When your body is exposed to high temperatures, it heats up, causing the internal body temperature to rise up. It happens because the body isn’t able to cool itself enough to keep its temperature within the normal, acceptable, and comfortable range. Our ideal body temperature should be in around 36.9 C or 98.4 F, with room for slight variations. This internal body temperature needs to be maintained for the proper functioning of the body.
The main way your body cools off is by sweating, however, it doesn’t always suffice to bring the temperature down. External factors like extremely hot and humid weather, wearing too tight clothing, strenuous physical exertion, exposure to sun for extended periods of time, neurological disorders, and certain medical conditions like systemic sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, eczema, may either cause or worse the problem of body heat. Although body heat isn’t a disease, per se, it needs to be taken seriously enough to get relief from it. If left untreated, it could potentially develop into a heatstroke, which could end in losing consciousness.
Older adults over the age of 65, young kids, infants, pregnant and nursing moms, and those who are physically unwell are at a higher risk. Headaches, dizziness, dehydration, nausea, increased heartbeats, lethargy, weakness, muscular cramps, and excessive sweating are some of the symptoms of increased body heat.
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Home remedies to reduce body heat
There are a number of ways to reduce body heat, including staying indoors in an air-conditioned room, or moving into the shade, changing out of the tight, non-breathing clothes, and taking a cool shower. Besides these, there are more effective home remedies to reduce body heat, which we will examine here.
1. Aloe vera
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Aloe vera is a natural cooling agent, which helps bring down body heat. It possesses both soothing as well as cooling properties, which help maintain a normal body temperature.
Remedies
- Clean an aloe vera leaf and slice it open to scoop out the fresh gel. Take 2 tablespoons of this fresh gel and use it to make aloe vera juice. Drink this once a day for a few days to see reduced body heat.
- Squeeze out fresh aloe vera gel into a clean bowl, and rub this all over your body. Let it sit for at least 20-25 minutes, before rinsing it off with in a cool shower or a bath. Repeat this remedy as needed.
Pro tip: Do NOT consume/drink more than 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel in a day.
2. Apricots
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Apricot contains essential nutrients that make it one of the best home remedies to reduce body heat. Since apricots are a bit hard, you will have to extract the juice from it to drink.
Remedies
- Extract about 1 cup of apricot juice, and mix it in with honey and a bit of water. Drink this once a day for a few days to bring down body heat.
3. Bananas
Bananas are rich in potassium, among other vital nutrients and vitamins, which provide great cooling effects. Plus, it also helps in digesting spicy and heavy foods, which might contribute to an elevated body temperature.
Remedy
- Eat 1 banana after every meal as a dessert to help digest foods quickly, while also cool down your body heat.
4. Buttermilk
Buttermilk is again, another effective home remedy for bringing down your body’s internal temperature. It is effective in reducing body heat generally, but also in women who suffer from hot flashes and people who have a high rate of metabolism. Plus, it helps replenish the essential vitamins and minerals lost during excessive sweating during workouts or other kinds of physical exertion.
Remedies
- Drink a glass of buttermilk every day, especially during summer months, to keep your body temperature in the normal range.
- Add half a cup of plain yogurt, salt to taste, and some water and blend them all together. Drink this homemade buttermilk at least twice daily to see positive results.
5. Coconut water
Coconut water is a natural and effective remedy for bringing down body heat, while also helping treat heat exhaustion. It contains essential electrolytes, which are excellent in replenishing lost nutrients, and rehydrating the body. Plus, it boosts energy, naturally.
Remedies
- Drink a glass of tender coconut water a few times a day every day to reduce body heat naturally.
- Mix WHO recommended ORS to tender coconut water, dissolve it completely, and drink it a few times a day.
6. Cool water
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Cool, not cold, water helps bring down body heat effectively. Also, it helps the body recover quite quickly from the effects of high temperature.
