Can applying Huoxiang Zhengqi Water to the body help reduce fever?
My child suddenly developed a fever, and someone suggested using Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (a traditional Chinese medicine) to wipe the body for reducing the fever. Is this method really reliable? Can applying Huoxiang Zhengqi Water on the body actually help reduce my child's fever?
Doctor's answer (1)
Under normal circumstances, applying Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (a traditional Chinese medicine) on the body cannot reduce fever.
Huoxiang Zhengqi Water is a compound traditional Chinese medicine primarily composed of ingredients such as dried tangerine peel, Angelica dahurica, and processed Pinellia tuber. Its main functions are to relieve surface symptoms, resolve dampness, regulate qi, and harmonize the middle jiao (middle part of the body according to TCM theory). It has certain therapeutic effects for symptoms such as common cold, headache, and heaviness of the head caused by external contraction of cold, internal damage from dampness, or summerheat-dampness. However, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water does not have a direct fever-reducing effect, as it cannot remove excess heat from the body and therefore cannot achieve the effect of reducing fever through body wiping.
Common methods for reducing fever include physical cooling or taking antipyretic medications. If fever symptoms occur, it is recommended to first measure body temperature. If the temperature exceeds 38.5°C, especially when accompanied by other uncomfortable symptoms, timely medical attention is advised. Additionally, Huoxiang Zhengqi Water contains a certain proportion of alcohol, so care should be taken to avoid simultaneous use with cephalosporin antibiotics to prevent adverse reactions such as disulfiram-like reactions.
When experiencing fever, it is also important to maintain good indoor air circulation, appropriately replenish fluids, and avoid excessive clothing that may elevate body temperature.
