Croup - Homeopathic Remedies

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Croup - Homeopathic Remedies

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 <o the ears and expulsion of pieces of

false membrane. Boenninghausen treated croup almost exclusively with

these three remedies. His method was to give five powders; first, he gave

a powder of No.1 (Aconite) in water so as not to make the patient cough;

he waited two hours and if necessary gave powder No.2 (Aconite) and

followed after two or three hours, if necessary, with No.3 (Spongia). The

others, No. 4 (Spongia) and No.5 (Hepar), were given if necessary, but he

always waited two to four hours between the doses. Hardly one in a

hundred received all five powders , and he treated, it is said, over 400

cases without losing one. All this emphasizes the value o;f these

remedies in croup. In false croup give Hepar as soon as the child during

the day, commences to cough hoarsely. It will avoid the nocturnal

attacks.

#Bromine [brom]

Perhaps the next remedy in order is Bromine. Its indications are a

deep, hoarse voice, and every attempt at inspiration produces coughing;

the breathing is hoarse, rasping and whistling and there is rattling in

the larynx, and when the child coughs the larynx sounds full of mucus.

With Bromine the child is suddenly roused out of sleep as if choking and

a drink of water often relieves the spasmodic condition. The sensation as

if some of the membrane were loose in the larynx giving rise to this

rattling, is very characteristic of this drug. There is also marked

prostration. Antimonium tartaricum has this rattling down than Bromine.

Bromine follows Hepar well when Hepar is unable to remove the exudation.

Great suffocation so that the child wants to be carried from room to room

is a good indication. Bromine follows iodine well. Preparations of

Bromine soon decompose, so it becomes necessary to have them made fresh;

prepare with distilled water, one drop of pure Bromine to six ounces of

water. The higher homoeopathic attenuations never deteriorate nor lose

their power.

#Kali muriaticum [Kali-m]

Clinically, Kali muriaticum has been found a very useful remedy in

croup. It corresponds to croupous exudations, it has expectoration of

gray fibrinous slime or phlegm from the mucous membrane. The cough is

dry, hard and croupy,harsh and barking. It forms with Ferrum phosphoricum

the principal tissue remedy treatment of croup.

#Kaolin [Kaol]

This is a remedy little used or thought of in croup. It has some

good symptoms, however. It is useful for membranous croup when it extends

downwards, and one of its characteristic symptoms is intense soreness

along the trachea and upper part of the chest. The patient does not want

anything to touch him because the chest is so sore. Ammonium causticum is

considered by some specific in membranous croup.

#Iodine [iod]

Iodine, in its provings, not only presents all the symptoms

peculiar to croup, such as hoarseness, dry, rough, deep cough, painful

larynx, whistling respiration, sensation of obstruction in larynx, but in

the record of poisonings we have the formation of pseudo-membrane on

epiglottis, vocal chords and the parts of the larynx beneath them.

Experienced teaches that its curative actions is all the more favorable

the firmer the consistency of the morbid product is, hence Iodine is less

indicated for mucous than for membranous formations. It may be employed

in all stages of croup. Given in the beginning, it may cut short the

attack, and after 1 exudation has taken place it diminishes this either

directly by absorption, or by rendering it more fluid it become more easy

to expectorate; and when exudation has existed for some time and the

patient is exhausted it has the effect of rousing the organism to general

reaction. The special indications for its use are the dry, short, barking

cough with wheezing, sawing respiration, dyspnoea and imminent

suffocation. The cough may have lost the peculiar metallic tone and

become muffled and indistinct. There is constant desire to change

position, and it acts especially well in dark-complexioned children. Use

the IX dilution, three drops every fifteen minutes. Croup caused by long

continued damp weather,with more fever than with Bromine, are good

indication for Iodine. It comes in after Hepar when in spite of that

remedy the exudation forms itself into membrane. Some practitioners pin

their faith remedy in the IX dilution, especially when the case is a

severe one.

#Kali bichromicum [Kali-bi]

This remedy is suitable to children with short, fat necks, and it

is indicated in true membranous croup. The cough is metallic, the fauces

and tonsils are red and swollen, breathing is labored and the larynx is

sensitive. The child has smothering spells and awakens choking. The

formation of a thick membrane takes place, and the tendency of the

disease is to extend downward, becoming croupous bronchitis. There is

violent wheezing, and the expectoration is of tough and stringy mucus. It

offers the most hope of removing the false membrane. Cowperthwaite places

this remedy before all others in membranous croup. When the spasm o;f the

throat is very severe, Lachesis will sometimes be indicated. Mercurius

proto-iodide has been successful in certain cases and if diphtheria is

suspected Mercurius cyanatus.

#Sanguinaria [sang]

This remedy may be useful in croup. There is the formation of a

false membrane with dryness, burning and swollen feeling in the throat

and a wheezing, whistling croupy cough. Dryness and burning are the

keynotes of Sanguinaria.

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Putting the Kibosh on Croup

by author 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

Stay calm: even if your heart is pounding, take a few deep breaths and

reassure your child in a clear, calm voice. Take the child into the

bathroom, close the door, and turn on the hot shower. The moist air will

help relax the muscle spasm. Use a humidifier in the child’s bedroom at

night. Vitamin C and zinc lozenges are helpful for immune support during

croup and as a preventive. Give children under one year up to 35 mg of

vitamin C and 5 mg of zinc daily. For children one to four years, give 40

mg of vitamin C daily and 5 mg of zinc twice daily.

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.

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.

Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

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