Growth is a complex process involving genetic, nutritional, and hormonal factors.  This can make it difficult to pinpoint the cause of poor growth in otherwise healthy children.  Most cases of delayed growth with no obvious cause go untreated.  This is where homeopathy can help.

What drives healthy growth in children?

Growth is driven by various processes in the body working together, all guided by genetic instructions.  The child’s genes, inherited from their parents, tell the body how tall to grow and can control hormone production and the timing of puberty.  The environment influences how these genes are expressed.

Good nutrition provides the building materials for growth.  Protein provides amino acids for building muscles, bones, enzymes and hormones.  Carbohydrates supply energy for cells to grow and divide.  Fats are important for brain development and hormone production.  Various vitamins and minerals are essential for optimal growth.

Good sleep is crucial for children.  Deep sleep is when growth hormone is released, and cells repair and build new tissue.

What are the hormones involved in growth?

Growth is carefully coordinated by different hormones that run through the bloodstream, telling the body when and how to grow.

• Growth Hormone

  Growth hormone is made by the pituitary gland in the brain.  It travels through the blood and turns on biochemical pathways needed for growth.  One of its main roles is in the liver, where it triggers the production of another hormone, IGF-1.

  
  

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)

  This is the real growth driver.  It affects muscles, bones and cartilage, telling the cells to divide, mature and increase in number.  This makes the bones lengthen, and muscles increase.

  
  

• Thyroid Hormones (T3 and T4)

  The thyroid gland in the neck produces thyroid hormones.  These cause the cartilage cells in the growth plates to differentiate and mature, which is essential for bones to grow longer.  They also boost metabolism and modulate the levels of growth hormone and IGF-1.

  
  

• Sex Hormones

  Oestrogen and testosterone cause the puberty growth spurt.  Then, in late puberty, they stop height increasing by causing the growth plates to fuse.

  
  

• Insulin

  Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and helps move glucose and amino acids into cells so they can build new tissue. 

  
  

• Cortisol

  Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol is the stress hormone.  When levels are high, during periods of illness or chronic stress, it slows growth by reducing growth hormone and IGF-1 activity.  Medical treatment with high doses of cortisol-like steroids (glucocorticoids) can have the same effect.

What counts as growth delay?

The term failure to thrive describes babies who fall below their percentile for weight and height.  Short height is natural for a child whose parents are both short themselves.  However, a child with stunted growth or short stature is one who is not growing according to their genetic potential and their age.   

What causes delayed growth in children?

A child's growth can be affected by many factors.

Nutrition is essential for a child to grow properly.  Their growth can be affected if they don't get enough calories and protein through their diet.  Medical conditions like celiac disease and IBD can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, resulting in slow growth.

An imbalance in the endocrine (hormonal) system can cause growth problems in children.  Growth hormone deficiency and hypothyroidism are hormonal disorders that can lead to short stature.

Some genetic conditions can lead to growth failure in children, including Turner Syndrome and Down Syndrome.  There are several others, and they often come with other developmental delays.  Genetic causes can be ruled out through testing.

Other factors affecting growth include medications, neglect, stress, bone disorders and chronic systemic diseases.

How does conventional medicine treat growth delays?

If genetic and nutritional causes are ruled out, doctors will check the child’s growth hormone levels.  If the levels fall below the normal range, the child may be put on growth hormone treatment, which usually involves a daily injection of growth hormone.

Sometimes this treatment is also given to children whose growth hormone levels are within the normal range, but they fall far below the expected height for their age, with no other known cause.

Growth hormone treatment is a long-term treatment that will help the child to grow to their genetic potential, but as with all medications, it can come with side effects.

How can homeopathy help?

When there is no clear cause of a child's poor growth, homeopathy can be a good alternative to conventional treatment.  Even if hormone levels are in the normal range, they might not necessarily be optimal for that child.  With homeopathy we can support organs and balance hormones, so the levels are optimal for growth. 

There are various other homeopathic methods that can be used to support growth.  Classical homeopathy, constitutional prescribing, organ support and tissue salts can all be helpful.  If a medication is thought to have affected the child’s growth, Homeopathic Detox Therapy can gently clear the system of any unwanted effects of that medication.  We can use remedies to address emotional issues, such as trauma or grief, that could be holding back the child’s development.

When treating these cases, the key is to begin with a thorough initial case assessment and gather as much information as possible.  Blood tests can help identify potential hormone imbalances.  However, if they are not available, specific symptoms can still provide useful clues about underlying imbalances.

If you would like to find out more about how homeopathy can support your child's development, get in touch or schedule a discovery call.