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Homeopathy: The Safest Medicine for Pregnancy and Labor - Healing with Homeopathy
Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Jan, 2002 by Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman, Robert Ullman
The Safest Medicine
Homeopathy is the safest form of medicine you will ever find, plain and
simple. Safe for pregnant moms, for newborn babes, for debilitated, elderly
folks at the end of their lives, patients who are hypersensitive to other
medications, and for animals of all sizes and species. Homeopathic
medicines are made from any substance in nature. You name it and it's a
potential homeopathic treatment. Honeybee, table salt, sea water, every
flower, plant or tree you can think of -- they're all potential homeopathic
medicines to treat a variety of physical, mental, and emotional complaints,
either acute or chronic.
Pregnant women, with good reason, are wary of conventional medications.
Some, such as thalidomide, have been clearly and publicly implicated in
serious congenital malformation. Others, including Prozac, have been shown
to cause minor birth defects but they are so well-advertised that you would
only discover such a problem by carefully examining the scientific
literature as we did (Reichenberg-Ullman and Ullman, Prozac-Free (Prima,
1999, p 23). Many other pharmaceuticals have not been adequately tested
during pregnancy. Although, in general, herbs are gentler and safer than
prescription medications, many are contraindicated during pregnancy. Not so
with homeopathy. A pregnant woman can rest assured that homeopathic
medicines are absolutely safe.
If a woman wants to self-treat during pregnancy she needs to make sure that
the condition she is treating is uncomplicated and acute, rather than
chronic, and needs to follow the guidelines carefully. (Our book,
Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick and Easy Guide for the Whole Family, and
other books written by experienced professionals rather than writers with
no clinical experience, are what we recommend.) The most trouble she can
generally get into by treating herself with homeopathy is that an
incorrectly chosen medicine will have no effect or, by taking a medicine
far too often one can (rarely) develop symptoms of the remedy (proving
symptoms). These will go away rapidly when the homeopathic medicine is
discontinued. However, many pregnant women and new moms prefer treatment
from an expert, which is often the best course of action.
In this article we will share our experience in treating pregnant women and
babies over the past nearly 20 years including several cases from our
practice.
Homeopathy During Pregnancy
Homeopathy can be quickly and remarkably effective for many symptoms and
conditions arising during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman inquires, "What is
the one best thing I can do to insure that my baby is born healthy?" a
homeopath will answer, "take your own constitutional medicine as early in
the pregnancy as possible." Hahnemann readily encouraged healthy diet and
hygiene, so optimal prenatal diet and nutritional supplementation, medical
care, lifestyle, and peace of mind are essential. But, in addition, the
more in balance a pregnant mom is on an energetic level, the smoother labor
is likely to proceed and the greater the chance of giving birth to a
vibrantly healthy baby. There are no guarantees in utero. A certain number
of babies will be born with a variety of genetic defects and congenital
abnormalities. Correct homeopathic prescribing during pregnancy simply
increases the likelihood of a healthy child.
Homeopathy can treat nearly any condition in a pregnant woman. Just to give
you an example of how it works, we present information on morning sickness,
perhaps the most common complaint we treat during pregnancy. There are two
distinct ways in which homeopathy can treat morning sickness. If your
overall health is quite good, morning sickness is your only real complaint,
and the symptoms are quite straightforward, you may be able to treat
yourself quite successfully.
The following information is drawn from Judyth's book, Whole Woman
Homeopathy: The Comprehensive Guide to Treating PMS, Menopause, Cystitis,
and Other Problems- Naturally and Effectively (Prima, 2000, p 140-141). We
are limited by our contract with Prima to a 1500-word excerpt, but you will
find details on how and when to take the medicines in the book.
Acute Homeopathic Self-Care for Morning Sickness
* The most common medicines for morning sickness are Sepia and Colchicum.
* When aversion to the smell of food is the strongest symptom, consider
Colchicum first.
* For severe vomiting, use Ipecac and for the most terrible nausea, use
Tabacum.
* When aversion to sex is a strong symptom, consider Sepia or Kreosotum.
* Sepia is for conditions that are much better from vigorous exercise or
dancing, which differentiates it from the motion sickness medicines such as
Tabacum and Cocculus. The latter two are for symptoms that are much worse,
not better, from motion.
