Herbal Action: Antipyretic

Also called: febrifuge

fever reducer

Antipyretic herbs are used to reduce fevers, assisting the body through the fever process rather than suppressing it outright.

What they do:

• Reduce fevers

• Assist the body's own fever response

How they're used:

Often taken as a hot tea, since warmth helps encourage the sweating response that supports fever reduction.

When to consider them:

High or prolonged fevers.

Note: Diaphoretic and antipyretic herbs are often combined or used together as the diaphoretic action provides the mechanism, and the antipyretic effect is the result. Though not every diaphoretic is used specifically for fever, and some fever-reducing herbs work through other means, such as anti-inflammatory action, rather than sweating.

Herbs

• Boneset

• Catnip

• Dandelion

• Hyssop

• Joe Pye weed

• Peppermint

• Shepherd's purse

• White willow

• Yarrow