"Mom, my legs hurt." Growing pains are common during childhood, but homeopathy can help!
Calcarea phosphorica = # 1 Remedy for Growing Pains
Whenever other moms ask me if there is a remedy for growing pains, I always recommend Calcarea phosphorica (also known as Calc phos or Calcarea phos). This remedy is well-known as the top homeopathic remedy for growing pains.
In most cases, Calc phos provides rapid relief and the symptoms may never return (or only return infrequently), provided that the child's diet is very good. I've used Calc phos for my own son's growing pains, as well, and it was quite effective at relieving the pain and stopping the cycle.
From the homeopathic literature, here are some descriptions of the beneficial effects of Calc phosphorica for growing pains and supporting healthy growth:
Dr Margaret Tyler writes, "It is absolutely essential to the proper growth and nutrition of the body... It is of the greatest importance to the soft and growing tissues..." [1]
Dr James Tyler Kent writes, "During the growing period many children need this remedy. It has cured... Growing pains in nights in fast growing children." [2]
George Vithoulkas writes, "[Calc phos works well for] the 'growing pains' of children due to slow closure of the epiphyses." [3]
Nutritional Support to Prevent Future Recurrences
It is suspected that calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D deficiencies may play a role in growing pains [4, 5]. All of these nutrients are important for healthy growth and bones.
I use the following to make sure my kids are getting plenty of calcium, phosphorus, and Vitamin D in their diets. (My daughter has never had any growing pains or any problems with her teeth, and I suspect this is because she drinks several glasses of raw milk every single day.)
Calcium and Phosphorus
Raw milk - Raw milk is loaded with nutrition, including calcium and phosphorus. It is nutritionally superior to conventional pasteurized milk. Raw milk is one of the easiest superfoods to consume because it tastes delicious. Also, large epidemiological studies have found that children who drink raw milk have lower rates of asthma, allergies, eczema, respiratory infections, fevers, and earaches.
Raw milk kefir - Raw milk kefir is another excellent source of calcium and phosphorus. It has also been linked to a wide array of health benefits, including improved digestion and tolerance to lactose, tumor suppression and prevention, strong immune systems, and more. I have a tutorial here on how to make your own raw milk kefir:
Vitamin D
Rosita's extra virgin cod liver oil (EVCLO) - This whole-food supplement is an excellent natural source of Vitamin D. Whole food supplements have greater absorption than taking specific vitamins alone. EVCLO's relatively mild flavor and superb nutrition have made it a win-win in our household. (Beware that other cod liver oils are often adulterated, rancid, bleached, and/or deodorized; this is why Rosita is the only brand I trust for my family.)
Adapt Naturals Vitamin D3/K2 oil - This flavorless oil comes in a dropper bottle that makes it very easy to take Vitamin D regularly. Studies have shown that Vitamin D works best in conjunction with Vitamin K2 [6], so I like the convenience of having these two nutrients in one easy-to-take supplement.
Testing for Vitamin D deficiency can be easily accomplished with an at-home test. I have more info on at-home testing and how to boost Vitamin D levels here:
Dosage and Potency Guidance
Calc phos 30c is a good general purpose potency to start with for most kids, although for some people it may be more appropriate to start with a lower or higher potency depending upon their individual sensitivity level.
One pellet dissolved on the tongue constitutes one dose, and it should be taken at a time when there is no taste in the mouth from previous food or drink. It's best to avoid eating or drinking anything (except water) for 10 minutes after the dose.
Beware that coffee, menthol, alcohol, essential oils, and recreational drugs can all interfere with the remedy action. Comment below to let me know if you need more info on how to navigate this.
With all homeopathic remedies, the least number of doses is always the best. After the first dose, wait-and-watch for 24-48 hours to see if the Calc phos has acted well and how long the improvements last. If there is no change within a couple days, one more dose can be tried.
It is possible that only a dose or two is needed to stop the growing pains for an extended period of time of days, weeks, or even months. There is no need to repeat the remedy dose until the positive effects wear off.
If there is no improvement within two doses of Calc phos, it is probably not the right remedy and a different remedy should be tried instead (see below).
If Calc phos is needed for more than two doses, it may work best to use wet dosing after the first two doses. Wet dosing can also be used to modify the size of the dose if there is any sign of temporary symptom aggravation after a dose. There is info here on wet dosing, but for growing pains the dosing frequency is generally less frequent than for acute illnesses.
Other Remedies for Growing Pains
Calc phos is the most commonly-indicated homeopathic remedy for growing pains, but there are other remedies that may work better depending on each child's symptoms. Some other remedies to consider include Rhus toxicodendron, Magnesium phos, Calcarea carbonica, and others.
References
Tyler, Margaret L. Homeopathic Drug Pictures. B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi, 1942.
Kent, James Tyler. Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica. Roy Publishing House, Calcutta, 1904.
Vithoulkas, George. Essence of Homeopathic Materia Medica. Gazelle Distribution Trade, 2008.
Li H, Wang B, He L, Tao R, Shang S. Application of bone metabolic parameters in the diagnosis of growing pains. J Clin Lab Anal. 2022 Feb;36(2):e24184. doi: 10.1002/jcla.24184. Epub 2021 Dec 24. PMID: 34952997; PMCID: PMC8842154. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcla.24184
Vehapoglu A, Turel O, Turkmen S, Inal BB, Aksoy T, Ozgurhan G, Ersoy M. Are Growing Pains Related to Vitamin D Deficiency? Efficacy of Vitamin D Therapy for Resolution of Symptoms. Med Princ Pract. 2015;24(4):332-8. doi: 10.1159/000431035. Epub 2015 May 27. PMID: 26022378; PMCID: PMC5588252. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5588252/
van Ballegooijen, A. J., Pilz, S., Tomaschitz, A., Grübler, M. R., & Verheyen, N. (2017). The Synergistic Interplay between Vitamins D and K for Bone and Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review. International journal of endocrinology, 2017, 7454376. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5613455/
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or licensed healthcare professional. I am a homeopathic practitioner whose services are considered complementary and alternative by the state of New Mexico. The uses of homeopathic remedies described herein are provided for educational use only.
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