* Veratrum is the medicine of choice if you are very cold, are suffering
from vomiting and diarrhea, and would die for fruit, ice, and sour foods
like pickles or lemons
A woman should notice at least a 50%, often 75% or more, improvement in her
nausea of pregnancy within one to two weeks after taking the proper
homeopathic medicine.
Naturopathic Self-Care Recommendations for Morning Sickness
These are other measures that can be used in addition to homeopathy or
while waiting for the medicine to act. Once this has occurred, these other
recommendations are generally no longer needed.
* Eat small amounts of food frequently.
* Grab a bite before getting up in the morning.
* Chew Saltine crackers to help relieve the nausea
* Stick to bland foods such as broth, rice, and pasta.
* Tea (preferably herbal) and toast are usually well-tolerated.
* Sipping ginger root tea is a time-tested reliever of nausea. Use a
one-quarter-inch slice of ginger root boiled in a cup of water for fifteen
minutes.
* Many herbs, such as pennyroyal, need to be avoided during pregnancy.
Research carefully before using any herbs, especially in your first trimester.
Stimulating Stomach 36, an acupressure point in the soft place between the
knee and the outside of the leg where the tibia and fibula bones meet,
often helps to alleviate nausea. Use firm rotary pressure on the spot for
several seconds. Repeat as needed.
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Constitutional Care for Morning Sickness
Anna: I was so looking forward to my third and final pregnancy. Having gone
through it twice before, I thought this one would be a breeze. A piece of
cake. I was definitely wrong! Almost immediately the morning sickness set
in. I had suffered morning sickness for the initial ten weeks of my first
pregnancy and virtually none with my second child. So, as my pregnancy
progressed beyond fourteen weeks and I was still four pounds lighter than
when I began, I knew I had to do something fast! Driving was impossible
unless I carried a bag in which I could vomit. Pop Tarts and Ramen Noodles
were my survival diet.
Conventional medicine does not offer a completely safe option for morning
sickness. My obstetrician prescribed Hydroxyzine to help with the nausea,
but it offered only temporary relief with no guarantee that it would not
harm my baby.
I saw Judyth during my 14th week of pregnancy. After an hour-long
interview, she prescribed Meadow Saffron. Within the next two weeks, my
morning sickness diminished and I gained six pounds.
Six weeks later, I went back to see her. Though physically much better, I
felt like I was riding an emotional roller coaster with no brakes. Judyth
gave me another dose of the same medicine. Within 48 hours, I felt like my
normal self.
During my 8th month of pregnancy, I once more experienced morning sickness
coupled with muscle pain in my shoulder, loose bowel movements, and
sleeplessness. Again she repeated the Meadow Saffron and, as before, I felt
immediate relief.
I can't explain why Meadow Saffron can cure morning sickness, pregnancy
blues, muscle pain, loose bowel movements, and sleeplessness. Nor why the
medicines Judyth has given me for mastitis and all three of my children for
a variety of physical and behavioral problems, have worked so consistently
and beautifully. I can only say, "it works!"
Anna is one of the most engaging and delightful women I have ever met. Down
home, friendly, and vivacious. And her children, whom I also treat, are
equally delightful, especially since her daughter has received the right
homeopathic medicine. Anna came to see me for the first time nearly a year
ago when she was thirteen and a half weeks pregnant. She was beset with a
horrible gagging sensation as soon as she smelled, looked at, or even
thought about food. Her stomach felt achey and full of gas bubbles. The
gagging occurred about six times a day and vomiting two to three times
daily. Anna had experienced similar symptoms while pregnant with her son,
but not as severe or long lasting. She also had what she described as a
"weird thing with her toes," which turned out to be Raynaud's syndrome
(incredible coldness and a purplish discoloration). She even had to wear
socks at night to get to sleep.
Colchicum (meadow saffron) made the rest of Anna's pregnancy a joy. She
needed a total of four doses over the course of five months until she
delivered an adorable baby and then again shortly after the birth for
thrush and continued uterine bleeding. The Colchicum has worked like a
charm every time.
