Dr. Vikas Sharma MD, Author at Homeopathy at DrHomeo.com

Recurrent Infections In kids

Recurrent Throat infections in kids

Dr. Vikas Sharma MD

It is very common for a homeopath to see a lot of anxious parents seeking treatment for their kids who suffer from recurrent throat or upper respiratory infections. Believe me, these young anxious parents are tougher to handle than their kids.

Kids who have recurrent upper respiratory infections usually develop symptoms which start with cold and can very fast progress into bad chesty or dry cough, fever and even difficult breathing. The bigger problem is the kind of recurrence that can occur in some kids . I have personally seen kids developing infection every 15 days and seem to be perpetually living on antibiotics. This affects their quality of life and education in many ways. Now, the big question is whether homeopathy has an effective remedy for the recurrence, the answer is a big ‘yes ‘.

Before we get to the actual homeopathic solution let us try to understand why these kids fall sick so frequently.We are born with Immune system(body’s own defence system) which inherits some antibodies from the mother during gestation and with breast feed . Quite a bit of Immunity is developed later in life. The cells that fight infection in our body are called as antibodies. Our body has a very intelligent immune system and can recognize a microorganism as new or one that it has previously encountered and respond accordingly. The response in the previously encountered microorganism is to send the already developed antibodies to fight that organism. In the case of new type of Microorganism the body creates specific antibodies and once they are made, they are replicated in the body in great numbers and stay in the body for long. They keep on providing cover against that specific kind of organism henceforth. This is one the reasons why grown up’s don’t have infections that frequently.

The biggest reason for the recurrence of infections is that the young body with in immature immune system is not getting a chance to develop natural immunity, as these kids at the slightest sign of infections, are being over-medicated by anxious parents and unscrupulous physicians. As most of the pediatricians would agree that quite a few of these infections are Viral in nature, which means that they require very less treatment and are self-limiting in nature. Bacterial infections are not that common and are the are ones that can require antibiotics. It is very commonly seen here in India that at the slightest sign of any infection (even viral infections) antibiotics are given to kids. This Injudicious use of antibiotics is what leads to body not getting a chance to develop its own antibodies. This leads to recurrence of infections. I have no hate for antibiotics and I strongly believe that they are life saving medicines; but the parents have to realize that they should be given only when there is bacterial infection and the body is showing no signs of fighting it.

If overuse of antibiotics can lead to an impaired immune system, why would homeopathic medicines help in restoring immunity? The answer lies in the basic principle around which homeopathy works – ‘Like cures like’. Homeopathic medicines work by giving a similar impetus to the body (like that of the disease) causing the body’s immune system to get activated and fight Infections. Timing is very important while taking homeopathic treatment. Infections respond much faster when homeopathy is started at the initial stages of infection i.e. within 24- 36 hours. Gradual Improvement in Immunity occurs with homeopathic treatment, once couple of Infections are managed well with Homeopathic medicines.[sws_facebook_share]

Natural Homeopathic Treatment and Home Remedies for ADHD

Hyperactive Child and Homeopathy

Are you worried about your child’s hyperactivity? Is your child constantly moving around, is he too fidgety? Does he constantly move his legs and arms? Does he have difficulty in waiting for his turn while playing with other kids? Is he having concentration issues while studying –gets easily distracted? If so then there are chances that your child could be having Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder commonly called as ADHD.

Recent researches have proven great beneficial role of Natural homeopathic medicines in treating such hyperactivity in children. The greatest benefit that homeopathy offers while treating Adhd is that its medicines are very safe for kids and do not slow down their other activities . Neither are they addictive; this means that once the treatment is over, the medicines can be safely withdrawn.

Adhd refers to condition in the childhood (it may be continue in the adulthood as well) where the child may be physically hyperactive and having concentration issues. Kids are naturally playful and active, which makes it difficult for parent to find out whether their child is naturally active or having a problem , thus for a child to be called as hyperactive or suffering from ADHD, medical science has defined a certain criteria to diagnose this disorder in kids.

Hyperactive disorder in kids can be divided into usually three kinds a) hyperactive – impulsive behavior, where the kids are physically hyperactive and have less impulse control. B) Inattentive type – where they have difficulty in sustaining attention while studying, playing and doing other activities. C) combined type – here they have both the physical hyperactivity as well as the low attention span.

