Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne illness caused by a virus known as DENV-1. This virus is spread by female Anopheles mosquito. The virus gets transmitted into the body by a bite; generally, it takes 3 to 10 days for a symptom to occur. Dengue fever is not life-threatening if treated in its early stages, but can be harmful and can even lead to death if not diagnosed and treated correctly.
The main ill effect that is caused due to dengue fever is the decrease of platelets counts in the blood. If the platelets count drops drastically, this may lead to severe dengue, also known as dengue hemorrhagic fever. A vaccine for dengue has been approved by WHO in 2020 but is yet to be available for several countries. Apart from these vaccines, there are some natural home remedies to cure dengue fever. These remedies not only cure the dengue fever but also increase the immunity in the individual.
What Causes Of Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is caused by the DENV-1 virus, and this virus is spread when a female Anopheles mosquito bites an individual. This virus belongs to an RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. The leading causes of the spread of this virus are:
1. Unhygienic Lodgings and Potholes:
Water logging and dirty environment near the houses can give birth to several mosquitoes which carry several virus and infections. One such virus that is carried is DENV-1. Mosquito carrying this virus when bitten will transmit the DENV-1 virus to the individual, causing dengue fever.
2. Virology:
Dengue fever is caused by any of the four closely related dengue viruses spread by the mosquitoes. These viruses belong to the same family of viruses that cause yellow fever, West Nile virus, Zika virus, etc. The four viruses are DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4. When a person having any one of these four viruses is bit by a mosquito, it carries the virus. If the same mosquito that is carrying the virus bites another person, then this virus gets transmitted into the bloodstream of the second individual.
3. Tropical and Sub-Tropical Areas:
We have seen that mosquitoes are the main reason for the spread of the dengue virus. These mosquitoes generally live in tropical and sub-tropical areas, i.e., these mosquitoes live between the latitudes of N 35 degrees and S 35 degrees, below an elevation of 1000 meters (3300 feet). The areas which fall under the tropical region are the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, Southeast Asia, The Pacific Islands, Taiwan, Mexico, Africa, Central and South America, and The Caribbean.
4. Prior Infection:
If you have already suffered from the dengue virus in the last few months, and if you get infected again, then the risk of having severe symptoms is very high. These symptoms can even lead to the death of the individual.
What Are The Symptoms Of Dengue?
Many people, especially adults and children, may experience mild to no symptoms during the dengue fever. This fever is the same as the regular fever and cannot be differentiated. Usually, the symptoms of dengue start from the 3rd or 4th day after the mosquito bites. Generally, dengue fever causes a very high temperature of 104 F degrees with any of the below two symptoms.
- Nausea
- Muscle, joint, and bone pains
- Vomiting
- Severe headaches
- Skin rashes
- Swollen glands
- Fatigue
- Mild bleeding (bleeding gums, nose bleed)
In most of the cases, individuals suffering from dengue fever with the above symptoms will recover within a week or ten days. But, in some rare cases, the symptoms worsen and may become life-threatening. This may lead to a severe form of dengue fever called severe dengue or dengue shock syndrome, or dengue hemorrhagic fever. The symptoms for such case may include
- Persistent Vomiting.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Blood in urine, vomit, or stools.
- Difficult or rapid breathing.
- Bleeding from your gums or nose.
- Cold or clammy skin.
Read More: Precautions And Symptoms Of Dengue Fever
Prevention of Dengue:
We know the famous saying, “Prevention is better than Cure.” Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that has no vaccine to date. The best vaccine or cure or treatment considered for this deadly disease is prevention. Here are some of the preventive measures.
- Water logging near the house or near your surroundings should be avoided. Make sure that water is not logged or stagnated, to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.
- Use a mosquito repellent sprays or roll-ons on your body. Make sure to use the ones that have natural oils in it to avoid any skin allergies.
- As far as possible, wear clothes that cover your whole body. This helps in minimum exposure of your body to mosquitoes.
