Here is a story that shows not only how eczema can be treated with homeopathic remedies, but also a bit about the process of homeopathic treatment. How it is focused on the whole person and how the remedies can improve not only your skin, but your overall vitality and health. I am very grateful to the mother of this child for allowing me to share her story with all of you.

Eczema, Age 5, Female, Mia P
We moved from England to America with my husbands job when Mia had just turned 4. Mia had a history of allergies in the UK – at 4 months when she started solids she had an extreme reaction to milk; at one she started to display eczema. I knew Mia was my ‘sensitive’ child, and that her immune system was somehow not working as it should. I started to go to English allergists and Drs who recommended that I put hydrocortisone cream all over her body twice a day. My gut told me that this was the wrong thing to do, so I found a homeopath in England and took dairy and wheat out of her diet and her skin got better.

When we moved to America, the stress of the move really got to Mia, and her eczema came back aggressively. Initially I tried to manage it myself through diet and by talking to my UK homeopath – this didn’t help, the eczema didn’t improve. I then tried to find a homeopath in the US, but none of my friends could recommend anyone. They just said I should go to an MD and get steroids (this was exactly what I wanted to avoid). I found a Naturopath on the Internet who I thought looked good. He put Mia on a homeopathic remedy which made her eczema get worse still. He told me it was a “healing crisis”. I was not sure about this, but went with it for a few weeks as I really knew homeopathy worked based on my experience in the UK and thought that maybe he could be right. One month with this Naturopath and $1000.00 lighter, Mia was definitely not getting better, and in fact was worse. My gut told me that it was definitely not a healing crisis, and I left him not knowing where to turn. By this time Mia’s skin was not only covered in eczema head to toe, but it now had a secondary fungal and bacterial infection called an ‘id reaction’.

I was desperate – Mia was up 10 times a night itching. I was up with her massaging her trying to relieve the pain. Every morning I washed the sheets as they were covered in blood. All of her glands were up – she could not wear socks or shoes – I never imagined that my daughter could ever get like this. I then went to an American allergist who did numerous tests, none of which were conclusive. They said her liver was functioning fine, and she was not showing any allergies. They couldn’t explain what was happening, but told me to put Mia onto oral steroids, oral fungicides and antibiotics. This was my biggest nightmare. I wanted to help my daughter so badly, but I just could not bring myself to give her oral steroids as none of the Drs could tell me why her skin was so bad and what was causing it. I knew I needed to calm her immune system down and bring her body back into balance. I felt that adding steroids to the situation would only make things worse – at best it would be a band aid to get her through, but it would not cure the eczema and I just felt the long term effects of steroids was a route I didn’t want to take. I felt sure there was another way to help Mia that was more natural, but I was running out of options of finding someone who could help me – I certainly didn’t want to try another Naturopath/Homeopath without good recommendation.

Just as I was about to give up hope, I went to a health food store to try to buy some natural creams to stop the fungus, and whilst I was asking for help from the assistant, she looked at Mia’s skin and said “you really should go to see Lisette Narragon, she is a great homeopath”. I phoned Lisette up immediately and explained my situation to her. Lisette listened to the story and said that she would probably like to treat Mia with LMs – this word immediately gave me confidence as my UK homeopath had mentioned that LMs would be how she would like Mia to take remedies. So, I booked my appointment with Lisette and never looked back. She is the best homeopath I have ever met. She managed to work with me and Mia to get her out of danger and reduce the eczema and fungus, and over the visits, she has changed her remedies and found one which just made the rash that was over Mia’s body disappear over night. Mia can now wear socks and shoes – her skin is beautiful and soft as it should be. Her glands are down. She is thriving – her hair is getting thicker, and she has had a growth spurt. I have been to 4 homeopaths in the last 8 years, and Lisette is hands down the best person that has treated us. She is extremely professional, and the most important thing is that she is always there in our hour of need and ready to give advice and support over the phone – she really takes responsibility for her clients (a commitment that I have never found before).

I guess if you want a summary of my experience with homeopathy it would be that I think it is the most amazing way to get the body to heal. It is natural and subtle, and is the first thing I turn to if any of us are ill. We have had so many wonderful results, it is not placebo or coincidence. I feel so lucky that we have homeopathy in our lives now and even more blessed that we found Lisette. I would absolutely refer Lisette without question to anyone who feels tired of the pharmaceutical route, and ready to try a new form of healing where the body is gently and safely stimulated to bring itself back into balance and health. I would also like to add that homeopathy is not a passive healing process like Western medicine where you go to the Dr and they look at a few symptoms and give you a pill. With homeopathy you get out of it what you put into it – it is an organic process between you the client and the homeopath. Homeopaths have the knowledge but you need to observe and report back the symptoms and emotions that are occurring so the dots can be connected and the right remedy selected. It is a partnership and Lisette is definitely the best homeopathic partner I have met.

In persons who are not allergic, the mucus in the nasal passages moves foreign substances to the throat which are then coughed out or swallowed. However, for the sensitive person, the body responds more dramatically, causing nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, irritation and excessive mucus production. You may be confused about whether these symptoms are allergic responses or just a cold. The table below may help you to differentiate them.

