After a summer at home, many children find it difficult to go back to school. Perhaps they prefer the safety of their own home, or find it difficult to mix with other children, fear the pressure of work and exams or can’t adapt to a new routine. Homeopathy offers a natural and gentle solution to help children in easing back at school. Perhaps you might like to consider it over the next few weeks? Here are some examples of remedies that can help our children with emotional issues they may feel when going back to school:

If your child is dreading going back to school

• Lots of fears and anxieties: Argentum Nitricum

If your child is fearful or anxious and is restless with the anxiety, then Argentum Nitricum may be a good remedy to try to soothe them. They tend to talk fast or need to walk or do something to manage their fear. An person needing Arg Nit often craves sweets and has diarrhoea with the anxiety.

Give your child a dose of Arg Nit 30C or 200C when they start showing signs of fear or anxiety. Repeat after 30 min to an hour if necessary, or as and when needed.

• Separation anxiety: Pulsatilla

Some children may find it difficult to stay away from you after so long at home. If they become anxious and tearful at the thought of leaving you, then Pulsatilla may be tried.  Other instances when Pulsatilla would be useful are:

• when the child is happy to go to school until a sibling is born and he/she becomes jealous and wants to stay home too.
• or perhaps their best friend had to change school and they feel abandoned.

Pulsatilla is a great remedy for separation anxiety or this feeling of being forsaken. It works as a “link breaker” and often a daily dose for a few days is enough for the child to go to school happily again.

• Aversion to change: Calcarea Carbonica

The Calc Carb child has many anxieties and is averse to change. The disruption in routine will affect those children dramatically. If it is their first time at school, if they have a different teacher or are moving to a different class or school, and they are affected more than they should be then this remedy may help them.

This aversion to change is mainly brought on by a lack of self-confidence: they are timid and unsure, and prefer to be in the familiar environment of home. Calc Carb children are often slow at school despite working hard, and are slow at games thus worsening their lack of confidence. They don’t like being observed by others so would particularly dislike taking part in plays or shows. Finally, children who do well with this remedy often have many fears (of the dark, being alone, heights, ghosts, etc) and are prone to nightmares.

 If you child has difficulty in mixing with other children

• Lacking self-confidence: Baryta Carbonica

If your child has a low self confidence and finds it difficult to mix with other children, then Baryta Carbonica may help them overcome their difficulties. The children needing this remedy are usually slow in development, whether physically, emotionally or mentally. They fear what others will think of them and fear ridicule. They are very shy and do not like new situations and for those reasons they are unable to interact with others and tend to stay in their own world. This may have emerged after many illnesses and for this, Baryta Carb is also a good remedy for a weak immune system.

• Disinterested in play: Sepia

Some children do not mix with other children because they are not interested in their games or conversations. These may benefit from the remedy Sepia. The Sepia child is disinterested in everything and gives the impression of being tired all the time. They are negative and appear depressed; they do not like to engage in work or play. Those children prefer to be alone and do not confide in their parents. In addition they find it difficult to concentrate at school and remember facts. The only thing that makes them better is dancing or more generally sports.

• Violence/aggressiveness with other children: Lycopodium

Children who tend to be violent or aggressive towards other children may benefit from Lycopodium. This remedy is particularly appropriate if they love to be in command, are authoritarian and like to be obeyed. When not obeyed, these children will shout and become irritable. They can kick or bite other children too. Yet this love of power comes from deeper insecurity and fears which they try to hide. This may be fear of being ridiculed, fear of failing in public, fear of the unknown.  Their authority is often addressed towards younger children.

If your child has difficulties with school work or exams

• Difficulty concentrating and exhaustion from mental work: Calcarea Phosphorica

Calc Phos is a remedy that is good for teenagers but can be equally good for younger children. Those children are easily distracted and looking out the window or chatting. Or perhaps they will easily become exhausted from the mental work, which may lead to a headache or even inability to talk. In those circumstances, the remedy Calcarea Phosphorica may be helping them. In addition, this remedy can be useful for children who have difficulties making friends and often feel left out.

