How to Induce a Fever

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Fever is part of the human body's natural defences against diseases. An increased body temperature can help destroy invading viruses and bacteria, and it may even help regulate the body's metabolism and hormones. [1] Inducing a fever at home can be risky, so you should exercise great caution if you do so. You may also want to consider increasing your body's standard body temperature without causing an actual fever, since doing so offers many of the same health benefits without the risk. If your internal body temperature rises above around 105° Fahrenheit (40.6° Celsius), you risk heatstroke and damaging important proteins. [2]

Quickest Ways to Get a Fever

Soak in a hot bath or hot tub for 15-20 minutes or exercise on a hot day to raise your core body temperature naturally. To induce a fever with medical assistance, ask your doctor if you can use a medical sauna or hyperthermia unit. Always consult a medical professional when altering your body temperature.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Inducing a Fever With Medical Assistance

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  1. If you decide that you want to try to induce a fever, the first thing you should do is speak to a medical professional. Make an appointment to see your doctor and ask them about how to induce a fever. Your doctor will advise on the potential benefits and dangers of artificially inducing a fever and what your options are. Sometimes drugs induce a fever when they are taken, but this generally is considered an adverse response akin to an allergic reaction. [3]
    • Immunizations, such as those for pneumonia, blood infections, and bacterial meningitis, may induce a fever. [4]
    • The drugs work by increasing metabolism or evoking an immune response. [5] Drug-induced fevers can cause other symptoms as well.
    • Doctors who do use this option might use Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a made from the same bacterium used in the tuberculosis vaccine. [6]
    • If your doctor advises you not to try to induce a fever, listen to them. Do not attempt to induce a fever against your doctor's advice.
  2. Look for a trusted medical center that actively uses fever therapy, like some hospitals or cancer centers. These sources will usually be equipped with an infrared sauna unit, also known as a hyperthermia unit. [7] Follow the instructions provided at the center when using this unit to induce a fever.
    • Warning: Do not attempt to induce a fever or hyperthermia in a recreational sauna without supervision from a medical professional, especially if you have unstable chest pain (angina), poorly controlled high blood pressure, other serious heart issues, low blood pressure, or are over 70. [8]
    • Side effects of excessive heat include dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting, or headache. [9]
    • Medically induced whole-body hyperthermia is most commonly used as a cancer treatment or when certain health conditions prevent you from having surgery. [10] It may be difficult to find trustworthy fever therapy practices outside of these treatment settings. [11]
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  3. As the debate about the potential benefits of fevers continues, some doctors are advising that people limit their use of fever-reducing drugs, such as aspirin. [12] By using these drugs with discretion, you will enable a moderate fever to run its course, which can prompt your body's immunological defences to activate.
    • The endogenous pyrogen hormone will travel to the brain and prompt a rise in your body's temperature. [13]
    • Rapid muscle contractions may also be triggered, which will produce heat. Nerves may constrict outlying blood vessels, resulting in a reduction of heat lost to the environment. [14]
    • The sensation of coldness can prompt you to put on extra layers of clothes or drink hot fluids , which will help to raise your temperature. [15]
    • Warning: Always follow your doctor’s recommendation when deciding whether to “ride out” a fever or take medication.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Increasing Body Temperature at Home

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  1. Sitting in hot water will raise your core body temperature, and research shows there are numerous other health benefits, too. A 15- to 20-minute soak can relieve stress, soothe muscle aches, improve your heart health, lower your blood pressure, and even help improve your sleep. [16]
    • Generally, it’s safe to enjoy a hot bath or tub daily unless you have a seizure disorder like epilepsy, low blood pressure, open cuts or sores, or are impaired from alcohol or drugs.
    • Warning: Do not let the water temperature exceed 104°F (40°C). Enter the tub slowly to avoid burns or a shock to your system.
    • Limit your sessions to 15 or 20 minutes. Leave the tub earlier if you feel too hot or uncomfortable, dizzy, or unwell. [17]
    • Some recommend drinking a hot tea before or during your bath to raise your body temperature from the inside. However, there is little medical research indicating this is safe or necessary.
  2. A specific kind of meditation associated with Tibetan monks has been cited as a way to increase body temperature and potentially induce a fever. Scientific analysis has shown that g-tummo meditation can help raise body temperature to the temperature zone of a slight or moderate fever. The rise in body temperature has been observed during the Forceful Breath vase breathing element of the meditation, and the length of time the temperature can be sustained appears to depend on the neurocognitive element (meditative visualisation) of the meditation. [18]
    • Find an expert instructor and ask them to guide you through the practice.
    • The Forceful Breath “vase” breathing technique can be practiced at home to help regulate your body temperature.
    • Vase breathing is essentially breathing in clean air and then exhaling around 85% of that air. This breathing helps create a vase shape in your lower abdomen. Draw in a long, deep breath, then forcefully and quickly exhale to practice the technique. [19]
    • It can be coupled with visualization, such as picturing flames traveling up your spine.
  3. Exercise and strenuous physical activity increase your core body temperature. Doing a tough workout on a hot day or wearing layers of clothing will make it harder for your body to cool down and lose heat. Your core temperature could rise by a few degrees. [20] You should take care when exercising, or you could induce a number of heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps and heat exhaustion.
    • Some athletes, like wrestlers, wear extra layers of clothes (or even plastic bags) and do cardiovascular activities like running and lifting. These athletes also go into the sauna with this apparel on in order to elevate their body temperatures and lose water weight while flushing out their systems.
    • Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated.
    • Be aware of symptoms of heat illnesses such as dizziness, nausea, heart rhythm problems, and visual problems.
    • If you experience any of these symptoms, stop immediately, cool down, and recover. [21]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Eating Foods that Increase Body Temperature

