Dealing with Allergies; childhood eczema.

by homeopath Cassandra Marks.

One baby girl was brought in to see me covered in eczema. She couldn't sleep at night from the scratching, and her skin was covered in large red inflamed patches with scaly skin. It had started as a linerof irritation under her neck, appearing next on the classic sites on the creases behind her knees and on the inside of her elbows. from there it had spread over much of her body.

Her parents were beside themselves, staying up all night trying to calm her by stroking her back gently - it was the only thing that seemed to soothe her. Her twin sister was starting to develop the same condition, which wasn't surprising since both parents had allergies themselves.

The remedy that cleared her skin up, over a matter of months, was Phosphorous, which was chosen not because it's an eczema remedy, but because the babyseemed to me a sensitive Phosphorous Ô remedy typeÕ, who was very reactive to all sorts of things in her environment. Not only was she oversensitive to bathing products and wool, but she seemed to be affected by the mood of anyone who picked her up - and would break into tears if the person was anxious or uptight.

Treatment for eczema in homeopathy is always a constitutional matter, and children respond very well to treatment. The sooner they come when eczema appears, the quicker they respond to treatment - particularly if they haven't had any steroid creams prescribed.

Some pharmacies recommend over the counter homeopathic remedies for eczema - Sulphur is a common one. Although sulphur has been used very successfully in many cases of eczema, it only works when given to a Sulphur type of child. A sulphur ÔtypeÕ is one whose metabolism and personality fit the picture of this remedy, as well as the appearance of the skin. There are a large range of remedies which your child might need - so itÕs important to always seek the help of an experienced homeopath when treating eczema, and other allergies.

In children (or adults) who are not Sulphur types, taking the remedy can often flare the skin up badly without producing any improvement. In fact, because eczema flares up so easily, it's treatment always needs to be done by an experienced homeopath. Another child came to see me recently with a livid red rash over her cheeks. Her remedy turned out to be Calcarea Carbonica, because of her cheerful, placid disposition, and her tendency to gain weight and to get cold hands and feet. Her skin flared up for a short time on this remedy - only a few days - before improving. At least 20% of cases of eczema will tend to aggravate when they first start homeopathic treatment, so you need to be patient at first. Others will get quickly better, if the remedy is just right, while with others, the treatment will be long and slow. ItÕs very variable!

I have treated many many children and adults with eczema over the years, and notice that many cases develop after immunisations, or the introduction of formula milk, or foods. While there is usually a family history of atopic allergies; asthma, hay fever or eczema, it takes something to trigger off this latent tendency.

Eczema can start early on, when cradle-cap on the baby's head spreads down onto the body - this is known as seborrheic eczema. The area behind the ear is often affected, with cracking and oozing of thick honey-like discharge.

It can start as red patches around the nappy area, which look very inflamed with slight blistering and reddish skin.

Or it can start around any of the creases in the body - typically around the earlobes, under the neck, behind the knees and elbows. eczema can occur in creases anywhere, or as a rash around the mouth - especially if it reddens after contact with food allergens like tomatoes or eggs. Or it can start as small patches of rough, dry, whitened skin on the body, anywhere on the trunk, thighs or arms. Eczema is always itchy, although the degree of discomfort does vary from child to child.

Sometimes when children scratch, their skin becomes raw, inflamed and moist - doctors sometimes say the skin has become infected and give antibiotics for this. However, antibiotics do nothing to help with the eczema and there is no real danger of infection, and as I have said in my earlier article on antibiotics, they should not be given to children unless absolutely necessary (for a dangerous condition) because of their tendency to disrupt healthy immune system function.

Homeopathic Calendula cream has antiseptic as well as healing properties, and can be given whenever the shin looks raw, or your doctor says the skin is infected. It helps with the healthy formation of new tissue, and comes in a water base which is easily absorbed by the skin.

Many early cases of eczema can be managed well by using unmedicated cream - this is far preferable to doctors tendency to dish out steroid cream. Steroids are dangerous because they can stunt childrenÕs growth. They are not safe even when used on the skin, because they are absorbed through the skin into the blood stream. Furthermore, as many people have noticed, the eczema just comes back as soon as you stop using the cream, so before you know it youÕre using it more frequently, and in ever stronger formulations.

The best creams to use are unmedicated creams known as emollients, the fancy word for moisturisers. They keep the skin moist and flexible, preventing cracking and scaling. You can use them as soap substitutes in sensitive areas like the nappy area to cleanse the skin. You can use them as bath oils which you add to your childÕs bath, and of course you can apply emollient creams to the skin. Your local pharmacy, or the national eczema society (0171 388 4097) can advise you on which emollients to use. (arrange link to eczema society... if not delete the whole last para from many early cases...)

The virtual epidemic we are witnessing of asthma in children has been inadequately researched. Much more uncommon - and rarely fatal - even 30 years ago, now as many as one child in 5 is diagnosed as suffering asthma.

Part of the increase in these figures is due to changing medical categories - as children who have prolonged coughs which last more than a few weeks are now diagnosed as asthmatic and offered anti-asthmatic drugs as a first line of action.

