Homeopathy for children?

[fraktious]

I know this might be a bit woo but does anyone else use homeopathic treatments for common childhood ailments? We have (magic) teething powders and I've laid in arnica in anticipation but I'm not sure what else people typically use homeopathy for.

Our GP is very pro homeopathy and I swear by it for many things, I know that it can be used for a whole range if things but I'm looking for anecdotes/advice on where it does work and where it doesn't. I'm not planning to treat him myself but any advice about when to ask for a homeopathic remedy would be welcome :)

See - I knew these homeopathic remedies didn't work

Well I was brought up on homeopathy too and it annoyed the hell out of me. But now I have children I find myself looking to it more and more. It has an effect about 50% of the time even to my cynical eyes. I have a Helios basic remedies kit and use it often, never instead of going to doc, the key word is Complementary. It can help you turn the corner. It certainly helped me to stave off PND.
Don't know why but there you go.

Urm yup Heliopolis ... same as a spoon of sugar would - it's called The Placebo Effect.

I find the idea that homeopathy could stave off PND quite preposterous. And I say that having nearly being hospitalised for said condition after birth of DC2.

Some good comments here supporting both sides of the argument for anyone interested in a more reasoned view:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/homeopathy/Pages/Introduction.aspx

I was in a terrible state. Had tried several things, without wishing to go into detail, and so can't believe it was placebo. Really don't understand the cynicism.

I am worried that anyone with severe postnatal depression might think homeopathy is appropriate when they should be visiting their GP for antidepresseants and/ or talking therapies. Had I used homeopathy rather than antidepressants I would not be here for my children today, simple as that.

heliopolis, it's not like herbal remedies - Homeopathic 'preparations' contain no active ingredient.

there's no way it could do anything other than by placebo effect. it's not that science can't explain it, it's just not possible.

we're not being cynical, we're looking at the facts.

Understand all the concerns. The key word is COMPLEMENTARY and I was under very close supervision from doc and HV, and any other mums out there with PND should also remain under same supervision.
I don't care about the chemistry and how they worked, they just worked FOR ME, and believe it or not better and quicker than anti depressants which I have also been on. Fact. I too was sceptical so I understand the shock horror.
Heliop

Complementary ... ie you need something else with it to get an effect ... maybe perhaps like something with an active ingredient rather than hope and good wishes?
Or maybe you have made a discovery that sugar helps PND? It helped my son with his teething pain! (sugar that is)

Heliopolis, no beef at all with the fact that homepathy worked for you, personally. However, I would suggest that maybe you would have been fine without any treatment of any sort whatsoever e.g., you were never going to develop PND in the first place.

The point about homeopathy and its ilk is that they have been proven to work no better than placebo in randomised groups of people. Or course some poeple in a group will feel better after a particular homeopathic treatment but all the evidence says that it's not because of the homeopathy, it's because you were going to get better anyway.

Also, how do you know that it wasn't the antidepressants making you better and that the homeopathy worked 'quicker'? Were you still taking antidepressants at the time you also took homeopathy?

It is absolutely standard for antidepressants (of most classes) to only start to work after 6-8 weeks.