Antipyretic (Jvarahara, jwarahara) - Foods & Herbs ListCLASSIFICATION OF FOOD, HERBS, & LIFESTYLE

AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE ON ANTIPYRETIC

An antipyretic reduces fever. A distinction must be drawn between herbs which reduce temperature (refrigerant) and herbs which purge a fever (diaphoretics). These antipyretics reduce temperature. The latter can increase the temperature and should be used in low grade fever only. Care should be taken to nourish yourself appropriately while reducing fevers. Sugary food runs the risk of increasing the infection.

Here are some ways fevers were addressed in traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Greek Medicine, and Chinese Medicine

In all fevers

• Antimicrobial
• Reduce high blood sugar
• Clear toxic debris / microbial endotoxins / inflammatory byproducts
  • Diuretic - Clears toxins
  • Laxative - Clears heat in addition to toxin

Onset of Moderate Fever

• Support the fever as a vitalistic healing response, an important part of the body's defense system
• Immune stimulant
• Clear toxic debris with diuretics
• Diaphoretics to open circulation in periphery
  • Warming diaphoretics for low fever
  • Cooling diaphoretics for high fever
  Support circulation
  • Vasodilators
  • Thin blood

Acute High Fever (> 104F/44C) / Prolonged Moderate Fever (>48 / 72 hrs)

• Support liver
  • Heat + Additional toxins puts a strain on the liver
  • Bitters / Cholagogues - Reduce heat but doesn't depress immunity
  • Hepatoprotectives - Aid liver in clearing toxic debris
• When diaphoretics don't work in onset, stronger heat-clearing required
  • Refrigerants / Hypothalamic-antipyretics
  • Clear heat / toxins with laxatives
• Hypersensitive / atopic individuals
  • Immune-calming
• In Full Constitutions (Kapha, Pitta Kapha)
  • Bloodletting
• Damp Heat in Full Constitutions (K)
  • Bitter, astringent, dry, cold, antimicrobial, stops-discharge
  • Clear purulence, fetid, swelling, redness Treatment Strategy - Reducing antipyretics
    • Clear damp heat
    • Bitter, Cold, draining, drying herbs

Subacute / Prolonged Remittent Fever

• Variable temperature
  • => Body trying to resist but Pitta depleted / Yang is weak
  • => Immune system unable to overcome infection
• Diaphoretics - cool exterior
• Stimulate defense immunity

Chronic Low Fevers

• Chronic low fever after a high fever = Exhausted Yang / Pitta
  • Warming diaphoretics & yang tonics (class 8)
  • Immune stimulant
• Low grade fever in Empty Constitution
  • Signs & Symptoms: Chronic or low grade fever in Vata constitution
  • Treatment Strategy: Restorative antipyretics
    Restoring, cooling, sweet, moistening - Class 9 demulcents

Eruptive Fevers

• Signs & Symptoms: Swollen Glands, Lesions, Boils, Abscess,Mastitis, Sores, Appendicitis, etc
• Treatment Strategy: Detoxicant antipyretics
  Typically bitter & cooling
• Reduce swelling - Astringents antipyretics
• Diaphoretics - To bring abscess to a head
• Topical antiseptic
• Immune stimulant

Blood heat (Infectious or Non-infectious)

• Typically involve blood congestion / stasis
  • Obstruction creates heat
  • Infection causes blood congestion where there is inflammation
• Blood decongestants - Astringent (tone tissue), sours (improve blood flow)
  • Wood sorrel. Lady's Mantle, Grapevine leaf, White dead nettle, Rose, Goldenseal root

INGREDIENTS WITH ANTIPYRETIC QUALITY

HERBS & SUPPLEMENTS WITH ANTIPYRETIC QUALITY

OTHER HERB ACTIONS AFFECTING IMMUNE-SYSTEM

HELPFUL FOR*

• Blood and Circulation

  Chronic Fever
  Fever (Current)
  My fevers tend to be high (above 103F, 39.4C)
  My fevers tend to be low (below 102F, 39C)

Antipyretic Recipes Listed By Strength

• Cilantro Jade Soup with Crunchy Cucumber & Lime
• Cilantro Green Drink with Cumin & Salt
• Refreshing Cabbage, Cilantro & Aloe Juice
• Tamarind Cilantro Pickle
• Cilantro Yogurt Lassi with Cucumber & Sugar
• Okra with Coconut Milk
• Fennel Bulb Pesto
• Almond Milk with Saffron & Cardamom
• Cilantro Lime Salsa
• Cream of Rice Soup with Cilantro, Ginger, Garlic & Ghee
• Saffron & Fennel Seed Spice Blend