This remedy is also useful for growing pains and broken bones, so definitely worth having in a first aid kit!

• Exam anxiety

If your child is particularly anxious at the thought of exams, please see this article.

I hope that this article has given you a flavour how homeopathic remedies can ease a range of issues experienced by our school children. There are many more remedies that can help similar or different issues, please contact me if you would like to find out more.

For more information, please contact me at priscille@priscillehomeopathy.co.uk or on 07387 422 848, or via my contact page.

With best wishes for a stress-reduced life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath

I discovered Australian Bush flowers at the end of last year. I was invited to attend a workshop on Australian Bush Flowers essence combinations, and I just happened to be free that day. That was just as well because they really inspired me! So much so that I decided to start using them, for myself, my family, and in my practice. I am now a Level 2 Practitioner.

In this article, I will explain a bit about them and why they are so appealing.

Flowers generally have been used for centuries for their healing properties across most continents. In Europe, Hildegard von Bingen (whom some of you may know of) used flower essences in the 12^th century. More recently, Dr Edward Bach’s work shows that flowers’ essences can address emotional unbalances.

What are Australian Bush flowers?

For a long time, the Aborigines understood the medicinal properties of Australian Bush flowers. They ate the whole flower for its properties and at the same time, ingested dew residing on the flower (which is the base of today’s essences) providing further healing.

These essences were created by Ian White who grew up in Australia and was taught how Australian flowers can heal. He developed the 70 essences that are currently in use, and many combinations of essences.

To make the essences, the dew of the flowers is collected and their vibrational healing signature is imprinted onto a carrier solution (a mix of purified water and alcohol for preservation).

What are their benefits?

Australian Bush flower essences bring about balance in the body and mind, and therefore a sense of well-being. They are mostly used for their emotional healing: grief, depression, anxiety and resentment are examples of emotions that they can address.

They can also help to balance hormones: they are useful at every stage of womanhood and can help anyone with other hormonal imbalances (for example resulting from a hyper-active thyroid).

Physical issues, such as recovering from an illness or digestive issues, can be healed by Australian Bush Flowers too. Furthermore, the essences support us when travelling to recover from jetlag and can protect us against wave-form energy.

How to use Australian Bush Flowers

The essences are safe to take for all ages, as well as during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They are usually taken orally as drops, twice a day over several weeks. But there are plenty of other options.

As they contain a bit of alcohol to preserve them, some may prefer to rub them onto the skin: onto babies’ fontanelles, on pulse points such as the wrists or behind the ears.

You can add them to a bath, or a cream or a massage oil. You can even add them to homeopathic remedies taken in water.

Unlike other products, you can safely take Australian Bush Flower essences alongside conventional medicines. They are complementary to homeopathic remedies.

Examples of essences

The above photo is of the flower Bottlebrush. The essence from this beautiful flower has a sweeping action, it brushes aside what is not needed. It can help those going through major life changes, such as becoming a parent, starting school, or becoming old. It can also facilitate bonding between a mother and her new-born. This essence is included in several ready-made combinations such as “Transition”, “Adol”, “Woman” and “Calm and clear”.

Another example is the essence made from the flower Crowea. It is very good for people constantly worrying. It has a calming effect and brings a sense of well-being. It also helps to balance the stomach. Crowea essence is frequently prescribed and is used in many combinations.

If you would like to find out more about these essences or a homeopathic treatment, please contact me using those details.

With best wishes for a healthy life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath

References:

About Bach Flower Remedies article

Australian Bush Flower Essences book by Ian White.

Getting to know the Australian Bush Flower Essence Combinations workshop by Caroline Gaskin.

Children have had a challenging time over the last couple of years, and so promoting your child’s wellbeing is essential.

Generally speaking, life as a child, although more comfortable, is a lot harder now than a few decades ago. Because life outside home is less safe, we have to live with more boundaries and rules. Who would let their 4 or 5 year old go out to play in the street without adult supervision these days?

It is also apparent that peer pressure is becoming stronger and at a younger age.

