Treat common childhood ailments with these effective homeopathic remedies

Starter kit
Below are a handful of remedies very popular with parents. Grab a cosmetics sized bag or maybe an empty VHS case, and build a starter kit. Use the lower potencies, 6X, 6C, 10X, 30X, or 30C, for at-home treatment of acute symptoms. Dosing instructions are on the bottle. 1. Arnica - Often the remedy that transforms the skeptical into believers in homeopathy, nothing is quicker or more effective for physical trauma. Get both the pellets (internal use) and the gel/ointmnet (external use). For pain, trauma, bruising, sore muscles, sprains and strains, swelling, shock, overexertion, head injuries, etc. Take before and after events ranging from surgery to tough workouts. Do not use on open wounds - see calendula. Helps stop hemorrhaging from injury, and reabsorption of blood. 2. Aconitum napellus (Aconite) - Use for colds, fever, fear, and other sudden on-set ailments: Earache - painful, with a high fever Colds - sudden onset, runny nose that is watery, hot Fever - high fever, comes on suddenly, skin hot and dry Cough - sudden onset, dry, coupy cough Insomnia, when the child tosses and turns, kept awake by the fear of nightmares Use in first 24 hours of illness, not at the end Symptoms - watch for anxious look on the face, with perspiration Better from warmth & rest, worse from cold wind, weather 3. Calendula - One of the best remedies for skin. An antiseptic, use tincture, gel, spray, ointment, cream. Apply directly to wound, cut (not deep ones as it may heal top too quickly), burns, eczema, rash. Helps breakdown scar tissue, has some pain-reducing action, soothes canker sores, prevents pus, resists wound infection, soothes skin. 4. Chamomilla - Powerfully calming, it soothes restless, irritable children. For the child that must be held to be calmed. Use for: Colic - spasmodic pains that come and go, worse at night, warm Teething - irritable, may have diarrhea, red and tender gums, child refuses toys, food, drink. May or may not have fever. Earaches - sensitive to cold and noise, pain that makes child frantic Colds - watery, hot, runny nose that is also stuffed, difficulty sleeping Fever - alternates between feeling hot, cold Cough - dry, tickling, hoarseness, worse 9p.m. - midnight Look for anger, impatient, contrary, inconsolable, screaming and arching his back, hot feet,

hypersensitive, sour smell to body functions 5. Nux vomica - for overindulgence. Helps the child that has prolonged mental stress, disappointment in not reaching goals, hyperactive, overanxious, impatient, competitive, overexcitable. For the child that thrives on rebellion. Use for: Upset tummy/indigestion - gastric reflux with cramping and stomach pains, hiccups, flatulence, constipation Headache and nausea, loathing for food Diarrhea - from over feeding, or when baby strains but only produces small amount of stool Runny nose during the day, stuffiness at night Look for concurrent headache, indigestion, emotional upset. Things need to be a certain way, and impatient to be well. 6. Pulsatilla - No other remedy is used more often for children. Match emotional indications first; if they fit, use even if physical symptoms don't fit. A common constitutional remedy, usually for girls, the keynote symptoms are emotional, sensitive, moody children who crave attention. Can be shy, weepy, clingy. Often has complaints after eating rich or fatty foods. Use for: Earache - worse at night, may have yellow-green discharge from ears, hearing muffled Colds - Nose sometimes stopped, sometimes runny with yellow - green mucous that doesn't irritate skin Conjunctivitis - yellow-green discharge from eye Fever - can feel child is chilled but she still wants open air, no thirst Cough - dry cough at night, loose during the day Upset stomach with bloating and gas, abdominal distention in children who are not thirsty. Better from standing and moving, worse resting, in the evenings. Look for changeable symptoms, moods Better from cold food, complaints improve outside/open air - worse from stuffy rooms, hot weather Note: sepia is the remedy to give the caregiver of a pulsatilla child when they feel overwhelmed. Individuals often respond differently to disease, and in homeopathy this individual totality of symptoms is important in finding the right remedy. One thing that makes it easier to find the right remedy is to try a blend. There are several popular products that have several remedies in them, such as: teething tablets, cough syrups, calms forte, sniffles & sneezes, colic tablets, and many more. There are even homeopathic treatments for ADHD, Asperger's, as well as for developmental, learning, or speech disorders. It is a wonderful, inexpensive tool for parents who want to correct problems rather than treat symptoms, and offers a safe alternative to prescription drugs. Note: There is no reason not to use the above remedies on adults with the same symptoms.