by John A. Borneman III, RPh.

Homeopathy is a medical method that has been used in the US for over 200 years. With today's parental concern about interactions, side effects and contra-indications of prescription and over the counter drugs, the homeopathic method, which is free of these causes for concern, is enjoying a popular revival. Homeopathy is natural and mild medicine. The remedies are natural substances which have been diluted and potentized many times so that when used according to the homeopathic method, they stimulate the child's own defenses to move your child toward a healthier state without causing any side effects.

It is always a pleasure to discuss the use of Homeopathic remedies for children. Homeopathic remedies are safe, effective and mild. They are particularly effective in children, because the remedies work by stimulating the body's own vitality. Children naturally have a higher vitality; therefore they work especially well in children. Homeopathic remedies are easy and pleasant to administer. The special soft tablets can be placed in the child's mouth where they readily dissolve or dissolved in a little water for administration. They have a pleasant taste.

The common childhood conditions we will discuss are:
Teething, Colic, Fever, Bumps and Bruises, Bed-Wetting, Coughs & Colds, Chicken Pox, Diarrhea, Diaper Rash.

Teething is treated with:

Chamomilla for painful teething with or without fever. The teething is frequently associated with colic. You always know to use Chamomilla when the child has one hot cheek, the other pale and cold.
Coffea Cruda for the restlessness observed in the teething child. Calcarea Phosphorica for delayed or difficult teething, as well as the colic frequently associated with teething.

Colic is treated with:
Dioscorea - for the treatment of cramps or colic in the abdomen which seem relieved by straightening up or leaning back.
Chamomilla - for the child with a poor tolerance for pain, restless and squeamish. The Chamomilla child usually has one hot cheek, the other pale and cool. The child seems improved when carried or pushed in the stroller.
Colocynthus - to relieve violent cramp-like pains which are relieved by heat and pressure. It is also helpful to relieve the irritability associated with pain.
Magnesia Phosphorica- to relieve colic characterized by being spasmodic or intermittent. The colic is relieved by gentle pressure, warmth and burping. The symptoms are usually worse on the right side and there is usually a general muscular weakness.

Fever is usually treated with:
Aconite - when the fever comes on suddenly. The child's skin is hot and dry and like Chamomilla one cheek can be hot, then other pale, The child is usually worse in a warm room and better in open air.
Ferrum Phosphoricum- in early stages of all inflammatory problems. The fever usually has a gradual onset with a pale complexion with red cheeks. The child is usually worse when lying on the right side and at night and when moved. The child feels better when cold applications are applied and the child is carried.

Irritability & Restlessness are treated with:
Passiflora - has a tradition of usefulness in relaxing children.
Avena Sativa - is indicated for the restless or sleepless child.
Calcarea Phosphorica - Indicated for fretful, peevish children. Children are often restless for 2 or 3 hours after midnight and awakening from sleep as if frightened.
Kali Phosphoricum- when the child cannot rest because of over-stimulation.
Magnesia Phosphorica- a traditional homeopathic calmative remedy.
Natrum Phosphoricum - a traditional homeopathic calmative remedy.

Coughs and Croup are treated with:
Ipecac - for constant coughing frequently associated with nausea.
Aconitum Napellus - when child awakens with dry, hoarse, croup cough.
Spongea Tosta - for croup, cold, coughs beginning in throat, for dry barking raspy cough.
Antimonium Tartaricum - for rattling of mucous in chest followed by non-productive cough, sleepiness worse when damp & warm. The child improves when cool, sitting up.

Bed Wetting is treated with:
Equisetum - indicated for frequent, voluminous bed-wetting, dreams or nightmares when urinating.
Rhus Tox - for bed wetting associated with restless sleep.
Belladonna - for restless children who talks in sleep and dreams about urinating. The child cannot "wake up in time".
Kreosotum - when the child dreams of urinating, worse when cold, better when warm.

Chicken Pox is treated with:
Rhus Tox - Indicated for the intense itching when the child is restless both physically and mentally. The child is usually worse when cool or during sleep or rest and improved by motion and warm applications.
Antimonium Crudum - when the child is fretful and irritable worse after a bath or from heat and better when resting or in open air.
Sulfur - intense itching. thirsty; worse when bathed, warm and put to bed.

Diarrhea:
A caution: Diarrhea can be serious in an infant. The problem is the loss of fluids causing severe dehydration resulting in loss of fluids from tissues and blood. If your child does not respond immediately to the homeopathic remedy, discontinue use and consult your health professional.
Colocynthus - for explosive diarrhea preceded by cramp-like pains.
Aloe Socratans - for foul smelling stools
Arsenicum Album - for child exhausted after a movement Chamomilla, for soft stools associated with teething.
Nux Vomica for diarrhea resulting from over-feeding or when baby strains but can only pass a small amount of stool
Diaper Rash is treated with Calendula Ointment.

Bumps & Bruises:
We have saved the best for last.
Children's Bumps and Bruises respond dramatically to Arnica. Every household should have a bottle of homeopathic Arnica to give to children immediately after any bump. They love it and will remind you to give it to them. Standard Homeopathic Company, having years of experience serving the homeopathic patient, has developed combination formulae which have a proven, highly predictable probability of success in relieving symptoms usually associated with children's problems.

The homeopathic remedies, available from different manufacturers, may vary in appearance. Some dosage forms are medicated sugar pellets, tablets, drops or those specially prepared soft tablets The special soft tablets are a particularly popular and effective way of presenting homeopathic remedies. Over the counter Homeopathic remedies are mild, safe and effective when used to relieve simple, self-limiting conditions. There is a high probability that they will relieve common childhood disorders. They will not interfere with your child's conventional medicines, nor present any side effects. However, do not discontinue any prescription medications you are currently giving your child without the advice of your physician. If your child's symptoms persist or do not respond to the homeopathic remedy in a reasonable time, discontinue use and consult your health professional.

This information was compiled and organized from information contained in popular homeopathic references and traditional professional references:

Homeopathic Medicine at Home, Maisemund B. Panos MD and Jane Heimlich
The Family Guide to Homeopathy, Alain Horvileur, M.D.
A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica , John Henry Clarke, M.D
The Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Jacques Jouanny, M.D.
Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics, Jacques Jouanny, M.D.
Homeopathic Guide for The Family A.C. Neiswander, M.D.

For more information regarding any homeopathic remedies, please search our Boerke Materia Medica