Homeopathic Case Scenario – Addressing a Fever with a Croup Cough

What Wouldn’t We do for Our Children?

My Son called me up last week and asked me if I could watch the kids, because they didn’t have school due to the snow storm. Of course, I changed my plans said yes. What grandparent would turn down an opportunity to spend time with their grandkids? “Great”, replied my son. The kids are all excited to come over. They said “Grandma always plays with us.” I will be there tomorrow morning around 7ish.

On their way over the next morning, my son called to tell me that my 8-year-old grandson woke up in the middle of the night with a croupy cough and crying saying he couldn’t breathe. My son gave him Spongia Tosta (Spongia) 200c with 10 succussions. He also brought him to the bathroom and turned on the hot water to steam up the room and my grandson was able to breathe easier. Finally, my grandson fell back to sleep for about 2 hours. My son told me that in the morning my grandson feels hot to touch and he looks tired.

When they arrived to my house, we checked my grandson’s temperature; it was 103.6o. We gave him a dose of Spongia 200c (with 10 succussions) for his croupy cough and temperature and checked him 15 minutes later. His temperature went down to 103.4o and he fell asleep for 45 minutes. After his nap, my grandson’s temperature was 103.3o. He was able to eat a little bit of breakfast. I repeated Spongia when his croupy cough became worse. After 2 doses of Spongia, my grandson started complaining about his throat hurting and he was feeling hot and then cold (taking his blanket on and off). I asked him if he had a lot of water in his mouth (excessive saliva). He said “Yes”. I stopped Spongia and started giving him Mercurius Vivus (Merc) 200c (with 10 succussions). After one dose of Merc, his temperature started dropping from 103.6o to 102.9o within one and half hours. We monitored his temperature every 30 minutes and repeated Merc when the temperature did not drop anymore and according to his croupy cough. By 6:30 PM that evening, his temperature had gone from 103.6o to 100.9o.

When the body needs a different Homeopathic remedy, you will start to see clues of the next Homeopathic remedy. In this case, my grandson started feeling hot and cold.

My grandson slept through the night and at 6:00 AM the next morning his temperature was 99.8o. We gave him a dose of Merc and continued monitoring his temperature every 30 minutes, repeating Merc when his croupy cough became worse. All along his temperature kept decreasing by 11:00 AM his temperature was 98.6o. Then his cough went from a croupy cough to a dry tickling throat cough and his temperature went up to 99.6o. We gave him a dose of Rumex Crispus (Rumex) 200c (with 10 succussions). Within 15 minutes his temperature went down to 99.2o. We continued Rumex when my grandson’s tickling cough became worse from talking. That evening his temperature increased to 100o. We increased the succussions on Rumex to 12 and gave him a dose. His temperature did not improve. We started thinking back; gathering information on how my grandson was last week, if he had anything that could have upset him; looking for what is called Etiology (never well since). And my son remembered that he had an incident were a friend was supposed to come over to his house and the friend didn’t show up. We gave him a dose of Pulsatilla (Puls) 200c (dry1 – 3 pellets on tongue) for the abandonment feeling of being forgotten.

When well-chosen Homeopathic remedies stop working or do not work, look for Etiology. Something could have happened and that is why they got sick. This can be a parent went on a trip, bad news, caught out in the rain/wind, etc.

The Puls started bringing his temperature down to just about normal 98.9o. Then his temperature started to increase. We made Puls stronger by making up a Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle and succussed it 10 times and gave him a dose.

When a Homeopathic remedy that is working stops working, make the remedy stronger. Either by adding a pellet to a Homeopathic Remedy Solution Bottle or increase the succussions by 2 increments.

My grandson’s temperature did not improve after giving a dose of Puls with 10 succussions. At that point my grandson’s cough became worse when he talked or took deep breaths. We switched him back to Rumex with 10 succussions and gave as needed. The next morning my grandson’s temperature was 98.6o. Rumex was given 3 times day for the next day or so until he no longer had a cough.

Once the Etiology is addressed, that Homeopathic remedy (Puls) is no longer needed. You will then start to see new symptoms (i.e. tickling cough). In this case, my grandson needed to switch back to Rumex. We went back to Rumex with 10 succussions, because 12 succussions did not work.

Even though my grandson’s temperature was 98.6o upon waking, we continued checking the temperature throughout the day, in case it started to climb. The best time to watch the temperature to see if it increases is from 3 – 4 PM on, this is what is called the “Bewitching Hour”.

A fever indicates that there is an infection in the body. When dealing with a fever and another symptom, you want to address why they have the fever; in this case it was the croup. It can also be an earache, flu, etc. If the temperature starts to increase while giving a Homeopathic remedy for croup, earache; switch to another Homeopathic remedy for the croup, etc. And if the temperature is not going down, then select a Homeopathic remedy for the fever; according to what the fever symptoms are.

My grandson responded very well to the Homeopathic remedies we selected. His temperature decreased very quickly in the first day. Then we had to address the emotional component, that is more than likely why he got the croup in the first place – Etiology.

Using Homeopathy means we are diligent in observing, recording and reevaluating symptoms. We know that in order to bring balance and healing to the body we may need to select and administer several remedies as the symptoms change. This is an important and critical part of using Homeopathy successfully. It is not “one size fits all; we select the Homeopathic remedy according to each individual’s symptoms. When the body heals using Homeopathy we know that we have strengthened and brought balance back to the body. While this process may take some time, when we see someone healed through Homeopathy we know we have brought them into balance and strengthened their immune system. Nothing could be more satisfying.

Until next month I wish you many blessings and much health through this spring season!