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If your child is suffering from mental retardation, homeopathy can help. A system of complementary medicine, homeopathy works on the dictum of like treats like . It is able to treat some of the toughest disorders and illnesses that allopathy finds hard to contain.

Mental retardation: Definition

Mental retardation is a blanket term for a pattern of persistently slow learning of basic motor and language milestones during childhood.
The adult manifests a below-normal intellectual capacity too.Such people have an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 70 or below.
They usually have developmental disabilities, developmental delay, or learning difficulties.
Signs

These signs should alert parents and spur them to see a doctor-

If your child learns to sit up, to crawl, or to walk later than other children
Trouble speaking and forming words, remembering things, and having trouble understanding social rules
Trouble solving problems
Trouble thinking logically
What needs to be made clear is that poor academic performance by itself is not a sign of mental retardation. It can be due to multifarious reasons like behaviour problems.

Causes of mental retardation

Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome are the most common genetic causes of mental retardation.
Problems during pregnancy and birth
Rubella infection in pregnant mother
Iodine deficiency in mothers
Malnutrition is a common cause of reduced intelligence in children.
Here are some homoeopathic remedies for the treatment of mental retardation. All you have to keep in mind is to treat this article as a guide and take medicines only under the guidance of a certified and trained homeopath.

Abrotanum: This remedy works when your child shows marked emaciation of legs, has ageing, flabby, and loose skin, and he cannot hold up his head.
Baryta carb: This homeopathy remedy is very effective in treating cretinism which is marked by a dwarfish appearance, mental retardation, with swollen abdomen, puffy face, enlarged glands, thick lips and short stature. Such children also show delayed milestones like learning to walk and speak.
Calcarea carb: When your child presents symptoms like obesity, a chalky look with red face, large belly, large head, pale skin, soft bones, increased sweating, mental slowness, de layed skills-walking, talking, etc., this remedy is indicated.
Medorrinum: The remedy is prescribed by homeopaths when your child presents symptoms like dullness and sluggishness, extreme forgetfulness, imbecility, impatience, irritability, difficulty in concentration etc. The remedy is very good for treating delusions, hallucinations, and illusions.
There are other things that you as a parent can do to help your intellectually disabled child like learn everything you can about intellectual disabilities. This way you can guide your child to live a near-normal life successfully. Also get your child involved in group activities like art classes, drawing etc. This will help him learn social skills and become more independent.

CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a broad spectrum of motor disability which is non-progressive and is caused by damage to brain at or around birth. It is a disorder which develops due to damage to CNS and this damage can take place before, during, or immediately after the birth of the child. The damage won't worsen but remains constant. However the child may appera to worsen if not given proper intervention not because of an increase in lesion in the brain but just beacuse the damaged brain is not able to cope up with the physical demand of the growing body and the increasing demand of the environment surrounding the child.

CAUSES:

ANTENATAL CAUSES:

Genetic causes: First or second degree consanguineous marriage.
Intrauterine virus infection: Rubella and cytomegalovirus infections which lead to severe brain damage along with associated visual and hearing problem with cataract.
Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar for long period lead to brain damage and epilepsy. Cerebellum is more vulnerable leading to ataxia and visual problems. Infant of diabetic mothers are more prone to hypoglycemia.
Trauma to the mother:

Infection to the mother can make the baby prone to develop it.
Malnourishment of the fetus especially in case of twins.
Exposure to the mother s abdominal area to repeated X-ray radiation, prolonged use of medications like steroids by mother.
NEONATAL CAUSES:

Prematurity: Premature babies are prone to brain damage either due to trauma during delivery and later on due to immature respiratory and cardiovascular system. Therefore, they are likely to develop hypoxia and low blood pressure also, they are more likely to develop low blood sugar, jaundice and hemorrhage because of liver immaturity.
Vascular causes: Occlusion of the internal carotid or midcerebral artery during birth can on many occasions lead to hemiplegia.
Trauma: trauma can occur either due to disproportion, breech delivery, and forceps delivery, distortion of head and tearing of tentorium.
Asphyxia: It can occur by accidents and burns which could be as a result of knotted umbilical cord, cord around the neck or prolapsed cord. Multiple deliveries can cause asphyxia of the second or third infant.
Neonatal meningitis: Usually associated with severe residual brain damage.
POSTNATAL CAUSES:

Delayed cry: Causes asphyxia to the brain causing CP.
Severe jaundice: Presence of high levels of bilirubin cause basal ganglia damage leading to athetoid cerebral palsy and high tone deafness.
Trauma: Fall of the body after birth.
Infection: Like meningitis, or encephalitis can cause brain damage.
TYPES OF CEREBRAL PALSY:

Basically cerebral palsy children manifest in three common ways spastic, athetoid, and ataxic.
Spasticity seen in cerebral palsy is usually knife that may change with change in position, which means that spasticity may vary from supine to prone.
Athetoid cerebral palsy children exhibits slow, purposeless, wormlike, involuntary movements which flow into each other. It occurs due to basal ganglia damage commonly seen in children who suffers from an attack of jaundice following birth.
Ataxia in cerebral palsy occurs due to cerebellar damage. Both balance and coordination is affected.


PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT OF CEREBRAL PALSY

Physiotherapy is one of the most important treatments for CP that usually begins soon after being diagnosed and often continues throughout life. Special devices and equipment are needed for some people with CP to help them with specific problems like,
A child who develops uneven leg length may need to wear special shoes with a higher sole and heel on the shorter leg.
Some people who are not able to walk alone may need to use canes, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs.


