Hi,

I posted about my daughter's eczema some weeks ago, and I would like to keep all those who kindly answered me posted about her treatment. We have now found a new homeopath, and she put her on Calc carb 200D on Sunday 21st (January).

A week before, my daughter had gone through a bad stomach flu during which her eczema almost disappeared (apart from dry, scaly skin on her back). After the infection had gone (she only got better on Friday, 19th), her eczema was back again - and worse than ever. The most affected part is her back which is covered with a nummular-shaped eczema that seems to itch terribly - especially at night, waking her up several times a night (3 - 5 times).

The homeopath suspected that it might be ringworm and suggested to treat the skin topically with an anti-fungal cream, since the calc would take long to have an effect on the fungus. I used that cream for almost a week until the laboratory tests proved negative (no ringworm). Ten days after administration of Calc (and the day after stopping to use the anti-fungal cream), her skin got worse again. Could that be an aggro, or should that have happened earlier? If it is an aggravation, how long should it take to get over it?

To be frank, I am not quite sure if Calc carb really is the correct choice for my daughter. Of course I am not an expert and maybe not really objective because I'm her mother, but some things about her do not seem to fit into the "classical" Calc picture.

Perhaps some of the experts here would like to comment on that? Here are some background informations about my daughter's "case"

Age: 9 months, average height, average weight for her age.
Head is rather big, hair dark blonde, blue eyes, fair skin.
Seems rather frail when compared to other children of her age although she's neither to small nor too thin.
Has been vaccinated twice (DKTP + Hib), 10 days after the second vaccination onset of eczema.
Skin is very dry, especially now in winter; very dry and reddish skin on her cheeks, small eczema spot on left sideburn, does not scratch her face. Small eczema spots on both sides of her neck, itching worse on the right side (does not scratch to the bone, sometimes there are small, slightly bleeding scratches that heal very easily). Several eczema spots on her back, size about 1 cm, reddish and sometimes scaly. Rubs her back a lot, does not scratch it. One or two eczema spots on her belly which she scratches when undressed (not too bad).
When itching is very bad, she is very restless at night and sometimes also during daytime (especially during meals, when bored, tired, etc.)
Normally is a happy, playful child, likes books, paper a lot, likes dancing and being rocked and/or carried, moves a lot although she cannot crawl., tosses and turns a lot, rolls over the floor. Has had some developmental problems (late for almost everything, including teething). I had some difficulties giving her extra-food (I still breastfeed her five times a day); she still prefers taking the breast; apart from breastmilk, she likes vegetables and potatos a lot, fruit (pears, apples and bananas) seem to be okay, but she does not crave them, dislikes all kinds of cereals (does not eat them at all). She does not seem to be a "sweet tongue" at all; her favorite dish seem to be boiled potatos.

Is a very sociable child, not shy at all; sometimes she can even be rather pushy, yelling at people who do not seem to notice her. Laughs, smiles and waves to every passer-by, does not seem to be afraid of strangers even though she prefers to stay with her Mom (especially on my arm). Likes to pull other children's (and my) hair.

Does not take me seriously when I scold her or say No to something, she simply laughs at me and tries again. Is very stubborn and obstinate, if I take her away from something she wanted to have, she cries with frustration and anger, sometimes also yelling at me.

Catches cold very easily although I would rather call her a warmblooded child. Feels hot easily, especially in heated rooms; warmth and sweating aggravate the itching. Feels better outside in the open air. Likes her bath a lot (not too warm water), cries when I take her out. Can be very sensitive to touch (and does not like her hands being held), hates to have her face wiped.

Skin condition gets better by application of cool, wet cloth and cooling with a hairdryer. She likes us to apply cream to her eczema, always holds rather still while we do that. Likes us to rub or scratch her back (but that only brings momentary relief, the itching gets worse from it afterwards).

Has rather soft, brittle footnails that sometimes peel off by themselves. Her fingernails seem to be normal.
Has a small café-au-lait-spot on the back of her left knee.

Two things that seem rather strange to me: She likes to sleep on the border of our bed (hard and rather cold), most of the time kicking off her blanket. And she always sneezes in the morning when I open the windows to let the light/sun in. Sometimes she also sneezes when the sun falls on her face while outside. She likes sunlight, though and seems happier on sunny days.

Well, I hope that this is sufficient to give you some ideas...
I would very much appreciate any comment on this

Thanks

Mottemama

This sounds like a Calc, case to me so don't worry. Calc. tends to be a slow acting remedy. I personally would not have given it as high in an eczema case, but don't worry. An aggravation is normal. With a bit of luck it will now start to ease off. Let us know how she gets on.