Hyperactive –Impulsive type is marked by symptoms of constant fidgety behavior or moving and squirming frequently. The child has difficulty in remaining in his seat and often leaves seat suddenly during class and can wander away outside the classroom. Running and climbing can be very excessive. The child always seems to be on the go. Excessive talking can be another symptom of Adhd. Blurts out answers even before the question is finished. The child may have difficulty in waiting for his turn while playing. In the Inattentive type the symptoms are- the child often makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, homework and other activities. Sustaining attention while studying, playing or other activities is very difficult. Instruction following is very difficult for the child. He may seem to be’ too absorbed’ in his activity while being spoken too. The child may often avoid activities that require prolonged or sustained mental effort.

What exactly causes Adhd id still unknown; but there are certain factors which tend to contribute either to the development or modification of Adhd behavior. These factors are altered brain function and anatomy , genetic factors , maternal smoking and drug use in pregnancy, childhood exposure to toxins such as lead and food additives such as artificial coloring or food preservatives.

Researches around the world have proved the supremacy of homeopathic medicines in treating hyperactive disorder in kids.Natural Homeopathic medicines Hyoscyamus , Veratrum Album , Tarentula and stramonium have been proved by researches to be effective in treating adhd. Kindly note that the names of the above mentioned medicines are meant for information only and they should not be used without consulting the physician

Adhd and Homeopathic Medicines

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 3 Comments

Hyperactive Child and Homeopathy

Recent researches have proven great beneficial role of homeopathic medicines in treating such hyperactivity in children. The greatest benefit that homeopathy offers while treating Adhd is that its medicines are very safe for kids and do not slow down their other activities . Neither are they addictive; this means that once the treatment is over, the medicines can be safely withdrawn.

Hyperactive –Impulsive type is marked by symptoms of constant Fidgety behavior or moving and squirming frequently. The child has difficulty in remaining in his seat and often leaves seat suddenly during class and can wander away outside the classroom. Running and climbing can be very excessive. The child always seems to be on the go. Excessive talking can be another symptom of Adhd. Blurts out answers even before the question is finished. The child may have difficulty in waiting for his turn while playing. In the Inattentive type the symptoms are- the child often makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, homework and other activities. Sustaining attention while studying, playing or other activities is very difficult. Instruction following is very difficult for the child. He may seem to be’ too absorbed’ in his activity while being spoken too. The child may often avoid activities that require prolonged or sustained mental effort.

Researches around the world have proved the supremacy of homeopathic medicines in treating hyperactive disorder in kids. Homeopathic medicines Hyoscyamus , Veratrum Album , Tarentula and stramonium have been proved by researches to be effective in treating adhd. Kindly note that the names of the above mentioned medicines are meant for information only and they should not be used without consulting the physician

Homeopathy and Autism

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 2 Comments

If your child is between the ages of two and three years and his development is keeping you worried please check with these following signs and symptoms. The child is withdrawn, avoids social contact even with kids and avoids playing with them; has no language or is losing language which he had already acquired; Fails to respond to his name; has poor eye contact; moves Constantly; shows patterns of repetitive behavior like rocking, spinning and hand flapping. If some or all of these signs are present in your child please make sure that you consul t a developmental specialist and have him evaluated for Autism.

Autism or Autism spectrum disorder also called as pervasive development disorder (PDD) is catching our world by surprise. The Incidence of autism is on rise. This rise is very fast. The Centre for disease Control in United States also known as CDC has recently come up with their changed statistics and are showing that 1 in every 110 children In United states have Autism. This is very alarming and what is even more alarming and disturbing is the fact that this trend is on the increase. Although , we don’t have any clear data on the incidence of autism in India, but we know that Autism is on rise in India too. And what is more Troublesome is that, till date, no cause has been identified for Autism.