Labor
Planning for excellent prenatal and delivery care, drafting the perfect
birth plan, gathering together the ideal birthing team, and preparing in
every other way can increase the odds of a smooth labor and delivery, but
one never knows. We recommend having on hand a homeopathic self-care kit,
or at least a few essential medicines. The problem with having available
only two or three is if you don't happen to have the best-indicated
medicine with you, it is of no use. Again, problems during labor can
sometimes be quite successfully treated through self-care but may need the
expertise of a trained homeopath as you can see in the following stories.
Acute Homeopathic Self-Care for Labor
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* The best homeopathic medicine for extreme fear of death is Aconite. It is
also an excellent medicine for trauma, shock, and bleeding and is sometimes
used routinely following labor and can be used for exhaustion during labor.
* Caulophyllum is one of the best medicines for stalled labor.
* If you are feeling weak after losing blood, China can be of great benefit.
* Cimicifuga can be a great aid for women with late labor with cramps in
the hips or pelvic pain from one side to the other.
* If you feel sleepy, exhausted, and can't keep your eyes open during
labor, try Gelsemium.
* To speed up the birth of an overdue baby, try Pulsatilla.
* Sepia, among countless indications, is good for exhausted women who feel
like moving around and exercising during labor.
Naturopathic Self-Care Recommendations for Labor
* Trust your intuition! It is your body and your baby.
* Make up a carefully considered birth plan well ahead of labor and
delivery, then be as ready as you can to alter it if necessary due to
unforeseen circumstances.
* Gather together your perfect birth team to support you in every way
possible during this challenging and exhilarating experience. Choose
professionals whom you trust to be thoroughly experienced and competent and
loving, who can stay calm during an emergency. Don't forget someone to
videotape the birth if you wish to have a visual memento of your remarkable
experience.
* Perhaps the most important advice to cope with labor is "Breathe,
breathe, breathe."
* Change positions as needed to remain as comfortable as possible and keep
the labor moving along.
* Create a birth setting with all of the elements that are most conducive
to your well-being and to ushering into the world your newborn treasure.
* If you choose to use homeopathy during your labor, have all the potential
medicines available as well as access to an experienced homeopath if the
need arises.
* In a pinch, if you want additional help and no homeopathic medicine fits
your symptom picture, take 5 drops of Rescue Remedy under the tongue up to
every half hour.
* Pace yourself. Rest, sleep, relax, take a gentle walk, ask for a
massage- whatever is needed to keep you focused or distracted as needed.
* Rely on your birth team to provide you with whatever you want and need to
eat and drink. Remember to push plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
* Take one step and make one decision at a time, depending on how the
events unfold.
* If you really need conventional medications, ask for them. If you have a
strong preference to use them only if absolutely necessary, share this with
your birth team so they can encourage you to use other options and leave
medication for a last resort.
* Don't try to do it all yourself! This is a time for you to receive all
the help you need in every way!
Constitutional Care to Prevent Preterm Labor
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Patricia called in August, 2000 because of her intention to become pregnant
combined with her fears of preterm labor. Although she had given birth to
three healthy babies, the oldest of whom was seven, her late-stage
pregnancies were problematic. She had suffered two miscarriages before her
last baby and was on heparin shots from the beginning to the end due to
blood clots in her uterus. Patricia had undergone D and Cs for both
miscarriages and chose to take progesterone suppositories during her third
pregnancy.
Dehydration resulted in several trips to the emergency room. It was
difficult for her to force herself to drink during her pregnancies. "I
start panicking from the fourth month of pregnancy due to my fear of
preterm labor. During my first pregnancy, labor started in the seventh
month, in the eighth with my second child, and at 29 or 30 weeks with the
third. They sent me home on a Terbutaline pump. I went into labor the day
after they took it off. I'm trying to get pregnant again and I want to
avoid all this.
"I can take problems, but when something goes really wrong, I'll get
nervous. Let's say if my husband comes home really late and be home two
hours later than he said or my kids were cranky or I was tired, I'd put up
such a fight then afterwards feel guilty. I'd scream, rant, rave. My
husband is such a calm type, listens, never screams back. He's amazing. Or
if my mother-in-law would talk to me about certain things or her problems,
I'd start yelling at her and say she's wrong. The next day I feel really
guilty. It happens when she calls me at the end of the day when I'm tired.
