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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in not allowing MIL to give my baby arnica?

62 replies

iamaLeafontheWind · 26/07/2009 22:03

She's a lovely MIL, but I don't eally believe in all the alternative stuff. DD is only 11 months & had bumped her head, MIL was very insistant about giving her some arnica. Both me & DH had to be quite firm about it & I think we hurt her feelings. AIBU? or overly PFB?

OP posts:

Aranea · 26/07/2009 22:04

What harm did you think it would do?

thisisyesterday · 26/07/2009 22:06

personally i think you were probably being a bit PFB.
i swear by arnica, though i am not really a hippy/alternative-y type person at all!

it wouldn't have done her any harm.
that said, if you don't want her to ahve it that's absolutely your choice and should be respected

bratley · 26/07/2009 22:08

Your baby, your rules.
Whether it would harm her or not, if you didn't want her having it thats your choice. Not being unreasonable IMO, just expressing your choices for your child.

TheLadyEvenstar · 26/07/2009 22:10

its just a cream isn't it? I have used it many times....and my ds's are still here.

But your child your choice.

stroppyknickers · 26/07/2009 22:12

Not if you can offer an alternative, traditional treatment - cold compress, know the signs of concussion so you can reassure MIL that her GC will be okay.

TeamEdward · 26/07/2009 22:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cthea · 26/07/2009 22:15

YABU, it's not harmful. It would have irritated me if they'd then gone on to extol its virtues endlessly but anything for a quiet life.

Original poster

iamaLeafontheWind · 26/07/2009 22:17

It comes in a cream? Ok, that I would have slapped on for an easy life. I'm pretty sure she was offering tablets.

OP posts:

diedandgonetodevon · 26/07/2009 22:21

YAB a bit U. It's worth getting a tube of arnica cream. I've not found anything that helps with bruising nearly as well.
It's hardly 'alternative'. You can buy it in the supermarket now you know.

Pruneurs · 26/07/2009 22:28

Arnica cream is herbal (usually).
Arnica pills are homoeopathic.

Neither would have done any harm.

Whether or not they'd have done any good, well that's anyone's guess

Aranea · 26/07/2009 22:31

Oooohhhhh, thank you Pruneurs for clearing that one up!

I have no belief in homoeopathy, but am convinced arnica cream works. I had been feeling a bit uncomfortable with that, but now realise it's not inconsistent of me at all. Phew.

oliviasmama · 26/07/2009 22:35

IME it has helped and well worth having in the house. I take it at face value and think it's really good but your choice for your child.

She was really only trying to help surely?

Pruneurs · 26/07/2009 22:36

Ach, people always get herbalism (ie pharmacology of sorts) mixed up with homoeopathy (ie shite ), the dimwits!

I find the cream to be reasonably effective too.

PinkyMinxy · 26/07/2009 22:39

I'm sure it would be ok, but I have an arnica cream for children and it's says not suited for children under 3. I have found it works really well on bumps and bruises (DS learning to ride bike!)

proverbial · 26/07/2009 23:16

I would use the cream, its brilliant, but would not have given the pills. You don't know whats in them (most likely nothin at all, even actual arnica, but they aren't properly regulated) and the pills even say on them not for infants.

purlease · 26/07/2009 23:21

Arnica is one homeopathic treatment I do believe in - even had consultant recommend it to me after birth of first child. Wouldn't even consider giving it to a child - Calpol is a cure all for kids . Kisses and Mr Bump (cold pack) also seem to be very effective.

edam · 26/07/2009 23:23

I'd use arnica cream, excellent for bruising.

As for the tablets, done properly they shouldn't have any actual arnica in anyway. That's the whole point of homeopathy, diluting the original substance with water until not a single molecule is left, bar the 'memory' of arnica.

Mybox · 26/07/2009 23:25

yanbu - I wouldn't give my kids this when they bumped themselves.

kitkatqueen · 26/07/2009 23:28

Always in my handbag, fab stuff, safe in pregnancy too.

I slap it on every bump me dp or dcs get...

also helps my back in pregnancy. I didn't know anything about it when I 1st had dd1 and my lovely godmother stuck some on my daughters back one day when she fell over and bruised it. I was amazed that my dd who would usually whinge about somthing like that for a week had forgotten about it in minutes and the bruise disapeared really quickly too.

Sorry but i'm a convert, I agree totally your child your rules, but i'm very glad I've found out just how good it is and let my godmother apply it that day. Theres no point in being in pain if you don't have to be.

BecauseImWorthIt · 26/07/2009 23:28

I managed to slam my finger in the front door. Thankfully I didn't break it, which was a miracle, but the bruising was immediate and spectacular. I went to the GP and asked to see the Practice Nurse, just to double check it wasn't broken or if there was anything I should/shouldn't be doing, as the bruising was spreading down my finger.

She recommended arnica tablets. I am a bit suspicious about the worth of such remedies, but I did buy some, and the results were amazing. Within 24 hours the bruising was virtually gone.

YANBU to want to do things your way, but YABU to not consider that there could be some benefit from the treatment.

proverbial · 26/07/2009 23:34

"As for the tablets, done properly they shouldn't have any actual arnica in anyway. That's the whole point of homeopathy, diluting the original substance with water until not a single molecule is left, bar the 'memory' of arnica."

Which is what makes it so illogical and silly.

glitterchick · 26/07/2009 23:34

I read a thing recently about the dangers of alternative stuff. It mentioned that arnica can be harmful if it gets into blood stream. Dont know if thats true but stopped using is just in case.

Pruneurs · 26/07/2009 23:36

But to be fair, many things are harmful if they get into your bloodstream....

AitchTwoOh · 26/07/2009 23:37

they;ve tested the cream, it does work.

edam · 26/07/2009 23:53

It won't get into your bloodstream if you put it on a bruise, though, will it? As long as you avoid cuts.

Friend of mine was run over on a pedestrian crossing, thrown onto the bonnet of the car and then thrown yards down the road. When the ambulance got to hospital, she was asking for her bag and the paramedics and nurses and everyone kept saying yes dear, we'll find it in a minute, thinking she was worrying about her cards or money. While they were obviously worrying about the extent of the injuries and whether she'd ever walk again...

EVENTUALLY someone listened to her and got her bag. She took a whole load of arnica tablets in one gulp (which you shouldn't do, but she was in shock). Couldn't believe it when I saw her the day after, she had so little bruising, it was amazing. The docs and nurses were equally taken aback.

Thing is, she really was very seriously hurt - was about a year before she got out of a wheelchair and she's been left with a permanent disability. The compensation eventually came in at about £0.5k, I think (and she deserved every penny). But the arnica clearly had a dramatic effect on the bruising. Sadly there's no herbal remedy to mend broken bones. (Or certainly not ones that have been shattered by a car, anyway.)

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