Autism is Usually diagnosed between the ages of 18 months to 3 yrs. Although signs and symptoms of autism may be present earlier but are very difficult to identify. The Symptoms can range from very mild to very severe, hence autism is better known as autism Spectrum Disorder. This means that not every kid will develop the same amount of autism. Broadly speaking, Autism mainly affects the Verbal and non-verbal communication, social interaction and the behavior of the child. Communication is affected by delayed speech development, less speech, difficulty in using speech, repetitive speech and to a level where there is no speech. Nearly 40 percent of kids with Autism never develop speech. Social Interactions are affected by failure to establish friendships with children of same age, showing withdrawn behavior, lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, activities and achievements with others. They can also lack emotional understanding and reciprocity; this means that it is difficult for kids with autism to understand feelings of pain, sorrow and emotions of others. Autistic kids can have marked disability in expressing their own emotions whether verbally or non verbally. Behavior is usually affected signs of repetitive behavior or stereotyped behavior like hand flapping, spinning and can also signs of hyperactivity. Kids with autism show addictive tendency towards certain topics or objects like looking rotating objects, television advertisements, sticks , soaps or a particular toy.

Homeopathy has help for kids with autism. Although not all kids with autism respond to homeopathy but a certain segment of kids with mild to moderate level of autism at times show great signs of Improvement and recovery. Autistic kids with speech (however little) and less hyperactivity show very favorable improvements with certain homeopathic medicines. Age of the child also has major affect on the homeopathic treatment outcome – younger the child better are the chances of improvement with homeopathic medicine.

Treating Adenoids With Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 144 Comments

Enlarged Adenoids and Homeopathy

Is your child having difficulty in breathing from nose during sleep? Have you noticed him snoring too often? Is he having recurrent sore throats and middle ear infections? Is your child a mouth breather? If most of your answers are yes then there is a great possibility that he could be having Enlarged adenoids. This enlargement of adenoids can affect your child’s health in many ways. ; Ranging from recurrent upper respiratory infections to hearing deficits. Homeopathy has a lot to offer for the treatment of enlarged adenoids. A well-focused homeopathic treatment can save your child’s adenoids from a surgeon’s knife.

What Are Adenoids

Adenoids are small structures made of lymphoid tissue (this is the same tissue off which the throat tonsils are made up of) present at the nasopharynx (where the back of the nasal passage and the throat meet). Their primary function is to produce lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are a part of our body’s natural defense system and destroy the microorganisms that enter our system. Thus adenoids are a part of our immune system.

Why Do adenoids get Enlarged

Adenoids tend to get enlarged whenever there is an infection in upper respiratory area. Once the infection is over, adenoids get back to their normal size.If the infections are recurrent ,the adenoids go into a chronic state of enlargement. Although tonsils can be easily viewed in an open mouth, adenoids are not directly viewable. Enlarged adenoids can only be detected by an x-ray or by the symptoms shown by the child. Symptoms of enlarged adenoids are easily recognizable .The most common symptom is that of difficulty in breathing through the nose .This is most predominant at night when the child is sleeping. Disturbed nasal breathing in kids with enlarged adenoids shows up in two ways-Snoring and breathing through the mouth . If during the day time the child is showing the signs of mouth breathing ,the enlargement of adenoids is usually severe. The most worry some symptom is that of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea refers to a condition where the child has breathing pauses during sleep .This sleep disturbance manifests itself in the day time by paroxysmal drowsiness and difficulty in concentration in the kids .Other symptoms of enlarged adenoids may include bad breath and dry mouth. Increase in the size of adenoids leads to pressure changes on the Eustachian tube causing hearing difficulties and recurrent middle ear infections. Another complication that usually arises out of enlarged adenoids is recurrent infections in the sinuses – often called as sinusitis.

Homeopathic medicines for Adenoids

Whether it be the tonsils or the adenoids, homeopathic philosophy has always believed in preserving these helpful body tissues. Homeopathy offers an excellent treatment for enlarged adenoids and complications arising from it. Homeopathic medicines Agraphis Nutans , Calcarea carb , Sambuccus Niagra and Calcarea flour lead the Homeopathic table in treating Enlarged adenoids. Agraphis is very handy when along with enlargement; the hearing of the child is also affected. While treating for adenoids the overall immunity of the child needs to be carefully looked at, as recurrent infections can lead the child into vicious cycle of enlarged adenoids and upper respiratory Infections. Frequent Infections issues can be dealt effectively by homeopathy by prescribing Constitutional homeopathic medicine.

