FEVERS… Why I Don’t Use Paracetamol or Ibuprofen

When our body speaks through the language of symptoms, it's wise to listen—and fever is no exception.

Why does our body produce a fever?

It’s not to make us feel worse. Viruses and bacteria struggle to survive in a hot environment—they don’t like it and can’t replicate well in it. When the body recognizes an invader, it raises its temperature to help eliminate it. It’s like your body setting its thermostat higher, going from 37°C to 38.5°C or 39°C. You suddenly feel cold and start to shiver to reach the desired temperature. Once you do, you break into a sweat and start feeling hot.

This process is incredibly important—it naturally kills viruses and bacteria, increases the production of white blood cells, and helps the immune system work efficiently. When you take paracetamol or Nurofen, it’s like placing obstacles in the way of your body’s healing. You’re simply removing symptoms, not addressing the reason they’re there. In fact, you may be helping the infection thrive. The signal your body receives from antipyretics is: “Don’t worry, nothing’s happening, all is fine.” Once the medication wears off, your body has to start the process all over again. It prolongs the infection and weakens the body.

The more you learn to trust your body and let it do its job, the better your immune system responds the next time. Our immune system is like a muscle—if we don’t use it, we lose it. But give it a chance to practice, and it will get stronger.

Change Your Mindset

This doesn’t mean you should suffer. It means that before reaching for a pharmaceutical drug (and yes, there is definitely a time and place for it), pause. Ask yourself:

• What is happening in my body?

• Why do I have a fever or pain?

• What is my body trying to say?

• If I take medication, what am I actually doing to my body—and what am I trying to achieve?

Everything our bodies do is to protect us. They’re not trying to fool us, mess with us, annoy us, or harm us. If you think your body is against you—think again.

Fever and Homeopathy

In homeopathy, when someone says their body produces a very high temperature (39°C and above) during an acute infection, it’s considered a good sign—a strong immune system and a strong vital force at work.

But what happens when the immune system gets weaker and doesn’t “practice” because it’s constantly suppressed by medication? It can lose the ability to produce fever and becomes less effective. You start seeing lingering infections with fevers that barely reach 38°C. The immune system is weak and inefficient. These problems can become chronic.

We must watch for red flags like sepsis, which doesn’t always come with a high temperature. In fact, the body may be so overwhelmed that it doesn’t react properly. Symptoms can include rapid heart rate, mental confusion, vertigo, shivering, and more. Sepsis is dangerous and requires immediate medical attention. If the body goes into septic shock, blood pressure can drop dramatically, organs may be damaged, and it becomes a medical emergency.

Unless there’s a serious reason—like seizures—fever-reducing medication should not be routinely recommended. Even with seizures, medication might not help, as they often result from a rapid increase in temperature rather than the high temperature itself. Seizures can occur at 38.3°C as well as 40.5°C. It’s the speed of the rise that matters—and because it happens so quickly, it’s often not recognized in time to prevent it.

I experienced this with my son when he was little. He was fine, playing as usual. Then, during dinner, he became quiet but said he felt okay. I touched his head and chest—no noticeable heat. But his hands were cold, which made me suspect a fever might be coming. I planned to check his temperature after dinner. Within three minutes, his head tilted back, his eyes rolled, and he started shaking. His temperature was just over 38°C, but the rapid rise triggered a seizure. Thankfully, it was his first and last.

The Pressure to Medicate

Choosing not to give fever medication and waiting instead is one of the hardest things for us parents. We’re constantly told that Calpol or Nurofen are fine—just give them every four hours, or alternate every couple of hours. But what is that doing to the immune system?

When my son had autoimmune neutropenia as a baby, we had to follow a strict protocol. Any fever over 38°C meant an immediate trip to A&E for antibiotics. Autoimmune neutropenia is a condition where the body destroys its own neutrophils—a type of white blood cell that fights bacterial infections (not viral ones). Nine out of ten infections are viral, but we couldn’t take the risk. Without enough neutrophils, a bacterial infection could quickly lead to sepsis.

It was a vicious cycle. Not giving antibiotics was risky, but giving them every time suppressed his immune system, preventing it from “practicing” and growing stronger. I felt powerless. Then I made the best decision ever—I found a homeopath, started constitutional treatment, and began using a homeopathic first aid kit for acute illnesses.

When he had a fever, I waited and used homeopathy. It was bloody hard—part of me was terrified, but another part was determined to break the cycle of endless antibiotics. I took the leap and gave him homeopathy instead. Suddenly, we didn’t need to go to A&E anymore. His immune system got stronger.

Side Benefits, Not Side Effects

Homeopathics don’t have side effects—they have side benefits. Since I started treating acute illnesses homeopathically, our immune systems have become much more robust. When my kids feel unwell, I call it an “immune system upgrade.” I prescribe rest, plenty of sleep and lots of fluids. Very often, that’s all they need.

But if needed, homeopathy is brilliant for fevers. There are many different remedies to choose from. I always say—give the body a chance first - don’t medicate at the first sign of fever. Just wait and let the body do what it does best (especially true for children). But if the temperature is too high, if parents are worried, or if the child needs sleep or comfort, consider these remedies:

• Belladonna – Rapid onset, no sweat, red and hot face, thirstlessness, dilated pupils, fast heartbeat, possible delirium or hallucinations.

• Gelsemium – Slow onset, body aches, heaviness, alternating chills and fever, drowsiness, dullness, thirstlessness.

• Aconite – Rapid onset after exposure to cold or wet conditions, very chilly, dry skin, thirst, restlessness, anxiety or fear (especially worse in the evening).

• Bryonia – Very thirsty for large amounts of water, intense headache, body aches, dry mouth, aggravated by slightest movement, white-coated tongue.

• Arsenicum Album – Fever with marked exhaustion, burning pains, weakness, restlessness, anxiety, thirst for small sips of warm water or tea, possible stomach issues or diarrhea.

And many more.

For more tips on how to self-prescribe, read my blog: Let’s Talk HOMEOPATHIC SELF-PRESCRIBING…

A great book I highly recommend is Homeopathy at Home by Marcus Fernandez, the principal of the Centre for Homeopathic Education (CHE), where I earned my qualification. It’s an easy-to-read, practical guide that helps you find the right remedy for any ailment you want to treat at home.