Calpol, like many medicines, is simply a symptom suppressant. It has become part of western culture, administered unquestioningly to the youngest babies at the slightest suggestion of discomfort or infection.

Symptoms are caused by a beneficial, intelligent immune system responding to something not quite right in the body. They should never be suppressed unless the child is obviously in severe pain and a diagnosis has been made. There are other good reasons for not resorting to Calpol - in particular, its ingredients:

Paracetamol, potentially fatal when used too regularly or above the recommended dose. Never administer Calpol without consulting a doctor if the child has kidney or liver problems

Carmoisine (strawberry flavour E122), associated with hyperactivity, asthma, hives and insomnia

Glycerol (E422), can cause headaches, thirst, nausea and high blood sugar

Sorbitol (E420), associated with flatulence, diarrhoea and bloating

Methyl hydroxybenzoate (E218), can cause hyperactivity, asthma, skin problems, insomnia and numb mouth

Xanthan gum (E415), can cause asthma, skin irritation and hay fever

Once the source of discomfort or pain has been identified, there are homoeopathic remedies which can be administered in complete safety as often as every 5-10 minutes until the symptoms subside:
Aconite, a general remedy always worth trying first, is good at nipping colds, fevers and inflammation in the bud if administered quickly enough

Belladonna is best for high fever. Chamomilla is good for teething pains, as is Pulsatilla for ear infections.
If meningitis is suspected, ring 999 immediately and alternate Aconite and Belladonna every five minutes.

Ed.- (i) We recommend you register with a local homeopath who can advise you on first aid remedies to have at home and who you can consult when your child is sick.

(ii) Unsuspected by most parents, many baby medicines contain paracetamol. Even parents aware of the dangers find it extremely difficult to ensure that maximum limits are not exceeded when combining medicines.

(iii) Paracetamol is one of the commonest causes of liver failure in the UK. If it were submitted for licensing today it would not gain the approval of the UK’s Committee on Safety of Medicines as an over-the-counter drug. It has been associated with kidney damage and asthma. Some researchers caution against using drugs to block fever in case it interferes with normal immune development in the brain, resulting in neurological disorders in susceptible children.