FDA experts say "Take children's meds off the market"
Last month a panel of FDA advisers voted in favour of a proposal that children under the age of 6 should not be given cold and cough medicines, because they have not been proven to be effective or safe. The experts advice will now be considered by FDA regulators, who are likely to take action against these type of over the counter products.
One person who was delighted with the decision was Dr. Michael Shannon, pediatrician with Children's Hospital Boston and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical: "I think they are neither safe nor effective," "The problem is the risk-benefit ratio," he said.The benefits are non-existant "These drugs are not effective. They do not work to relieve the symptoms of a cold." Meanwhile the risks are real, more than 500 million doses are administered annually and the two primary problems are overdosing and ill effects from mixing different medications.
Dr. Daniel Rausch, director of the pediatric hospitalist program for New York University, underlined these concerns saying that cold medicine is only effective at doses that are just too strong to be safe for young children. His recommendation is a more traditional treatment with no overdose risks - chicken soup.
But besides chicken soup is there anything else that is risk-free and effective in helping children recover from coughs, colds, flus, earaches, sore throat and other minor ailments?
Happily there is – HOMEOPATHY. Homeopathy is so amazing that if you haven't come into contact with it before it may even sound too good to be true, but bear with me! Imagine a system of medicine that has been established for over 200 years, is ecologically sustainable and is used by 500 million people and whose fans over the years have included some impressive and savvy people.
Dizzy Gillespie gave it a rave review: "There have been two great revelations in my life; the first was bebop, the second was homeopathy." Another greast musical genius Yehudi Menuhin agreed "Homeopathy is one of the rare medical approaches that carries no penalties. Mahatma Ghandi acknowledged "...Homeopathy cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment".
Lest you think all homeopathy fans are on the other side Sir Paul McCartney confessed “I can't manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies.” Cindy Crawford said much the same thing on Oprah recently.
Yet although Homeopathy is a world renowned system, it still has a relatively low profile in the US and that is a great loss for the citizens of the US, struggling as they are with an economic meltdown and a failing, horrifically expensive healthcare system.
The current pharmaceutical approach to healthcare is little more than symptom management and it comes at a huge economic and physical cost to the individual involved and to our environment. On the other hand, Homeopathy is a completely ecologically sustainable medicine because it uses natural substances in tiny amounts, it is completely patent-free, inexpensive, safe and effective, with no harmful side-effects, it does NOT pollute the water supply or the environment and is tested on human volunteeers, not animals.
Perhaps best of all with very little effort you can use homeopathic medicines at home in first aid situations and for minor illnesses. More than any other holistic medicine it is the most user friendly for the beginner. So what should you do to get started? For about $100 dollars you can buy a book and a homeopathy kit. There are lots of free online trainings too.
If you want to "try before you buy" take the Arnica challenge.ARNICA is by far the Number 1 Best-selling Homeopathic Medicine in the World. Millions of people have become totally convinced of the benefits of Homeopathy after using Arnica. Next time you have the misfortune to suffer any of the symptoms below, try Arnica and discover the amazing benefits for yourself.Then once you are convinced upgrade to a kit.
Physical shock, trauma
Especially helpful after the classic shock response after an accident or severe emotional upset. The person insists they are fine, when they clearly aren’t. Usually don’t want to be touched or fussed over.
Head injury
Reduces the risk of complications following a blow to the head, reduces pain and swelling
Bruising
Take it and watch your lumps and bumps disappear almost before your eyes.
After childbirth
Will reduce recovery times dramatically, take as you would a painkiller, repeating as needed.
Exhaustion
Of course it’s cheating and you will have to rest up later, but if you really must keep going take Arnica. Tour de France cyclists swear by it and so do women in labour. Ideal for when you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do!
Jet lag
Take Arnica for second wind and you can keep awake long enough to get onto local time.
My name is Mary Aspinwall, I am a Classical homeopath, new to Ojai and really loving it here. Please feel free to comment or ask questions and I will do my best to respond. I wish you and your loved ones the best of health.
Comments
Thanks for the info on Arnica, Mary. I've used it many times myself. I've mostly used it topically, with success, for aching muscles. Do you have thoughts on the benefits of oral vs. topical?
Posted by: heather | November 18, 2008 09:17 AM
Hi Heather
Glad you have found Arnica useful. I do have a couple of thoughts. Oral doses are preferable if the skin is in any way broken (as with a bruise near a cut or graze) as topical Arnica can irritate the skin in these instances. They are also needed for cases of jet lag and exhaustion and shock where topical Arnica wouldn't serve.
Hope this helps.
Be well
Mary
Posted by: mary aspinwall | November 18, 2008 09:49 AM
I am also very concerned about childrens health nowadays and the overuse of antibiotics and steroids and other med for diseases that can be gracefully treated with diet and herbs and homeopathy or herbs and acupressure (The latter my specialty as I am a State licensed Acupuncturist an herbalist for 25 years and a mother for 15)
Posted by: Apolonia Paulusse LicAc | January 25, 2009 10:24 AM
An advantage of herbs to homeopathics is its nutritious value of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients so lacking in modern diet.Also I learned that homeopathics do not work if strong smelling substances(mint from toothpaste. kamphor, terpentine from paints, strongsmelling cleaningproducts etc.) are around the patient.
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