Naturopaths - I need your help!!!

[Josh Laurie]

Renee and Rach (or anyone else who knows a bit),

I'm going to be treating a 5-6 week old bub who is very unsettled particularly at night and after certain feeds. She is the child of a friend of mine so i've already gathered a broken case hx and based on that I'm thinking there is some silent reflux going on or perhaps digestive response to something in mum's milk.

I'm wondering, if the bub was to go onto antacids down the track, are there specific probiotics you recommend, particularly for infant use, so as to maintain some level of natural balance in her stomach?

[Nicola Tonson]

I have a 60 yr old male patient who has a comminuted fracture of his left tibia. He was in hospital for 4 wks, and no weight bearing for 7 months. He has a nail straight through the marrow of the tibia with screws at each end. The fracture at the back of the tibia has healed but anteriorly there is still a significant callus that the surgeons are expecting will take another 8 months to heal. Can we get some comfrey going or any other of your amazing little herby potions to help please!!!

[Renee Livingston]

Renee and Rach (or anyone else who knows a bit),

I'm going to be treating a 5-6 week old bub who is very unsettled particularly at night and after certain feeds. She is the child of a friend of mine so i've already gathered a broken case hx and based on that I'm thinking there is some silent reflux going on or perhaps digestive response to something in mum's milk.

I'm wondering, if the bub was to go onto antacids down the track, are there specific probiotics you recommend, particularly for infant use, so as to maintain some level of natural balance in her stomach?

I'd be really reluctant to advise ant acids for such a small bub - they really have longstanding effects on the digestion and will affect food absorption etc. I prefer to use things like slippery elm or the iberogast liquids before any antacids. Also looking at the diet and modifying it to contain low reflux/gassy foods etc. would be the way I'd treat. Probiotics are also an important factor and I'd probably get the mum taking a good quality probiotic.

See how you go with osteo Tx. If all good, then keep doing that. If they need a bit of a boost you know where to send them

Thanks Josh

[Renee Livingston]

I have a 60 yr old male patient who has a comminuted fracture of his left tibia. He was in hospital for 4 wks, and no weight bearing for 7 months. He has a nail straight through the marrow of the tibia with screws at each end. The fracture at the back of the tibia has healed but anteriorly there is still a significant callus that the surgeons are expecting will take another 8 months to heal. Can we get some comfrey going or any other of your amazing little herby potions to help please!!!

Hey Nic!

I love the herby potions and what they can do. If they are planning to leave the pin in there then comfrey will certainly help. The cream is available at any health food store (Martin and Pleasence comfrey cream). I'd make sure he is getting good levels of Silica, Mg and Ca in his diet like green leafy veggies (spinach, rocket, parsley, broccoli etc.), sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, carrot and potato skins (silica is always in the skins of fruit and vegetables)

Hot and cold applications of water to the area in the shower will also help to speed healing. 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

See how he goes with that.

Thanks Nic.

[Josh Laurie]

thanks renee, you're a gem!

[Simon Ashley]

Renee and Rach (or anyone else who knows a bit),

I'm going to be treating a 5-6 week old bub who is very unsettled particularly at night and after certain feeds. She is the child of a friend of mine so i've already gathered a broken case hx and based on that I'm thinking there is some silent reflux going on or perhaps digestive response to something in mum's milk.

I'm wondering, if the bub was to go onto antacids down the track, are there specific probiotics you recommend, particularly for infant use, so as to maintain some level of natural balance in her stomach?

Hi Josh

Sounds like a digestive issue but i would also look at the sleep pattern. there could be a sleep unsettled issue that is affect that also. Demand feeding or snack feeding can prevent the hind milk being drunk. This milk is heavier and sits in the stomach better. Can have a settling affect on the baby if they are suffering what your saying. Talk with me if you need but i would make sure that they sleep well and get bigger feeds no frequent feeds.

[Josh Laurie]

thats funny you say that sim cos its pretty much exactly opposite to what they were told by the paed nurse! they recommended smaller more freq feeds as they though mums milk flow was too fast and causing gulping and over feeding. from an osteo stand point the lil bub was A1 - one of the straightest unexciting babies i've ever seen so im pretty happy to rule out any musculoskeletal influences at this point. I'll pass on your advice and see how it goes!

[Simon Ashley]

thats funny you say that sim cos its pretty much exactly opposite to what they were told by the paed nurse! they recommended smaller more freq feeds as they though mums milk flow was too fast and causing gulping and over feeding. from an osteo stand point the lil bub was A1 - one of the straightest unexciting babies i've ever seen so im pretty happy to rule out any musculoskeletal influences at this point. I'll pass on your advice and see how it goes!

Yes that is what many nurse will say. SO if that is the case with the milk flow she might need to express the first portion off to decrease flow. That presentation is a classic for not getting hind milk for that reason.

[Josh Laurie]

ok, cool, that makes sense!

[Nicola Tonson]

I have a patient with a very probable diagnosis of Ankylosing spondylitis. He is not the healthiest of men - smokes, drinks etc. Would you guys be able to reduce levels of inflammation and therefore pain?