In serious cases with attending complications it is strictly advisable to take help from conventional mode of treatment. It is advised to take any homeopathic medicine for treating pica under supervision of a homeopathic physician after detailed case analysis. They are helpful for people of all age groups. These medicines work towards reducing the cravings for non food items gradually. Homeopathic medicines are selected individually for every case depending upon the type of craving and the attending symptoms that are present. The use of homeopathic medicines is recommended for some of the cravings (as given below) and for mild to moderate cases of pica in which no serious complication is present. Homeopathy offers a natural solution in cases of pica. Some other complications of this condition include breaking of the teeth, choking, stomach ulcers, parasitic infections, blockage in intestines and injuries to the throat and GIT (gastrointestinal tract). But serious complications can occur in case a person eats other dangerous items like paint that may contain lead and cause lead poisoning. Eating certain things like ice doesn’t lead to any complication when the diet of a person is normal. The nature of complications depends upon the type of thing eaten by the person. They may also have damaged teeth from eating indigestible things. In some cases pain in the stomach, blood in the stool, diarrhoea (loose stool) and constipation may arise. Some people with pica may eat their nose pickings, ear wax, wool, stones, wood, glass, paper clips, mucus, vomit, even their faeces or in some of the cases faeces of animals. Some common ones are ice, clay, chalk, dirt, sand, soap, hair, coins, buttons, paper, paint, burnt matches, cigarette ashes and metal pieces. People with pica tend to eat a variety of non food items. The main symptom of pica is eating non food stuff and it is diagnosed when this habit persists for at least one month duration. Lastly people may eat non food items just because they like the taste and texture of them and enjoy and relish eating them. Also in people of some cultures eating certain non – food items is considered to have some healing properties so considered normal. Other than above it can be present in people belonging to certain nations where eating clay is common and is also acceptable. Persons with autism, intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities are also at high risk of pica. Few examples of these conditions include OCD – obsessive compulsive disorder (A psychological disorder in which a person has compulsions to repeatedly perform certain activities / behaviours or have repeated unwanted thoughts in mind) and schizophrenia (it is a serious psychological disorder characterised by abnormal interpretation of reality, hallucinations, delusions and disordered thinking). Pica can also be seen in persons having some psychological condition. Sometimes in case of children who eat dirt, sand and other non food items doesn’t indicate pica and may be it is just a child’s way of exploring his / her surroundings with senses. In such cases may be the body is demanding non food items to fulfil the nutritional demands of the body due to deficient nutrients. Mostly it is associated with iron deficiency anaemia. Pica can arise in cases of nutritional deficiencies like that of iron and zinc. Homeopathic medicines for Pica offer a natural solution for cravings and for mild to moderate cases of pica. For example, a person having pica may eat chalk, sand, ice, paper etc. Pica is a disorder that refers to compulsive eating of non – food items or non – nutritive things by a person.
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