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  1. A side of brown rice with every meal, or at least with every dinner, can cause your body temperature to rise slightly. As a complex carbohydrate, brown rice gives your digestive system a challenge. The extra work your system uses in the digestive process heats you up inside. Note that other whole grains, like quinoa and buckwheat, can also have a similar effect. [22]
  2. Eat ice cream . Eating one serving of ice cream each day might cause your core temperature to increase as you digest it. Foods that contain fat, protein, and carbohydrates heat up the body more as your digestive system processes them. Since ice cream contains milk fat and sugar, the cooling effect will only last while it’s in your mouth. Once you begin digesting, you may start to heat up. [23]
    • Fat moves especially slowly through your digestive system, forcing your body to warm up as it works more. [24]
  3. Add as little as 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) of cayenne pepper to your food each day. If the heat is too much to handle in one sitting, spread it out by only adding a dash of cayenne pepper to your food at each meal. Cayenne pepper contains an especially hot compound known as capsaicin. This compound is responsible for the initial burst of heat you experience when eating cayenne pepper, but this burst of heat is not responsible for the change in body temperature. [25]
    • The digestive process your body undergoes when processing capsaicin is what causes the spike in your temperature. [26]
    • While it is not certain, jalapeño and habanero peppers may have a similar effect.
  4. Consume more coconut oil . Coconut oil is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) that aids in elevating core body temperature and metabolism. MCTs are known to increase metabolism and enhance weight loss. Instead of being stored as fat, it is converted to energy, thereby increasing body temperature. This may be beneficial to people who have low thyroid function. Further, coconut oil may have antiviral properties and may help people with diabetes stabilize their blood glucose. [27]
  5. Eat more peanuts . Peanuts are a good source of protein and fatty acids. Peanuts also have a lot of niacin. Niacin is a B vitamin that is responsible for respiration and metabolism at the cellular level. When consumed, niacin causes a flushing that leads to an elevation in temperature. [28]
    • Keep in mind that a serving of peanuts only contains about 4 mg of niacin—way below the 30-50 mg needed to cause a true “niacin flush.” [29] However, you may still experience some slight warming.
  6. Eating a thumb-sized piece of raw ginger can give your body temperature a quick spike. If eating it does not appeal to you, though, you could also make a tea by boiling the same-sized piece in water for five to 10 minutes. Ginger increases digestive activity, thereby increasing body temperature. [30]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Does self-induced fever help ward off free radicals?
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.
    Chris M. Matsko, MD
    Family Medicine Physician
    Expert Answer
    An induced fever speeds up metabolism, inhibits the growth of invading microorganisms, and accelerates healing, but does nothing to free radicals.
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      Warnings

      • Even if you plan on a course of home treatment, you should always talk to your doctor before inducing a fever, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions that affect your heart, digestive system, or immune system. [31]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7717216/
      2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20353581
      3. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3522163/
      4. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pneumococcal-vaccine.html
      5. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/basics/explaining-how-vaccines-work.html
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17908-bacillus-calmette-guerin-bcg-treatment
      7. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7372531/
      8. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/hot-baths-and-saunas-beneficial-for-your-heart
      9. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22111-hyperthermia
      1. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17114-hyperthermia-therapy
      2. ↑ https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/hyperthermia
      3. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4703655/#sec3
      4. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/endogenous-pyrogen
      5. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-happening-in-my-body-when-i-have-a-fever
      6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breaking-a-fever
      7. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-hot-tubs
      8. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-hot-tubs
      9. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3612090/
      10. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3612090/
      11. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9694408/
      12. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9013-dehydration
      13. ↑ https://healthland.time.com/2013/06/15/surprising-foods-that-toy-with-body-temperature/
      14. ↑ https://www.msvu.ca/does-ice-cream-really-cool-you-down/
      15. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-long-does-it-take-to-digest-food
      16. ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806140130.htm
      17. ↑ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806140130.htm
      18. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9650104/
      19. ↑ https://www.goodrx.com/niacin/flush
      20. ↑ https://www.goodrx.com/niacin/flush
      21. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6196930/
      22. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/hot-baths-and-saunas-beneficial-for-your-heart

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you need to induce a fever, first speak with your doctor to make sure it’s a good idea. Once your doctor approves it, you can increase your body temperature at home in a variety of ways. For example, take an overheating bath by drinking 1 or 2 cups of hot herbal tea, then submerging yourself in a hot bath for a half hour. Just make sure you get out if you start to feel faint or lightheaded. Besides taking a bath, you can exercise to increase your body temperature. Try doing a tough workout on a hot day or wearing an extra layer of clothing to make it harder for your body to cool down. You can also induce a fever by adding a quarter teaspoon of cayenne to your food each day. Alternatively, eat a serving of brown rice, which will make your digestive system work harder and increase your body temperature in the process. To learn how to induce a fever with a medical sauna, read on!

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