All this, sadly, affects our children’s wellbeing. This article is about promoting it as well as giving ideas to support your child grow up, help them become resilient young adults and comfort them during a crisis.

Ways to promote resilience and self-confidence

1. Getting to know oneself

For children to become more resilient, they need to get to know themselves. Once they know what they are like, what they enjoy and what they don’t enjoy so much, then it is easier for them to stay true to themselves.

There are several things they can do to get to know themselves:

• Write down their favourite thing and least favourite thing, and why.
• Think about their emotions and what might have been the trigger. What has brought on anxiety or joy?
• What are their strengths and recent successes?
• On the other hand, where do they need to improve? Is there an experience they can learn from?
• What are the things they would like to do in an ideal world?

Being self-aware helps to make better decision, whether about friendships, joining in games, choosing an activity or after school club, etc. In turns, it boosts self-confidence.

2. Being creative

Encourage your child to express themselves by doing something creative. This can be drawing, painting, cooking, gardening, playing sports, singing or playing an instrument, etc.

There are many ways children can express themselves, perhaps some will need to try various things before finding their preferred activity. All is good to build confidence, get to know themselves and express themselves.

3. Journaling

Writing up a journal is a way for any of us to express ourselves, offload our negative experiences, write our hopes and desires.

When growing up, I was quite secretive and loved having a secret diary which I could talk to. Journaling can be done on their own, or with an adult if the child feels like it. It also has the benefit of practicing hand-writing and doodling.

The best is to keep a journal nearby, perhaps on a bedside table, and go at it as and when. Getting into a routine of writing a little bit each day around the same time can have further benefits as it helps them feel safe.

4. Helping others

Helping others can help towards our wellbeing too. It gives us a sense of purpose, which in turns promotes self-confidence and motivation. It helps to create positive emotions which are good for our health and of course wellbeing.

Helping others can be simply at home, helping a sibling or a parent with tasks in the house. It can be with friends and neighbours. It can also be through volunteering for a charity or a local event. Here are two charities which are worth looking into if volunteering appeals to you: Kids Against Plastic and Young People – #iwill

Managing a crisis

Despite our best efforts as parents or carers, occasional crises or difficult times are unavoidable; they are part of life. Managing them and finding ways that work for each of us help us grow too. Here are a few practical tips for managing a crisis:

1. Take a deep breath

Being aware of our own breathing is incredibly helpful in managing anxiety or a panic attack. One way is to take a long deep breath and counting to 4 on the inhale, hold 2 seconds if possible and exhale whilst counting to 4. Repeat a few times.

Another more playful way is to breathe through the nose and exhale through a straw. Repeat for a few minutes.

2. Focus on something

Looking at things around us and focusing on one of them can also be useful. Choose an object and think about what it looks, its colour and its shape. You might even want to hold the object and see how it feels.

3. Give a big hug

A hug can help release a hormone called oxytocin which helps to manage anxiety and fear. If your child is willing, give them a big hug and ask them to count to 20 (or longer).

4. The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise

This lovely exercise promotes grounding and soothes anxiety.
Name: 5 things you can see. 4 things you can touch. 3 things you can hear. 2 things you can smell. 1 thing you can taste.

These tips are courtesy of @thecontentedchild

A few more tips

Here are a few more tips to support your child’s wellbeing:

• Make sure your child stays hydrated as dehydration can increase the level of a stress hormone called cortisol. Drinking in sips throughout the day is better than a whole glass at once, but do what you can.
• A good sleep routine is important: it provides better rest and also security for the child. You can get further advice on how to help children sleep here.
• Spend time as a family. For example, eat a meal together at the dinner table or do some activities together at the weekend.
• Focus on gratitude daily. When going to bed, get your child to name three things they have enjoyed doing or are grateful for that day. And tell them what three things you are grateful for.
• Manage screen time/apps etc, particularly at the end of the day. This article is explains the negative effects of technology on children. In addition, the blue light emitted by devices can affect the production of melatonin (the sleep hormone) and therefore the ability to fall asleep.
• Manage your own stress levels. Children can be incredibly sensitive and pick up our emotions even if we don’t express them verbally. Being positive will contribute to your child’s wellbeing.