Enlarged Adenoids

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 45 Comments

Enlarged Adenoids
Is your child getting recurrent ear and sinus infections? Is your child snoring in the night? Has his voice changed? Is he breathing more from the mouth? If yes ,then chances are that your child has enlarged adenoids. Enlarged adenoids in kids can be a big problem and can affect their health in more than one way. Homeopathy has a very effective solution in treating enlarged adenoids and effectively saves them from the surgeon’s knife.
Adenoids are lymphoid tissue lying in the back part of the nose (nasopharynx). It is similar to the tonsil tissue which are present in our throat and guard are swallowing passage
Both the adenoid and tonsils are a part of the defense system of our body and produce defense cells that kill bacteria or viruses that we breathe or swallow. In simple words they act like guards for our breathing and swallowing passages. Tonsil in Children can be easily seen in an open mouth; whereas the Adenoids are very difficult to see directly and are usually detected with the x-ray. Both tonsils and Adenoids tend to get enlarged whenever they get infected but return to their normal state after the infection is over in few days. However if the infections are more frequent or chronic, the adenoids tend to stay enlarged.
The most common symptoms in kids who have enlarged adenoids are – difficulty in breathing through the nose, Snoring, mouth breathing (which is mostly present at night); if present during the day, it usually indicates severe enlargement of adenoids. Change in the voice is another very important sign of enlarged adenoids. Kids with enlarged adenoids usually have a pinched nose kind of voice. The most worrisome symptom of enlarged adenoids is ‘sleep apnea’. This means that the child goes without breathing for few seconds; this occurs along with snoring. These apnea periods can occur many times during the night resulting in a restless sleep and low oxygen levels. One of the major fallout of this kind of sleep disturbance is that child will feel sleepy during the day and can have difficulty in concentration. Dry mouth and bad breath are also present in kids who have enlarged adenoids. Another major way in which the enlarged adenoids affect kids is that they predispose them towards recurrent ear, throat and sinus infections. Middle ear infections are very common in kids with enlarged adenoids.
Homeopathic Philosophy clearly believes that adenoids and tonsils should be, as far as possible, saved from surgery. These tissues are a part of our body’s indigenous defense system and removing them would further render our body towards more infections. Long term treatment of enlarged adenoids with homeopathic medicines has excellent results in reducing the size of enlarged adenoids and treating its associated symptoms. Homeopathic medicines Agraphis Nutans and Calcarea Carb can work wonders in kids with enlarged adenoids .Along with these medicines , Kids with symptoms of recurrent ear, throat and sinus symptoms may at need different homeopathic medicines according to their symptoms

Homeopathic Medicine Carcinosin And Its Role In Treating Autism

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 44 Comments

Autism spectrum disorder being a neurological and developmental disorder affects the ability of communication, cognition and social interaction in a child. A child with autism might also exhibit various repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, and obsessive or fixated behaviors. The child lacks age-appropriate development with intellectual disability and exhibits some major development lags. The signs and symptoms of autism can be observed around 16-18 months of age and are commonly diagnosed between 2-3 years of age. Autism is more common in men than in females.

The Homeopathic medicine Carcinosin fits into the perfect picture of these development issues of Autism. Carcinosin, the great polychrest (covering various systems of the body) remedy was initially established by William Boericke, one of the pioneer’s of Homeopathy. Later, in the 19th Century, Dr.Burnett and Dr. J.H Clarke did a lot of research on this medicine and further explored the healing properties of this remedy. Many physicians in later years then worked on its clinical significance by performing various provings.

This remedy is indicated for children with a weak intellect, and in the modern times, it is emphatically stated in Autism Spectrum Disorders. The affected child may feel chilly or hot. He/She may get profoundly affected by cold and heat.
A person who needs carcinosin has a family history of diabetes, tuberculosis, anemia, etc. It is considered to be an effective antidote for the ill effects of vaccinations. While there are no proven facts that Autism occurs due to vaccination, there are multiple theories and research work that does indicate that vaccinations can play a role in some instances of Autism. Thereby, Carcinosin also covers the bad effects of vaccination in cases of Autism.

