Here is something helpful I do with my son.
If my son gets a higher fever than normal, closer to 103 or 104, I have used the “Lemon Wrap” to help lower the fever.
You’ll need a lemon, hot water, a pair of adult cotton socks, a pair of adult wool socks, and some rubber or latex gloves. The following needs to be applied to warm feet. If the feet are cool to the touch, first warm them up with a warm blanket or hot water bottle.
Follow these steps:
- Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a pan.
- Add ½ to 1 C water and heat to almost boiling.
- Soak a pair of adult cotton socks in this hot lemon juice.
- Wring socks well. Wear gloves to protect your hands from the heat.
- After socks cool slightly, put them on child’s feet, pulling up over calves.
- Place a pair of dry adult wool socks over wet socks so child’s feet and legs will not get chilled.
- Cover child with blanket.
- Apply no more than three Lemon Wraps in a 24 hour period. It is very likely that you will see the temperature come down, at least a few degrees, sometimes more. The Lemon Wrap does this by pulling inflammation away from the head. My son often sleeps better after applying the wrap.
Most schools make it clear that if a child has a fever, keep them home. But what happens when the fever is brought down either through the use of medication or through more natural means? If the child doesn’t have a fever, then it must be okay to send them to school, right? Many experts believe that in this scenario, the child is still contagious. And, if they go back to school too early, they do not have the restful opportunity to let their immune system strengthen by doing its job. If at all possible, keep your children home until you see all their systems return to normal.
