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Even if it is no longer reimbursed in France, homeopathy is increasingly attractive to fight against small everyday ailments … And even those of babies! By adapting the granules and the quantities, homeopathy can soothe our newborn baby.
Homeopathy, what is it?
- The principle of similarity.
Homeopathy in practice treats evil with evil. We must identify the patient’s symptom and find the homeopathic medicine that corresponds to it (plant, mineral or animal) and which can cause the same symptom in a healthy subject.
- Field “
Homeopathy is a medicine that takes into account the symptoms of the child, but also his field, that is to say his character, his sensitivity : when he has a fever, does he ask for cold or, on the contrary, does he prefer to be covered, does he lose his appetite, does he ask for a drink? All this information is of interest to the homeopath to better target the personality of the child and therefore administer the necessary remedy.
Homeopathy is curative, but also, and above all, has a preventive action. She treats the patient not according to his illness, but to his person. In the case of a DMARD, the doctor first needs to identify your little one’s environment and personality… sometimes even before knowing the reason for your visit. So don’t be surprised: the first meeting, lasting between half an hour and an hour, is like a real interrogation. His food tastes, the quality of his sleep, the frequency of his stools… Everything goes!
- Dilutions
Unlike herbal medicine, which is exclusively based on plants, homeopathy uses different substances of animal, vegetable and mineral origins. These are macerated then diluted before being impregnated in the famous small granules based on lactose and sucrose. All remedies are therefore diluted and cannot be toxic.
The high dilutions (15 CH, 30 CH, 100 K, 200 K) are prescribed by the doctor to act in the long term on behavioral symptoms: fears, emotionality, aggressiveness. The low dilutions (4 CH to 15 CH) act in three or four days, on local symptoms: runny nose, teething …
Homeopathy in infants: from what age?
Toddlers, who have a completely “new” organism, are particularly receptive to homeopathy and react quickly to it. Indeed, homeopathy stimulates its natural immune defenses – in particular to avoid acute diseases such as angina. “Homeopathy can even be much more effective and less expensive than allopathy for the treatment of certain conditions such as fever, shingles or herpes thanks to a one-off acute treatment and a basic treatment adapted to the patient’s reaction mode“, Explains Dr. Pierre Popowski, homeopathic pediatrician.
If your child is the champion of recurrent serous otitis and rhinitis, homeopathy is also very effective as a basic treatment. «She treats all chronic diseases very well: nasopharyngitis, ear infections, tonsillitis, gastroenteritis… but also allergic reactions, eczema or asthma, which recur every year“, Underlines Alain Joseph, homeopathic doctor.
These remedies can be prescribed to a newborn without danger. Preventive, they are spread over several months. We administer them generally winter, from October to March. In summer, children are left alone, except in special cases. For self-medication, on the other hand, it is always better to wait until the child is at least 2 months old. And if there is no improvement after 48 hours, it is necessary to consult.
No risk of side effects
But above all, side effects, such as transient therapeutic worsening, are very rare. As for the interaction between several homeopathic remedies, the main possible consequence is inefficiency. “Some preparations prescribed by complex homeopaths (who combine several remedies) can be antidotes to each other“, Specifies Françoise Berthoud, homeopathic pediatrician.
However, stop the preconceived ideas, homeopathy is not an alternative medicine! The remedies will cause your child’s body to react. The goal of homeopathy is that a substance causing a series of symptoms in a healthy person is able to correct these same symptoms in a sick person.
Granules or globules: up to 6 months
For an infant, the doctor or pharmacist will advise you instead on ” triturations ” : those are powdered granules delivered with a measuring spoon, that you mix in a little water and that you give to your baby before his bottle. The globule doses contain approximately 200 globules (mini granules). For babies, these globules can be dissolved in a little lukewarm water, provided you do this in advance. Allow 20 to 25 minutes of waiting or prepare it the night before.