If despite your efforts your child is still struggling to stay positive emotionally or is having repetitive crises, then homeopathy may be what they need. Homeopathy is a gentle medicine that supports each individual and can help to overcome difficulties or past traumas. It can also help to manage symptoms such as panic attacks, disinterest in life or violence. Get in touch if you think your child needs help.

With best wishes for a happy life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath

Homeopathy for school children

School is a very important part of a child’s life; indeed they will spend most of their waking hours at school during term time. The influence of school is also a key-stone in the foundation of their future adult life and therefore it is important that children stay healthy and happy at school.

Homeopathy is a great tool in supporting children who may face minor injuries or illnesses whilst at school. Here are a few examples:

Cuts and bruises

Every mother will experience at some point (if not most days!) a child coming back home with a grazed knee, bruises or a head injury. In addition to the first aid administered by the school, homeopathy can help your child recover quickly.

        – Arnica Montana: injuries

This is the most widely recognised homeopathic remedy in the world and comes from an alpine flower also known as “wolf’s bane”. It is very effective for any kind of shock and bruising and can be used in conjunction with other remedies. It can also be used in cases of bleeding, whether external or internal, as well as for head injuries or tired muscles after intense physical exercise. Arnica can also be used as a cream or gel to be applied onto bumps or massaged into tired limbs.

        – Calendula: wounds

This remedy comes from the Marigold flower and promotes healthy and rapid healing. It can be used internally as a homeopathic remedy or externally as a cream, ointment or tincture. It is particularly useful when there is excessive pain, and also when the pain or wound is worse in damp weather and better for rest.

 

Head lice

        – Staphysagria (made from the Delphinium flower pictured above)

Anyone can get head lice regardless of how often they wash or how short their hair is. It can also become a little debilitating as the scalp can feel terribly itchy. Several remedies and natural substances can help here but I will only mention the remedy Staphysagria.

This remedy, which has many other uses, can have very dramatic results in ridding lice from your child’s head. After taking one or two doses of this remedy, the lice will suddenly find that the warmth of the scalp is not appealing and will move away. My son has benefited from this remedy for headlice, and has remained free from headlice despite several bouts in his class.

It is also worth noting that olive oil is also powerful at killing the lice if massaged onto the hair and left overnight. Tea tree oil has repellent qualities and could be sprayed onto the hair every morning before school.

 

Headaches

Headaches can be the result of many variables. The child may be dehydrated, hungry, worried about a test or tired after a day of hard work to name but a few reasons. Here are a couple of remedies well indicated in school children’s headaches.

        – Calcarea Phosphorica

This remedy works best for children who get the onset of a headache at around 4pm, as a result of fatigue of the day or over-study. The children’s complaints are better for a warm and dry atmosphere and for lying down.

This remedy also has an affinity to the bones and is used to help broken bones heal or at times of growth spurt to support bone growth and help with growing pains.

        – Silica

The headache usually starts at the back of the head and extends to the forehead. It tends to come from mental exertion, but can also be brought on by cold air or a draught.

The children who will benefit the most from this remedy are easily exhausted and tend to be shy yet stubborn. They are very sensitive and delicate.

 

Recurring illnesses leading to regularly missing school

Often children will have a cold or an earache or an upset tummy, but for some it becomes so frequent that the child misses a lot of school, making it difficult for him/her to catch up. Homeopathy can aid children by supporting and strengthening their immune system. There are many remedies which I could describe here but I have selected three examples:

         – Pulsatilla: cold and ear infections

Children needing this remedy have recurring colds with a yellowish-green discharge. Often ear infections follow the cold, and they are better for a cold compress. The symptoms are changeable but the child will often be thirstless and feel better for fresh air.