- Spray mosquito repellent essential oils around your house to repel mosquitoes.
Home Remedies of Dengue Fever:
Several home remedies have been used by people since the early ages for the cure of dengue. Listed down are some of the home remedies for dengue fever.
1. Papaya Leaf Juice: (1)
Papaya leaves juice is considered as one of the ancient and effective home remedies to cure dengue fever. The chymopapain and papain extracts of the leaves are useful in the treatment of several digestive disorders. The leaf extracts have a wide variety of properties, including anticancer, antioxidative, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that can cure may ill-borne diseases. Papaya leaf extract has also shown to have larvicidal properties against the dengue mosquito.
Ingredients:
- A handful of papaya leaves and cold water.
Procedure:
- Soak the papaya leaves in 10ml of cold water. Grind the mixture and filter it.
- This juice tastes bitter, hence add a tablespoon of honey if required.
How Often do You do This:
- To obtain desired results, drink this juice four times a day.
2. Extract of Giloy Plant for Dengue:
Giloy or Guduchi, scientifically known as Tinospora Cordifloia, is a famous ayurvedic herb abundantly found in India is considered to be one of the best natural remedies to cure dengue fever. The anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antipyretic properties of this leaf extract can cure the fever and increase the blood platelet count in the body. This juice is also considered as an immunity booster that can prevent many such deadly diseases.
Ingredients:
- Giloy plant extract or the leaves.
- A glass of water and raw black pepper.
How to do Process:
- Boil the stem of Giloy plant (with leaves) in water with raw black pepper in it, till the volume of the water reduces to half.
- Let the boiled water cool down for some time and mix the ingredients well and drink it.
How Often do You do This:
- Drinking this concoction twice per day for two consecutive days can show good results.
3. Juice of Guava for Dengue:
Guava fruit is considered to be one of the best immunity boosters because it contains several minerals, tannins, and vitamins. Vitamin C present in the fruit fights the fever efficiently and helps in increasing the immunity of the individual.
Ingredients:
- 2 or 3 fresh ripen guava fruits.
Procedure:
- The guava fruit can be eaten as a fruit itself or can be made into a juice and consumed.
- Clean the fruits and slice them into pieces and extract the juice from a juicer and drink it.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink this juice twice a day to boost your immunity.
Read More: Dengue Fever in Kids
4. Punarnava:
Punarnava is yet another ayurvedic medical herb that helps in treating dengue fever. The laxative, diuretic, liver-protecting, and diaphoretic properties of punarnava made it one of the exclusive remedies to cure dengue. This punarnava herb juice also helps in increasing the platelet count in the blood.
Ingredients:
- Ten grams of punarnava herb and 160 ml of water.
Procedure:
- Crush the punarnava herb in pastel and mortar. Boil 160 ml of water with this crushed mixture.
- Boil this mixture until the quantity remains 30-40 ml. Strain the mixture and drink the juice.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink it 2-3 times a day for effective results.
5. Sea Buckthorn: (3)
Studies showed that sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) has anti-dengue properties. This herb was evaluated for its anti-Dengue activity in human macrophage cell line U-937 infected with Dengue virus type-2. The findings resulted in maximum cell viability and minimum cytotoxicity. The anti-Dengue action of this herb was revealed by significantly reduced plaque numbers and modulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting thereby that the leaf extract of Sea buckthorn has a significant anti-dengue activity and has the potential for the treatment and management of Dengue infection.
Ingredients:
- One sea buckthorn herb and 160 ml of water.
Procedure:
- Crush the herb in pastel and mortar. Boil 160 ml of water with this crushed mixture.
- Boil this mixture until the quantity remains 30-40 ml. Strain the mixture and drink the juice.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink it 2-3 times a day for desired results.