Many cases of so-called bronchitis in children are nothing worse than coughs which sound chesty because of all the nasal mucous which has accumulated in the bronchial tubes. Whereas these cases of 'bronchitis' were usually treated with antibiotics by the GP, they're now much more likely to be labelled 'asthma' and treated with bronchodilaters.

This practice of starting young children on drugs for asthma is dangerous, because it is well documented that the very drugs used to treat asthma can cause it. The Independent on Sunday featured a well-researched article on the medical reports identifying brand name products such as Ventolin (salbutomol) as a causative factor in asthma.

Homeopathically I would say that some of these children are suffering from a lower immune response which means they aren't throwing colds off easily - so the last thing their body needs is to deal with a dose of steroids. In other cases asthmatic respiration may come on at the tail end of a protracted cold, but they don't suffer asthma at any other time and therefore my opinion is that they should not be put on long term preventative treatment - which usually involves steroid treatment, with all the risks those drugs entail. Added to this, the use of steroid drugs can have harmful effects on childrenÕs resistance to infections as well as their growth and development.

But it is true that asthma is very much on the increase. Different theories have been advanced, from increased pollution to an over sanitised environment which actually hampers the immune system from learning to deal with low grade, relatively harmless environmental irritants.

Michele Odent conducted a study which suggested that after whooping cough immunisations children were five times more likely to suffer asthma. The possible link with immunisations definitely needs more research.

The approach of homeopathy is constitutional, taking into account metabolic and genetic factors as well as triggers to build up a picture of the remedy that best suits the whole child. Remedies are also prescribed to deal with the episodes of asthma, with conventional medicines such as Ventolin reserved for what it does best; instantly opening the airways when your child is struggling for breath.

You can only treat mild asthmatic coughs at nome with a self-help homeopathic remedy. But if your child's symptoms fits one of these remedies, you can give them in the short term while seeking professional advice.

Silica:

Asthma comes on after a cold. After a cold, chest tightens up when running, or breathing in cold air.

Indications: Pale and quiet. Glands in the neck are usually quite swollen and their head may feel sweaty. They feel chilly and might like a scarf around their neck. Nose blocked with yellowish mucous.

Use: When wheezy and breathless from coughing. The cough is usually hacking, and they retch up clear, frothy sputum.

Indications: Hacking cough with retching of frothy sputum.

Vomiting from cough.

They can seem to make a big performance of coughing.

Cough during sleep.

Use: Chest tight and wheezy with a constant dry cough.

Indications: Hold chest when coughing.

Cough more on coming into a warm room.

Can help bronchitis.

Thirsty; want plenty of cold water. Lips dry.

Irritable. DonÕt like to be fussed over.

Asthma: Remedies for asthma coming on after a cold include; Lobelia, Pulsatilla, Spongia and Stannum. Case examples of chronic asthma which responded to Arsenicum album, Bryonia and Tuberculinum.

Cases:

Asthma in Sebastian, a boy of 6

Tendency to catch cold

Cries and whines in his sleep

Choking green phlegmy cough worse at night

Wakes after half an hour screaming (choking on phlegm)

Wakes in bad mood; kicking, fighting and occasional head-banging.

Doesn't like to be touched when unwell

Jealous since new baby born; spits if he doesn't get attention, hits and bites mother.

Bed-wetting

Nightmares; dreams of monsters.

Needs a lot of cuddles.

Weepy; changeable moods.

Very upset if things go wrong; takes everything to heart. e.g. cries inconsolably if his model breaks.

F: Asthma FM: Arthritis/ Hay fever/ Asthma

FF: Stomach cancer MM: Eczema MF: Diabetes MB: TB

After a few doses of Stramonium in high potency he became much more contented in himself, and less aggressive towards his brother.

4 yrs later; Asthmatic at the end of a cold.

Severe breathlessness, worse the slightest exertion, much better out of doors. Pale and exhausted, doesn't want to do much.

Frequent cough and wheezy respiration.

Sneezes esp at night up to 30 times. Constant runny nose. Spits up sputum.

Cat hairs aggravates, as does building dust, as they are improving the house. Much worse if angry or upset about something.

Blinks frequently. Grinds his teeth at night when sleeping.

In the last three years asthma starts about a month before the hay fever season. Prescribed salbutomol and ventolin this year, then becotide, none of which control the symptoms.

Tub is close to Stramonium with violent destructiveness; both display aggressive behaviour such as Biting, shrieking, obstinate and demanding behaviour, jealous tantrums. It seems as if the Stramonium layer may have been added on to Tuberculinum with the birth of the sibling, and after this layer was cleared with Stramonium the centre of the case moved from the mental level, with the kicking, biting etc clearing up and being replaced by the respiratory problem. Tuberculinum was largely prescribed because of the family history of TB, together with the fact that the asthma comes on at the end of a chest infection, which the boy gets frequently, the marked amelioration in the open air and the keynote of grinding the teeth in the sleep.

Cassandra Marks RSHom is available at East Finchley Practice, 37 BaronsmereRd, N2. Tel 0208 444 0594.