Used as a solvent, acetone is a colourless liquid that is easily recognizable by its ethereal smell. This chemical substance is also naturally present in the human body, where it is produced from fat. Very simply put, acetonaemia is a condition in which there is an excessive presence of acetone bodies in the blood. This level of acetone has a tendency to increase in cases of disorders in the acid-base equilibrium, especially when the cells lack sugar, the fuel that enables them to properly carry out their activity. Acetonaemia thus occurs when sugar is no longer able to enter the cells or in cases of hypoinsulinaemia, that is when there is an insufficient quantity of insulin present in the body, forcing the organism to draw sugar from other constituents, such as fatty acids for example. The degradation of these fatty acids then results in the formation of ketone bodies in the blood, components which can easily be detected with a simple urine test.
Acetonaemia is characterized by frequent nauseas and vomiting which are difficult to calm. Following this first phase, the patient may then be subjected to fever and feel abdominal pain that occurs without causing diarrhoea. The patient then experiences loss of appetite and his or her breath takes on the characteristic odour of acetone, a smell that resembles that of a Russet apple.
In general, care is more delicate when dealing with a sick child since vomiting tends to disrupt his or her diet, thus making him or her feel tired and weak. However, homoeopathic treatments help to fight off acetonaemia while, at the same time, improving the patient’s general state. Thus, in the beginning of the attack, it is recommended to take 5 granules of Senna 5 CH every hour until the patient’s condition improves noticeably. Regarding preventive treatment, it is recommended to take a weekly dose of Lypocodium clavatum 9 CH or Sepia officinalis 9 CH to relieve the most frequent disorders. In case of recurrent episodes in children, homoeopathic treatments will need to be prepared with Lycopodium clavatum, Phosphorus and Natrum muriaticum. It is also possible to soothe an attack by taking 5 granules of Senne 5 CH every hour until the symptoms finally disappear.
In case of an attack of Acetonaemia, it is mandatory to consult a doctor as soon as possible, especially when the attack lasts for several hour or manifests itself irregularly. In fact, as soon as the presence of acetone is detected in the urine, it is essential to turn to a health professional to determine the source of the disorder. The physician is indeed the only person able to give you a precise diagnosis that will help determine what the most appropriate form of treatment is.
Good to know: Administered as a preventive treatment, Lycopodium clavatum, Natrum muriaticum and Phosphorus are homoeopathic remedies that annihilate relapse tendencies and prevent further complications linked to Acetonaemia.
