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Homeopathy
for Kids
by Carol Ferguson
“Many childhood health problems can be treated
effectively and gently with homeopathy,” says
Janet Zand, ND, LAc. “Even the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) classifies them as ‘over-the-counter,’
[OTC], so you don’t need a prescription, and you
can always keep them on hand,” adds Dana Ullman,
MPH, who heads the Homeopathic Educational Services.
Proven Effective
Whether children suffer earache, fever, or respiratory
allergies, research finds homeopathic remedies useful.
Following 105 ear, nose, and throat allergies treated
with homeopathy, investigators found improvement in
all but two cases in a recent study. Comparing one homeopathic
medicine (Viburcol) with acetaminophen for children’s
febrile infections in another study, German researchers
concluded that homeopathy was an effective alternative—and
significantly better tolerated by kids.
In September, the Journal of the American Medical
Association (JAMA) recommended a 48-hour “wait-and-see”
approach to ear infections, or acute otitis media, to
reduce the use of antibiotics as a “standard prescription.”
Researchers say that “risks of antibiotics, including
gastrointestinal symptoms, allergic reactions, and accelerated
resistance to bacterial pathogens must be weighed against
their benefits for an illness that, for the most part,
is self-limited.”
“When you consider that many earaches are caused
by viral infections or allergies for which antibiotics
are useless, it makes sense to seek out alternative
treatment,” says Ullman. Homeopathy is an increasingly
popular alternative for parents and kids.
Common Complaints
For ear infections, Ullman recommends three common homeopathic
remedies. Aconitum is useful at the onset of symptoms,
especially from exposure to cold. Take Belladonna for
infections accompanied by a noticeably red ear, flushed
face, or sudden ear symptoms (piercing, shooting, or
throbbing pain), sometimes extending to the throat.
When pain causes irritability and impatience, especially
in infants, consider Chamomilla.
Nausea is common with overeating or food poisoning.
If even the smell of food makes you sick, try Ipecacuanha.
And Pulsatilla is advised for nausea and vomiting after
eating fatty or rich foods.
Inflamed sinuses, or sinusitis, also respond to Pulsatilla,
especially in children or women whose symptoms worsen
at night or in a warm room. For sinus pain with nasal
blockage and thick nasal discharge, take Kali bic.
6th and 30th potency are best for these homeopathic
remedies. Pellets and tablet forms are easiest for children.
Try not to touch these pills with your hands, as that
can lower their effectiveness. And teach kids to let
pills dissolve naturally under the tongue, rather than
chewing them. For infants and preverbal children, dissolve
pills in water and give the liquid in an eyedropper.
Selected Sources
– “Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Use in Asthma: Who Is Using What?” by C. A. Slader
et al., Respirology, 7/06
–“The Effects of a Complex Homeopathic Medicine
Compared with Acetaminophen in . . . Acute Febrile Infections
in Children: An Observational Study” by M. Derasse
et al., Explore (NY), 1/05
–“Homeopathy and Respiratory Allergies:
A Series of 147 Cases” by P. Colin, Homeopathy,
4/06
– The One Minute (or so) Healer by Dana Ullman
($12.95, North Atlantic, 2004)
– Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child by Janet
Zand, ND, LAc, Robert Rountree, MD, and Rachel Walton,
RN ($22.95, Penguin Group/Avery, 2003)
–“Wait-and-See Prescription for the Treatment
of Acute Otitis Media: A Randomized Controlled Trial”
by David M. Spiro, MD, MPH, et al., JAMA, 9/13/06
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