Depending on the school, doctors advise taking 3 or 5 granules, 3 or 4 times a day. When you have poured the granules into the cap of the tube, place them directly into your child’s mouth.
It is recommended to take them just before going to the table. But if you forgot, you wait at least a quarter of an hour after the end of the meal or brushing your teeth.
Homeopathy in self-medication: which one in which situations?
Knocks and bumps
You can give a dose of Arnica Montana following the shock and the appearance of a small bump or a small bruise, in low dilution (7 or 9 CH). We can then give 3 granules every hour for a day. From one year old, we can turn to an Arnigel tube, Arnica in gel form, or in the form of a cream or a spray.
Improve baby’s sleep or fight nightmares or even night terrors
We give our child at the end of the afternoon, three to five granules in 9 to 15 CH of Phosphorus, Stramonium, Kalium Bromatum, or Silicea – also in case of somnambulism.
Dental flare
Chamomilla in 7 CH is ideal for a crying baby with red cheeks, or a baby teething. Phytolacca can also be adapted if he is nervous, rather pale and bites his fists. Or Camilia ®: in single dose, to drink 2 or 3 times a day, for 3 days maximum. We also think of delicately massaging baby’s gums with a clean finger to relieve him, or offer him a teething ring that we have previously put in the freezer.
Diaper rash that accompanies teething
The Kreosotum is then quite suitable.
Otitis with or without fever
On the recommendation of your doctor, you can give your infant 3 granules in the morning and evening of Petroleum 7 CH, Manganum Metallicum 7 CH, or Asarum Europaeum 7 CH., in case of otitis without gastric reflux. For otitis with reflux, Cadmium Sulfuricum 7 CH or Lobelia Inflata 7 CH is preferred.
Cold or sneezing with clear discharge
Nux Vomica is the most general. If he has runny eyes, we opt for Euphrasia, and if the discharge is purulent, for Pulsatilla.
Bee and wasp stings, sunburn
Apis should quickly soothe the baby’s sting or burn.
Infant colic
From 3 weeks to 4 months, it is possible to soothe infant colic by homeopathy. Colocynthis 5 CH1, Dioscorea 5 CH or Calmosine can be prescribed by your homeopathic doctor.
Heartache in transport
If he vomits continuously, he is offered Cocculus. If the fresh air does him good, rather Tabaccum. You can also schedule a dose the day before Cocculin, then one just before departure, and one at the first symptoms.
Bronchiolitis
« Ipeca, is particularly indicated for babies who have spasms, cough and will vomit their bottle in jets », Specifies Dr Antoine Demonceaux. Ipeca is given in 9 CH, at the rate of ten granules diluted in very little water, before the morning, noon and evening bottles.
This is the same dosage that the doctor will prescribe for the other two drugs: Antimonium Tartaricum and Blatta Orientalis. The first, an antimony salt, is recommended especially for babies whose first symptom is congestion of the bronchi and who, secondly, have difficulty expectorating and wheezing.
The second, Blatta Orientalis, is indicated for babies whose dominant symptom isbronchial hypersecretion. These granules will be given for the duration of the symptoms, which is eight days. ” If, after a day, the child’s condition does not improve or worsens, I ask the parents to consult at the hospital or at a specialized consultation », Adds the doctor.
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Your questions about homeopathy
Are these drugs reimbursed by Social Security?
Since January 1, 2021 and the recommendations of the Haute Autorité de Santé indicating that the effectiveness of homeopathy is not proven and that its effect is that of a placebo, it is no longer supported by Social Security.
On average, an in-depth consultation (that of the interrogation!) cost 45 € and 30 for a one-off visit. However, each homeopath is free to apply their rates, so do not hesitate to ask the secretariat when making an appointment.
Does the homeopath only prescribe homeopathic medicines?
He is a doctor like any other, but he is also trained in homeopathy. He will therefore be able to choose the most suitable treatment for your child, whether it is homeopathy or allopathy, and he may also, in certain cases, combine the two types of treatment.