HOMOEOPATHY FOR TEETHING BABIES AND THEIR MOTHERS

“The pleasant feeling of mission accomplished has fully rewarded me and all I can do now is mourn the mass of blind spirits that obstruct the truth; I don't nourish any feelings of rage agains them, though. “
Sameul Hahnemann (1755 – 1844)
​- Founder of Homoeopathy

​So here you are a very concerned mommy with a drooling baby.  Your baby is not well for a while now and on and off she has a funny poo nappy, some fever bouts and at times she is just so niggly with no apparent cause.  Everybody seems to put the blame for all these symptoms on teething.  How can all of this be caused by teething while it is going on for months now and still no toothy?
 
WHAT IS TEETHING

• When a tooth nears completion of its journey into the dental cavity
• This journey starts early during fetal development.
• Most babies get their first tooth by six months
• Thereafter it is usually one tooth per month
• By 2 – 3yrs they will have all twenty.

 
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Teething symptoms vary and can range from severe to nothing at all. Most children will experience at least one of the following symptoms as their teeth prepare to make its way through their gums:

• trouble falling asleep
• fussiness
• drooling
• runny nose
• rash around the chin or mouth
• red cheeks
• swollen gums
• biting
• an increased need to suck
• rejection of breast or bottle
• congestion

 It is completely normal for your baby to get her first tooth at 18 months. And there are rare cases when an infant is born with teeth. For most children, however, that first tooth will appear around six months. 

            70% OF BABIES GET TEETH ACCORDING TO THIS GUIDELINE:
 

6 months: lower central incisors – cutting teeth
7 months: upper central incisors 
7.5 months: lower lateral incisors
9 months: upper lateral incisors
12 months: lower first molars (bicuspids) – grinding and chewing teeth
14 months: upper first molars
16 months: lower canines (cuspids)
18 months: upper canines
20 months: lower second molars
24 months: upper second molar

MYTH
There is no such thing as a new tooth cutting its way through bone and flesh.  What actually happens is that remodeling of the tissue takes place and a pathway for the tooth emerges.  The belief that tension on the gums played a prominent role in teething symptomatology was widespread. As a result, surgically cutting the gums in order to open up a path for the emerging tooth was a common procedure until the late 19th and early 20th century in developed countries. In some less developed regions around the world, the gums of infants were still frequently sliced open and the teeth removed.
 
DEBATE
What about fever and teething?  Studies have shown that teething causes, at most, a mild temperature elevation. If your infant has a true fever (above 100.4F or 38 Celsius) it is unlikely to be caused by teething, especially if it continues for a number of days.
The same question applies to diarrhea and teething. Again, the available data doesn’t support teething as a cause of true diarrhea. If your child has a diarrheal illness, it is most likely to be caused by a virus.
In my experience as a mother and a nursing sister I can tell that those who had babies and experienced the feeling of total confusion and helplessness when that baby presents with all these so called teething-symptoms will confirm that the symptoms mentioned above are definitely very challenging during the teething phase. 
 
SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Because you might miss something serious while blaming it on teething.  Tonsillitis, otitis and bladder infections are common conditions that present itself during the teething phase.
 
WHAT CAN BRING RELIEF?

• Massaging and gently apply pressure with clean finger.
• Apply coldness (teething toys, cold boiled carrot, chilled cloth)
• Soft chewing ring
• Homoeopathic teething pulver

 
WHAT NOT TO DO

• Don’t worry if there is no tooth by 12mnths age
• Don’t blame high fever and lasting diarrhea on teething
• Don’t give frozen stuff to cool the gums
• Don’t apply benzocaine preparations

 
THE HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH
A homoeopathic remedy is a diluted substance that is known to cause the symptoms you are wanting to cure.  There are more than 600 remedies to choose from.
A homoeopath is well trained in matching the patient accurately to the correct remedy.

teething remedies

Chamomilla

There are a number of remedies and OTC formulae
Today we are going to focus on two: Chamomilla and Pulsatilla
 
Chamomilla

• It is a daisy-like flower plant, growing low on the ground and smells like fresh apples.
• Greek: Chamos= ground; Melos= apple
• The plant is hardy and has a pleasant smell, but contains a bitter tasting plant sap used in insect repellents
• It grows wild in many parts of England​
• In the middle ages it was purposely planted in green walks going through gardens for the fragrance it gives out when trembled on.
• From there the little poem: Like a chamomile bed, the more it is trodden, the more it will spread.
• If planted in areas where there are other plants that are sick and droopy, they will recover.

 
People who need chamomilla

• Persistent, energetic, they don’t give up.
• No 1 remedy for irritable child with low pain tolerance
• Baby pulls its legs up and cries no matter what you do.
• They are snappy, throw temper tantrums of frustration.
• They want immediate relief, intolerant
• Ask for things and then refuses it
• One red hot cheek, one pale  cool cheek

Pulsatilla

​

​

---

Pulsatilla

• It is a flowering plant, belonging to the buttercup family (Anemone)
• Common names: Windflower, Pasqueflower because it blooms during Easter.
• It gives lilac coloured, bell shaped flowers
• The whole plant is covered in soft down
• It grows in clusters in dry, calcium rich soil
• The delicate stem bends in the wind.

 
People who need Pulsatilla

• They do not want to be alone.
• The child seldom complaints of thirst
• Flexible and adaptable to their environment.
• Likes open air
• Very easily emotional and moody at times
• The sick child is clingy and cranky and wants to be picked up all the time.

OTC’S ON THE MARKET
Luckily there are some of these homoeopathic companies who made it easy for the laymen and women. The ideal remedy will probably be in the complex, but until you can get to a practitioner who is able to choose the remedy more accurately, the OTC will do it for you. 
Cesranol – This is for a high need baby who will respond positively to any chamomilla based remedy. This remedy is especially useful if the baby has loose stools while teething. 
Sedaped – Has an anti-inflammatory action and works on the nervous system.
If teething is accompanied by cramping and loss of appetite, give tissue salt no 8 Mag phos in addition.
If teething starts later than 10 months, give Calc phos, tissue salt no 2.
CONCLUSION
The teething phase with all its challenges is a normal part of your baby’s development.  Try and do what you can to bring relieve to your baby and find support from family and friends to help you cope during this time.  But on the other hand keep in mind that this is a phase that will pass and do not feel that you should be able to have a perfect solution at all times.
 
RESOURCES
https://elixirs.com/products.cfm?productcode=S71
https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/chammo49.html
http://www.justthefactsbaby
https://www.homeopathic.com/Articles/Introduction_to_Homeopathy
http://homeopathytoday.net/homeopathy/homeopathy-for-children/item/44-homeopathic-tips-for-soothing-painful-teething
My Two Hats:Thoughts on health and wellness from Teething: Myths, Facts, Do’s and Don’ts

– BY SISTER ALIDA – NATUROPATHIC HEALTH CARE CENTRE.

Stats Of Hits