Home Remedies for Dengue Fever

5 minutes read.    

 

In this article:

Causes

Symptoms

Home Remedies for Dengue

Conclusion

Overview

Dengue is a well-known disease that can be fatal. Dengue is spread by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus.  Dengue virus is mostly found in tropical and subtropical places worldwide, including parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean and Central and South America.

Dengue is not transmitted from person to person. However, it can be transmitted from pregnant mothers to their children. (1)

Knowing the signs and symptoms of dengue might help with early detection and fast recovery. Continue reading to learn the basic facts and tell-tale signs of dengue.  (2)

 If you suspect that you or someone around you might be suffering from dengue, reach out to your healthcare provider immediately. Timely intervention can help you recover quickly. 

This article tells you causes, common symptoms and eight home remedies you can use to suppress dengue fever infection

What Causes Dengue

Dengue is caused by a virus called Dengue virus. This virus enters the human blood through the bite of mosquito.

The mosquito carries the virus in its saliva. The virus starts to multiply after entering your blood. Finally, the virus along with the immune system’s response make you feel sick. (3, 4, 2)

Symptoms of Dengue-

In most cases, one might not experience any symptoms of dengue fever. However, high fever is the most common symptom of dengue.

Other possible symptoms of dengue include

  • Intense pain behind the eyes
  • Rash 
  • Nausea or vomiting 
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • One might start experiencing the symptoms only four to ten days after the mosquito bite. These symptoms may last for three to seven days. (2, 1, 5)

Home Remedies for Dengue

Here are some remedies you can use at home to take care of your symptoms. 

1. Neem 

Neem leaf extract could stop the growth of the dengue virus in lab studies conducted on animals. Therefore, you may use neem leaves to help suppress your infection. 

Boil some fresh neem leaves in water. Drinking this water may help you recover quickly from dengue fever. You can also squeez some Neem fresh leaf in clean water and drink the juice.

To make neem juice, grind some fresh leaves with a cup of water. Strain this liquid in a cup and your juice is ready. You can add some honey or lemon juice to taste.   (6, 7 , 8 )

2. Papaya

Papaya leaves have been used for the treatment of dengue fever. It is recommended to bring down fever in dengue in traditional medicine. The ability of papaya leaves to treat dengue has been investigated.

The results showed that papaya leaf could help increase the platelet count, white blood cells and neutrophils in people. Increased platelet count could help prevent the bleeding, thereby preventing the progression of the disease.

 You can consume papaya leaf juice to help with the fever and restore normal platelet count. The juice is prepared by grinding fresh papaya leaves with a cup of water. Strain the liquid in a cup and papaya juice is ready to use.  (10, 11 , 12)

3. Kalmegh 

Kalmegh, also known as Andrographis peniculata, is a medicinal herb effective in a range of disease conditions. For example, in lab trials, an extract of kalmegh showed antiviral activity against the dengue virus.

Therefore, you may use kalmegh to prevent the condition from getting worse.2 You can drink kalmegh juice with a glass of water to relieve dengue symptoms.  (13, 14 , 15)

4. Dudhi 

Asthma weed, scientifically known as Euphorbia hirta, (the Hindi call it Dudhi) is an essential medicinal herb with many beneficial properties. It may help with dengue fever and increase the platelet count in people suffering from Dengue.

To use dudhi, you need to boil the paste of Dudhi leaf in water. Reduce the water to 1/4th of its volume and consume as necessary.(16, 17 , 18 )

5. Guduchi 

Tinospora cordifolia commonly named as “Guduchi” in Sanskrit belonging to family Menispermaceae is known for its immense application in the treatment of various diseases in the traditional ayurvedic literature

Guduchi is a common herb used as a remedy for many health conditions. Guduchi is known to boost the immune response and fight off viral infections in humans.

You can drink Guduchi juice daily to help with the symptoms of dengue. Guduchi juice is made by blending freshly chopped Guduchi with a glass of water into a smooth consistency. Strain the blended mixture to remove any solids and your Guduchi juice is ready.  (19 , 20, 21)

6. Golden eye- grass

Golden eye grass or Kalimusli is a medicinal herb effective in many conditions. The roots and rhizomes of kalimusli are used in many disease conditions. Its use may boost the immune response. You can take kalimusli powder with milk to help fight off infection.(23, 24 , 25 )

7. Karela 

Momordica charantia, known as karela in Hindi and bitter melon in English, possesses many health benefits. Karela extract showed inhibitory action against the multiplication of dengue virus in lab studies.

You can use karela as a vegetable and use it in foods and dishes. You can also make karela juice to help with dengue. To make karela juice, peel the skin, chop it into pieces, add a glass of water and blend this mixture.

Once it’s blended, strain the liquid. You can add more water to balance the taste, and your karela juice is ready.  (26, 27 , 28 )

8.  Tulsi 

Ocimum sanctum, known as Tulsi in Hindi, is an aromatic herb native to tropical regions of Asia. Tulsi leaves have been used to prevent dengue fever traditionally. The inhibitory action of Tulsi leaves against the dengue virus has been observed in lab studies.

For making tulsi tea, boil few fresh tulsi leaves in water.  Let it simmer for a while and strain it in a cup. You can add a few drops of lemon juice or a teaspoon of honey for taste.   (29, 30, 31)

Though some studies show the benefits of the herbs and home remedies in Dengue, these are insufficient. Therefore, there is a need for large-scale human studies to establish the true extent of the benefits of these home remedies on human health. 

Thus, if you want to try home remedy for dengue fever, please take caution and don’t replace or mix with already existing medical treatment to avoid interaction.

Talk to your health care professional about the home remedy you’re taking.

When should you see a doctor?

You need to contact your healthcare specialist if you experience any symptoms of dengue. 

However, you need to contact your nearest hospital or healthcare provider immediately1 if you notice any signs of dengue worsening, such as:

  • Frequent vomiting 
  • Stomach pain
  • Blood in vomit or stool
  • Bleeding gums or nose
  • Extreme fatigue, restlessness and irritation

It would be best if you did not rely on home remedies alone for dengue treatment. Instead, you should consult a qualified doctor for advice on the condition if the symptoms do not improve with home remedies. 

Conclusion

Dengue is an infectious disease spread through mosquito bites. If not treated in time, dengue can progress to a severe form of infection, which can be fatal.

There are some herbs like kalmegh, tulsi, neem, papaya leaves, dudhi and guduchi that you can use to relieve your symptoms at home. However, these herbs should not be used as an alternative to medical treatment provided by the doctor.

If you or someone around you is suffering from dengue, reach out to your healthcare provider immediately. Taking timely treatment and precautions can help prevent the infection from getting worse.

I hope you get the value worth your time. I appreciate the time you spend with me. Leave a comment if you find this post helpful. Have you treated dengue fever with any of these above-mentioned herbs?

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

The content provided in living Good Blog is for informational and educational purpose only. It’s not intended to provide medical advice or take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal doctor. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Living Good Blog takes no responsibility for possible health consequences of any person(s) reading or following the information in this educational content. Viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over the counter medication, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

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