Those Dreaded Nights

I was surprised when Ilysse called me at 3 in the afternoon today. She told me she was having a tummy ache and hasn't eaten anything for lunch. When I left in the morning, she complained of a tummy ache but told her that she might just be hungry because she hasn't had breakfast yet. I knew that she must have felt really sick because that was the first time she called me in the office. I wanted to hurry home but was also itching to do some grocery because the kids have virtually cleaned out our pantry that was just 2 weeks ago filled to the brim. When I learned after a few minutes that Ilysse had fallen asleep, I rushed to the supermarket while whispering a prayer that my Ilysse would be ok.

When I came home, Ilysse still hadn't eaten a decent meal and had vomited when she woke up. I gave her Chamomilia and Carbo Betulae for the tummy ache and the vomiting. At around 8 pm, she developed a slight fever which just kept on rising, and peaked at 12 midnight at 39.3 C. I have been giving her Apis Belladona every hour. Considering that I just need to give her 5 drops of it, I use a dropper and she doesn't even stir. I dread nights like this. Every parent does. Could it be dengue? Intestinal Flu? Or even Appendicitis?

After giving her the Apis every hour since 8 pm, her fever has gone down to 37.7 C at 2 am. I'm ready to get some rest. I just earnestly hope that tomorrow won't bring me one of those dreaded nights again.

New Year, New Post, and Hopefully, More in the Coming Days and Months

AP Photo/Aaron Favila

When I created this blog. I rediscovered my passion for writing, especially about people and things I am passionate about. But, due to unavoidable circumstances, I had to put this on hold until I just could not find the momentum anymore. From week one of not being able to update this blog, my daughters were the ones pestering me to continue writing. This new year, Isabelle, after explaining what new year's resolutions are and extracting from her and Ilysse, their own, reminded me that one of my new year's resolutions should be to update my blog. Thus, here I am, fulfilling my daughters' simple request and once again, realizing the immense joy I get from writing.

I have been meaning to write about Isabelle's bout with a serious viral infection in November 2008 that made her temperature spiral to 40 degrees Celsius for more than two days and cough like a mad dog. As always, there was a fear that it could be dengue or a bacterial infection. Notwithstanding my doubts and fears that I was not giving my child the proper medication, I continued giving her oregano for the coughs and the Apis/Belladonna drops (a homeopathic medicine) for the fever. When these medication did not seem to work anymore, I had to get in touch with Dr. Cricket Chen, a pediatrician practicing homeopathy, whom I have recommended in my earlier posts. She advised me to continue giving the Apis/Belladonna and to just continue giving oregano when I disclosed that I have been giving Isabelle the said herb. She also prescribed Mercurius Virus Powder, the equivalent of an antibiotic in conventional medicine, but without the harsh and harmful effects, and Pulsatilla drops for her sinus congestion. She did not find Isabelle to have any bacterial infection and after a blood test done, my daughter was also cleared of the highly-feared dengue fever. After only 2 days since we saw Dr. Chen, Isabelle appeared like she did not endure a week of high fever and coughs.

That incident confirmed again my belief in alternative, homeopathic and/or herbal medicine, although I am not exactly closing my doors on traditional medicine since I, myself, have gone through traditional medical procedures. As a way to start the new year, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to people like Dr. Chen, and all the others around the world who tread the unconventional path to wellness. They have been ridiculed, even sabotaged, but they remain steadfast in their science and principles.

Fever:Friend or Foe

The one thing that makes every parent overly worried when their children get ill is when they get the fever, especially when the body temperature reaches 39 degrees Celsius or 102 degrees Farenheit. At the onset of fever, parents usually grab the available fever medicine, either the paracetamol, acetaminophen or ibuprofen and give this with dispatch to their sick child. I, myself, previously did the same thing whenever my children get the fever.

This practice which more often than not is made with the clearance of the child's pediatrician has been questioned by Lucy Burney, a noted Nutrition Consultant and children's health specialist from London who authored the book "Boost Your Child's Immune System" and whom I have repeatedly cited in my previous post. She explained that fever is an indication that your child is trying to burn off something which is not meant to be there. The fever produced to fight off the "intruders" is beneficial since high body temperature stimulates the immune system to produce more white blood cells. It also increases the heart rate so that white blood cells get delivered to the sites of infection more rapidly and their secretions increased. In fact, she encouraged parents to think twice before reaching for the Calpol since such medicines not only reduce the temperature and therefore, the child's immune activity, but also mask the symptoms so that the child temporarily feels better.

She cautioned, however, to differentiate a raised temperature from a temperature spiralling out of control, noting that fever has also its beneficial limit, espcially when it is accompanied by other symptoms such as rashes, difficulty in breathing or unnatural floppiness.

Heeding Ms. Burne's advice, I tried to avoid giving my children fever medicine and instead gave them homeopathic medicine to control the fever. At first, I was skeptical if homeopathy really works which relies on the principle of "like curing like" or the law of similars. Its founder, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, started experimenting in 1790 with an extremely wide range of natural remedies, which were derived from animal, plant, mineral and biological raw material. The law of similars in homeopathy simply means that taking small quantities of a substance, which in far larger doses would produce the symptoms from which the person is suffering, can cure them. (Home Remedies, A guide to symptoms and cures, Dr. Caroline Shreve, 2003).

I have given my children Belladonna, a Homeopathic cure derived from a plant, which proved very effective in controlling my children's fevers. The Belladonna which I give my children is in powder form (Isabelle and Ilysse call it their salty medicine which they simply love) and like any medicine is given every 4 hours for fevers less than 38 degrees Celsius. But, if the fever becomes higher, doctors prescribe that it be given every hour. Administering this medicine, obviously, requires more time and attention, especially if it needs to be given every hour. But, at least, I am assured that it is safe and carries no side effects.

I started dabbling in homeopathy 3 years ago and was surprised to find out that we have medical doctors in the Philippines engaged in such practice. The first doctor I went to was Dr. Liberty Santos of Intercare. Intercare has branches in Makati, Greenhills and Alabang. There is also Dr. Divina Hey-Gonzales, another Filipino homeopathic doctor, who holds clinic at 24 Mahusay St., UP Village, Quezon City and can be reached at (632) 928 5386. If you live in the Makati area, the best homeopathic doctor to see is Dr. Cricket Palanca-Chen who holds clinic at the Medical Plaza (beside Makati Medical Center). She can be reached at (632) 844 9185.

I have to admit that I still get the jitters whenever my children get the fever. Who wouldn't, especially in this time when we see new kinds of diseases sprouting all over? I guess, as parents, we just have to rely on our own intuition on what is best for our children, whether this be through administering them homeopathic medicine or the ever reliable fever medicine.