By Raisa Weisspapir
Q.: My 2 yrs old son does not have the urge to go for 4-5 days and then when he gets the urge; there is a lot of reluctance to sit on the potty due to the straining he has to do. Finally, when he goes after much straining and crying, the stool does not look as hard as I would expect it to. He also has stomach cramps and poor appetite. On top of all, he feels I am worrying over this issue and reacts by refusing to go even when I gently suggest him to. A pediatrician prescribed for her laxatives, but we are looking for an alternative. What causes constipation at this age and how homeopathy can help?
A.: Constipation is one of the most common medical complaints in North America.
Causes of constipation:
Not enough fiber in a diet (like beans, bran cereals, fruits, raw vegetables, rice, and whole-grain breads), drink enough liquids or get enough exercise.
It also happens when children ignore the urge to have a bowel movement, which they often do out of embarrassment to use a public bathroom, fear or lack of confidence in the absence of a parent, or unwillingness to take a break from play.
This also happens when children start a new school or enter daycare and feel shy about asking permission to use the bathroom.
Sometimes constipation is caused by medicines ( for example, antihistamines – for allergy) or as a result of the disease (e.x.hypothyroidism).
Emotionally - opposition of the child against rhythm of life, or excessive requirements of the family …
Symptoms of constipation
absence of bowel movements for several days
daily bowel movements that are hard and dry
abdominal cramps
nausea and vomiting, weight loss
liquid or solid, clay-like stool in the child's underwear--a sign that stool is backed up in the rectum
a painful bowel movement, so the child may try to hold it
Signs of holding bowel movements:
clenching buttocks
rocking up and down on toes
and turning red in the face
pass the stool by standing
How to recognize constipation in babies:
he or she may cry while straining
draw the legs toward the abdomen
arch the back when having a bowel movement
Treatment
Diet, exercise, and lifestyle factors are often the key to constipation.
Homeopathic remedies can also help the body work efficiently. Longstanding cases of constipation, or those with great discomfort, may be best addressed with a constitutional remedy and the guidance of a homeopathic doctor.
Treatment depends on the child's age and the severity of the problem. Often eating more fiber (fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereal), drinking more liquids, and getting more exercise will solve the problem. Sometimes a child may need an enema to remove the stool or a laxative to soften it or prevent a future episode. However, laxatives can be dangerous to children and should be given only with a doctor's approval. Glycerin suppositories can be very helpful if diet and juice don't work, but overuse of suppositories can lead to dependence on them. The same holds true for baby laxatives.
Tips for parents:
The simplest first step is to give the child more to drink to soften the stools. At the same time, readjust the balance of the foods in the diet to help.
If the stools are still too firm, the juice is the gentlest medicine to soften them up. Apple juice twice a day is a good bet. If this doesn't work, prune juice is even better. In addition, when your daughter is straining you might want to put her in a tub of warm water. This will relax her muscles and make the stool easier to pass.
With the right combination of foods, liquids, and homeopathic medicines, every child should be able to have soft, comfortable stools. As they grow, their intestines will get less sensitive to the foods they eat. Bananas, rice, soy, and products made from white flour tend to produce firmer stools. Pears, peaches, plums, apricots, pears and prunes make stools softer. By balancing the diet, you can often keep the stools comfortably mid-range.
1/2 teaspoon of unprocessed bran, mixed with food twice a day, is about as effective as many laxatives and much cheaper).
The beauty of the homeopathic medicine is a closer look at each patient individually as a whole and not within the narrow confines of the separate organ's disorder.
Case study :
A 5-years old girl was brought to me for treatment of her constipation since her birth. The child was flabby and dark-complexioned, very sensitive and obstinate. She craved eggs, chalk and other indigestible things. The child was used to be lazy to the extent that she would hold back the stool in the morning even if she felt the urge. She could The nature of the stool was large and hard in the beginning and soft later. The initial stool was so large and hard that the mother had to take it out by inserting her finger. The girl had an erratic appetite and thirst for cold water. The child was sensitive to cold and often suffered from blockage of the nose at night. Considering the entirety of the case, I prescribed a homeopathic remedy Calcarea Carbonica, and soon after the administration, she passed an enormous amount of stool without any pain or discomfort. The child then becomes more active and regular in habits. Also became less sensitive to cold and has no blockage of the nose at night.
Does the smile of your healthy growing children make you feel better? Then, Homeopathy is the answer!
“Homeopathic remedies are the safest and most effective medicines for newborn babies, children, and women during pregnancy and breast-feeding.”
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