EXERCISES IN SUPINE POSITION

Normalizing tone of the muscles: For cases with hypo tonicity slow passive movements, sustained stretch, cryotherapy over the muscle for 15 to 20 minutes, stimulation of antagonist movement and vibrations are used. On the contrary, for cases with hypotinicity weight bearing, joint compression, rhythmic stabilization, vibrations, cryotherapy in brisk manner and taping can be used.

Weight bearing exercises: Weight bearing exercises are necessary to promote development of tone in muscles and also to maintain the absorption of calcium into the bones. Thus the patient should be given activities like bridging, supine on elbows, sitting with weight bearing on the affected arm, and standing should be given as soon as possible within the limitation of the patient s general medical status..

Skillful TAPING gives a tactile feedback which helps in faster development of tone in the muscles. Weight bearing exercises for the involved upper limb has also been found to be beneficial in preventing this.

Bridging Exercises: The child lies on supine position. Therapist flexed his both the knees n then helps him to lift his back from the mid area so that weight bear on his legs. This should be done in 10 -15 repetitions. Then do bridging on 1 leg and then another.

Stretching and Mobility: The muscles should be maintained at the appropriate physiological length for normal muscle control and normal postural adjustment. In CP because of delay or absence of normal movement muscles are usually in a shortened position hence stretching of the muscles is essential to increase the neuromuscular control. Length of the muscles should be maintained not only through stretching but also through various functional activities.

In supine position, the therapist holds an object so that the child grasp that object by moving his body, in this rolling activity plays an important role. The child rolls right and left to grasp the object sometimes lifting his back and limbs too.

The therapist do some exercises in vestibular ball so that child balance and coordination improves and this is the best spine stretching activity.

Good neck control and developing trunk control by using vestibular ball, he lied down in ball and doing movements that extend his spine and head is looking in upward direction.

EXERCISES IN SITTING

The therapist should hold and support the child in sitting position. Time should be noted daily.

Exercises in vestibular ball to correct the balance. Sit on the vestibular ball and then shift the weight from right side to left side by rolling the ball.

Reaching far objects: As the child sitting in the ball then the therapist should stand in front of him and tell him to reach the object that the therapist holds.

Sit to stand activities and kneeling activities, sit on the toes, sitting by cross leg by maximize wide base of support

EXERCISES IN STANDING

STANDING IN BOTH THE LEGS: The therapist should hold his knees while standing as the child flex his knees and forward trunk to avoid standing.

SQUATTING: The therapist should try and help the child to do some squats about 5 to 10 daily to increase the muscle power and strength.

WALKING with the help of therapist or a cane and use a tilt board for balancing exercises.

Standing on the side of vestibular ball and do reaching objects so that the child lifts his head in upward position for increasing the extension of neck i.e. neck control.

Developing postural reaction: Postural adjustments are essential if the child is move to move freely and to adjust to various environmental demands rapidly. Motor milestones can be best achieved by good postural reactions. Postural reactions consists of righting reactions, protective extension and equilibrium reactions. Initially children first develop righting reactions. Righting reactions allow the child to orient his head in space so that the eyes and mouth are horizontal regardless of the position of the body. It also helps in maintaining the proper alignment of the head with respect to the body.

Oromotor control training: Oromotor function depends on good head control. Common Oromotor problems are: drooling, problems in sucking, swallowing, body movements associated with speech, jaw, hyper or hyposensitivity and inadequate tongue movements. Hence the therapy should consist of good neck control, developing good trunk control, use of brush to decrease drooling.

Speech therapy helps to control the mouth muscles. This therapy can be of great benefit to children with speech or eating problems. Speech therapy often starts before the child begins school and continues throughout the school years.

Both massage therapy and physiotherapy benefit some people with CP by helping them relax tense muscles, strengthen muscles and keep joint flexible.

Chickenpox or varicella is a type of viral infection that causes itchy rashes accompanied by tiny fluid-filled blisters. It is highly communicable to those who have not experienced this disease earlier or have not been immunized against it through vaccination.

The vaccine against chickenpox is a shot protecting anyone, who has already contracted the disease. It is known as the varicella vaccine since chicken pox is triggered by the virus called varicella-zoster. The vaccine is prepared from a living but a weakened virus.

Why would you require a chicken pox virus?

The risk behind the condition aggravating into something life threatening is high among adults, infants and people possessing a weak immunity system as they are prone to developing serious complications as well. There is no way you can predict who would be the next prey.
The illness is extremely contagious and can get transmitted either through air while coughing or sneezing or by direct contact especially with the fluid present in the chicken pox blisters. For this reason, you need to stay segregated until and unless all your blisters have dried up or crusted over. The illness may induce itchy rashes all over your body along with fussiness, cough and headaches.
The vaccine is recommended for all adults and adolescents who have not been infected by chicken pox ever earlier. A vaccine called MMRV offers a combined protection against varicella, rubella, mumps and measles.
The vaccine has to be administered in two shots. However the medicines are not devoid of mild side effects,for instance, swelling in the region where you have been injected alongside mild rashes.
Who should not opt for the vaccine?

Pregnant women, since the effect of the vaccine on your fetus is yet to be unraveled
People who are allergic to neomycin and gelatin ( a gelatin-free varicella vaccine is actually available)
People suffering from diseases caused due to a weak immunity system or taking high dosage of steroids
Cancer patients who have to be treated with chemotherapy, drugs and X-rays
People who have had a blood transfusion in about five months before receiving the shot.