         – Calcarea Carbonica: otitis media, coughs, colds, swollen glands

This remedy is one of the most used remedies in children. It has many uses and here it is indicated for recurrent otitis media. The children are susceptible to colds and develop catarrh and their illness lingers for a long time; this may be accompanied by a sore throat. They are also prone to swollen glands such as tonsils and their lymph nodes can feel hard or be painful.

         – Tuberculinum: pulmonary problems, ear, nose and throat infections

This is another remedy frequently used when the immune system is depleted. There are recurrent colds and respiratory complaints mainly but also otitis media, tonsillitis, adenoiditis. The child feels chilly yet needs fresh air; he is thin despite a good appetite. He tends to be restless and irritable. There is also a great exhaustion.

For more information, please contact me at priscille@priscillehomeopathy.co.uk or on 07387 422 848, or via my contact page.

If you are interested in knowing how homeopathy can help school children with emotional issues such as anxiety, you may wish to read the following articles:

• Homeopathy for exam anxiety
• How homeopathy can help emotional issues in school children

With best wishes for a stress-reduced life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath

Homeopathy for exam anxiety

Are you taking an exam this year? Are you feeling anxious? Do you struggle with your revisions?
Keep on reading, this article will give you some practical advice and suggest a few homeopathic remedies which can be taken either during revisions or on the day of the exam to help with anxieties.

Simple tips to prepare for an exam

Here are some simple rules to follow to prepare for exams in the best conditions:

•  Plan your work schedule, don’t leave it all to the last minute
• Make sure you get some rest and breaks between revisions. Your brain will function better.
• Keep exercising at least once a day. But do choose something that you enjoy doing! Just going out for a walk in the fresh air is good.
• Keep a good sleep routine as it is when you sleep that your brain will retain the information processed during the day.
• Drink plenty of water to help maintain your concentration levels.
• Listen to classical music or some soothing music that help you relax.
• On the day of the exam, eat a good breakfast to keep you going (eg: boiled eggs and avocado on toast).

A few homeopathic remedies to help you

Sometimes, regardless of the amount of energy that has been spent on revisions, anxiety cannot be avoided before or during an exam. This is absolutely normal and a bit of adrenaline will actually help. However too much adrenaline can be detrimental. So here are a few homeopathic remedies to help you manage your anxiety:

Argentum Nitricum

This is a great remedy for people who always feel hurried. There is a lot of nervousness and the anxiety is usually felt in the stomach. There may also be explosive diarrhoea with the anxiety. Another key note of Argentum Nitricum is a craving for sweets.

It is one of the major remedies for panic attacks and it is also good for stage fright as well as exam anxiety. So whether your examination is written or verbal, if your symptoms match the remedy, this may be the one you need.

Gelsemium

This remedy is particularly indicated for performance anxiety: stage fright, exam anxiety or anxiety before an interview – this is due to low self-confidence.

Gelsemium helps when the mind goes blank either during revisions or during an exam.
There is muscle weakness, maybe even paralysis. But there can also be a lot of trembling from nervousness.

 Lycopodium

This remedy acts well in students who lack in self-confidence. They may also have fear of failure.
However they will try to cover it up and may even appear over-confident. The symptoms are usually worse between 4 and 8pm and worse for missing a meal.

Aethusa Cynapium

The person needing Aethusa is afraid to forget what they know. Their mind goes blank during the exam, despite revising hard for it, and they have the incapacity to think. They may also feel restless.
This remedy particularly suits those who love animals.

Australian Bush Flower essences

Several essences can further support you during your revisions. Isopogon or Bush Fuschia will help your memory and ability to learn. The Focus essence comprises those 2 essences as well as a few more and helps concentration and studying. This is a good one to take during the revisions and on the morning of the exam. 

Good luck to you all and if you need further help, do contact me, I will be happy to help!

Priscille Francetti LCCH MARH

Homeopath

Getting to sleep may have been a little harder than usual in the last few weeks. With the various changes that we have been through recently, and the days getting longer and brighter, going to bed has been an issue for many of us and our children. You will find in this article some tips for helping children sleep well at night.

