Croup - Homeopathic Remedies Possibilities

[Sheri Nakken]

Croup - Homeopathic Remedies Possibilities - Therapeutic possibilities

If your child gets croup regularly consider taking him to a homeopath for constitutional treatment.

CROUP
(Membranous Laryngitis, False Croup.)

Croup is breathing difficulty accompanied by a "barking" cough. Croup, which is swelling around the vocal cords, is common in infants and children and can have a variety of causes. Croup, also known as laryngotracheitis, is an inflammation and narrowing of the larynx (voice box) and the trachea (windpipe) caused by an infection.
Croup, Laryngitis - Treatment & Homeopathic Medicines

#Aconite [Acon]
Aconite is always the remedy in the beginning of croup, be it spasmodic or membranous in character. The child is suddenly aroused out of sleep gasping for breath. There is a most anxious distressed countenance, hot skin and much restlessness and tossing about. The cough is of the driest kind, loud and barking, no expectoration. If however, the remedy be continued a little while a little expectoration will appear and with it relief. Crop brought on by exposure to dry, cold winds calls for Aconite. The remedy should not be stopped too soon; if so the trouble will return the following night. The breathing is loud, especially the inspiratory effort. Ferrum phosphoricum often acts well in the beginning of croup. It may be distinguished from Aconite by the absence of anxiety and restlessness so characteristic of the latter drug Aconite croup comes on very suddenly. Veratrum viride is also a very useful remedy at commencement. The anxiety of Aconite is absent.

#Spongia [Spong]
Spongia is the great homoeopathic croup remedy, but it always comes in after Aconite. The breathing is harsh, sawing and hard as if the patient were breathing through a sponge. Hard barking ringing cough with scanty expectoration; in fact, it seems to get tighter and tighter every minute and almost threatens suffocation. It is worse before midnight, and it is especially well indicated in light complexioned children with blue eyes. It corresponds m;ore closely to the spasmodic form of croup than to the membranous.

#Hepar Sulphur [Hep]
This is the third of the great croup trinity, and it follows Spongia well. It has the same croupy sound, but there is a certain amount of moisture to it; it has a "loose edge." It comes on after dry, cold winds, the breathing is whistling and there is great sensitiveness to the cold air. There must be some looseness of the cough to indicate Hepar; in fact, the child is apt to have choking fits with the cough. In the membranous form of croup it is useful when there are pains going from the throat Putting the Kibosh on Croup
by author Nicole Duelli, CCH, RSHom (NA)

Homeopathy can work wonders for croup. As a parent, it is a definite relief to be able to do something that is effective and safe during a frightening croup attack.

Croup is a spasm of the larynx (voice box) that develops from a viral infection in children three months to four years. The hoarse, barking cough and trouble breathing appear unexpectedly in the middle of the night. Because children may have only mild hoarseness and a cough during the day, the middle-of-the-night spasms are frightening to both the children and their parents as they seem to appear without warning.

Coping with Croup

Some parents have stopped croup by taking their well-wrapped child out into the cold night air. Also administer homeopathic remedies to quickly reduce coughing and prevent recurrences on subsequent nights. If you have a young child, keep three remedies on hand so you're prepared to settle an attack of croup.

Remedy 1: Aconitum napellis

Give Aconite on the first night, when the cough develops without warning and sounds alarmingly loud and dry. Be prepared for your child to be clingy, crying, and anxious. Aconite is also a great remedy to have on hand for the initial stages of other coughs, colds, and earaches, especially if they are caused by a chill or a cold wind. Give this remedy once or twice, and you will rarely need to follow with another. If your child continues to awaken or if the cough returns the following night, change to a different remedy.

Remedy 2: Spongia tosta

Made from toasted sponge, Spongia is excellent for croup because it is used for respiratory infections and asthma accompanied by hoarseness that threatens suffocation and worsens with sleep. Homeopaths describe the cough as a saw going through wood. You may hear noise or whistling as the child breathes, but the air passages are dry. Asthmatics often have thick mucous and inflammation in the bronchioles even though it sounds dry.

Remedy 3: Hepar sulphuris calcareum

Whenever you hear wetness or rattling in the croupy cough, choose Hepar sulph. This remedy will resolve a croupy cough that develops very late at night or in the early morning hours (between two and five a.m.). Be sure to keep the child well wrapped and away from chill, as Hepar sulph brings on a strong sensitivity to the cold.

Preventing Recurrences

If remedies work during a croup attack but your child suffers from recurring bouts of croup, then consult a homeopath for a constitutional remedy that will strengthen the child's immune and defence system and protect against subsequent viral infections.

You need never fear another attack of croup once you experience the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies.

How to Take Remedies (do NOT go by this section - use the instructions I have sent you, using remedies in water)

Practical Measures
If your child is really struggling to breathe, seek emergency medical services. Also seek emergency medical help for a child with croup who drools, cannot swallow saliva, and has a fever and very sore throat. He or she may have epiglottitis, a dangerous condition caused by swelling of the "lid" that covers the larynx when we swallow.
Nicole Duelli, CCH, RSHom (NA), enjoys sharing her love for homeopathy. She is a certified classical homeopath who trained in Germany as a naturopathic practitioner and now practises in Vancouver.