Mottemama,

Sulphur is the remedy par excellence for itchy eruptions that are aggravated by heat, esp. in the warmth of bed. Clarke says it's for "affections in general of any kind appearing on l. side; external front of head; inner belly, esp. l. side; back; and of the nails". And it is also a very warm remedy. But there are some other curious symptoms here. It's interesting that the eczema went away during the stomach flu and R. Murphy shows that Graphites is strongly indicated for 'eczema alternating with internal affections'. Although, it's not uncommon for eczema to be alleviated by deeper maladies (usually of the lungs), and my understanding is that Graphites is for eruptions that are moist and oozing, which you did not specify. The 'sneezing in sunlight' is also interesting but may not be terribly important. It could pertain to an underlying remedy.

I would be quite concerned about the possible link with the vaccination and seek to clear this up as soon as possible. These kinds of problems can linger and go deeper into the system if not treated properly.

What concerned me most in reading your update, Mottemama, was that your Homeopathy advised you to use antifungal cream!

Surely s/he must know that using creams to suppress will not help in curing your child!

I would seriously question about the use of suppressive agents, such as antifungal creams during the course of Homoepathic treatment.

Homeopathy is not supposed to be used to suppress - but allow one's own being to heal - and suppression is the opposite of that....as the underlying ailment WILL find a way to re-express itself - and if 'successfully' supressed - perhaps in another more important organ than the skin (which is the least important compared to the internal organs!).

I post this for your consideration...hope you will ask your Homeopath why s/he thought suppressing the eczema was a good move - and beware that often - suppressed eczema often yields asthma.
Lisa

Deleted post.

[This message has been edited by nrg grl (edited 03 February 2001).]

Dear Mottemama,

It probably isn't too good any idea for any of us to interfere in another homoeopath's case. We need to respect their ability until it is proven, one way or the other. That said, we can offer some opinions.

One remedy rarely completely covers a case. There are always some symptoms which do not fit - these often belong to a second remedy, which may be a complementary remedy or a misamatic one, a nosode. The idea is to find one that fits the core or the unusual aspects. Stubborness certainly is a Calc carb characteristic.

That said, my first thought for a remedy would probably be Graphites

Child impudent, teasing, laughs at reprimands
Nails brittle and crumbling
Eczma # internal affections
Digestive symptoms # skin symptoms
Excitable tendency
Warm rooms aggravate (3 value)
Being touched agg


But there some other interesting symptoms there

Sneezing in sunshine

agar, aur, hydr, merc, merc-s, sang

This is an unusual symptom. Did your homoeopath take much notice of it?

------------------
David Kempson
Dip.Homoeopathic Medicine
Member A.H.A(Australia)

Thanks, everybody!

To Ricky:
Thanks for your reply, it relieved me a lot! I know that you're an experienced homeopath (I read other posts on this bb) and I probably have a problem in trusting my homeopath (actually, I also found it quite strange that she suggested an antifungal treatment, well...) I have been doubtful about Calc carb being the right choice because I thought it was a cold remedy (?). I thought, that Calc gets worse from cold weather and humidity and not from heat and dry, stuffy rooms? Her stubbornness and her retarded development is of course a strong indication for Calc, as is her big head and her frequent colds.

To David:
Of course it is always a problem to interfere with another homeopath's treatment, I just wanted some suggestions and some help to reassure myself. I am quite new to homeopathy and tend to question things a bit too much. For that reason, I have decided to have a constitutional treatment for my own in order to experience the treatment's effectivity myself (as a psychological trick, so to say).

To nrg girl:
Thanks for your post, but she isn't a sulphur type. I had her have another homeopathic treatment before and she got sulphur, with absolutely no effect (no aggro, no provings - simply nothing!). She sometimes seems like a strange mixture of different types to me; one homeopath had suggested lycopodium, but we never tried it.

To Sarah:
I agree with you that the antifungal treatment was nonsense, we were lucky, and the rash is back again (full-blown), so we did not seem to suppress anything. She does seem to have a strong vital force; her organism always carries everything to the outside. One thing is interesting, too: In the beginning (when we did not know about homeopathy yet), we tried to give her anti-histamines to stop the itching. It did not work at all! For me, that's a good sign that her body reacts "paradoxically" to allopathic treatment; this was one of the reasons why we decided to let her have a homeopathic one.

I'll keep you posted! Thanks again, and: have a nice sunday, all of you!

Mottemama

Ooops, sorry!

Of course I meant Lisa, and not Sarah!

I hope you don't take it personally, but I read all replies at the same time and then answered to all of them...

;-(((! Sorry again!

Most children are warm and therefore we don't take any notice of the fact that Calc is usually a chilly remedy when it comes to prescribing for children. BTW David K is a lot more experienced than me in homeopathy!!!!

Dear Ricky

Don't underestimate your talent and enthusiasm !!!

David