Childhood development and illness

​A safe, gentle support for childhood development and its associated ills
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The frequent illnesses of children can be bewildering for many parents. And in the modern medical climate it is hard to believe that illness and disease have an important role to play in growth and development. Homeopathy can offer a safe, effective, and inexpensive approach to first aid, acute, and chronic issues that arise in the course of raising a family. For simple first aid and acute situations there is a usual group of homeopathic remedies that are known and a decision for the specific remedy can be made simply and quickly. There are numerous pages online, family kits, and how-to books that provide easy to follow protocols and once the basics of homeopathy are understood, it is usually simple to find remedies for these kinds of situations.
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For more chronic, longer lasting conditions, it is more complex. Often homeopathy can address the underlying causes reflected in difficult physical, emotional, behavioural, and psychological problems for younger children and babies. In these chronic situations sometimes parents will notice that their child is simply restless or discontented and can't figure out what to do for them. It is difficult for their doctor to make a diagnosis or give treatment at this stage before there are no obvious signs or functional symptoms. Perhaps the child suddenly becomes whiny or clingy, or becomes afraid of the dark. Or the child is not as vibrant as before, gets bored easily, or lacks the concentration they used to have. Sometimes a child becomes aggressive or acts destructively and there is no explanation for this sudden shift in behaviour.

These can all indicate a child who is no longer in balance and is struggling in their adaptation to new changes and to their own maturation, and since a young child grows so quickly it seems like each week they are facing very different and new challenges.

We are all constantly changing and adapting
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Every one of us is in fact changing according to our needs, to our growth and to environmental changes. We are always in flux, adjusting, adapting, evolving, this is just occurring more often and at a faster rate in children than in adults. In health each of us is dynamic, allowing life to change us, adapting, integrating and embracing the newness of each day. When this natural experience of life becomes stuck then we are unable to adapt and to accept, we will want to hold onto something, to not let go and make static what must remain in flux. We all experience both poles of this dynamic and the degree to which we are in each pole relates to how vital and healthy we are.

Take grief for example, an experience of the loss of something we hold onto because we value it, and then we are not able to accept other changes. We all know the experience of sadness and loss and how different that feels to the times when we are open and ready to embrace each exciting, new day. Children are no different and supporting them in their challenges and illnesses with homeopathy allows them the chance to grow, to become vital and robust, to develop a strong immune system and to develop more flexibility and adaptability when the next challenge occurs.

However, if we stop or suppress the symptoms of the challenge or illness arising, this chance can be lost. The body will now add to its load of adaptation an unresolved experience and will reroute its need for growth and change to another location or situation while still carrying the old one. This eventually taxes the system and the psyche, and the child's natural development is impeded or even stopped on various levels, sometimes permanently, until the original adaptation or need is supported and allowed to inform the individual's process.

Homeopathy is helpful with those subtle shifts of behaviour mentioned above and to return the natural developmental process so that the child can adapt and continue to grow and evolve. Life can once again be enjoyable and appreciated, for the child, as well the parents and other children. The many stages of childhood development involve a movement towards greater independence and the defining of a separate self, a unique person, which is why these challenges and diseases are not always obvious or physically based. The homeopath, or the educated parent, can chose from a wide range of remedies aimed at supporting the body’s own healing response and at the same time allowing the child to move through a childhood illness rather than suppressing it. For children under the age of seven, it is also important to stress the interconnectedness they experience within the family and taking the case of the parents to understand the 'environment' of the child is an excellent means to help with the child's symptoms.

It is important to point out that for serious and life threatening situations, the only sensible choice is to seek out immediate medical attention. I am talking here about what can be done when we notice the early indications that there is something 'off' with a child. For parents who are concerned about side effects related to medication, homeopathy as an energetic approach that rarely has complications when taken with conventional medicines, and there are no worries about future negative effects on the developing child. Through the homeopath’s questioning and the parent’s observations, a remedy can be found to alleviate the child’s discomfort and to rapidly ease their symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies are also gentle and safe for a mother and her unborn child. They can assist both with the changes brought about by every stage of pregnancy and birth and there are well known homeopathy protocols to reduce trauma induced symptoms and speed up the healing during and following the birthing process. Homeopathy can offer a multitude of long-lasting, beneficial effects during all stages of the birthing process. It is never too early or too late during the obstetrical process to use homeopathy, whether you choose conventional hospital birth, natural home birth or midwife-assisted birth.

For parents and families, homeopathy is a gentle means of supporting children in their development and growth and the associated illnesses, and thus encouraging a child's health for years to come.

How does holistic treatment support healthy living? Why try homeopathy? Having a life long study in the principles of nature and healthy living, Lauren Trimble is happy to share her knowledge and experience. The art of retuning the body’s natural healing capacity & developing consciousness in a compassionate and gentle way is the gift that homeopathy brings to her current holistic practice. If you enjoyed this article find out more at Birdsong.