Homeopathic medicines are often effective in treating measles, though medical attention should also be sought due to the possibility of complications from this disease.

ACONITUM: Useful at the beginning stages of measles, these children have a high fever, a dry barking cough, and red conjunctiva ("pink eye"). Their skin burns and itches, and they feel restless, anxious, and frightened. They toss and turn.

Apis: In these cases the rash begins but fails to develop fully, and soon disappears, though the child doesn't feel completely well. Their itching is worse by warmth, and their face and eyelids are puffy.

BELLADONNA: This remedy is often useful at the beginning stages of the measles when there is sudden onset of a high fever, reddened face, and throbbing headache. They tend to be drowsy, a little delirious, and have some difficulty falling or staying asleep. Despite the fever, they are not very thirsty.

Bryonia: In these cases the skin eruptions from the measles are delayed. The children have a hard, dry cough and no expectoration. Any motion causes pain. They may experience some mild delirium: the child "wants to go home" even though they are at home.

Euphrasia: These children have a fever and rash as well as acrid tearing of the eyes and a bland nasal discharge. They become sensitive to light. They have a cough, but only during the day.

Gelsemium: For these children the onset of symptoms is slow. They have a fever with great weakness and a sense of heaviness, both of the whole body and specifically the eyelids. They are without thirst.

Kali bic: These children have ropy, stringy discharges from the nose and burning and tearing of the eyes. Their salivary glands are noticeably swollen, and they may experience stitching pains from the ear into the head and neck.

PULSATILLA: These children experience a mild case of the measles. Their fever is not high, and their symptoms are not too painful. They will, however, have profuse tearing from the eyes and a nasal discharge. They also have a dry cough at night which becomes loose in the daytime. They may have ear inflammation. Although they have a dry mouth, they are without thirst.

Sulphur: Children with the measles who need this medicine have a purplish appearance. Their itching is aggravated by scratching They have reddened mucous membranes and a great thirst. Their cough and diarrhea are at their worst in the morning.

Copyright 1992 by Dana Ullman, M.P.H. used by permission of the author from the book Homeopathic Medicine for Children and Infants published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.

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