Sleep is an important part of your child’s life. It contributes to their physical and emotional wellbeing. Good sleep helps:

• the immune system stay healthy and fight infections when needed.
• to improve attention and behaviour.
• to process the information children have learnt in the day and to improve their memory.
• to grow.

So how can we help our children sleep?

General tips for helping children sleep

It is important to establish a sleep routine early on. Children like and benefit from routine and so first of all, ensure your child goes to bed at a regular time. If your child is playing or doing a particular activity, tell them in advance that the bedtime routine is to start in 5 minutes. You may want to give your child a bath and then read them a story before going to bed. Some children benefit from listening to music when going to sleep. See if this works for your child and choose some easy to listen and soothing music.

Try also the following tips for helping children sleep:

• Make sure the room temperature is around 16 to 20°C and has been aired during the day. Do not cover your child too much as hyperthermia can disturb sleep.
• Avoid caffeine drinks (such as Coke) after 3pm.
• Avoid the use of screens (TV, computer, phone, etc) two hours before going to bed. These produce a blue light which basically sends the message to the brain that it is still daylight and therefore the person should stay awake.*
• Use curtains and black-out to keep the room as dark as possible.
• Older children can be allowed to keep the light on for a little longer with a book.

Children aged 3 onward

As they grow up, children realise that other members of the family are still up and that they are missing out on social time. They may start to ask for a drink, or another story, etc to delay their bedtime. This is absolutely normal but you must stay firm with them.

Disrupted sleep and nightmares

It is usual to see children who reach a particular milestone sleep less well for a few days or weeks. They may try to disrupt the bedtime routine, or more frequently they will have more dreams and nightmares or wake up in the night. Reassure your child and comfort them at bedtime or when they wake up in the night but avoid picking them up if possible.

Nightmares are more frequent between the ages of 2 and 5. If nightmares or night terrors recur too often, it is important to identify the root cause of the issue. Perhaps they are due to a story or film they would have seen, or perhaps they are not comfortable in their bed. There are many possible reasons, but if you can’t identify any particular trigger, then you may want to involve a professional. You could approach a counsellor specialised in children or a homeopath.

Still not sleeping?

If despite your best efforts, your child is still struggling to get a good night sleep, then homeopathic remedies might come to the rescue. Here are some examples:

Pulsatilla is a good remedy for children who do not want to leave you to go to bed. They are particularly clingy and cry easily, especially when ill.

Sulphur may be given to a child who sleeps in short naps. They wake after a short while and are wide awake. They will eventually go back to sleep but the pattern repeats several times during the night. A reason why they may wake frequently is that they have an itchy skin and the warmth of the bed makes it worse.

Aconite and Calcarea Carbonica are remedies to be considered if your child suffers from nightmares.

There are many more homeopathic remedies that can help with sleep. Feel free to contact me for further advice.

For more information, please contact me at priscille@priscillehomeopathy.co.uk or on 07387 422 848, or via my contact page.

With best wishes for a stress-reduced life,

Priscille Francetti LCCH

Homeopath

Get my free guide for raising a healthy child by clicking here.

* See this article for further information on how blue light affects our sleep.

The expecting parents’ event held at John Lewis took place on 4^th July. Despite the lovely weather, the event was well attended and may I say very well organised by John Lewis.

As well as expecting parents, at different stages of pregnancy, it was good to meet other like-minded professionals – all wanting to give babies the best start in life and their parents as much support as needed. The range of professionals varied widely from a talented photographer (whose husband happens to have worked with mine – what a small world we live in!), several people showing a demonstration of baby equipment to a sympathetic private midwife who provides practical as well as emotional support to mothers before and after birth, and another friendly lady from Water Babies. Other professionals included an excellent kinesiologist, a doula, someone giving lessons in first aid for young children, and more!

 

I came to the event with remedy kits for infants, which I had been preparing for the last few weeks. It was rewarding to see that many people showed an interest in natural health and left with one of my kits.

 

If you would like to find out more how homeopathy can help mother and child during pregnancy and after, do contact me by phone or email.