Oh fevers. Uncomfortable, depleting, and maybe even a little scary. But did you know that a fever is a beautiful thing?? It may not feel like it, but having a fever is a good thing. A fever is a natural defense that the body provides against infection – it's your body's way of taking care of things! Fevers are generally harmless and are a sign that your immune system is working properly and that the body is trying to heal itself. But that doesn't mean we don't want to be comfortable and feel soothed when we have them!

FAVORITES FOR ALL THINGS FEVER

• Peppermint & Lemon essential oils: cooling and calming to the mind and body, soothing in the presence of a fever. Apply to the spine, bottom of the feet. Add to epsom salts for a tepid soak.
• Lavender & Copaiba essential oil: calming and soothing, especially in the presence of inflammation
• NingXia Red, AminoWise, Lavender Lemonade Vitality Drops: for staying hydrated in the presence of a fever.

WHAT IS A FEVER? A fever is simply a high body temperature. It's usually a symptom of an underlying condition, most often an infection. And while a fever can be very uncomfortable, it's often not dangerous, as long as it's not severe.

In general, a fever is considered a body temperature that's higher than normal. While the average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), a normal temperature range is between 97.5°F (36.4°C) and 99.5°F (37.5°C).

Most doctors consider a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) in adults as a sign of a fever. A fever of about 101°F is considered mild and usually doesn't require medication or a doctor's visit.

Normal body temperature can vary with age, general health, activity level and even the time of day. Infants tend to have higher temperatures than older children.

It's normal for our temperatures to be highest between late afternoon and early evening, and lowest between midnight and early morning. Even how much or the type of clothing a person wears, as well as the environment, can affect their body temperature.

FEELING SOOTHED DURING A FEVER When your temperature is elevated, it can make you feel depleted and lethargic, and you sometimes just need a little relief. When this happens, we love to sip on ice cold NingXia Red with AminoWise for hydration and keep ourselves cool with Peppermint & Lemon!!

• Apply Peppermint & Lemon to the feet and spine.
• Drop Lavender onto a cool rag and place it over the forehead and temples.
• Rub Peppermint on the back of the neck.
• Diffuse Peppermint alone or with Lavender and Spearmint.
• Take a tepid bath with immune supporting oils or a drop of Peppermint. Bonus points for diffusing in the bathroom while you soak!
• Drop Peppermint into the belly button.
• Sip on a cold electrolyte drink.

IMMUNE SYSTEM FAVORITES These oils and products are our mainstays when it comes to immune health, which is almost always affected when a fever strikes! Grab a few and build your support cabinet. Use the oils in roller blends (recipes below!), add to bath salts, even diffuse.

Thieves essential oil blend Thieves is THE oil when it comes to immune health. This blend of Clove, Rosemary, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus and Lemon boasts some incredible antimicrobial properties, making it a great choice for supporting the immune system.

Lemon essential oil Lemon is a wonderful natural mucolytic, making it a great choice for both immune and respiratory support! Cleansing and purifying, this citrus oil can help break up things lurking in the chest or around the eardrum.

Frankincense essential oil Frankincense is a powerhouse overall - antioxidants, respiratory support, and immune support! Add this oil to your chest rub, roll it on the spine, around the ears, or add to epsom salts for an immune bath.

Inner Defense softgels Inner Defense uses germ kicking essential oils including Oregano, Thyme, and Thieves to reinforce systemic defenses, promote healthy respiratory function, and offer immune support. These liquid capsules dissolve quickly for maximum results and help the body create an unfriendly terrain for yeast and fungus. For younger children, we love to poke a hole in the capsule and apply it to the bottom of the feet or along the spine.

BLENDS & RECIPES Keeping it Cool Roller Make this roller for easy application to the spine, belly button, bottom of the feet as needed or desired to keep you comfortable during a fever.

• 15-25 drops each Lemon, Peppermint
• Carrier of choice

Immune Boost Roller This blend can be used daily or more acutely as needed. For acute needs, use liberally and frequently. Consider rolling on every minute for 10 minutes, every 10 minutes for an hour and every hour thereafter. Note: for younger children you can cut the recipe in half.

• 20 drops Thieves
• 15 drops Lemon, Purification, Frankincense
• 10 drops Oregano
• Carrier of choice

Immune Boost Bath This is the recipe we swear by for acute immune needs! If you don't have all these oils, use what you have on hand. Feel free to play with the number of drops for a recipe that is exactly what you want! Also, we like to use tepid water in the presence of a fever for even more comfort.

• 15 drops Ravintsara
• 6 drops Frankincense
• 6 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
• 3 drops Dorado Azul
• 2 drops Eucalyptus Radiata
• 1 drop Wintergreen
• Add oils to epsom salt and mix well, then run hot water into the jar of salts/oils and overflow into the tub to mix!

Immune Boost Bath for Kids A more dilute version for the even smaller ones! You can use your judgment here for how much/what you want to include.

• 5 drops Frankincense
• 2 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
• 1 drop Dorado Azul
• 1-2 drops Oregano
• Add oils to epsom salt and mix well, then run hot water into the jar of salts/oils and overflow into the tub to mix!

DILUTION RATIOS FOR KIDS If you're wanting to dilute your oils for younger family members, here are some dilution ratios straight from Young Living! Dilution is something each person or family chooses for what meets their needs and isn't required but is more personal preference.

• Age 0-1: dilute at 1/8 the labeled concentration
• Age 2-6: dilute at 1/4 the labeled concentration
• Age 7-11: dilute at 1/2 the labeled concentration
• Age 12+: full labeled concentration