Homeopathy for Kids

Till the age of five, children have low immunity and therefore fall ill often. Digestive and respiratory ailments are the most common problems that occur in children. Some children fall prey to these illnesses so often that it becomes difficult for the parents too. It is difficult to make children take medicines so often since most allopathic medicines have an unpleasant taste and smell. Secondly, it is not even good to take too much allopathic medicine as the body gradually becomes so used to the medicine that it stops reacting to it. Some medicines cause harmful side effects too. This is when homeopathy should be tried. Children’s body are delicate and so they require a gentler treatment.

Why Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is gentle, safe and natural. They are prepared from natural substances like herbs and given in minute doses. It is non-toxic too.

The remedies which are made from natural substances are diluted and potentized and therefore do not cause any strong effect in the body. Antibiotics sometimes upset the stomach and when taken too often it is said to become ineffective. There is no such effect of homeopathy as it is basically a system that helps the body to creates its own natural defence. It stimulates the body’s own reactive power. The reactive power of the body is higher in children and therefore homeopathy is said to be more effective for them.

Sometimes there is lot of experimentation in allopathy till the right diagnosis and treatment is found. The patient is given some medicine and if that doesn’t work, another medicine is introduced. Homeopathic remedies are not disease specific, but based on a broad set of symptoms. And because they are in dilute form, they do not harm even when taken for a long term.

Homeopathy raises the immunity of the child. It also helps to prevent illness. Chronic conditions clear up completely and do not came back. Allopathy may only suppress the symptoms temporarily, only to recur again after sometime.

Children make no fuss in taking homeopathy medicines as they are mostly in the form of little sugar pills which dissolve easily in the mouth. The liquid remedy is infused in the sugar pill to make it easy to absorb. There are powders and ointments too. There are no injections in homeopathy.

How does Homeopathy Work

The word ‘Homeopathy’ is coined from the Greek words ‘homoios’ and ‘pathos’. ‘Homoios’ means like or similarity and ‘pathos’ means suffering. Thus the word homeopathy means ‘similar suffering’. This is because homeopathy works on the principle- ‘ likes cure likes’. Homeopathy is a method of treatment that stimulates the body’s own healing mechanism by creating similar symptoms.

For example, there is a homeopathic medicine called ‘Allium Cepa’. This medicine is created from red onion and is used to treat watery eyes and runny nose. When we cut onion it causes watery eyes and runny nose. When mild, diluted doses of ‘Allium Cepa’ enters the body, it creates a similar ‘symptom picture’ and pushes the body to start the process to stop watery eyes and runny nose.

Because homeopathy works by creating similar symptoms, sometimes the symptoms in the patient aggravates initially. This is believed to be a sign indicating that the remedy will work.

Duration of Treatment

Homeopathic treatments are available for acute, self limiting ailments like cold, stomach flu etc. and also for chronic, persistent conditions like allergies.

For acute problems, there are homeopathic remedies which start showing beneficial reactions in a short period. But chronic ailments take time as the medicines are mild and they gently trigger the bodies healing process by creating similar symptoms. The length of time a person needs to take the treatment for a chronic problem will depend on how long the person has been suffering from that problem and its nature.

Children’s Ailments Treated by Homeopathy

Homeopathy claims to treat both physical as well as emotional problems effectively. The diseases commonly treated are- infant colic, teething problems, earache, cold and other respiratory tract ailments, digestive disorders, constipation, watery eyes, runny nose, fever, vomiting, skin problems, growth related problems, convulsions, bed wetting etc. Behavioral problems like tantrums, anger, lack of concentration, anxiety, hyperactivity, extreme moodiness, sadness, restlessness, sleeplessness, irritability etc.

Experiments are still on to scientifically prove exactly how homeopathy works. In spite of all the doubts of its effectiveness, it is a fact that people have been cured of their diseases. And going by the ever increasing occurrence of ailments becoming chronic and harmful effects of allopathic medicines, there is no harm in trying a harmless remedy. After all, we don’t want to see our children suffering and living on strong medicines forever!