Homeopathy for Measles

Homeopathic remedies and tissue salts may help alleviate the symptoms of measles, make your child more comfortable, speed up recovery and help prevent complications. In the UK measles is a notificable disease which means that, even if you choose to use homeopathic remedies, you should inform your GP if you suspect that your child has measles.   

Many homeopathic remedies may help children suffering from measles but I have included a selection of those that are most frequently needed and easy to spot. If your child has severe symptoms or you aren’t sure which remedy to give I would recommend consulting a professional Homeopath.

Aconite

This is one of the first remedies to think about for the early stages of measles when the symptoms resemble those of a cold. You can repeat the remedy after 30 minutes,  1 hour and then after a few hours if needed.

  • Sudden onset of symptoms
  • High temperature and intense thirst
  • Face may be flushed or pale or may alternate between the two

  • Eyes– dry, hot, sensitive to light and air, watery

  • Nose – frequent sneezing and runny nose

  • Cough – hoarse, dry croupy cough which is worse at night

  • Throat – painful, dry, red, difficulty swallowing

  • General – worse at night, may be restless and anxious, oversensitive to light, smells and sounds

Belladonna

Like Aconite, Belladonna is often needed during the early stages of measles. This remedy is easily recognised by the heat, burning, redness, throbbing, intensity and sudden onset of the symptoms:

  • Sudden onset & violent symptoms

  • High temperature which may be accompanied by hallucinations

  • Face – Red or bluish red, burning hot to touch, shining

  • Eyes – inflammed, red conjunctiva, dry, heavy, aching, staring, dilated pupils, sensitive to artificial light

  • Throat – dry, red (worse on the right side), difficulty swallowing

  • Ears – inflammation, throbbing, beating, stitching, shooting pains which are aggravated by noise

  • General – swollen glands, restless, irritable, may kick out or hit during a fit of temper, can’t bear to be touched, restless sleep and crying out during sleep, may fancy lemons and lemonade

Pulsatilla:

Pulsatilla is a very frequently needed remedy for measles, particularly when the nose, ears and eyes are affected. Children needing this remedy are usually tearful and clingy during the illness.

  • Nose – thick yellow/green discharge, blocks up at night but lots of mucus in the morning, loss of smell

  • Cough – dry cough in the evening & loose in the morning

  • Eyes thick yellow discharge, lids inflamed & stuck together, painful, runny, sensitive to light and sunshine, child wants to rub eyes

  • Ears – severe earache involving the whole side of the face and the head, ear red & swollen, difficult hearing as if ear full, there may be an offensive smell from the ears and a thick bland discharge.

  • General – tearful, clingy, want to be comforted, loss of appetite and thirst

Pulsatilla can also be used to help children who have not fully recovered from measles.

Apis:

  • Skin hot, red, rash of measles
  • Throatswollen, bright red, pain on swallowing, dryness and heat without thirst
  • Eyesprofuse, hot scalding tears, great sensitivity to light, conjunctiva bright red and puffy, lids swollen, red, inflammed, burning, stinging, shooting pains
  • Ears redness and swelling of both ears, shooting, burning pains in ears when swallowing
  • Generallack of thirst, intolerance of heat, restless, fidgety, whining and tearful

Bryonia:

Bryonia is especially indicated in measles when there is a severe, painful cough and children needing this remedy tend to feel better when resting but worse when moving. The mucous membranes are dry and your child is likely to be extremely thirsty if they need this remedy.

  • Coughdry hacking, very painful cough which shakes the whole body, hold chest when coughing. The cough may be worse in a warm room and aggravated by eating or drinking
  • Eyesinflammed, burning, sore to touch and when moving them
  • Throat – dry and raw with hoarseness of the voice
  • Face – hot and red accompanied by intense thirst, dry mouth and lips
  • General – very irritable and want to be left alone, feel better when resting and worse from moving, very thirsty for large quantities of cold drinks
  • Skin – the rash is slow to develop or doesn’t fully come out

Homeopathy is based on the law of similars i.e “like cures like” so your child doesn’t have to have all the symptoms listed under a particular remedy for it to be effective but there should be some strong similarities between the symptoms and the remedy you select.

