alternative remedies

[Emmagee]

Echinachea again...can you take it when breastfeeding?

Fidge, I'd say that however much we like using alternative remedies whenever possible, if your daughter had an infection that responded so readily to antibiotics, then you were right to get them prescribed for her. I'd be surprised if anything from the herbal/homoeopathic traditions worked as quickly.
Antibiotics are only a "problem" when used for the wrong reasons in my book. A careful, thoughtful parent like you should not be feeling guilty about using these excellent drugs to combat a bacterial infection, which is what they are designed to do.
We use a lot of the suggestions so far - and have some new ones to think about now, thanks to Mollipops - but I will still take my son to be checked by a doctor if I feel his symptoms are not clearing up properly.
Hope she is feeling much better now.
PS if your daughter is one of those who suffers a bit of a loose tummy after a course of antibiotics, powdered lactobacillus will help the benign flora in the gut to regenerate itself. Works every time on my son.

Since I've got a scientific background I was never very impressed by the claims for homeopathy and my attempts to use it haven't done much for me. However there are some natural substances where there are proper clinical trials to suggest they work. Echinacea is one. You may want to try some xylitol if your child gets ear infections/ sore throats. It doesn't kill bacteria but it stops some of them from sticking to your throat and teeth. It works faster than antibiotics (some relief within about half an hour, you need to repeat to be sure it doesn't return) but it doesn't stop/prevent all infections. It will prevent about 30/40% of ear infections depending on whether you use sweets or gum. There is a nasal spray that may be better but it has to come from America. More information on the ear infection thread or at www.kidsteeth.ic24.net/page21.html As your child is now over 2 get some of the Boots childrens toothpaste with a crocodile on as it contains xylitol and may help prevent infections.

Thanks for all your comments, I'm going to print out the herbal stuff and keep it for next time. Dd is basically a very healthy child so hopefully we won't need it too soon.

Wendym, I also have a scientific background and always thought homeopathy didn't make good scientific sense but my own and others experience backs it up. Interestingly, I tried Echinacea and it didn't work for me altough I have heard that the drops are much more effective than the tablets I was using. I've just read the stuff about xylitol which is fascinating. Dh has a history of ENT problems and had lots of operations as a child which is why we are very aware of these things with dd. Am going to get toothpaste with xylitol for all of us and see of we can make it through the winter with no more infections. Will keep you posted.

BTW dd is much better now.

My homoeopathic practitioner is extremely opposed to vaccinations. I only have the information she has given me, and I wonder if any of you with knowledge of homoeopathy could give me more info, or recommend a book or website? Thanks

I would be so grateful if someone could please recommend a homeopathic remedy for sticky eyes in an infant. My 4m+ ds is on his third lot of antibiotic eye drops... the swabs don't reveal a particular bug, but his eyes just don't seem to clear up. Any recommendations would be very much appreciated. Thanks, BK.

Bossykate, if you're breastfeeding it's possible to use breast milk to help with sticky eyes. You just put a few drops onto the baby's eyes a few times a day. Breast milk has anti-infective qualities and can sometimes knock out the bugs. Hope your DS is better soon.

The problem with any therapy, Fidge, is that sometimes people get better anyway. There was a famous (in medical circles) clinical trial where patients were given identical painkillers. One lot were told it was a well known brand, the other weren't. More people got better when it was a drug they'd heard of. Nearly as many got better on sugar pills that they thought were a drug. If you have faith in something it is more likely to help you so perhaps that's why homeopathy hasn't really worked for me. I wish we could get more trials done on alternative therapies and I'll go on trying some, which is why I was reading this thread. Since I don't take other medication they aren't likely to do me any harm.

Bossykate

Try Euphrasia tincture in their eyes. It is usually bought in 'mother tincture' form and you will need to dilute this in cooled boiled water (about 1/3 of a small tumbler use 3-4 drops) Then use a seperate piece of cotton wool for each eye and swab regularly.

