Homeopathic prescribing for common Childrens Illnesses

There are many reasons why babies and children suffer from sleeping problems. Homeopathy can offer help in certain situations, but persistent waking should be treated by a homeopathic practitioner.

If your baby has continuing difficulty with sleeping after being fed, then it is often worth looking at changing the formula, or if breast fed, taking notice of the foods you have been eating. If you are under a large amount of stress when breast feeding, can often be the cause of distress in the baby. Problems with digestion of certain foods can also result in disturbed sleep in both children and adults. If this is the case, look at what foods are eaten at dinner time.

Babies: Remedy every 30 minutes starting at bedtime and if the baby wakes. No more than 4 doses.

When a baby has had a fright or a shock	Aconite
If the baby had been played with and is overexcited and cannot sleep	Coffea Cruda
Wakes around 4am crying, is not hungry and cannot be settled.	Nux Vomica
An irritable baby who only stops crying when they are picked up and carried around.	Chamomilla

If the baby straightening up or leaning back when they have the colic.	Dioscorea
For a child who is noticably better when being carried, rocked or pushed in the stroller, often one cheek is hot and the other is pale and cool.	Chamomilla
These colic pains are quite strong, violent and cramp-like. Relieved by heat and pressure.	Colocynthus
Colic pains that come and go. The colic is relieved by gentle pressure, warmth and burping.	Magnesia Phosphorica
Colic pains with putrid diarrhoea. Nausea.	Ipecac

Teething

For the child who keeps putting their fingers in their mouth, has inflamed gums and dribbling. One cheek is not and red and the other is normal. The child is irritable and cranky and wants to be carried. They often toss and turn when they are asleep.	Chamommilla
The child is not their normal self and is often quite hyperactive.	Coffee Cruda
For delayed or difficult teething. They will often run high temperatures and have colic when teething.	Calcarea Phosphorica

Diarrhoea that is the result of over-feeding, or when a child strains but can only pass a small amount of stool. This remedy also works for food poisoning - nausea and vomiting with much retching. Heartburn.	Nux Vomica
Burning pain in abdomen with diarrhoea and vomiting that is often made worse after eating and drinking. The child is very restless but physically weak with a pale face cold body.	Arsenicum Album
Explosive diarrhoea, preceded by cramp-like pains.	Colocynthus
Watery stool without much pain. Worse at night	Dulcamarra
Lots of rumbling and gas with stools are usually green or different each time. Not thirsty. Worse after rich meals. Feels better when out in the fresh air.	Pulsatilla
The child is very lethargic and just wants to lie down and be quiet. Very thirsty	Bryonia
Foul smelling stools	Aloe
Soft stools that are often associated with teething.	Chamomilla

Worms

Nausea and Vomiting

Nappy Rash

Fever

When the fever comes on suddenly and the skin is hot and dry. The child is usually worse in a warm room and better in open air.	Aconite
Use this remedy in early stages of all inflammatory problems. The fever usually comes on gradually. The child has a pale complexion with red cheeks. They are usually worse when lying on the right side and at night and when moved. The child is happier when cold applications are applied or when the child is carried.	Ferrum Phosphoricum

Coughs and Croup

Constant coughing frequently associated with nausea.	Ipecac
When the child wakes with a dry, hoarse, croup cough.	Aconitum
Dry, barking, raspy cough. For croup, colds and coughs beginning in throat.	Spongia
Rattling of mucous in the chest, but unable to cough it up. Sleepy. Feeling worse when when damp & warm. The child improves when cool, sitting up.	Antimonium Tart

Ears

Swelling of right, or left ear, with itching of inner ear and of right side of face, with profuse earwax. Purulent discharge. Trickling of water from one, with difficult hearing in other. Children are usually chubby and soft.	Calcarea Carbonica
Tearing pain deep in the left ear	Sulphur
Pain in right ear of a tearing kind. The child is usually thin and pale.	Silica
Severe earache. Inflammation and swelling of the outer ear, with profuse, thick, pussy discharge. Pain is usually worse in the evening. Applying heat does not help. Pain involves the whole side of the head and throat . In any illness, the child needing Pulsatilla is usually very clingy. Often crying a winging.	Pulsatilla

Bites and Stings

When the bite swells up, looks red and angry, and stings and burns like a bee sting.	Apis
Use if you have bruising and soreness.	Arnica
This remedy can be very helpful when the bite is in a very sensitive area, rich in nerves, such as the lips or finger tips. You may feel the pain shooting up the nerve tracks.	Hypericum
Use this remedy is the bite is noticeably burning.	Cantharis
Good for tick bites or mosquito . When the injury feels cold to touch and feels better after using a cold compresses.	Ledum

Remedies for acute problems.

DOSAGE INSTRUCTIONS

One of the most difficult areas of Homeopathy is dosage. Unlike regular pharmaceuticals taking more does not necessarily give a better effect. In fact it is exactly the opposite. The physical body, when it is ill, is actually out of its regular vibration. It is not in harmony with how it was meant to be. The aim of a homeopathic medicine, as with acupuncture, is to assist the body to regain its regular harmonious vibration. This can be done in some cases with a single dose of the exact remedy needed, which has been chosen by matching as closely as possible the remedy with the symptoms of the illness manifesting in the body (be it human or animal).

When giving homeopathic remedies you must watch to see how the patient is reacting to the remedy. If there is improvement – give the dose less frequently – watch to see if the patient drops back, then give another dose. In rare occasions the patient may experience a healing crisis, this occurs if the dose given is too high, or is of a higher vibration than that of the illness manifesting in the body. If this occurs, wait before giving another dose of the remedy as it may not be needed.

For Acute illnesses, colds, sprains, burns etc. (Chronic illness is ill health over a long time, in which case you should use low potencies)

Frequency for giving homeopathic remedies in acute problems depends on the potencies you have available and the severity of the injury.

1. If life threatening, or very severe and the potency you have is
a. 3x to 30x or 3c to 12c give the indicated remedy every 5 to 10 minutes until there is a response or for 4 doses.

b. If you have the 30c, 200x, 200c or higher, give every 15 minutes for 2 doses.

If there is no change at all after giving the remedy, re evaluate your choice of remedy. If there is a slight improvement, repeat again and re-evaluate.

2. If the condition is less critical, give the remedies less frequently.

3. Moderate conditions (URI, cystitis, minor injuries): 6C - 12C or 30C, 2x/day for 1-4 days

4. If only low potencies are available 6X, 12X, 6C 4x/day 12C, 30X 3x/day

The most simple remedy for nausea One tablet every 10 minutes	Nat Sulph 6x
Copious vomiting with persistent nausea even after vomiting. Griping pains in intestines	Ipecac
Loss of appetite. Vomits soon after eating or drinking.	Antimonium Crud

Dry red and scaly rash between buttocks, on genitals which may extend up the back.	Sulphur
Small blisters form on itchy skin.	Rhus Tox
Nappy rash may be associated with teething because baby produces more saliva than usual and the nappy area is very moist and sweaty.	Mercurius

Homeopathy for Children

Sleeping Problems