[moonlight mom]

I saw a naturopathic doc today who prescribed homeopathic remedies for my 8 week year old dd. I am sure she has dairy allergy (blood in stool, spitting up) and noticed that the remedy contains lactose. The doc says it is fine. She also gave me a probiotic to give to her that says may contain minimal residual milk proteins. She also said this was fine too. DD appears to be very allergic and reacts to small amounts of dairy in my diet. I am hesitant to give these remedies - what do you think?

 

[kjbrown92]

I wouldn't do it but maybe that's just me. There are dairy free probiotics out there so why would you/she risk it. I was told that the lactose in homeopathic pills didn't usually cause a reaction. Someone else better versed in homeopathy can tell you that one.

 

[changingseasons]

Yeah, the probiotic I would definitely NOT do, just because there are dairy-free options. But the homeopathic remedy you don't really have lactose-free option, so I would do that. But make sure she's giving you the pellets (tiny round balls) and not the tablets (larger, round and flat) because those have a lot more lactose and can cause a reaction. One of our local homeopathic experts here also said that you can put the remedy in water and have the babe drink that (or drip it in her mouth), and that can lessen any lactose reactions.

 

[moonlight mom]

Thanks for the input. Still not sure whether to give the homeopathic med or not so I am bumping this thread.
I can't see to find any dairy/soy free infant probiotics. Anyone know of a brand?

 

[tinyblackdot]

If you can find someone that carries them Nutri-West total probiotics are GREAT! They made such a diffrence in DD, and they are dairy free.

 

[changingseasons]

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonlight mom Thanks for the input. Still not sure whether to give the homeopathic med or not so I am bumping this thread. I can't see to find any dairy/soy free infant probiotics. Anyone know of a brand?

Kirkman Labs Bifido Complex is the natural infant strain, and dairy/soy free.

 

[ASusan]

I've also read (on Mothering - I'm not versed in homeopathy) that YOU can take the remedy if babe is nursing. (babe gets remedy thru breastmilk) May still react to the lactose, but maybe less so?

 

[JessicaS]

I wouldn't do the ones that contain lactose.

 

[waluso]

I agree with CS. I wouldn't give the probiotic with dairy (and would find a dairy-free one), but I would give the homeopathic remedy. I was skeptical at first also but the remedy really helped DD and was worth it even if it may have caused a temporary reaction.

 

[cahwilson]

My dd reacted severly to homeopathic's with lactose. I wouldn't do it. Our ND said it would be fine too, but it wasn't!

 

[transformed]

cant you dilute some homeopathics in water and give sips? Or is that just for a constitutional remedy? It seems like that would be way way WAY less lactose

 

[WuWei]

I assume you are nursing. I'd remove all dairy from your diet. Dairy is hidden in many forms. Here is a link about hidden dairy casein: http://www.kellymom.com/store/handou...dden-dairy.pdf Btw, cheese has 10x casein than milk products.

Lactose is a different intolerance than casein intolerance. And casein allergy is different than casein intolerance. Breast milk has lactose in it.

It is MUCH more common for a baby to be reacting to the MAMA's intolerance of dairy casein. In general, I would not worry about lactose. Assume the lactose is derived from dairy casein, but unless it is an anaphylactic casein allergy, or the baby can not tolerate mama's milk lactose, the minute amount in the homeopathic pellets probably would not be an issue. (The symptoms baby is exhibiting indicate intolerance to undigested proteins from your milk, rather than casein allergy, imo.)

Dissolving the homeopathic pellets in water will further dilute any casein/lactose exposure, but still provide the therapeutic homeopathic benefits.

Have you read the thread "Healing The Gut-cheat sheet"? I'd focus on healing your gut, and consider a homeopathic remedy to help YOUR healing, concurrently. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=434071

I'd recommend dairy-free whole food probiotics for your gut healing such as water kefir, coconut yogurt, fermented vegetables.

Pat

 

[mO'S mom]

you dont have to do the lactose containing homeopathic pills/pellets (basically the white balls). to give u some technical details, if i may: the white pellets/pills used in homeopathy contain lactose-which is "sugar of milk". most dairy allergic individuals are more fatally allergic to the proteins of milk-casein, whey etc. so it may not be a huge problem. but i have son who is severely allergic to all dairy so i wouldnt feel comfortable giving it to him.

but the real thing is the homeopathic medicines are actually a dilution of the medicinal substance in alcohol. the actual remedy/drug has no dairy in it (unless it is made out of milk) you can get the remedy in liquid format whatever potency/strength it was prescribed in to u. the liquid can be mixed in water-1 drop, it can be directly dropped in the babies mouth, applied to his body whatever mode of intake.

this is true for all homeopathic drugs. they r essentially liquids and the white pills are merely carriers. u can compare it to the plastic coating of the capsules in allopathic meds. like the real medicine can be poured out and the plastic coating can be discarded. thus the liquid can be taken in directly.

so just ask ur md to provide the medicine in a liquid form. i am a homoeopathic physician myself so you can trust me on this one. thanks. good luck.

 

[moonlight mom]

Thank you so much for all the info!! You guys are so knowledgable. I've got some great ideas and I am definately starting to explore the whole gut healing thing since dd has had blood in her stool for the past 4 weeks.
Funny, my homeopathic doc said that is the only way to give the med. Maybe I need to look into finding a new one.
Thanks again,
Lindsay

 

[moonlight mom]

BTW,
I just started digestive enzymes and notice a huge difference in the way I feel. Does anyone know how long until I see an improvement in my LO?

 

[AquariusHome]

Just getting a chance to read this thread and wanted to throw out there that my dd is extremely sensitive to milk and reacted very severely to the a medication I was taking that had lactose in it. Of course, as her doc pointed out to me, the reaction could have been to the medication itself and not to the lactose but I believe it was the lactose based on the fact that the symptoms she exhibited were exactly like a milk reaction. Also, she is taking a medication with lactose on a daily basis (only 1 small pill as opposed to the 8 pills daily I was taking) and has been showing low level symptoms every day since begining it nearly 7 months ago. It did not occur to me until recently to blame the lactose but now I am nearly positive she is reacting to the lactose. It is rare, apparently, but it is possible and if you have a babe with a significant sensitivity to milk I would not give her something with lactose. In my case, I believe it has undone my many months of gut healing work, kept my baby from moving forward toward outgrowing the intolerance, affected her growth, hearing, speech, etc.