Plants are used to obtain essential oils. Numerous essential oil varieties have medical and restorative qualities, according to research.
Essential oils are used in the aromatherapy process to treat certain sickness symptoms.
Even some essential oils can assist in lowering a temperature.
They might support the immune system’s defense against the disease or infection producing the fever.
They are unable to treat infections or bring down fevers, though. You might require antibiotics or fever-reducing drugs to receive the correct care.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ Pure essential oils shouldn’t be applied to the skin directly.
✅ Never use essential oils close to your eyes since they can irritate them.
✅ The body’s hormones may change as a result of several essential oils.
✅ Essential oils can have negative effects on some people, including allergic skin reactions.
Which essential oils are effective at lowering a fever?
Numerous essential oils offer defense against fungal and bacterial diseases. Some of them are also antiviral.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has the strongest antibacterial effect when compared to cloves, cardamom, and cumin, according to a 2013 study.
According to a 2019 study, cinnamon essential oil proved efficient against salmonella in the lab and may aid your body in battling bacterial illnesses. Facilitating your body’s faster removal of bacteria may assist to lessen the symptoms of a fever.
Several different natural antibiotics are present in cinnamon essential oil. Even bacteria that are difficult to treat with antibiotics could be resistant to it.
Peppermint
Menthol is a component of peppermint essential oil. The primary component of cough medicines and balms like Vicks VapoRub is this natural substance. Additionally, peppermint’s flavor and “chill” sensation when tasted and odored come from menthol.
When you have a fever, peppermint essential oil can assist cool the skin and body. According to a 2018 study, applying menthol to the skin causes the body to become cooler.
This is why menthol-infused cold and flu ointments are frequently applied to the chest and back. Additionally, peppermint oil has been demonstrated to lessen possible illness-related nausea and vomiting.
Lavender
Sleeping difficulties and a lack of sleep are both caused by fevers. For better sleep, lavender essential oil is frequently utilized.
In a 2014 study, lavender oil was tested on patients receiving medical care in a hospital. It was shown that lavender oil helps to moderately drop blood pressure when sleeping, promoting deeper, more restorative sleep.
Lavender oil may aid to relax the nervous system, according to another study. This may enhance your quality of sleep and lessen some of your anxiety and depression symptoms. Medical research has found that lavender oil may be as effective at treating symptoms as some pharmaceutical medications.
Ginger
As a digestive aid, ginger root, which is regarded as a spice, is frequently added to dishes and beverages.
It safeguards the stomach and intestines and aids in easing digestion. According to a review, ginger also lessens bodily inflammation. Inflammation may start or get worse during a fever.
Fever and inflammation both raise body temperature. A massage with diluted ginger oil may help decrease temperature and ease other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches by reducing inflammation.
Tea tree
Your body can fight infection with the aid of tea tree oil, according to research. Terpenes are active chemical antibacterial agents. They might also combat the fungi that cause dandruff on the scalp and hair.
Tea tree oil also has anti-inflammatory qualities. Tea tree oil was found to be effective at reducing the discomfort, redness, irritation, and edema associated with allergic skin reactions in a study conducted in 2016.
Fever may be decreased by reducing inflammation on the surface and throughout the body.
Eucalyptus
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving qualities of eucalyptus essential oil may aid in lowering a fever. It might also aid your body’s defenses against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections.
According to laboratory experiments, eucalyptus oil has the ability to eliminate a number of human pathogens. These include bacteria that cause strep throat and E. coli stomach infections, as well as various bacteria and fungi that cause yeast infections.
By removing lung and nasal congestion, eucalyptus oil may also aid in the relief of fever symptoms. It can aid in the body’s clearing of excess mucus and phlegm. This facilitates breathing and soothes coughs and runny noses.
Frankincense
Antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects are present in frankincense oil. Inflammatory illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from a decrease in pain and swelling.
Frankincense may also cure various ailments that can raise a fever, including those that do, especially if there is additional bodily inflammation. This essential oil can aid in reducing mucus buildup in the nose, throat, and lungs because it also functions as an expectorant. This could assist with the following symptoms: bronchitis, asthma, nasal congestion, the flu, and colds.
According to studies, the substance alpha-pinene found in frankincense may aid your immune system in eliminating some cancerous cells.
How to treat a fever using essential oils
There are numerous applications for essential oils. Pure essential oils shouldn’t be applied to the skin directly. Prior to application, always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil such as almond, sesame, or olive oil.
Never use essential oils close to your eyes since they can irritate them. Observe the label’s instructions while using essential oils.
You could try what follows:
- add a few drops to a diffuser
- add a few drops to your bath
- use a few drops in a massage
- dd a few drops to a large bowl of hot water for steam inhalation; or
- inhale essential oils by sniffing the bottle directly or by adding a few drops to a cotton ball, handkerchief, or pillow before you go to bed.
Most blends need to be diluted in carrier oil by 1 to 5 percent.
Children’s essential oils
Strong active compounds can be found in essential oils. Never allow your child to consume essential oils, and consult your doctor before usage.
The body’s hormones may change as a result of several essential oils. For instance, if taken excessively, lavender oil and tea tree oil may induce the formation of breast tissue in young boys.
Side effects and safety measures
If essential oils aid in reducing illness and fever symptoms in the body, further study is required. Additionally, it is unknown how long they should be used and at what dosage of essential oils.
Essential oils can have negative effects on some people, including allergic skin reactions, as they are more concentrated and strong than the plants from which they are derived.
By increasing your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, using them can also cause your skin to burn more quickly outside. Additionally, essential oils and other prescription and over-the-counter medicines may interfere.
What are the signs of a fever?
If your temperature is higher than 98.6°F (37°C), you may have a fever. Additionally, you can have goosebumps.
- shivering; skin flushing or redness; and sweating
- Pains and aches
- Headaches; a lack of appetite; thirst; exhaustion; and weakness
When should I go and see my doctor?
Severe disease may be indicated by a fever. Babies, small children, elderly persons, and those with weakened immune systems might require rapid medical attention.
If a fever is not treated, it may cause serious problems. Babies that have a very high fever may get febrile seizures.
Consult a physician if your child is younger than 3 months old and has a fever higher than 100.4°F (38°C); your child is older than 3 months but younger than 2 years old and has a fever higher than 102°F (38.8°C) for more than three days; you are an adult and have a fever higher than 103°F (39.4°C); and your fever is accompanied by excruciating pain, shortness of breath, or a stiff neck.
In conclusion
Essential oils may relieve the symptoms of a fever. However, they are unable to cure illnesses on their own; you could still require medical care. A fever may indicate a severe disease or infection. Complications may result, especially in young children and elderly people. Immediately consult a doctor if you have any worries.
Fever symptoms should not be disregarded.