Homeopathic Treatment for Teething is Dangerous

This is not the first time the homeopathic medicine failed.

The FDA advised parents to stop giving their babies homeopathic treatment for teething because it can do much more harm than the teething itself. This happens to all the babies, and it is natural for them to experience pain and fever while their teeth grow, but the FDA told parents to stop using homeopathic medicine when they have this problem with their babies. Despite the fact that everybody thinks that they are natural and can’t harm the child, apparently, they can.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, FDA’s director, urges parents to let the teething process go its way because it can be easily managed without over-the-counter or prescription medication. Woodcock also advises new parents to consult with their physician before administering gels or tablets to their teething child.

FDA is investigating several cases in which children who received this type of treatment had other bigger side effects like seizures. They are testing the products to see if there is any relation between this two, but until they have a solid result, they advise parents to stop using them.

This is not the first time that homeopathic medicine failed. In 2010 researchers found  was a bigger amount of belladonna in Hyland Tablets than it is approved. This substance can cause harm if it is taken in bigger doses. The substance did harm children at that time and they were intoxicated by belladonna.

The symptoms that children can experience if they were given homeopathic medicine consist in muscle weakness, constipation, excessive sleepiness, difficulty breathing and agitation. If the baby does have any of these symptoms the parents should take him or her to the doctor at once.

The director of a Poison Center, Henry Spiller, says that these toxic substances are rarely found in gels and other products of this type, but if there is one single case, then it’s one too many.

Doctors say that the teething process, while being painful, is a normal process and it is better for the baby to deal with it normally than to get intoxicated by other substances in the products. The also mentioned that there are other alternatives like very small doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen to relieve the pain of the baby. So if your pediatrician prescribes you this kind of alternative you can give it to the baby without any worries as long as you are careful with the dosage.

Image source: Wikipedia