Styes in children
My otherwise healthy four-year old daughter suffers from persistent styes. We tried a homeopathic remedy that did not help. What else can I try?
Repeated infection in both children and adults are a sign of impaired immunity so you need to first treat any current infection topically, with an antibacterial eyewash, and then boost your daughter’s immune system to help prevent reinfection.
You can make an eyewash at home by diluting five drops of a tincture of the herb, goldenseal, in warm water to gently bathe the eye. Watch out that you do not spill the wash since this herb, which is bright yellow in tincture form, can stain. To boost the immune system, give her a daily probiotic supplement formulated for children and use a tincture of the best-selling herb Echinacea, which you can hide in her favourite drink. Mail order both of these remedies from The Organic Pharmacy in London (0207 351 2232) which is, in effect, a cleverly-thought out chemist shop where everything you would expect to find on sale in your local pharmacy, from skincare ranges to nappies, has been made available but in its most natural form and where herbal remedies are made on site. Explain they are for a four-year-old child and use as directed by the excellent pharmacist there.
Homeopathy is usually even more effective with children (and animals) but it may be that you used an over-the-counter remedy and that your daughter would benefit more from a constitutional remedy prescribed by a qualified homeopath, who can take into account her entire medical history before deciding on which remedy she needs.
To find a doctor who is also a qualified homeopath and for details of how to get a homeopathic consultation on the NHS, call The British Homeopathic Association (08704-443950). For other qualified homeopaths, call The Society of Homeopaths (01604-817890). For a free copy of the ARH Register of qualified homeopaths from the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths, phone 08700 736339 or visit www.a-r-h.org online.