Childhood constipation

Choose a remedy: Choose the childhood constipation symptoms based on the most prominent ones. If symptoms change, take a remedy that matches the new symptoms.

Dosage: 30C once daily for three days or 6C, 12X, 12C, 3-4 times a day for up to 3 days.* Or, see the Dosage Chart

Stop taking the remedy with improvement
If no improvement after three days, reassess the symptoms and try a different remedy

Notes:

Medicine should never be a first choice for treating constipation. First, try increasing fluid intake, eating more fruit, vegetables, and eliminating sweets, junk food, and refined carbohydrates.
If a self-selected remedy – however well indicated – doesn’t help and your child’s constipation is chronic, you need to seek medical expertise. A doctor will provide a diagnosis and/or a professional homeopath can evaluate your child in the context of his/her whole person.
If constipation is in a nursing child, the mother should be given the remedy to pass through to the child.

Symptoms	Remedy
Large, hard, dark, dry stool no desire to go Difficult to pass Tongue may be coated white Irritable Prefers to be alone Worse with least motion Sensitive to light Thirsty for cold drinks Better: open air cool rooms View Remedy	Bryonia
Child feels better when constipated Sour smelling stools, sweat Craves eggs, ice cream, sweets, salt may crave dirt, chalk Prefers ice cold drinks Averse to hot foods, slimy food, mixed food (casserole) May dislike or be allergic to milk May not tolerate milk well View Remedy	Calcarea carbonica
Constant desire for stool strains but passes only a little Feels as if there is more stool left behind Waistband feels tight May have belly ache, gas, headache, bloating Sensitive to noise, light, odors Irritable Worse: morning if a nursing child: after mom eats spicy food or after mom has stimulants overeating drugs stress View Remedy	Nux vomica
“Bashful stool” comes out a bit but goes back in Stool difficult to pass Tends to be chilly Sudden stomach cramps Prefers cold food and drink Averse to warm foods May eat dirt or chalk View Remedy	Silica
No urge for bowel movement until a large amount Stools are difficult to pass even when soft much straining Stools may be hard, dry Rectum sore, dry, inflamed Craves dry rice, potatoes, dry foods Mood changes may happen suddenly Worse: potatoes starch View Remedy	Alumina
Difficulty passing even soft stool May feel like a ball in the rectum Doesn’t tolerate milk products well View Remedy	Sepia
No desire for bowel movement for days on end When passed, stool is little hard balls Loss of appetite Drowsy in day time, awake at night Sensitive to noise View Remedy	Opium not available in the US, but available in other countries
Small, hard, difficult to pass stools Abdomen distended with gas especially after eating Passes a lot of gas May have fear of being alone View Remedy	Lycopodium
Painful constipation afraid to have bowel movement Stool may be mucusy View Remedy	Sulphur

References:

Hering, Constantine. The Homeopathic Domestic Physician. Caxton Press, PA. 1875: p. 344.

Hershoff, Asa. Homeopathic Remedies. Penguin Putnam, NY. 2000; pp. 132-33.

*Jonas, Wayne, Jacobs, Jennifer. Healing with Homeopathy. Warner Books, NY. 1996: p. 163-65, 177.

Lockie, Andrew. The Family Guide to Homeopathy. Simon & Schuster, NY. 1989: pp. 364-65.

Panos, Maesimund and Heimlich Jane. Homeopathic Medicine at Home. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Perigree, Los Angeles. 1980: p. 141.

Schalts E. Easy Homeopathy. McGraw Hill, NY. 2005: pp. 181-83.

Ullman, Dana, Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants, Penguin Putnam, New York, NY (1992), pp. 28-31, 68-69.