Although I know of none of your childs symptoms quite often pulsatilla will also work well. Place one tablet/pillule in cooled boiled water (it doesn't have to completely dissolve) and using a sterilised teaspoon or medicine syringe put some of the liquid in your baby's mouth this counts as one dose. Give up to three doses over 24 hours - if you see no improvement then it will not be the right remedy (you will not affect the Euphrasia nor harm your baby)

To get either of these remedys go to www.helios.co.uk and they will deliver the next working day.

WendyM

Homeopathy is often said to have the placebo affect but that wouldn't explain why it is so successful at treating small babies and even animals!! I have total faith in homeopathy (I am going to be training to become a homepath next year) but I always use it in conjunction with my GP's advice and never in total isolation. For me it has been a god send as when you are breastfeeding or have jsut become a parent the last thing you really want to do is to take or give antibiotics and homeopathy provide a safe non-chemical alternative.

Mollipops, could I ask you what the title and author of your book is please? Only I've been after something like that for ages. Would you recommend it?

Thanks in advance...

Fidge

I can recommend the following books (which look like massive reads but are actually quite well written and fairly easy to understand.) Both are by Miranda Castro one is entitled Mother and baby and the other is just homeopathic guide.

If it is difficult to pay a homeopath you could contact local colleges - there are many in london or go to www.homeopath.co.uk for a guide on local homepaths - some of which can offer reduced rates.

The colleges require patients for their students to begin taking cases and all visits are very strictly supervised and in most cases advice is free and just as good, as it will be double checked by a qualified homeopath there and then.

Another method would be to contact a local homeopath to discover when their next 'first aid' course will be - this is how I got started and it gives a very good grounding and will enable you to put the Miranda Castro books to better use. My course was c £50 for three days (it was through an NCT contact and we all took our babies along)

Best of luck.

Suedonim - we have been down the breast milk route to no avail, but thanks anyway.

Tlb - thanks very much, i'll try some euphrasia.

Ah, well, it was worth a try, Bossykate. Hope you find a remedy soon.

Tlb, I use homeopathic remedies wherever possible, especially euphrasia for hayfever which is brilliant (I have my little Nelsons book to look up different things). I have been trying to think of something to study and homeopathy would really suit me, it didnt even cross my mind. My mum is an aromatherapist so wasnt worth doing that. Can I get all the info needed off the website? And do they do the three day course across the country??

Lizzer, it is an Australian book called Pamela's Natural Remedies for babies and children, by Pamela Allardice, published thru Random House.
You might find it on amazon I guess.
Incidentally Bossykate, her recommendation for sticky eye is 1 tbspn dried marigold flowers boiled in 1 cup water, simmered 15 mins, strained and then filtered thru a paper coffee filter. Use at room temp in a eye bath for older children, or soak a clean gauze pad or cottonwool pad and apply as a compress for younger ones. Don't ask me where you would find dried marigold flowers!!!
Hope it helps and good luck with finding the book!

I have read today that sulphar seems to be the perfect homeopathic remedy for my sons sort of eczema on his face and the itching that goes with it. I went around a few health food shops without much joy. Anybody used it and know where I can get perhaps a cream? As you can see from the time of my previous posting (and I was up alot earlier than that) that it would be really good to get some for some sleep.

Joe1
Depending whether your son's eczema is the dry or wet kind, there are a few other natural things that might help. Assuming it is the dry kind, evening primrose oil is supposed to be very beneficial, either as drops under the tongue or directly applied to the skin. Calendula oil is very soothing and is good in the bath, just 2 or 3 drops. Also, avoid soaps in the bath/shower and experiment with your washing powder if you haven't already.
You can make a balm out of the following:
3 tblspns dried chickweed leaves
2 tblspns dried marigold flowers
1 tblspn dried burdock root
Place above into a non-aluminium saucepan, add enough almond oil to cover. Warm over low heat 15 - 20 mins, do not boil. Cover and allow to cool. Then strain thru a plastic sieve, then again thru folded muslin. Pour into an airtight glass or plastic bottle or jar. Add 4 drops of calendula oil and shake thoroughly. Smooth over skin to use. Store in refrigerator.
Or if you prefer a stop-itch lotion try:
4 tbspns dried nettle leaves
3 tbspns witchhazel
3 drops rosemary oil
1 and a quarter cups boiling water
place leaves into a heatproof pan or bowl and pour boiling water over. Cover and set aside overnight. Strain off pulp and discard. Pour liquid into a dark glass bottle, add the witchhazel and rosemary oil, cork or cap with a non-metallic lid and shake well. Dab onto affected area with cottonwool ball or cotton pad 4 to 6 times a day. Store in refrigerator.

