Blog - Childrens Illnesses & Homeopathic Solutions

Homeopathy offers “alternative” in children’s winter ailments.

Help is at hand for parents in Lancaster looking for an alternative to paracetamol for their children’s winter bugs, following research suggesting a link between the drug and asthma.

Homeopathic remedies are non-toxic and safe for use in babies and children (1) and research has shown that homeopathic remedies can be effective in children with respiratory tract infections (2), Otitis media (build up of fluid in the ear which can lead to infection) (3) and sinusitis (4).

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which is based on treating the individual with highly diluted substances given in mainly tablet form, which triggers the body’s natural system of healing. In children, the most appropriate medicine is matched to the illness according to the symptoms and how the child is feeling in themselves.

Some parents are worried about giving their children paracetamol, which is the active ingredient of Calpol, following the publication of research in the Lancet in September, which found that babies given paracetamol were more likely to develop asthma, as were those in later childhood who were given it frequently. Use of the drug was also associated with a risk of eczema and rhino conjunctivitis (allergy-linked runny nose and watering eyes). (5)

Homeopathic remedies can be used at home in acute conditions, but recurrent coughs and infections should been seen by a qualified homeopath registered with the Society of Homeopaths.

And last year the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) removed six cough medicines from sale following fears about possible overdose. (6)

There are many remedies available over the counter that could be useful in childhood winter ailments, each having its own specific characteristics.

1. Dantas F Rampes H, 2000. Do homeopathic medicines provoke adverse effects? A systematic review. BR Homeopathic Journal 89 (Supl): 535-8 2. de Lange de Klerk, ESM, Blommers, J, Kuik, DJ, et al., “Effect of Homoeopathic Medicines on Daily Burden of Symptoms in Children with Recurrent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections,” BMJ, November 19, 1994;309:1329-1332.; Steinsbekk, A, Fønnebø, V, Lewith, G, and Bentzen, N. Homeopathic care for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections in children: A pragmatic, randomised, controlled trial comparing individualised homeopathic care and waiting-list controls. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Volume 13, Issue 4 , December 2005, Pages 231-238. 3.Jacobs J, Springer DA, Crothers D. Homeopathic treatment of acute otitis media in children: a preliminary randomized placebo-controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2001; 20: 177–183/ Frei H, Thurneysen A. Homeopathy in acute otitis media in children: treatment effect or spontaneous resolution? Br Homeopath J 2001; 90: 180–182/ Friese K-H, Kruse S, Ludtke R, Moeller H "Homeopathic treatment of otitis media in children: comparisons with conventional therapy". Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1997; 35: 296-301. 4. Adler M. Efficacy, safety of a fixed-combination homeopathic therapy for sinusitis. Adv Ther 1999; 16: 103–111. 5. Beasley R, Clayton T, Crane J, von Mutius, E, Lai, CKW, Montefort, S, Stewart, A. Association between paracetamol use in infancy and childhood, and risk of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children aged 6–7 years: analysis from Phase Three of the ISAAC programme. The Lancet2008;372:1039-1048 6. http://www.mhra.gov.uk/NewsCentre/Pressreleases/CON014446

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