Modern parents know a lot about phyto-, aromatherapy and homeopathy. Many of them turn to alternative medicine to cope with children's colds, allergies. Homeopathic remedies are extremely popular because they are generally considered to be incapable of harm. The principle by which these drugs work is that like cures like. The editors of estet-portal.com offer to find out how safe homeopathy is for children and whether whether it apply.
- How homeopathic medicines are prepared
- Homeopathy for children: benefit, harm or placebo effect
- Highlights on the use of homeopathy in the treatment of children
How homeopathic medicines are prepared
The principles of homeopathy were formulated back in the 18th century by its founder Hahnemann and have not changed since then. The German doctor was convinced that his system of treatment was not inferior to the traditional one and in many cases even more effectively fights diseases. The main task of a homeopath — choose the right active substance and dissolve it in water so as to obtain an infinitely small concentration.
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Cures the exact substance that causes a specific symptom. If you introduce it into the body in a tiny dose, then it will have the opposite effect: it will make the body fight the disease and cure the patient. When diluting the agent in water to the desired concentration (for example, 1 to 106 or 1 to 200), the solution is constantly shaken (dynamized). This is believed to help the water remember the potential of the healing pellets.
Due to shaking, the homeopathic remedy acts even when the active substance is diluted by 10200-10400 times, i.e. its molecules cannot be detected in water. Previously, such a solution was mixed with powdered sugar and taken as a medicine, but now the possibilities have expanded and the funds are available in a variety of forms. In pharmacies you can find homeopathic drops, ointments, suppositories, solutions for injections.
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Homeopathy for children: benefit, harm or placebo effect
The homeopathic doctors are usually visited by those mothers who are not satisfied with the methods of traditional medicine, as well as parents who are afraid of side effects when taking medicines. They proceed from the fact that negligible doses of active substances are not capable of harming the child's body, but they can cure allergies, dermatitis, and colds. This is logical.
Although homeopathy has not been proven effective by any laboratory tests, it does not harm. Of course, we are talking about drugs prepared by qualified doctors with appropriate licenses. Treatment with them is quite acceptable, but there are several alarming points:
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Lack of satisfactory quality control. Homeopathic remedies are not recognized as curative, therefore, they are much less demanding than medicines. What is in a capsule or granule, only the manufacturer knows. You will have to rely entirely on his conscientiousness.
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Unproven effectiveness. The manufacturer is not obliged to conduct clinical trials of homeopathic remedies, to undergo a complex certification procedure. This means that there is no confidence in the efficacy and safety of the drugs, and in the event of violations, the state control bodies are powerless.
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The impossibility of using traditional medicines. Homeopathy for children is far from always combined with the usual medicines. Moms will have to at their own risk to refuse antibiotics in the treatment of respiratory diseases in children. This is fraught with complications.
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The World Health Organization reminds the peculiarities of homeopathic remedies and does recommend reliance on them in the treatment of serious diseases — infections, oncology, tuberculosis, etc. According to WHO experts, the effectiveness of homeopathy in such cases is more than doubtful.
On the other hand, there are quite real people who managed to cope with serious illnesses thanks to homeopathic remedies. This may be due to both the effectiveness of drugs and the placebo effect. None of the conjectures can prove nor disprove. This is a matter of faith, and each person has to decide for himself.
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Highlights on the application of homeopathy in the treatment of children
Mothers should listen to WHO and not try to treat children with serious diagnoses exclusively with homeopathic remedies. They can be used at best as an adjuvant if the drugs are combined.
If you decide to homeopathy, follow these rules:
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Avoid over-the-counter products. No one can guarantee their quality. It is better to use traditional medicines or find a homeopathic doctor who will individually select the appropriate active substance for the child.
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Do not use products with herbal or any other additives. "Pure" homeopathy is harmless, but improperly selected preparations with phytocomponents can be dangerous to health.
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Remember that there is only one active substance. Sometimes homeopaths deliberately prescribe placebos to hyper-anxious patients. If your prescription lists several remedies to be taken three times a day, check with your doctor to make sure he is qualified. Perhaps you are dealing with a charlatan.
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Another nuance: when taking homeopathic remedies, a deterioration in the child's condition can be observed. There is a risk of confusing real complications with this expected symptom and missing an opportune moment for treatment.
Be careful!
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