How to prescribe Homeopathic remedies:

  • For babies use remedies on soft pillules or crush the remedy and dab it on the tongue.
  • Encourage children to suck the remedy but don’t worry if they swallow it.

  • Avoid giving the remedy at least 15 minutes before or after your child cleans their teeth or eats as mint and strong flavours can antidote homeopathy.

  • Give your child 1 pillule and wait to see what relief it brings. If things begin to improve do not repeat the dose unless the symptoms stop improving or the same symptoms return in which case give another dose. If the symptoms change significantly you may then need a different remedy.

  • You may need to give the remedy every 30 minutes for a couple of hours in some situations.

Biochemic Tissue Salts

Tissue salts are made from substances that are naturally found in our bodies which, when deficient, can result in illness. They are prepared homeopathically in low potencies and work really well on their own or alongside other homeopathic remedies. They are gentle yet effective and you really can’t go wrong with them. There are twelve tissue salts but these are the ones that are most often required for children with measles:

Ferr Phos – given during the early stages it can help with inflammation, fever, conjunctivitis

Kali Mur – helps relieve thick discharges, swollen glands, coughs, earache

Kali Sulph – for yellowish discharges and catarrh, earache and when the rash starts scaling

Calc Phos – helps speed up recovery and restore strength

Or consider combination Q which contains Ferr Phos, Kali Mur, Kali Sulph and Nat Mur.

Allergy Inormation: tissue salts generally come on lactose pillules which dissolve easily on the tongue. However, if your child is lactose intolerant you can obtain lactose free sprays and drops from Homeoforce.

Dosage for tissue salts

  • Babies from 3 months: one tablet six times daily with feeds. The tablet can easily be crushed and mixed with breast milk or formula.

  • Toddlers: three tablets three times daily

  • Children over the age of 5: four tablets four times daily

New Era tissue salts are available from health shops or from The Natural Dispensary. Take advantage of 15% off at The Natural Dispensary by quoting TA015 in the Promo code box when you order.

The Natural Dispensary

What about prevention?

The controversial subject of vaccination is beyond the scope of this post. However, if you have chosen not to vaccinate and are looking for a homeopathic prohylactic you can give Morbillinum 30c and repeat it every few days if there is a measles outbreak in your area. The remedy is available from Homeopathic pharmacies. You can learn more about Homeoprophylaxis and the scientific evidence from The Weston A. Price Foundation by clicking this link

Immune boosting foods:

We are only susceptible to contracting illnesses if our immue system isn’t functioning at its best so supporting your child’s immune system can help to prevent measles and speed up recovery. Vitamin A is particularly important as measles symptoms can be exacerbated by depleted levels of this immune enhancing Vitamin:

Vitamin A

Eggs, yoghurt, apricots, mangos, sweet potato, carrots, butternut squash, peppers especially red and orange, Romaine lettuce.

Vitamin C

Limes, lemons, sweet potatoes, berries, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kiwis, parsley

Vitamin E

Avocados, almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, olive oil, eggs, tuna

 Zinc

Sardines, crab, oats, brown rice, pumpkin seeds, yoghurt, pine nuts, cashew nuts, lentils, chickpeas.

Note: zinc is depleted by drinking alcohol and eating a lot of sugary foods.  

Selenium

Halibut, cod, tuna, salmon, prawns, mushrooms, sole, mackerel , brown rice, onions, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, kidney beans, oats.

Other

Garlic, onions, chives, shallots, leeks, ginger, oregano, rosemary

Probiotics

Plain “live” or “bio” yoghurt, miso soup, Tamari soy sauce

Healthy fats:

Salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, trout, olive oil, avocado, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazels, pecan nuts.

Photography by Beach Davies: beach.davies@gmail.com