Hope these give your son (and you) some relief!

Does anyone have any suggestions for my nearly 2 yr old who has a terribly 'snotty - blocked - croaky' cough. He coughed earlier and was sick with all the yuk (sorry!) but I cant think what would help. I thought perhaps stopping milk for a while as that doesnt help with mucus does it?? Any ideas? Thanks.

Ems, at least he's getting rid of it which is better than it sitting in his chest/tummy! Make sure he has plenty of fluids and give an expectorant cough mixture, not a supressant (except at night so he can sleep) to help shift the mucous. My earlier post had some other info in this thread too...
Hope he's feeling better soon!

Thanks Mollipops, it is beginning to clear slightly and he slept really well last night, so fingers crossed he's on the mend.

Thanks Mollipops, can I get the bits from health food shops?? I recently mailed Nelsons and they have informed me that you can get homepathic treatment on the NHS, anybody tried this?

Ems, my friend told me that camomile tea can help clear mucus and when dd last had a 'drippy' cold I gave her a beaker full of quite watery, warm tea with a bit of honey in it (well, its meant to be soothing isn't it?! Besides I think it tastes quite foul without!)just before bed. She drank it fine and it seemed to help over the night (ie she didn't wake up as much as she had been doing). Its not like it can do any harm if you want to give it a go, they're only a pound for a box of 80...Hope he's better soon.

Thanks for book title Mollipops, I'll check out amazon and see if its available over here...

Incidently (touch wood) my daughter hasn't had a cold since taking the bioforce echinacea drops for children. She's been through one bottle of them and finished them about 4 weeks ago, I haven't yet bought some more as advice seemed to suggest you don't need to take them constantly. Compared to last year this is a minor miracle as she was plagued with nasty bugs as soon as I cut down on b/feeding. I've been taking it off and on too for the last couple of months and the same can be said for myself... (I've so cursed myself now by saying that, you can guarantee me waking up tomorrow with flu!!)

Joe1

Sorry for the delay - couldn't get on as everyone was having probs with this site and then have been really busy at work. For homeopaths first aid course contact the homeopathic society (number usually in the book or homeopath.co.uk) for a list of registered homeopaths and ask when they are going to do a first aid course, most homeopaths do this as a way of expanding their patients etc so usually don't charge a lot.

If anyone is having difficulty getting any type of homeopathic remedy I can highly recommend Helios. www.helios.co.uk - all are qualified homeopaths so can give good advice. if you order before I think 2pm it is next day postage minimum order is £5. They do 'first aid' kits in either 18/36 remedies which I use all the time and are very good value - I recommend ringing them as opposed to using their website initially as you get more information that way.

An update on gunky eyes. My dd has just had a bad bought (sp?) and the Euphrasia seemed to be clearing it slowly but also 'burning' her eyes a little (which it can do apparantly) anyway I tried argent nit 30c and after two doses it cleared up instantly literally overnight - so do give that a go too.

At the mo dd now has a horrid cough too and have tried her usual cough remedies but I never seem to get the right one and neither does my homeopath so we are having to go down the antibiotic route unfortunately. So I will be getting the Australian book Mollipops recommended.

Thanks TLB, I will call Helios. I contacted Nelsons but they would not give any info due to ds age and advised seeing a homeopathic doctor. Ds is not so bad at the moment, gets itchy if very tired or hot and something else is triggering it off and at the moment chocolate seems the one thing so that has been cut out to see what happens.

I've just discovered ( via a medical e-mail friend) www.wellaware.co.uk It covers complimentary therapies too and is well worth a visit.