Homeopathic Constitutional Prescribing in Children

(By: Dr. Chantell Groenewald M.Tech Hom UJ)
 
What is homeopathic constitutional prescribing?
 
Homeopathic constitutional prescribing, refers to a holistic form of treatment, aimed at treating a patient as a whole. Every individual, has a unique constitutional remedy that suites their personality. This remedy, will be chosen by your homeopath, after careful assessment of each individual’s mental, emotional and physical state. Information that is considered when choosing a constitutional remedy includes:

• Sleep patterns,
• Appetite,
• Thirst,
• Bowel and urinary movements,
• Fears and phobias
• Personality type,
• Mental and emotional state
• Energy levels and
• Chronic health issues.

 
Why choose constitutional prescribing for your child?
 
That is easy. Children are subject to continuous growth and development. As they reach one milestone, their little bodies start preparing for the next. A carefully selected remedy can assist with issues such as:

• Fears such as the dark, strangers, loud noises etc
• Developmental delays
• Temper tantrums
• Behavioural issues
• Learning difficulties and disabilities
• Sleep difficulties
• Growing pains
• Colic and reflux
• Excessive crying and or irritability
• Children who are excessively shy, nervous, sensitive or anxious
• Hyperactivity
• Frequent colds and flu, otitis (middle ear infection) and tonsillitis
• Eczema, acne, warts, ringworm, impetigo and other skin related issues
• Lower respiratory tract issues, including asthma and recurrent infections (croup, bronchitis and pneumonia)
• Diarrhoea and constipation
• Diaper rash
• Teething difficulties
• Headaches or abdominal migraines
• Potty training and nocturnal enuresis (bed wetting)
• Recurrent urinary tract infections

 
Join me, in this five-week series, as we take an in-depth look at five of the most common constitutional remedy types in paediatrics. When discussing these remedies, it is important to remember that your child will probably not exhibit all the traits of a specific remedy, but should fit the general constitutional type picture depicted. Let us start this series with Calcarea Carbonica constitutional remedy picture. A child may fit more or less of the criteria based on their level of health and emotional well-being.
 
 
Calcarea Carbonica (Calc Carb)
 
KEY: Eczema, Sour discharges, Delayed milestones (crawling, walking, teething), Developmental difficulties, Constant runny nose, Frequent middle ear infection, Cradle cap, Constipation, Cold with perspiration on the head
 
Infants

• Blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin and light complexion
• Very independent and self-content, can play alone with their toys for long periods of time
• Easily startled by loud noises
• Irritable when they are ill, especially during teething
• Fearful and will cling to parent for security when they feel unwell
• Colds may extend to the eyes with a thick bland, yellow or green mucous discharge.
• Frequent runny noses, even when they are not ill
• Many head colds accompanied by much mucous that often descends into the chest
• Oral thrush
• Reflux with or without milk allergy and frequent vomiting of sour milk
• Hiccough easily
• Cradle cap is common
• Recurrent growth difficulties
• Difficult or delayed dentition
• Cold babies with a tendency to perspire on the scalp, especially when nursing
• Babies are often overweight
• They want to be rocked to sleep
• Rubbing or scratching of face when tired
• Infants are obstinate, especially when tired
• Tendency to develop eczema

 
Children
 
The Calc carb personality picture of a child is one of a strong willed, independent and hard-working nature, that requires structure and routine. These children often have delayed developmental milestones, which can be due to their own deliberate slowing down of the process, to more carefully assimilate and take in new information. These are the “slow and steady wins the race” type of children. They desire structure and routine and can become very difficult if plans suddenly change, or if they are interrupted or forced to stop a task before completion.  Often perceived as serious, quiet and even loners. They may become sad and withdrawn. Characteristically there are many fears which include the dark, insects, animals, ghosts and monsters. There may be a tendency to become fascinated with the supernatural, or a general foreboding that something bad will happen. Some of their general ailments include:

• Headaches due to mental strain from study (school girls headache)
• These kids get sick when exposed to cold winds or develop a fever, cough, asthma, sore throat etc
• Recurrent middle ear infections with a thick discharge
• Constant runny nose, even when healthy, especially when playing outside
• Nose obstructed especially at night
• Frequent sore throats with enlarged tonsils
• Asthma
• Recurrent croup
• Constipation
• Malabsorption syndromes and poor assimilation of food
• Recurrent vaginitis due to yeast overgrowth
• Epilepsy
• Diseases associated with the thyroid gland
• Eczema and warts
• Profuse perspiration on hands and feet
• Prone to sprains and strains of ankles
• Hydroceles in boys
• Aversion to slimy food or mixed food
• Dislikes or allergic to milk
• May develop pica (craving for sand, chalk etc) due to iron deficiency

 
These are some of the most important characteristics of Calc Carb children, but there are many more features not discussed above. Again, it is important to remember that a child who exhibits most of these characteristics is most likely a Calc carb constitutionally. How much of the above-mentioned signs and symptoms a child exhibits, also depends on if the child is in a healthy Calc carb state or suffering from an acute or chronic condition.  A child may also change constitutions with age, but that is a discussion for another day.
 
If you would like to find out more about constitutional prescribing or the benefits thereof, please feel free to contact The Naturopathic Health Care Centre. I am looking forward to discussing our next homoeopathic constitutional type, Sulpher, in next week’s article. 
 
Refrences

1. Master, F.J.,Clinical Observations of Children Remedies, 3rd edn., India, B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd., 1999.
2. Herscu, P., The Homeopathic Treatment of Children, Pediatric Constitutional Types, California, North Atlantic Books, 1991.

 

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