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Rubbing at high temperature with vinegar, vodka, water
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
Cool rubdowns for heat and fever have been practiced since ancient times, when people did not yet know about antipyretic drugs. They are still practiced today, despite the fact that Dr. Komarovsky has long ago voiced on television, citing such an authoritative source as the World Health Organization, why this should not be done. It is especially dangerous to rub sick children with vodka or vinegar solutions, and it is not recommended to do this with adults either.
However, many still practice this method of reducing high fever and claim that it gives excellent results, unlike antipyretic drugs.
[ Preparation
The room should be warm, but not hot (20-22ºС). To perform the procedure, you will need a soft napkin, a small towel or a piece of natural (linen, cotton) fabric. First, prepare a solution for wiping, it should be pleasantly warm for the patient, its temperature should not be much lower than body temperature, since the heat subsides when the solution evaporates from the surface of the body, and not from the action of the cold liquid.
Then the patient undresses or is undressed and lies on his back. It is worth considering that the bed linen will get wet during the procedure, so you need to lay down an oilcloth, put a large towel or sheet on top of it, which can be removed after wiping.
Technique rubdowns at a temperature
The rules for wiping at a temperature are not very complicated. The fabric is dipped into a container with a prepared warm solution (you can squeeze it out slightly) and the patient's body is wiped. The procedure is performed with light movements, avoiding pressure and intensive rubbing of the solution. First, the palms and feet, armpits and popliteal fossa, i.e. the locations of large vessels, are wiped. This is enough for small children. School-age children and adults can wipe the entire body. First - the arms, from the hands to the shoulders, the chest, bypassing the area of the skin located above the heart. Then the stomach is wiped, bypassing the groin area, moving down to the legs, wiping them from top to bottom. The patient turns over on his stomach and his back, gluteal area and legs are wiped.
Rubbing with vinegar at a temperature
Apple cider vinegar is preferable for rubbing at a temperature, according to apologists of rubbing. It does not have such an aggressive effect as usual, and, being absorbed through the surface of the skin, has a calming effect on the nervous system.
Only diluted vinegar is used for rubbing. When making a solution for rubbing a child, the following proportions must be observed - one tablespoon of 9% vinegar, both apple and regular, is diluted in 1/2 liter of warm (≈37°C) water. When performing the procedure, make sure that the solution does not cool down.
Rubbing with vinegar and water at a temperature in adolescents and adults is done with a solution in a 1:1 ratio.
At the end of the procedure, the patient is covered with a light sheet and a napkin soaked in the already cooled wiping solution is placed on the forehead. It must be changed periodically as it warms up.
Rubbing with vodka at a temperature
Even supporters of this method do not recommend such rubdowns for children under three years of age; other sources extend age restrictions to seven years.
It is recommended to dilute vodka with water for rubbing, observing equal proportions, and the same composition is used for all age categories.
Rubdowns are carried out using the usual method, then the patient’s body is blown with warm air for one and a half minutes using a hair dryer (the air temperature switch is set to the middle position).
For greater effect, you can prepare a solution of three components by mixing vodka, vinegar and water in equal proportions.
After the procedure, the patient is put to bed, covered without fanaticism. A napkin soaked in cool water is placed on his forehead, which is periodically refreshed.
Rubbing with water at a temperature
Rubbing with water at a temperature is recognized even by opponents of procedures using vinegar and vodka, since water is not toxic and, if it does not help, then it will not harm. Modern studies have proven that vodka and vinegar have no advantages as antipyretic agents over plain water, but they can have side effects.
Rubbing with cold water at a temperature is unacceptable, as it will cause chills, and the body will try to warm itself by further increasing the temperature. Hot water is also not suitable. The water temperature should not differ much from the body temperature (lower by no more than 2-3°).
The most acceptable method is to rub down with a wet towel at a temperature. The towel should be soaked in warm water, wrung out slightly and rub the body with it. This procedure can be repeated at intervals of 30 minutes many times.
Modern pediatrics allows wiping a child with a fever only with water. Vinegar wiping with a fever in an adult is also not welcomed by modern medicine, as well as alcohol-containing products, however, the choice is up to the patient.
Rubdowns for fever during pregnancy are, naturally, best done with water. The technique is the same, only it is not recommended to rub the stomach. It is better to limit yourself to palms, feet, armpits and popliteal areas.
Traditional medicine does not deny the possibility of wiping a pregnant woman with vinegar or vodka, but from a modern point of view, this should not be done. A pregnant woman does not need the risks associated with the action of toxic substances, which they are.
Children, pregnant women and adults can be wiped with special wet wipes, which are sold in pharmacies, when they have a fever.
Contraindications to the procedure
There are age restrictions for rubbing with vodka and vinegar, and since these methods are not used by official medicine, there are also discrepancies in this point. Vinegar rubbing is not used to reduce the temperature of infants under six months, in other sources, as well as vodka rubbing - up to three years of age, some sources indicate the lower limit for vodka rubbing - seven years.
Rubbing with vinegar is not recommended for adults and children with respiratory manifestations of the disease or chronic respiratory pathologies. The fumes may worsen the patient's condition.
Contraindications include intolerance to vinegar or alcohol, as well as damage or irritation of the skin.
Rubbing with warm water has practically no contraindications, however, if a patient with a high temperature is pale, his extremities are cold to the touch (the so-called white hyperthermia), then any rubbing is contraindicated for him and in addition to antipyretic drugs, antispasmodic drugs are recommended.
Consequences after the procedure
Both alcohol and vinegar applied to the child's skin are absorbed, enter the systemic bloodstream and can cause intoxication. Alcohol is especially dangerous for a child. The consequences of a procedure using alcohol are comatose states, and sometimes even death. Already in the 50s of the last century, American pediatricians began to warn parents about the dangers of using alcohol for rubbing at high temperatures.
Inhaling vinegar and alcohol fumes worsens intoxication and can cause laryngeal spasm.
Care after the procedure
After the procedure, the patient is put to bed, wearing thin cotton pajamas and covered with a sheet or light blanket. A napkin soaked in cool water is placed on his forehead, which is refreshed periodically. It is necessary to monitor the patient's body temperature every 30-40 minutes; if it does not decrease, the procedure is repeated. Water rubdowns can be repeated many times, they are also used as additional measures between medications.