Remedies
- Once the symptoms of elevated body heat become apparent, drink a glass of cool water. Not just once, but sip it at regular intervals of, say, 15 minutes, to keep yourself hydrated and bring down the internal body temperature.
- Soak in a cool bath to help bring down body heat.
- Add ice cubes to a bucket filled with cool water, and soak your feet in it for about 20 minutes, to reduce body heat.
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7. Fennel seeds
This spice is used extensively in many different cuisines around the world, because of its aroma and distinctive flavor. And this is excellent to cool down your body heat.
Remedy
- Soak 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds in a cup of water overnight. The following morning, drink the strained solution. You can even add a bit of honey to make it more palatable.
8. Indian gooseberry
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Indian gooseberry is a powerhouse of vitamin C, which is amazing in helping reduce body heat.
Remedies
- Add 2 teaspoons of Indian gooseberry juice, 1 teaspoon each of organic honey and lemon juice to a glass of water, and stir well. Drink this juice every day in the mornings on an empty stomach to see improvement.
- In a glass, mix 1 part Indian gooseberry juice and 4 parts water, adding a bit of sugar or salt to taste. Drink this twice a day during summer months to prevent elevated body temperatures.
9. Lemon
Regular use of lemon is known to prevent heat-related health issues. Plus, it is rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant, which can help reduce the body temperature quite effectively. Additionally, it can help keep your body hydrated and oxygenated, keeping dehydration at bay, while helping give you an energy boost. This is especially useful and helpful during hot summer months.
Remedy
- To a glass of water, squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Add 1 teaspoon of organic honey and a pinch of salt, and stir well. Drink this at least three times a day to feel refreshed.
10. Peppermint
Peppermint has amazing cooling and soothing properties, which can help lower body heat.
Remedies
- Take a handful of peppermint leaves and boil them in 2 cups of water for about 20 minutes. Allow the strained liquid to cool down. Add this peppermint-infused water to a bathtub of cool bath water and soak in it for 20 minutes.
- Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to your cool bath water and soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes to reduce body heat.
- Add 1 teaspoon of peppermint leaves into a cup of hot water, and allow it to steep. Strain and add a bit of honey to improve its taste. Refrigerate this concoction for a while and drink it a few times a day.
11. Pomegranate
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Pomegranate is rich in many essential vitamins and minerals, which are helpful in bringing down your body temperature, among other things.
Remedy
- Drink a glass of pomegranate juice once every day to help reduce your body temperature, which helps with the body heat.
12. Poppy seeds
Poppy seeds are also called opium, and they possess a cooling effect on the body, which helps regulate the body’s internal temperature. This, in turn, helps bring down body heat.
Remedies
- Crush 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds with a little sugar, and consume this once a day during summer months to keep body heat at bay.
- Consume a small amount of poppy seeds before hitting the bed every day to reduce body heat.
13. Sandalwood
Sandalwood possesses soothing and cooling properties, which help bring down the body’s internal temperature.
Remedies
- Gently rub a few drops of sandalwood essential oil on your forehead, leaving it on for a few hours.
- Sprinkling sandalwood powder on your chest and armpits after a shower helps maintain a cooler body temperature.
- In a clean bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder, 1 teaspoon of cold milk, and a few drops of rose water to make a smooth paste. Apply this on your chest and forehead, leaving it to air dry. Then, rinse it off with tepid water.
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14. Watermelon
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Watermelon contains a very high amount of water in it, along with properties that help detoxify your body. Watermelon, when consumed regularly during summer months, will help keep you hydrated and your body temperature within acceptable levels.
Remedies
- Consume a few slices of watermelon through the day during summer months to keep your body heat low.
- In a clean bowl, mix together cubes of watermelon, muskmelon, cantaloupe, and cucumber. Drizzle a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and toss it. Eat this healthy salad once a day.
These are all the amazingly effective home remedies to reduce body heat. Remember, leaving extremely high body heat isn’t good for your long term health. If the problem persists, consult a doctor.
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