Difficult teething in children: individualizing beyond Chamomilla
Teething is a normal developmental stage but can be accompanied by pain, crying, sleep disturbances, fever and digestive troubles in some children.
These manifestations are related to gum inflammation, pressure exerted by erupting teeth and individual sensitivity of each child.
They manifest as irritability, excessive salivation, need to bite, sleep disorders and sometimes diarrhea or mild fever.
Homeopathy offers a gentle and personalized approach to relieve dental pain, soothe irritability and improve comfort for the child, without side effects and suitable from the first months of life.
It requires precise symptom individualization as each child reacts differently according to their temperament, improvement modalities and associated symptoms.
Why individualize beyond Chamomilla?
Although Chamomilla is the best-known remedy for teething, homeopathy offers many other solutions adapted to the specific symptomatic profile of each child.
According to the theory of similitudes and what has been observed in practice for over 200 years, a treatment corresponding most faithfully to the symptoms would have better chances of allowing:
- Faster and more effective relief
- Better adaptation to the child’s temperament
- Optimized consideration of associated symptoms (digestive, behavioral)
- Possible reduction in the frequency of necessary doses
Table 1: Psychological and behavioral symptoms
The child’s behavior during teething is a key element for choosing the right homeopathic remedy.
| Homeopathic remedy | Characteristic behavior | Improvement modalities | Aggravation modalities | Particularities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belladonna | Sudden agitation, red hot face, sharp cries | Darkness, calm, semi-sitting position | Noise, light, movement, touch | Sudden high fever, dilated pupils |
| Chamomilla | Violent tantrums, wants to be carried constantly | Rocking, car rides | Put down in bed, vexation, heat | One red cheek, one pale cheek, greenish stools |
| Helleborus | Apathy, indifference, dull moaning | Warmth, tranquility | Cold, mental efforts | Prostrated child, wrinkled forehead, abundant drooling |
| Zincum metallicum | Foot agitation, startling, hypersensitivity | Gentle movement, evacuations | Noise, touch, vexation | Restless feet under covers, pallor |
| Podophyllum | Morning moaning, head rolling | Lying on stomach, firm pressure | Morning, hot humid weather | Yellowish diarrhea, drooling during sleep |
Table 2: Teething with digestive troubles and diarrhea
Digestive troubles frequently accompany teething and point toward specific remedies.
| Homeopathic remedy | Type of diarrhea | Associated symptoms | Modalities | Temperament |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcarea carbonica | Acid, whitish, undigested stools | Head sweating, soft fontanelles | Improvement in dry weather | Chubby, chilly child, slow development |
| Calcarea phosphorica | Greenish, mucous, fetid stools | Delayed fontanelle closure | Improvement in warm dry weather | Thin, tall, restless child |
| Chamomilla | Greenish stools like chopped spinach | Violent colic, one red cheek | Improvement by rocking | Hypersensitivity to pain |
| Podophyllum | Yellowish, abundant, painless diarrhea | Excessive drooling, moaning | Improvement lying on stomach | Need to clench gums |
| Silicea | Partially digested, fetid stools | Suppurations, swollen glands | Improvement by heat | Chilly, thin child, foot sweating |
Table 3: Teething with teeth grinding and clenching
Some children present marked teeth grinding requiring specific remedies.
| Homeopathic remedy | Type of grinding | Neurological symptoms | Modalities | Particular signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cicuta virosa | Violent grinding with spasms | Spasms, muscle contractions | Aggravation by noise | Head thrown back, rigidity |
| Phytolacca | Irrepressible teeth clenching | Continuous need to bite | Improvement in warm weather | Swollen, purplish gums |
| Podophyllum | Grinding with drooling | Head rolling from side to side | Improvement lying on stomach | Simultaneous diarrhea, moaning |
Complementary remedies for specific symptoms
Aethusa cynapium - Particularly indicated when teething is accompanied by violent regurgitations and vomiting of curdled milk. The child presents intense thirst followed immediately by vomiting. Aggravation by milk and improvement in fresh air.
Coffea cruda - Remedy of choice for sleep disorders related to teething. The child is hyperexcited, hypersensitive to noises and odors. Insomnia with mental agitation, improvement by heat and aggravation by strong emotions.
Passiflora incarnata - Excellent for simple insomnia without particular agitation. Suitable for children who have trouble falling asleep but without marked irritability. Particularly useful in low potencies (MT to 3CH) before bedtime.
Precautions: when to consult a doctor?
Medical advice is recommended if:
- Fever persists more than 48h or is poorly tolerated
- The child refuses to eat for more than 24h
- Repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration
- Convulsions or neurological disorders
- Significant swelling of face or glands
Homeopathy can effectively support difficult teething, but certain signs require rapid medical evaluation.
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