Fever: the plants traditionally used for comfort, and when to call a doctor

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A rising temperature is the body’s own doing, not an invader. This page sets out what fever actually is, the household gestures that make a feverish evening more bearable, and the four plants — lime flower, elder, willow and calendula — that herbal tradition reaches for. It also spells out, plainly, the moments when no herbal tea will do and a doctor is needed.

What fever is, in plain terms

• An abnormal rise in body temperature, measured with a thermometer, with no effort to explain it.
• Most often the body’s immediate reaction to an infection — a urinary infection, a mild ear infection, a winter virus.
• Common in children and adults alike, and frequently short-lived.
• Often travelling with aches, sore muscles, shivering and trembling.

Conditions it commonly accompanies include:

• broncho-pulmonary complaints;
• gastro-enteritis;
• the flu;
• ENT complaints — rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis.

What these plants are credited with

• Lime flower (basswood) — traditionally given as a bedtime herbal tea to feverish children and adults, with a long-standing reputation for encouraging sweating and settling restlessness.
• Elder flower — in European folk herbalism, elder flower infusion is the classic drink for a sweaty, shivery evening; it is credited with helping the body "flush through".
• White willow bark — known in herbalism as a febrifuge plant, historically the bark chewed or decocted; it is bitter and is normally taken today as tablet or gelcap, under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
• Calendula — decoctions of the flower heads are one of the traditional options handed down for feverish spells, and calendula is also a household favourite for soothing skin.
• Warm drinks generally — naturopathy places the emphasis less on the plant than on the fluid: a hot cup, repeated, keeps a feverish person drinking.

How to use them

Lime flower infusion, the everyday one

• One teaspoon of dried flowers per mug of water, roughly 7 fl oz (200 ml).
• Bring water just off the boil, pour over, cover the mug — the aromatic oils escape with the steam otherwise.
• Infuse 8 to 10 minutes, strain, sweeten with honey if wanted.
• Traditionally taken in the evening, and repeated through the day as a warm drink.

Elder flower infusion

• One teaspoon of dried flowers per mug, covered, 10 minutes.
• Blends well with lime flower, half and half, which softens the muscat note.
• Drink hot, under a blanket, then change out of damp clothes.

Calendula decoction

• A small handful of dried flower heads in a pan of water.
• Bring to the boil, simmer a few minutes, take off the heat, leave covered 10 minutes, strain.
• Bitter and resinous — honey or a slice of lemon helps it down.

Willow bark

• Bitter enough that tablets and gelcaps have largely replaced the decoction.
• Follow the maker’s instructions on the packet, and ask a qualified herbalist or pharmacist what suits your situation before starting.

The non-plant gestures that matter most

• Remove layers of clothing and take off heavy bedcovers.
• Lower the temperature of the room the person is resting in.
• Offer fluids often — broth, water, sweetened drinks, herbal tea.
• Avoid heavy meals.
• Rest, stay out of the cold, and keep exertion to a minimum.
• A cool, damp cloth on the forehead or the back of the neck, renewed as it warms.

Frequently Asked Questions

The one thing to remember: cool the room, strip back the covers, keep the fluids coming — and reserve the lime or elder flower infusion for comfort, not as a substitute for a doctor when the warning signs appear.

At what temperature does it actually count as a fever?

Fever is recorded when body temperature at rest, with no physical exertion beforehand, reaches or exceeds 100.4 °F (38 °C). Normal sits around 98.6 °F (37 °C), though it runs nearer 97.7 °F (36.5 °C) in some people and 99.5 °F (37.5 °C) in others. Below 105.8 °F (41 °C) the fever itself is not dangerous, but above 104 °F (40 °C) a consulting physician must be seen, especially for young children.

Which herbal tea is the gentlest for a feverish child?

Lime flower, also sold as basswood, is the traditional choice: honeyed, mild and easy to drink. Use one teaspoon of dried flowers per mug of water, about 7 fl oz (200 ml), covered for 8 to 10 minutes. Willow bark is not suitable for children. A feverish infant should always be seen by a doctor.

When must I stop and call a doctor?

Straight away if the fever passes 104 °F (40 °C), or if it comes with stiff neck, hypotonia, confusion or delirium, or breathing difficulties — and especially if it has lasted at least 72 hours. Fever appearing soon after surgery, or returning again and again, also calls for prompt medical follow-up.

When should I harvest lime and elder flowers?

Both flower from late spring into early summer, and that is the window for picking. Choose a dry morning after the dew has lifted, dry the flowers flat in the shade rather than in sun, and store them in airtight jars away from light. Replace them once the perfume has gone.

Can I take willow bark alongside my usual medicines?

Not without checking first. Willow contains salicylate compounds, so it is avoided by anyone sensitive to aspirin, anyone on blood-thinning medication, and anyone with a stomach ulcer. Ask a pharmacist, doctor or qualified herbalist before combining it with any regular treatment.

This information is provided for general interest and reflects the traditional use of plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are on medication, pregnant, or in any doubt, ask a healthcare professional.