Carcinosin for Autism: Indicating Symptoms

Behavioral symptoms

A significant feature of carcinosin is restlessness and hurriedness. There is marked hyperactivity. It is very useful for controlling hyperactivity in kids with Autism or ADHD. The child keeps running, jumping, climbing furniture, etc. Along with the hyperactivity, there are a lot of repetitive body moments like spinning, stemming, hand flapping, rocking, etc. A lot of purposeless moments are also a characteristic feature of this remedy. The child is always in constant motion. It is very difficult to make the child sit in one place. The child might also exhibit some obsessive and compulsive behaviors.
It is also helpful in cases where the child is very fearful. There can be unusual fears of the dark, being alone, heights, etc. It is well-indicated for chronic nightmares or night terrors. The child does not like to go to crowded places. He wants to dance and loves music. The child is of obstinate nature, and there is a disposition to masturbate. The child gets pleasure from watching a thunderstorm, gets bored quickly and reacts badly when reprimanded.

Speech and Communication

Carcinosin is well indicated when the child lacks the age-appropriate ability to communicate. The child shows a significant lag in his speech. The onset of speech is also delayed. The child may have a lot of verbal stemming or excessive babbling. He/She is not even able to express his need by using words. The need-based communication is mostly by gestures or non-verbal. Most of the time the child cries when in need of something. Echolalia (when the child repeats the sentences of others) is another feature which indicates the use of Carcinosin. The child repeats the sentences and does not have an expressive language. The speech even if present, is meaningless and irrelevant. There is a tendency of self-talk.

Cognitive Symptoms

The child has poor focus and difficulty with concentration and in understanding the basic concept of things. The child can be intelligent and artistic with great affection for fine arts, music, and drawing or very dull, disinterested with poor intellectual ability. Carcinosin is also helpful when the child lacks the ability to pretend play. The child can not do imaginative play and also is not good at playing with toys. He/She is obsessed with a sense of rhythm and may consequently be fond of dancing. Excessive tiredness and fatigue may also be present.

Sensory Issues

This remedy very effectively controls a lot of sensory or self-stimulatory behaviors. There can be a tendency of smelling/touching things or putting them in the mouth. The child puts everything thing in his mouth. Carcinosin is also helpful when the child smells everything, even the food before eating it. Sensitivity to sound is commonly observed in children who require this remedy. The child can not tolerate loud sounds like that of a vacuum cleaner, mixer, loud music, etc. Noise may be a contributing factor to why the child does not like crowded places. The sound sensitivity can be so marked that it becomes very difficult to give the child a haircut.

Issues with Social Interaction

Showing spontaneous sympathy for others is the main characteristic. The child does not have too much emotional bonding and dislikes meeting people. The child has a fear of going into crowded places and becomes irritable and cranky. He/She lacks the ability to interact with people socially. He ignores guests at home, teachers, or people in public when addressed. Kids requiring this remedy are vulnerable towards social anxieties, so they are not at all comfortable at public places. It becomes challenging to manage the child in public areas because of the irritability and behavior issues. Another characteristic feature of Carcinosin is the lack of awareness of danger. The child does not have the basic concept of risk or things that can be harmful. So, he might run across the streets, take high slides, touch hot items, etc.

Sleep Issues

There may be a tendency of insomnia in children that occurs early on in life. Mainly, there is insomnia without a cause, whether it is acute or chronic. The child needs to be carried or rocked to sleep. The sleep is restless, non-refreshing, and the child wakes up frequently due to nightmares. A need to lie on the chest or in a knee-elbow position even in older children is present. The child sleeps on the abdomen or sleeps with arms over the head. There is profuse and offensive sweat during sleep. The child grinds his teeth during sleep. Also, the teeth are prone to early decay.

Gut and Bowel Symptoms

During childhood, there may be a tendency to develop alimentary upsets of one kind or another. The child has very low immunity and therefore suffers from various infections. There is a craving for chocolates, sweets, cold drinks, cold milk, sugar and fatty foods. The child has an aversion to salty foods, butter, eggs and fruits and spicy food which makes his complaints worse. There is constipation; the child does not have the urge or desire for stool. The stools can be hard, dry and black. There is a painful evacuation of stools.

