Lesson 28MM - Homeopathy for earaches, colds, coughs, fever
Sheri Nakken
Don't go by the doses here - use my dosing info
http://www.drfeder.com/children/homeopathy-colds-flus.htm
All Better Now
by Lauren Feder, M.D.
Reprinted from Great Life Magazine
When your child has an earache, cold or cough,
try homeopathy before resorting to antibiotics.
An interest in alternative medicine often starts
with a parent's concern for their child who is in
and out of the pediatrician's office with
sickness. Many parents bring their children to my
office because they are uncomfortable with the
repeated courses of antibiotics prescribed by
conventional pediatricians and are seeking
gentler alternatives. Homeopathy, which has been
used in Europe for generations, fits the bill. In
France, for example, the best selling medicine
for flu is the homeopathic remedy Oscillococcinum.
As a physician, I feel there is definitely a time
and place for antibiotics. But since I began
using homeopathic remedies in my practice, I
rarely find that I need to resort to antibiotics.
In fact, it's rare that I even need to prescribe Children's Tylenol.
As the mother of two boys, I often go to my
homeopathic kit to treat many childhood ailments.
Recently, when my son Etienne got out of the bath
shivering, then later that night woke up with a
fever and a croupy cough, I gave him Aconite and
his coughing stopped almost immediately, and he
went back to sleep. And when my infant Quentin
came down with double ear infection, I knew that
Pulsatilla was the appropriate remedy for him
because he was quite gentle, and he was perfectly
happy as long as I held him in my arms. If he had
been angry and irritable, I would have turned to
Chamomilla. (I know one mother who doesn't leave
home without her homeopathic Chamomilla.) The
chart below presents other effective homeopathic
remedies for childhood ailments.
Gentle Remedies for Wee Ones
Aconitum napellus (Aconite)
Indications: Useful for colds, flu and other
ailments with symptoms that come on suddenly (one
minute the child is OK, the next minute he or she
is not). Use at onset of illness (first 24 hours)
Never use at the end of an illness
Symptoms: often come on after a cold, dry,
windy day. Very anxious, panicky Sudden onset of
fearfulness. Anxious look on the face with
perspiration. Feels worse in the cold. Feels
better with rest. Thirst for cold drinks One
cheek red, the other pale (or both red).
earaches: Painful earache with a high fever
colds: Sudden onset of a runny nose that is watery and hot.
fevers: High fever that comes on suddenly.
cough: Sudden onset of a dry, croupy cough
Belladonna
(Belladonna prepared and sold as a homeopathic remedy is nontoxic and safe)
Indications: Good with intense illness,
throbbing pain, when a child is delirious or
hallucinating with fever or wakes up saying that
his or her right ear hurts. Also useful for early
stages of illnesses that come on suddenly.
Symptoms: primarily on right side. Sensitive to
noise. Glassy eyed, red-faced with dilated
pupils. Pulse in neck is visibly throbbing. Worse
in presence of noise or light, when jarred, when
lying down and at 3 p.m. or 11 p.m. Feels better
when sitting, and when in a dark, quiet room. Wants cold water or lemonade.
earaches: Severe pain in right ear (causing child to cry during sleep.
colds: Painful, red, throbbing sore throat
(often worse on right side); may also have nosebleeds.
fevers: High fever, usually 103° F and above;
head feels hot, limbs cold; the child can be so
hot that he or she radiates heat.
cough: Dry, tickling cough, worse at night.
Chamomilla
Indications:Useful for pain, including teething
and colic in babies. A child who is in a
"chamomilla state" is obviously unhappy and
uncomfortable. Very angry, irritable, impatient,
contrary. Also can be inconsolable, crying,
screaming and arching his or her back. Asks for something, then refuses it.
Symptoms:Sweaty head One cheek red, the other
pale. Thirsty. Green diarrhea. Better when rocked
or carried. Worse from 9 p.m. and later.
earaches: Sensitive to cold and noise (feels
better with warmth); pain that makes child frantic.
colds: Watery, hot, runny nose that is also stuffed; difficulty sleeping.
fevers: Alternates between feeling chilled and overheated.
cough: Dry, tickling cough; hoarseness; worse from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Mercurius (Mercurius vivus or Mercurius solubilis can be used)
Indications: A child who can benefit from
Mercurius usually smells sick. He or she is hurried and restless.
Symptoms:Foul breath and perspiration.
Drooling, sweaty and worse at night. Worse with
extremes of hot or cold. Feels hot one minute, cold the next.
earaches: Earaches worse at night; thick
yellow or green discharge from the ear.
colds: Raw, burning sore throat; hoarseness;
swollen tonsils and glands; thick, runny
yellow-green mucus that irritates the nose, making it red and sore.
fevers: Night sweats; easily chilled and overheated.
cough: Dry cough, worse at night.
Pulsatilla
Indications: A child who responds to Pulsatilla
may present changeable symptoms and changeable
moods. Feels better outside. He or she can be
shy, weepy and clingy. Wants attention and
company. Cries easily and desires to be carried.
Feels warm, and better with fresh air.
Symptoms:: Yellow-green discharge that doesn't
irritate the skin. Lack of thirst.
earaches: Worse at night; may have a
yellow-green discharge from ears; hearing is muffled.
colds: Yellow-green mucus; nose sometimes
runny, sometimes stopped; runny nose is better
outside; yellow-green discharge in eye (conjunctivitis).
fevers: Changeable temperature; can feel
chilled yet desires open air; fever with no thirst.
cough: Dry cough at night, loose during the
day; cough worse in warm, stuffy rooms; feels
better sitting up in bed, or with fresh air.
Many patients come to my office looking for a
homeopathic remedy that is natural and safe
without any side effects. Acute cold and flu
symptoms respond well to homeopathic treatment.
Homeopathic remedies come in different strengths
or potencies. The lower potencies which range in
strength from 6X, 6C, 30X and 30C are appropriate
for use at home. The correct choice of remedy
will work at any strength. In general, remedies
in the strengths of 6X and 6C need to be repeated
more often than the 30X or 30C. I prefer that
people new to homeopathy begin with the lower 6X
or 6C potencies. Homeopathic medicine is safe and
effective, without the side effects of standard
medicine, and it is useful for adults as well as children.
For chronic conditions, I recommend
constitutional homeopathic treatment, in which a
homeopathic remedy is chosen by a trained
homeopath after a lengthy interview. This method
can be very effective for the long-term resolution of chronic conditions.