6. Leaves of Neem Plant for Dengue:
Drinking the brew of the neem leaves is considered as one of the best and easy home remedies to cure dengue fever. These leaves contain chemicals named nimbidin and nimbin that have antipyretic, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which have shown to increase the platelet count and white blood cells count in the bloodstream. Apart from this, the neem juice boosts immunity, removes toxins from the body, and purifies the blood.
Ingredients:
- Some neem leaves
- A cup of boiling water
- A teaspoon of honey.
Procedure:
- Drop some neem leaves in boiling water.
- Now let the mixture simmer down for a while.
- You can add one teaspoon of honey to balance the taste.
How Often do You do This:
- For desired results drink this mixture 2-3 times a day.
7. Goat Milk for Dengue: (2)
Goat milk is considered to have several nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B, iron, phosphorous, copper, potassium, and, most importantly, selenium. It is said that selenium has the capability of increasing the platelet count in the blood. Hence drinking goat milk is considered an effective remedy to cure dengue at home. Apart from increasing the platelet count, goat milk also strengthens the bones (because of the calcium content), increases the metabolism (iron and copper can boost the metabolism).
Ingredients:
- One glass of goat milk (250 ml)
Procedure:
- Goat milk can be consumed either by boiling the milk or without boiling the milk.
How often do You do This:
- Drink the milk after 30 minutes of eating any meal.
- For effective results, drink goat milk twice a day.
8. Tawa Tawa: (4)
Studies have shown that drinking the decoction made from Tawa Tawa (gatas-gatas), also called Euphorbia hirta, had an increase in the platelet count. The phytochemical analysis of this herb demonstrated the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which are known to increase the platelet count. Hence this traditional plant medicine is extensively used in the Philippines to treat dengue fever.
Ingredients:
- One hundred grams of the whole fresh plant with roots.
- 500 ml of water.
Procedure:
- Clean the tawa-tawa plant with water and boil in 500 ml of drinking water for 15 minutes.
- Now let the mixture simmer down for a while.
- You can add one teaspoon of honey to balance the taste.
How Often do You do This:
- Consume this drink 2-3 times a day to obtain valid results.
9. Garlic: (5)
Garlic has been used since ancient times for the treatment of several medical ailments and human diseases. Ans garlic contains organosulfur compounds such as diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) that can reduce both inflammation and oxidative stress during dengue virus infection of human cells. Garlic also helps in the prevention of further progress of dengue to a severe condition. The garlic cloves can be eaten directly, or garlic infused drinks can be consumed.
Ingredients:
- 2-3 cloves of garlic and a glass of water.
Procedure:
- Drop 2 or 3 cloves of garlic in water and boil for 10 minutes.
- Now, let the drink cool for 10 minutes and then consume the garlic-infused drink along with the garlic cloves.
- You can also eat the garlic cloves directly. But, the garlic-infused drink is better as it will not give any pungent smell.
How Often do You do This:
- Consume this drink once per day to get cured effectively.
Read More: Dengue Fever In Pregnancy
10. Fenugreek and Honey for Dengue:
The Concoction of fenugreek and honey helps in reduces the temperature of the body because of the antipyretic property. It is rich in vitamin C and K, which helps boost immunity. Hence this remedy is considered one of the best and easy ways to treat dengue fever.
Ingredients:
- A handful of fenugreek seeds
- A cup of water and a tablespoon of honey for taste.
Procedure:
- Add a handful of fenugreek seeds in boiling water.
- Allow the mixture to cool for some time and then strain it.
- If required, add a tablespoon of honey for good taste.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink the mixture 2-3 times every day for good results.
11. Cure Dengue By Drinking Turmeric Milk:
Dengue is a condition that has no vaccine. Hence to treat this fever, increasing immunity is the only cure. Turmeric is known for the several benefits of curing ailments since ancient times. Turmeric has a compound called curcumin that helps in fighting off the flu by boosting the immunity of the body. It also helps in eliminating the dengue viral infection from the root.