Other Indicative Features for Carcinosin:

There a strong family history of chronic and severe illness, like cancer, tumors, diabetes.
The child is weak and emaciated with a tendency of having brittle bones.
There is a tendency of developing inflammatory disorders in early childhood.
Very creative children are inclined towards art, drawing, and music.
The child is either fastidious (very attentive) or develops filthy habits.
The child feels chilly or hot or is extremely affected by both heat and cold.
The appearance of brownish, Café-au-lait spots is one of the characteristic features that indicate the need for Carcinosin. It is helpful where there are facial tics, twitches with the blinking of eyes.
It is also helpful in cases of ADHD, mental retardation, malformations and dwarfishness in children.

Keynotes Of Carcinosin

Gets very hyperactive: One of the key features of this remedy is that the child is very hyperactive and restless.

Excessive hair on the neck and back: The body is hairy specifically on the neck and back area.

A family history of cancer: History of cancers and tumors is commonly found in the family.

Causeless Insomnia: The child has sleeplessness and also the sleep is not sound or restful.

A history of recurrent inflammatory infections in early developmental years.

Sleeping in a knee-chest position: There is a great desire to sleep in the knee-to-chest position.

Fastidious: The child is either very cautious about the cleanliness and hygiene, or has dirty and filthy habits.

A family history of diabetes is another critical feature of this remedy.

Very obstinate: Carcinosin is extremely helpful in cases where the kids are stubborn and tend to throw temper tantrums.

Loves traveling: The child is very happy outside the house and likes to travel.

Aggravated or Ameliorated (feels better) by sea air: Sea air brings about important symptoms, where the child either gets aggravated by exposure to sea air or feels better. It seems to be an important moderating factor.

Highly Talented: Great creativity and artistic skills can be another characteristic feature of this remedy.

Nasal Allergies and Homeopathy

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 47 Comments

Nasal Allergies in Summer

Dr. Vikas Sharma

Have you been sneezing very often this summer? Do you have itching in the nose , roof of mouth and eyes? Are you getting a watery discharge from your nose? If yes then there are good chances that you have Allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis refers to an allergic condition that occurs in the upper respiratory tract and also in the conjunctiva of the eyes. This is usually a harmless condition but can throw one’s life out of gear. Most of the people who suffer from its seasonal form, have recurrent episode in late spring, summers and fall. Homeopathy provides a great hope for all those who suffer from it in treating this kind of allergy from its base and thereby stopping its annual recurrence.

People who suffer from allergic rhinitis usually have these following symptoms- 1) Sneezing , which may occur any time and can occur in bouts ; where one may even have 20-30 sneezes in a row . Morning sneezes are very common in those suffer from allergic rhinitis. Such sneezing episodes may occur as early as one wakes up .2) Runny nose – sneezing is accompanied by profuse watery discharge from the nose. Along with other symptoms one may also have same king of watery discharge from eyes. 3) Itching in the eyes, nose and the roof of the mouth – itching in the nose roof of moth and eyes are very common symptoms in allergic rhinitis. Most patients complain of a “crawling” sensation in the nose and the roof of the mouth. 4) Some patients may even suffer from breathing difficulty if the attack gets serious. This kind of breathing difficulty is usually noted in spring weather during wheat harvest season. 6) Fever may also be present in some individuals during a severe attack of allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis usually occurs in two forms. The kind of allergic rhinitis that one would have it in only a particular weather is called as Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. Late spring, summers and early autumn is the main weather when it occurs. Such kind of allergic rhinitis occurs due to sensitivity to pollens from trees, grasses or weeds, or to airborne mold spores. The second type is the ‘Perennial Allergy’ and occurs all the year around. In such kind of allergic rhinitis ,the sensitivity is mainly to substances that one encounters daily . Examples of Such substances are – cockroaches, dust mites, pollution and animal dander.