Cold Symptoms

Cough – Common
General Aches/Pains – Slight
Fatigue/Weakness – Sometime
Itchy/Watery Eyes – Rare or Never
Conjunctivitis – Rare or Never
Sneezing – Typical
Runny Nose – Common
Stuffy Nose – Common
Sore Throat – Common
Fever – Rare
Duration – 3 days to 2 weeks
Complications – Sinus infection, middle ear infection, asthma

Allergic Responses

Cough – Sometimes
General Aches/Pain – Never
Fatigue/Weakness – Sometimes
Itchy/Watery Eyes – Common
Conjunctivitis – Common
Sneezing – Typical
Runny Nose – Common
Stuffy Nose – Common
Sore Throat – Sometimes
Fever – Never
Duration – Weeks (6 weeks for ragweed or grass pollen seasons)
Complications – Sinus infection, asthma

Additional Allergic Symptoms:

“Allergic shiners” (dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses)
“Allergic salute” (in a child, persistent upward rubbing of the nose that causes a crease mark on the nose)

It is well known by allergy specialists that moving away from the pollen that affects you is not the answer, you will simply develop allergies to new substances. The underlying sensitivity has not changed, therefore the symptoms will recur. The use of conventional medicines such as Claritin, Allegra, Zyrtac, Sudafed, Benadryl, etc. simply masks the symptoms and does not change the underlying sensitivity.

Homeopathic treatment is effective in treating allergies because it reduces your sensitivity while improving overall health. To a homeopath, the presence of allergic symptoms means that the immune system is in overdrive. . . it is out of balance. This imbalance in the body is what homeopathic treatment seeks to improve.

Easy ways to reduce your exposure to offending pollens:

• Use an air purifier in your home to help clear room air of allergens
• Stay indoors and keep the windows closed in the morning when the pollen counts are highest. Also, sunny, windy days can be worse days in which to be out.
• Wear a mask if you work outdoors: one that is designed to filter pollen out of the air.
• Vacation at the peak of the pollinating season and avoid a location with those same conditions

Here is a guide to help you determine what you have, what to do and when to get help.

Symptoms of Cold

Fever – Rare
Headache – Rare
Aches and Pains – Slight possibility
Fatigue and Weakness – Slight
Exhaustion – Never
Stuffy Nose – Common
Sneezing – Common
Sore Throat – Common
Chest Discomfort,Cough – Mild to moderate
Complications – Sinus or ear

Symptoms of Flu

Fever – Usually, can be as high as 102-104ËšF for 3-4 days
Headache – Usually and can be severe
Aches and Pains – Usually and can be severe
Fatigue and Weakness – Up to 2-3 weeks
Exhaustion – Occurs early and prominently
Stuffy Nose – Sometimes
Sneezing – Sometimes
Sore Throat – Sometimes
Chest Discomfort, Cough – Common and can be severe
Complications – Bronchitis, pneumonia, can be life-threatening problems

Seek homeopathic treatment if you experience no improvement after 3 days or if symptoms worsen. Your constitutional remedy is the best preventive for colds and flus. Be sure it is up to date!

Sponge Bath

Use tepid (lukewarm) water only, not cold water, no ice or alcohol.
1. With a washcloth gently bathe one section of the body at a time, moving from head to toe.
2. Only uncover the part of the body being bathed.
3. Alternatively, if the child wishes, he or she may get into a lukewarm bathtub.
4. Repeat as often as necessary, even several times in succession, finishing at the toes and starting again at the head.
5. This gently lowers the fever to a comfortable level.
6. This treatment is meant to be soothing and comforting, as well as therapeutic.

5. Congestion in head and chest:

a. Steam inhalation therapy – boil water with pinch of turmeric (a common Indian spice found in any food store), remove pot from stove, cover head with a towel and inhale the steam from the pot. Be careful not to burn yourself or your child on the hot pot.
b. Heat mustard oil (available at an Indian market) with a clove of garlic and rub on chest and soles of feet
c. Warm sock treatment (see below)

Warm Sock Treatment
Supplies:
1 Pair of white cotton socks
1 Pair of thick wool socks
1 Towel
Warm bath or warm foot bath

Directions:
1. Take a pair of cotton socks and soak them completely with ice cold water. Be sure to wring the socks out thoroughly so they do not drip.
2. Warm your feet first. This is very important as the treatment will not be as effective and could be harmful if your feet are not warmed first. Warming can be accomplished by soaking your feet in warm water for at least 5-10 minutes or taking a warm bath for 5-10 minutes.
3. Dry off feet and body with a dry towel.
4. Place the cold wet socks on the feet. Cover with the thick wool socks. Go directly to bed. Avoid getting chilled.
5. Keep the socks on overnight. You will find that the wet cotton socks will be dry in the morning.

Seek homeopathic treatment if no improvement after 3 days or if symptoms worsen. Your constitutional remedy is the best preventive for colds and flus. Be sure it is up to date!