This week has been a funny one. Last week was a very much out-and-about week and this week has been a very stay-at-home-as-much-as-possible week, after Winston had too much fun and too little sleep spending the weekend with just his Dad, plus a bit of illness. He has been completely shattered. He slept 5 hours during the day on Monday alone and still took his nightly 12 hour block 7 pm – 7 am, and the week has continued to be a sleepy (and a grizzly) one.
Yesterday he was back in bed by 9:30 am and when he woke up he would not stop screaming, I was pretty confident that his screaming wasn’t due to teething. This hasn’t happened for such a long time and it really took my by surprise! – I haven’t felt the need to whip out the Calpol, teething granules or my homeopathic remedies for quite a few months. I was thinking about what to do and an image flashed into my head, one that has firmly stuck with me since I first saw it at University. It is not the one below, but is very similar.
Look (or sound) familiar? Homeopathy can help!
It is an image that has been drawn to represent when to use a particular homeopathic remedy. In the instance of this picture the remedy is called Chamomilla, and it was exactly what I needed. Thankfully I have plenty of it in my house in the form of teething granules, but teething granules have so many more uses than just teething. Chamomilla is also extremely good for a child that is screaming constantly and wants to be carried everywhere, a child that is screaming and seems angry or in pain, constipation or diarrhea where they are just screaming. Overall they are extremely irritable, contrary and impatient with you. They cannot decide what they want and can even seem in a rage. Winston was like a wild animal when I tried to put him in his cot.
Homeopathy works beautifully in children because they usually don’t have the emotional baggage that adults often have, which means the remedy can work on just the physical symptoms.
Other homeopathic remedies that are extremely useful for young children and babies:
Pulsitilla
This is for children that are extremely emotional, tearful and clingy. They need constant cuddles and may have a thick, yellow catarrh.
Belladonna
This is for high fever. They are red and the heat seems to radiate from their head, but toes and fingers may be icy cold. The fever can come on very quickly and the child might even tell you that they are seeing things.
Bryonia
For a dry cough that tends to come on after exposure to the cold. The child is irritable and wants to be left alone.
Arnica
For bumps, falls and bruises. Arnica cream is fantastic applied directly to the unbroken skin.
Antimonium Tartaricum
For coughs where you can hear the mucous rattling in the wind pipe. They are sleepy and quite often very sweaty. The child cannot bring up the mucous.
For nappy rash: Calendula cream. I use Weleda when we need it and it is incredibly effective stuff!
Of course if symptoms persist and you feel uneasy about your child’s illness, do not hesitate to take them to the doctors.
E xx
This was VERY helpful. At times Megan has episodes as you described – hello boots! Hello teething granules!
I was raised on homeopathy and plan to use it when our little one arrives. It’s great to hear what works from another mom with experience!