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Homeopathic Help for Teenage Troubles
by author Leith Stewart, PhD, DIHom

The vulnerable teenage years can be an especially difficult time. Today’s teens face the pressures of juggling school work, extracurricular activities, a social life and perhaps even a part-time job. While consultation with a qualified homeopath is essential for serious situations, a selection of homeopathic remedies can help with common teenage health conditions associated with physical and emotional stress.

Homeopathic medication comes as either liquid or granules, is quite palatable and is easily carried in a backpack, purse or gym bag. It does not require refrigeration and can be kept in a school locker or any other safe place. However, it should be kept dry and away from perfumes, lotions or other aromatic substances. Ten drops of liquid or six granules placed under the tongue is the normal single dose for a teenager, but be sure to follow the directions on the bottle.

Forget Fatigue And Anxiety

For physical and mental weariness, especially in young people who are growing fast, Acidum phosphoricum is very useful. It is a good standby while studying for exams, when thinking clearly becomes difficult and relaxation is almost impossible. Acidum phosphoricum also helps the teenager to unwind, get a good night’s sleep and to concentrate better at school the next day.

Anxiety plays a big part in the lives of most teens. For nervousness before an exam or an important date, Aconitum napellus is best. This remedy not only reduces stress, but also helps to support the immune system and protect from the many infectious diseases such as colds and flus that teenagers are exposed to at school.

Kick Bad Habits

Smoking is an easy habit to get into and a tough one to break. However, two homeopathic remedies can make quitting much less of a struggle. To reduce a craving for tobacco, take Tabacum whenever the urge to pick up a cigarette is too great. To deal with withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, nervousness, nail biting and insomnia, teenagers can benefit greatly from taking homeopathic Caladium.

Eating a balanced, whole food and enzyme-rich diet isn’t always a priority for teens. If junk food is too tempting–especially the types high in fat or sugars–Colubrina can help reduce cravings and encourage better eating habits. This remedy is recommended for teens with weight problems and for those who want to reduce cravings while cutting back from hamburgers, chips, chocolate and soft drinks.

Stop Skin Eruptions

Appearance is a major concern for most teenagers, and acne is often a persistent or recurring problem, erupting just before the prom or some other important occasion. While cutting down on junk food–and especially animal and heat-damaged trans fats–will help over time, there are numerous homeopathic remedies that can offer a more immediate solution. Selecting the remedy specific to a particular teen’s acne problem may require consultation with a homeopath. In the meantime, a few commonly used remedies are worth trying. Hepar sulph encourages pustules to come to a head and to discharge rapidly. Kalium bromatum frequently clears up acne in a very short time. Rather than picking at scabs after the pimples have broken, use homeopathic Calendula ointment to help the skin heal quickly without leaving scars.

Cold sores can also be painful as well as embarrassing and difficult to disguise with makeup. When a cold sore is starting to swell and feel hot, homeopathic Borax or Croton tiglium, both taken orally, can stop it in its tracks. If it’s already an open sore, Calendula ointment will help it heal in short order.

Relieve Menstrual Pain

Many teenage girls find menstrual cramps so debilitating that they’re unable to participate in normal school activities or join in important social events. The best homeopathic remedy may be specific to an individual case, but the three most often helpful are Magnesia phosphorica if heat relieves the pain, Colocynthis if pressure on the painful area gives relief, and Chamomilla if the girl tends to be weepy and cranky during menstruation.

Balance Ups And Downs

Teenage years can be fraught with emotional highs and lows that have a profound effect on physical health. Although in-depth consultation is recommended to deal with emotional difficulties, homeopathic Ignatia amara is an excellent remedy to have on hand for teenagers. It is very useful when grief and loss are involved, whether they’re caused by a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, a move to a new school and away from friends, or a more painful situation such as the loss of a parent or other close relative.

With a little help from homeopathy, teens can overcome common troubles and be less vulnerable to the physical and emotional stresses of their everyday lives.

What is Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a type of medicine that treats illnesses by stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms. Its foundation is that physical and mental health is the natural state of the body and that disease occurs when this natural balance has been disrupted. Based on the principle of “like cures like,” patients are given minute doses of medicines that match their individual patterns of symptoms, which causes the body to react and reinforces its efforts to heal itself.

Taking Your Homeopathic Remedy

Allow the remedy to dissolve on or under the tongue, as it is best absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth.

• To ensure effectiveness, refrain from drinking, eating, chewing gum or brushing your teeth 15 to 20 minutes before and after taking the remedy.
• Homeopathic remedies often react to metal, so when giving or taking a dose, use glass or plastic.

Take the remedy straight from the container if possible. This prevents any substance on the hands from interfering with the remedy’s action.

Leith Stewart is a homeopath, herbalist and writer with a practice in Edmonton, Alta. Phone: (780) 929-7359. E-mail: leith@compusmart.ab.ca.

Source: alive #239, September 2002