Hello all. This week I'd like to describe how you can manage the dreaded tummy bug using homeopathy.
Before we look at five major homeopathic remedies for nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, there are some safety points to make.
Encourage your child to drink little and often to avoid dehydration. If you do fear that they are becoming dehydrated, add a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar to a glass of water and have them sip it at regular intervals.
Seek professional help if:
- Your baby or toddler has dry nappies and is listless.
- Your older child loses a lot of weight in a short time.
- Your child's vomit contains blood.
- Your child has severe and lasting pain in their abdomen, which isn't improved by vomiting, as this could indicate appendicitis.
- Your child is vomiting a lot but the vomiting doesn't make him or her feel better, has a very high temperature and a headache or a stiff neck as this could be a sign of meningitis.
However, if you are dealing with a straightforward tummy bug or dose of food poisoning, then the remedies below could soon become your new best friends. Choose the remedy from the list below, and give it to your child in the 30th potency every 2-3 hours for no more than 6 doses in one day.
Arsenicum
This is one of the most commonly prescribed remedies for food poisoning or vomiting and diarrhoea. The child will be chilly, want to be kept warm, and will feel better for that warmth. They'll be restless and anxious, and be at their worst around midnight. The abdominal pains will be burning, and the child might have burning vomit which hurts their throat, or burning diarrhoea which hurt their anus. The child will be thirsty for sips of water.
Ipecac
This remedy suits very persistent nausea which is not always relieved by nausea. The child who'd benefit from this remedy may well have a clean tongue despite being out of sorts. They will have little thirst. This remedy would also suit vomiting brought on by coughing fits.
Nux Vomica
The child who would do well on Nux Vomica will be nauseous and want to be sick, but they'll be unable to. There'll be plenty of retching and if they can eventually be sick, then they will feel better. This remedy would be particularly applicable after overindulgence (and not just for kids, folks!) or after long periods of mental or emotional stress. The Nux Vomica symptom picture also includes being bloated and farty, with headaches also. Finally, the Nux Vomica person will not be an easy patient, being rather irritable and snappy.
Phosphorus
This remedy suits a child who has burning abdominal pains with nausea and diarrhoea, will be anxious and restless, and will feel at their worst at night. Phosphorus patients will be very thirsty, especially for cold water. However, 10-20 minutes after drinking cold water, it will warm in their stomach and they will bring it up again.
Pulsatilla
Pulsatilla is for the child who has over-indulged in too much fatty food or ice cream, who has been exposed to the cold too much, or has been emotionally upset, and now has vomiting and diarrhoea. Typically, the Pulsatilla child will be feeling very sorry for themselves and will want plenty of TLC. They will feel worse in warm, stuffy rooms, and feel better in cool open air. Pulsatilla poo is as changeable as the person themselves; it'll sometimes be watery, sometimes formed, but no two poos are the same.
www.helios.co.uk is a reliable supplier of homeopathic remedies.
Many thanks for reading and do get in touch if you're wanting to try one of these remedies for your child, but feel afraid to dip your toe in the water.