Ingredients:
- All you need is a tablespoon of turmeric and a cup of milk.
Procedure:
- Boil a cup of milk and add in turmeric in it.
- If required, add a tablespoon of honey or sugar for good taste.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink this mixture twice a day, once in the morning and once before going to bed.
12. Tulsi Tea:
Tulsi leaves, also called basil leaves are yet another ayurvedic medicinal leaves that have the power to cure dengue or, to say, basil leaves can increase the immunity in the body which can fight any viral infection. Basil leaves also have essential oils in them that have natural insecticidal properties that keep mosquitoes at bay. Tusi leaves can be chewed directly or consumed in the form of tea.
What You Need:
- A handful of tulsi leaves and 2 cups of water.
How to do Process:
- Boil 2 cups of water and add tulsi leaves in the boiling water.
- Let the brew cool down for some time and add a tablespoon of honey if required.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink tulsi tea twice a day to improve immunity.
13. Kiwi Juice:
Kiwi is consumed either in the form of fruit or juice and is considered as one of the natural home remedies for dengue fever. The high amounts of vitamin C, vitamin E, and polyphenols may be beneficial for individuals suffering from dengue. These nutrients boost the immunity, and the polyphenols are considered to increase the platelet count and plasma lipids in the bloodstream.
Ingredients:
- Kiwi fruit.
Procedure:
- Drink some fresh kiwi juice. If possible, prepare the juice at home.
- You can buy some kiwis, peel them and grind them in the juicer or just eat 2 or 3 kiwi fruits.
How Often do You do This:
- Drink fresh kiwi juice twice a day or eat 2-3 kiwi fruits per day.
14. Pomegranate:
Generally, fruits are the best foods during any viral infection. These help in building the immunity and maintain the metabolism in the body. Pomegranate is one such fruit that is hugely beneficial during dengue viral infections. This fruit contains punicalagin that is known for its anti-oxidant property. Also, this fruit has ellagic acid in it that is responsible for the increase of platelet count in the body. Hence, this fruit is recommended for patients suffering from dengue.
Ingredients:
- One Pomegranate
Procedure:
- Eat one whole raw pomegranate or make it into juice and consume it.
How Often do You do This:
- To increase the immunity drink plenty of this juice (2-3 glasses) per day.
15. Crab Soup for Dengue Fever:
Nipah Crab soup is beneficial in increasing the immunity of the body as it is a powerhouse of various minerals and nutrients. The daily consumption of this hot and spicy soup is hugely beneficial while suffering from dengue fever. Although there is no scientific evidence regarding this, most of the people from Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines started drinking this Nipah crab soup for a speedy recovery from dengue, and they even termed this soup as dengue fever soup.
Ingredients:
- A bowl of crab soup
Procedure:
- Preparation of crab soup at house is a difficult task, and hence it is better to order crab soup from a reliable food outlet.
How Often do You do This:
- One bowl of crab soup per day can help in boosting your immunity.
When to consult a doctor:
It is recommended to consult your doctor as and when you have any of the symptoms mentioned above. Some of the home remedies for dengue fever might work, and some might not work in all people. Also, if you feel severe abdominal pain or excessive fatigue, consult your doctor immediately because the platelet count may drop drastically within a few days.
Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, has no vaccine available to date. The best way to treat dengue is prevention. Make sure your surroundings are hygienic, use mosquito repellents to avoid any mosquito bites. If somehow, you are diagnosed with dengue, the only treatment would be the increase of immunity power in the body that can fight any viral infections. The above-mentioned home remedies can boost your immunity and can increase the platelet count in the body. Make sure you are in touch with your physician before thinking of starting any of the above-mentioned home remedies for dengue fever.
Disclaimer: The information published in this article is solely for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a piece of medical advice. Always consult your doctor before trying any of the home remedies for dengue. We will not be responsible for the reaction, side-effects, or loss happening to you or your loved ones.
