Do Homeopathic remedies work to prevent/treat cold and flu?

[htbp]

We've had the same awful virus making the rounds in our house since Easter, very annoying and lots of school missed. This is with me opening the windows and spraying etc.

I'm wondering now if anyone knows of any homeopathic remedies to prevent/treat colds and flu in kids (3 and 5 years old) - and whether they work?

Also is there a remedy for UTI's in kids?

Any feedback would be much appreciated as its all getting more than a little annoying now!!

THANKS!!

[LuckySantangelo1]

Homeopathy is a load of bunk. It's sugar pills. Save your money!

[elQuintoConyo]

Nope.

[PunkrockerGirl]

What Lucky said.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Homeopathic remedies never work beyond the placebo effect.

[HirplesWithHaggis]

Agree with everyone else. Homeopathic remedies have their place as placebo, but sugar pills cannot treat viral infections.

[readingrainbow]

I would zero in on diet and cut out the junk if you want to increase your family's health. "Let food by thy medicine" etc etc.

[HirplesWithHaggis]

Oh, and opening windows and spraying are useful, but better handwashing for the dc will probably help just as much, if not more.

[Ricardian]

You could try drinking water out of the tap.

Not only is it cheaper, but as it has been in contact with every drug in the world it is the most powerful medicine imaginable.

"100C bullshit"

[readingrainbow]

Oh yes, hygiene is a big one. Maybe get a few of those NHS handwashing posters and stick them up in your bathroom/s?

[BertrandRussell]

Homeopathy is utterly brilliant for treating vague feelings of unease and time limited illnesses. I suggest pulsatilla pratensis at bedtime on the evening of day 4 of your cold. You will feel much better over the next few days.

[Kummerspeck]

You should know better than to ask anything about homeopathy on MN!
It's like asking for a recommendation for a steakhouse on a vegan chat site

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Maybe you could look at herbal remedies which aren't a pile of woo.

[GreenMarkerPen]

they don't, they can't.
if they could they would bei licensed as medicines.
however: the placebo effect is powerful, but a spoonfull of jam would do the trick.

when it comes to strengthening the immune system it always goes back to

• nutrition
  
• sleep
  
• exercise

[KittyandTeal]

I'm of the Briam Cox train of through on homeopathy.

Saying that, it worked a treat when I was stupidly anxious about my driving test. Placebo effect is brilliant because I knew it was utter bullshit even as I was taking the tablets. Made me feel better though (and no that doesn't prove it works, it's additional evidence for placebo effect)

[ShowOfHands]

Have you tried antibiotics for the UTI?

[BertrandRussell]

Do you know for sure it's a virus?

If it's a bacterial infection going round and round, it might take antibiotics to stop it....

[BertrandRussell]

Sorry- I didn't see the UTI bit.

A UTI can be dangerous if it lingers too long- it does sound as if they need the doctor. And I speak as someone who has one frozen up and one almost grown up child who have only had antibiotics 3 times between them and only saw the doctor about 6 times in 20 years.

[BertieBotts]

No, but if you're looking for herbal supplements, echinacea works. Also try to make sure you're getting enough vitamin C.

[duckyneedsaclean]

Yes, there is a remedy for UTIs - antibiotics. Usually a 3 day course.

Ps. Spraying what?

[NicknameUsed]

Untreated UTIs can have serious implications. I sincerely hope you aren't risking your child's health by resorting to homeopathy for this.

Bacteria can travel from the bladder to the kidneys and cause a kidney infection. If left untreated it can cause permanent kidney damage and possibly kidney failure later in life.

DD had UTIs as a small child and this was spelled out to me very clearly.

You can avoid antibiotics for many things, but please don't it if it is a urine infection.

[User4347876788]

As someone who was brought up on homeopathy, I can say categorically it doesn't work, apart from as a placebo. I have learned that the hard way. Now I have my own family I don't allow them to be used, as I feel they just distract from proper assessment of the illness and the application of evidence based medicine.

Homeopathic remedies are fine (as a PP mentions above) for things like mild anxiety, (such as exam stress) or mild illnesses that would go away on their own anyway. It makes the person taking it feel in control, and believe they should start feeling better, which often they do (which is the placebo affect in action).

Remedies do not 'work' in any real sense on conditions which wouldn't resolve by themselves. There are no active ingredients. I might as well wave a magic wand at you and say 'hocus, pocus, your cold is gone!'. You might believe I cured your cold (which would have got better on it's own) but I didn't.

Eat more fruit and veg, get more sleep. If it doesn't get better in a few more days, see the GP.

[User4347876788]

Oh I didn't see the UTI thing either. For goodness sake get antibiotics. Homeopathy will do zero for it apart from give it time to get a lot worse.

[SophieofShepherdsBush]

Might as well give the kids tic-tacs.
Improve diet, hand washing, rest. These will help prevent colds!

[htbp]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply out of ernest, and not because they felt the need to condescend and judge (possibly only 2 of you). Who knew mums netters were so judgmental.

First of all, my kids wash their hands all the time, eat well, sleep well and take antibiotics for UTI's and other infections if needed. No one has a UTI at the moment but my son has an existing condition that makes him predisposed, so my question was around prevention.

My knowledge of homeopathic medicine is nil - which is why i ASKED THE QUESTION.

Truly awful ppl on this site, who clearly use it as a tool to release frustration from their small and petty lives.