Read the report on what's actually in the medicine that has been used by parents for decades at the first onset of a cold or to help with teething troubles? Natalie Fee address one mother's concerns about guilt surrounding her children's health.

Dear Natalie,
I recently read an article on The Ecologist website – Behind the Label: Calpol – and am feeling so guilty for not having been aware of this earlier in my children’s lives. Although I don’t use it so much now, I did back when they were small. I thought you might like to read it – and would love to know your feelings on the subject.

A: I stumbled across the article myself a few days ago and was quite alarmed (and simultaneously empowered) by what I’d read. Thanks so much for raising the question here. First off, let’s focus on the guilt thing that it’s brought up for you. As with any challenge or disturbing experience in our lives, we can always find the root of our discomfort way back inside ourselves, niggling away in our energy body. Everything that happens to us in our lives, be they judged good or bad, are always a reflection of what’s going on with our energy body. If we’re sick, we’re lacking in a positive flow of health qi (or ch’i). If we’re often angry, we’re experiencing the presence of a stress in our energy field (see my last post on ‘Sex’ for an explanation of this!) And guilt, if I may take your feelings as an example, is another such outward expression of a stress held within. So, because we’re here to heal ourselves and learn of our true nature, life (some may call it ‘Spirit’) presents us with opportunities to identify areas of ourselves in need of loving attention. In the case of the angry person, the opportunities often manifest in the form of people that push their buttons. And in the case of feeling guilty, something will come along to trigger it. This continues to happen until one day we (hopefully) develop enough awareness to reflect on this tendency, and then decide to do something about it.

So rather than shoot the messenger; we can learn to thank it. Of course, you may not be a regular sufferer of guilt – but maybe just take a moment to ask yourself if that is a habit of yours. And, if it is, to ask yourself if it’s really serving you (and those around you) in creating a happier, healthier you. It’s always good to reflect on this stuff once in a while – these habits and patterns have a tendency to keep on slipping beneath the radar, slowly sapping us of our vitality in the process!

Now, having had a rummage around beneath the surface, let’s return to the issue. Calpol. I completely sympathise with your reaction – it triggered similar feelings in me. But we mustn’t fall into the trap of chastising ourselves for ‘not knowing any better’ – as it’s simply that. We acted according to our awareness at the time. As Einstein famously said, ‘Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.’ But the wonderful thing (and I’ve said this before!) about awareness is that it can be grown. Like a plant in the garden that we tend to in order for it to one day bear fruit. And here we are now, raising awareness so that others may make a more informed decision.

I gave my son Calpol regularly throughout his baby and toddlerhood. He suffered a lot of colds, coughs and fevers, and I really didn’t think twice about reaching for the pink sticky stuff. It gave me peace of mind to see his fever dropping – I definitely had the ‘fever fear’ that’s mentioned in the Ecologist article. He’s now six and a half, and has ‘night-time’ asthma and suffers from hay-fever. From the research put forward in the article it would seem highly probable that my son’s ailments were caused through my sometimes over-eager use of infant paracetamol. And that’s not a nice thing to find out. But it’s simply the case of a young woman having been born and bred into a system where fear and big pharmas hold a greater influence over our education than truth and natural balance.

Sure there may have been times when my use of infant paracetamol was justified – and I’ll probably keep the bottles in the medicine cabinet for ‘emergencies’ – but I will most certainly be making a more informed choice from now on when/if I use it. Allopathic medicine certainly has its miracles, but so too does the alternative. Hopefully we’re gradually finding our way back to balance and harmony, to our ability to make wise choices – thanks to our awakening passion for greater awareness of both our inner and outer worlds.

Natalie Fee is a writer and practitioner, offering energy-aware life-readings, Vision Feng Shui™ consultations and Glastonbury Empowerment Tours. Her Everyday Alchemy sessions are available online, face-to-face and by telephone. For a free introductory session call Natalie on +44(0)208 144 0694, email her or visit www.everydayalchemist.com You can also follow her at www.twitter.com/nataliefee

About The Green Parent

The Green Parent is the UK's leading green lifestyle and natural parenting magazine. A truly inspiring read, TGP is like nothing else on the newsstand, with insightful intelligent journalism covering topics from babywearing and attachment parenting to home-education and alternative medicine. Each issue features regular columns on Organic Gardening, Seasonal Food and Drink, Green Travel, Ethical Fashion and lots more. Read more about Green Parent »

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