Growth of the children

Height of an individual is dependent on many factors like food, environment, lifestyle and hereditary. Proper growth such as normal height & weight are maintained by the proper food intake, its nutritional value, specific exercises like jogging, skipping, etc. In addition to the diet and exercise, homoeopathic medicines are reported to help proper assimilation of the nutrients, helping growth.

Growth of children and different phases

Growth and development of children can be divided into four periods viz. infancy, preschool years, middle childhood years and adolescence. Immediately after birth, an infant normally loses about 5 – 10% of his or her birth weight. However, by about age 2 weeks, an infant should start to gain weight and grow quickly. By age 4 – 6 months, an infant’s weight should be double the birth weight. During the second half of the first year of life, growth is not as rapid. Between ages 1 and 2, a toddler will gain only about 2 kg. Weight gain will remain at about 2 kg per year between ages 2 – 5.  Between ages 2 – 10 years, a child will continue to grow at a steady pace. A final growth spurt begins at the start of puberty, sometime between ages 9 and 15. The child’s nutrient needs correspond with these changes in growth rates. An infant needs more calories in relation to size than a preschooler or school-age child needs. Nutrient needs increase again as a child gets close to adolescence.  Any deviation will mean some dysfunction which may require a physician’s advice and help. Generally, a healthy child will follow an individual growth curve, even though the nutrient intake may be different for each child. It is advised that a diet that is appropriate for the child’s age should be given. At the same time, there should be variety in foods to ensure that the child is getting enough essential nutrients. Healthy eating habits should begin during infancy to prevent diseases.

Effects of poor nutrition

Poor nutrition can cause serious problems with intellectual development in children. A child with a poor diet may experience fatigue and be unable to fully participate in learning at school. Also, poor nutrition can make the child more likely to become sick and miss school. Children who regularly do not get enough nutrition have poor growth patterns and underachieve at school. Getting enough of a good variety of food choices is important for a child’s intellectual development. Breakfast is particularly important. Children may feel tired and unmotivated when their breakfast is too small or they skip breakfast.

Short stature

Normally short stature refers to the person who is significantly below the average height for a person of the same age.  But the term often refers to children or adolescents who are significantly below the average height of their age group. Short stature without any medical condition can be due to delayed growth, which may be related to the genes. These children are unusually shorter than the normal for their age-group, may have delayed puberty, and they continue to grow after most of their age-group children stopped to grow. Most of the time, they will reach an adult height similar to that of their biological parents. It is more common when one or both parents are short.

Short stature may be a symptom of medical conditions like (a) bone or skeletal disorders such as rickets, (b) chronic diseases such as congenital heart disease, kidney diseases, asthma, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and diabetes, (c) genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, Turner syndrome and other syndromes, (d) growth hormone deficiency, (e) infections of the developing baby before birth (f) malnutrition, etc. For these conditions, a doctor should be consulted.

Homoeopathic management

Homoeopaths frequently prescribe Calcarea phosphorica for teething problems and healthy bony growth. According to a recent study homoeopathic drugs Calcarea carbonica, Calcarea fluorica and Calcarea phosphorica have caused an increase in the bone density. Schwabe’s Alfalfa Tonic is made from fresh herbs and known for possessing vitamins and minerals, and to for stimulating growth. Baryta carbonica 6x is another drug frequently prescribed by homoeopaths for stimulating growth.

Get remedy

Schwabe’s Alfalfa Tonic (general health tonic for growth, anaemia, weakness, convalescence, etc.)

Anekind (for anaemia in children)

Calciokind (to improve calcium assimilation and resistance)

Essentia Infantia (to promote healthy growth, strengthening of bone structure and teeth, etc. in infants and children).

Baryta carbonica 6x

Disclaimer: The information provided herein on request should not be taken as a replacement of medical advice or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.