Homeopathic medicines are one of the best forms of natural treatment for allergic rhinitis. They works both ways – By controlling the acute symptoms and also treating the chronicity of allergy; thereby gradually stopping the recurrence of attacks. Homeopathic medicines work by desensitizing the overactive immune system in allergic rhinitis patients. Homeopathic medicines Natrum Mur, Sabadilla , Allium Cepa lead the homeopathic table in treating allergic rhinitis and can treat both the acute as well Chronic nature of the disease. Allium cepa and Aralea Racemosa are very effective in treating allergic rhinitis that occurs in spring . Lately, some medicines have been introduced in Homeopathy which have been found to very effective in treating allergic rhinitis – they are Galphimia Glauca , Histaminum and Luffa Operculata.

Sinusitis – Homeopathy for Sinusitis

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 21 Comments

Sinusitis in Cold Weather – Homeopathy

Although sinusitis can occur in any weather but for those who suffer from sensitivity to cold weather, sinusitis can be a major issue in these months. ‘Sinusitis’ is a term referred to the inflammation of the sinuses (4 pair of air spaces in the skull). People who are sensitive to cold weather have a tendency to develop recurrent colds cough and sinusitis. Cold weather itself does not cause sinusitis but predisposes individuals who are sensitive to cold weather to develop recurrent colds and upper respiratory infections, which in turn causes issues like sinusitis. Homeopathy has an excellent treatment for sinusitis and also for helps in treating ones ‘cold weather sensitivity’ very effectively – Thereby by improving ones resistance to cold weather related problems. [Read more…]

Psoriasis & Eczema that worsen in winters

By Dr. Vikas Sharma MD 35 Comments

Although winters are a big relief from the scorching heat that we face in this part of the country, cold weather brings its own set of miseries. Some skin disorders tend to increase in winters. Psoriasis and eczema are two of the kind. Many patients with Psoriasis and Eczema see a drastic increase in the cold weather. It is not necessary that all cases of psoriasis and eczema aggravate in winters, some case just behave the opposite – they aggravate in summers. Cold weather related flare ups can range from mild to severe. Also in some cases these skin disorders may appear only in winters, having summers as a totally symptom free period. Homeopathy Medicines can provide an effective treatment against these cold weather flare ups of psoriasis and eczema. Along with the symptomatic relief, homeo- medicines also ensure a gradual eradication of the disease from the body.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin problem. Psoriasis is commonly depicted by Skin lesions in the form of patches which are red at the base and are covered by silvery scales. Such shiny silvery scales are very typical of psoriasis. Itching is a common symptom of psoriasis. Cracks and cuts in the skin are also a part of psoriasis. The extent to which Psoriasis can affect an individual can range from very small patches to nearly the whole body being involved. Nails of fingers and toes also do get affected.

Our skin is formed of tiny mature cells. They usually take about a month to mature and to show up at the surface of the skin; but in psoriasis the cells are pushed to the surface at a much faster speed. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder. This means that defense cells that protect our body from infections, start attacking the skin which leads to inflammation on the skin and also the production of immature skin cells. These are pushed to the surface of the skin. These cells then show up as silvery scales on the skin. Psoriasis generally has a strong family inheritance and about a third of them have a close relative suffering from it.

Eczema (Dermatitis) is inflammation of the upper layers of the skin, which leads to itching, blisters, redness, swelling, and often oozing, scabbing, and scaling on the skin. Some forms of eczema like Seborrhic Dermatitis and Atopic dermatitis (commonly found in small children) tend to aggravate in when skin gets dry.

Psoriasis and the above mentioned forms of eczema, have a tendency to increase in winters. This is usually due to the fact that cold weather causes drying of the skin. Indoor heating can further deplete the skin of the moisture leading to an increase in the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema.

Homeopathy has a very effective solution for psoriasis and Eczemas that aggravates during cold weather .There are specific medicines in homeopathy that are there specially for treating winter flare-ups. One such Homeopathic medicine ‘Petroleum’ requires a special mention here for its effectiveness in treating skin problems that aggravate in winters. Not only do Homeo medicines treat the ‘winter increase’ in psoriasis but also help in stopping the recurrence of psoriasis and Eczemas, they help in treating the disorder from the body. Please note that the above mentioned medicine should not be used without a professional help.

The author is a Chandigarh based Homeopath. Email vikas@drhomeo.com