Common symptoms of fever
are high temperature, headache, muscle ache, burning eyes,
loss of
appetite, coated tongue, excessive production of
saliva, feeling of heaviness and nausea.
Aggravation of one, two or all the three doshas may cause
fever. This aggravation resulting in fever can have many
different sources—it can occur as a result of infection,
because of external injury, insect bite or poisoning. Anything
which disturbs the heat controlling mechanism of the body
can cause fever. Fever can also be a symptom of many conditions,
like bronchitis, pleurisy, tuberculosis, jaundice, malaria,
measles or influenza.
Diet
In all cases of fever, Ayurveda initially advises fasting
so that the aggravated doshas or toxins can be digested.
Proper treatment should involve a diagnosis of the root
cause of the fever. For example, if the cause of fever is
an infection, treatment for the infection should be taken.
Some Home Remedies
- Warm water (half glass) with one tea spoon lemon juice
can be taken 3 to 4 times a day.
- Applying a paste of sandalwood powder on the forehead
of the patient is also beneficial. The paste can be prepared
by mixing a little water in sandalwood powder.
- If the fever goes higher than 102 degree Fahrenheit,
it should be brought down by putting pieces of cloth soaked
in cold water on the forehead, hands, arms and feet. The
cloth pieces should be regularly changed after a few minutes.
- Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in a cup of warm
milk and one teaspoon honey or some other sweetener. Take
this decoction twice a day.
Regimen
A light, easily digestible diet is advised for a patient
suffering from fever. Boiled or steamed vegetables, vegetable
soup, fruit and fruit juices, small quantities of cow milk
can be taken two to three times a day. A special preparation
called khichadi is very good. It is prepared by cooking
together rice and green lentils (mung dal). Spices like
cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, ginger and salt can be
also be added to khichadi. Egg plant, bitter gourd and cooked
radish and barley water is good. Small amounts of whole
grain bread or biscuits can be taken with milk. Heavy foods
that are difficult to digest like fried foods, fast foods,
meat, chicken, fish, and raw foods should be completely
avoided.
The patient should take ample rest. Exposure to extreme
cold or heat, exertion, exercise, mental stress, sexual
activity and any other type of physical activity should
be avoided until the patient regains strength.
|