknowingly putting their child at risk. Some mothers fear their child getting cold when feverish, so they dress them too warmly, with long sleeves, socks, and blankets. This inadvertently raises the child's body temperature even higher. Thick layers of fabric will hinder the natural process of reducing body heat. Therefore, one of the ways to quickly reduce fever without medication is to dress the baby in loose and cool clothing or just a shirt and diaper to avoid overheating.
If the child has a fever but still eats, plays, and urinates normally, there is no need for medication. At this time, parents just need to dress the child in loose, cool clothes to release excess heat from the body. Although the child may feel cold when feverish, wrapping them in multiple layers of thick fabric is not an effective way to reduce fever. Thick layers of fabric will hinder the natural process of reducing body heat. Absolutely avoid over-wrapping the child, let them lie down, play in a well-ventilated place, avoid confined and humid areas. Instead, parents should dress the baby in breathable clothing, use a thin blanket to allow heat to easily escape. The room should be well-ventilated, not too enclosed.


9. Administering Fever-Reducing Medication for Children
Some parents are quite concerned about using medication for their children; however, when the child has a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius, it is advisable to give them fever-reducing medication because other measures may not be truly effective. Allowing the child to have a prolonged fever can lead to seizures and various complications. Paracetamol in the form of packets or syrup is an easy-to-use fever-reducing medication, with a quick and effective fever-reducing action. It typically works within 30 minutes and lasts for 4 - 6 hours with minimal side effects. Administer the correct dosage for the child, which is 10 - 15mg/kg of body weight per dose, repeat every 4 hours if the fever persists. Administer the medication to the child 3 - 4 times a day, with a maximum total dose not exceeding 60mg/kg of body weight per day.
In addition, Acetaminophen can also help reduce fever in children. However, the dosage for infants and young children depends on weight and age. Consult a pediatrician before giving any medication to your child. Read the usage instructions on the packaging carefully and use specialized measuring devices to ensure the accurate amount of medication for the child. Do not overuse fever-reducing medication; mild fever in children does not require medication.


10. Supplementing Vitamin C and Calcium for Children
Indeed, children have an incomplete immune system, making them susceptible to frequent illnesses and fevers. Parents cannot hide their worry when they notice their child's health is not optimal. However, you should not administer medication to your child without the consent of a doctor. Firstly, you need to rely on the body temperature to determine if the baby is having a fever or not. Usually, if the temperature is 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, the child is considered to have a fever. Depending on the temperature range, it is categorized as mild, moderate, or high fever. Regardless of the condition, parents should monitor and learn how to reduce the fever for their child.
Ensuring the child has a well-balanced diet and supplementing essential nutrients is an effective way to reduce fever at home. Parents should pay attention to supplementing calcium and vitamin C for the child as these are two substances that help the child reduce fever and recover quickly. Vitamin C enhances the child's immunity, combating disease-causing agents. Supplementing vitamin C for the child through daily food intake with vitamin C-rich fruits such as grapefruit, orange, and tangerine will help the child reduce fever quickly. Calcium supports and accelerates the recovery process. Parents can supplement calcium for the child by encouraging them to eat dishes made from fresh fish, vegetables, and oats…


11. Use Basil Leaves to Reduce Fever in Children
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, basil leaves are a familiar remedy widely used in herbal prescriptions. According to PSG.TS.Trần Công Khánh - Director of the Center for Research and Development of Traditional Medicine, basil leaves are classified as dispersing and resolving, with a spicy taste, warm nature, and having an effect on the lung and spleen meridians. It treats diseases by inducing sweating, resolving congestion, and reducing fever. Additionally, basil leaves stimulate digestion, and the stems and branches help with coughs, asthma, and maintaining pregnancy.
Basil leaves are a type of plant with many health-beneficial essential oils, providing pain relief, reducing fever, and relieving congestion effectively and quickly. For infants under 6 months, it is not recommended to give them directly basil leaf water. Instead, mothers should consume it and breastfeed their babies to receive the beneficial compounds from basil leaves, helping the child reduce fever. For older children, mothers should give them small amounts at a time and monitor for any discomfort or unusual symptoms before continuing.


12. Reducing Fever with Watercress and Mugwort
Watercress and mugwort are among the traditional plants that effectively support fever reduction, especially easily accessible in daily life and beneficial for health. According to modern medical research, watercress contains decanoyl-acetaldehyde, an antibiotic substance. Therefore, watercress has antibacterial, cooling, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory properties, enhances the body's immune system, helping children relieve symptoms and reduce fever effectively. When a child has a fever, take a small amount of watercress, crush it, wrap it in a small piece of cloth, then apply it to the child's forehead for 30 minutes and wipe it clean with warm water afterward.
Additionally, mugwort contains active ingredients such as cineol, dehydro matricaria ester, tricosanol, tetradecatriene, which help effectively fight bacteria and reduce pain. Take 300g of mugwort, 100g of tarragon, and 100g of grapefruit leaves, boil with 2 liters of water for 20 minutes. Then, let the child inhale the mixture for 15 minutes to treat flu, cough, and sore throat. When the child's fever is not too high, up to 38.5°C, mothers can apply natural fever-reducing remedies for their children without medication using the mentioned ingredients!