I just let loose. I'm a very different person than she is. How she thinks,
I'll think the opposite. I can't stand to have things lying around my
house. I get so nervous that everything should be put away. In fact, I get
hysterical and start yelling, ranting, raving. My own mother always tells
me I'm bossy and dominant.
"I don't get along with my sister-in-law either. I got mad at her and told
her not to come back unless she called. It started when I was very tired,
nursing my two-month-old baby. Her daughter was tearing around my house
getting into things and breaking them. I would be so exhausted that I just
couldn't handle it and I let her know how I felt.
"My periods definitely changed since the kids. I used to get them every
three or four months My OB told me I couldn't get pregnant without
medication but six months after marriage I was pregnant. I used to get
periods every 40 to 50 days. Now they're 35 to 38 days apart. The first day
is very painful. I take Advil the whole day before the pain starts. It
makes me feel totally disabled. I double over -- like I'm in labor all over
again. Terrible cramps...real contractions in uterus down into upper thighs.
"I'm very bad with pain in general. My first two babies I had without an
epidural. The third time I wanted an epidural at 3 centimeters. I didn't
want to feel anything. With my second son, I was screaming so loud in the
labor room from the pain. I was doubled over, rolling in pain, couldn't sit
or stand.
"I was very nauseous with my last baby. I lost a lot of weight. The nausea
was terrible. Everything I smelled or touched. I couldn't even look at my
husband or children."
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We inquired about Patricia's sexual energy, which she described as
"terrible" during the first few months of her pregnancies. "I get cramps in
my feet during my pregnancies also. And a lot of heartburn. I take Tums for
it. I feel like there's a dragon in me. Spicy food -- forget it."
Patricia's fears included airplanes, being a backseat driver and dying
young. Sometimes she would talk to her husband and instruct him what he
should do with the kids if she were to die when they were little. "I tell
my husband he can remarry after I die, but not to a wicked stepmother. He
looks at me like I'm crazy. I also have a fear of my house burning down."
Her dreams were about something bad happening to her baby. Most of her
scary dreams occurred during her pregnancies. "I was quite revolting. My
mother used to beg me to do something and I would purposely not do it. I
wouldn't even let my sister come in and sit on my bed. I was never happy. I
had very hard time with friends till I was 17. I was raised in a strict
Catholic family. I was forced to follow rules I did not believe in. My
mother made me dress so conservatively. I'd feel out of place with the
kids. I just wanted to fit in. Now that I'm married, I dress the way I want
even if my mother doesn't like it. She still doesn't approve of me. I like
t o be independent and not rely on anybody. When I'm pregnant I have to lay
in bed and not do a thing. I really don'tlike that."
We prescribed Sepia 200C based on Patricia's history of preterm labor,
morning sickness, irritability with her family, irregular periods,
menstrual pain, feeling of being forced to do things against her will,
desire to be independent, and low sexual energy during pregnancy.
Six weeks later she called and reported that she was about four weeks
pregnant. She had begun to feel weak and queasy "Whenever I look at food, I
get nauseous. Everything stinks. I was feeling fine until two days ago. I
haven't ranted and raved. Sex is totally out because of my nausea." We
prescribed another dose of Sepia (cuttlefish ink) 200C for the morning
sickness and recommended prenatal vitamins.
Patricia called two weeks later to say her nausea was better immediately
after taking the Sepia but that her symptoms were now back. We prescribed a
higher dose: Sepia 1M.
At the next appointment in late September, Patricia was eleven weeks
pregnant. She experienced slight nausea, but nothing compared to her
previous pregnancies. She complained of fatigue and couldn't seem to
remember to take the prenatal vitamins. Patricia was now able to cook
dinner. "My nervousness is so much better. I can get annoyed but I don't
scream. It really surprises me that I don't overreact anymore. I haven't
had any incidents lately of getting irritated with my mother-in-law. She
doesn't seem to talk as much about her problems. In fact I appreciate her
much more. I don't take her for granted. My heartburn is only occasional."
We did not prescribe at this time.
Five weeks later Patricia's nausea returned strongly after she ate some
coffee-flavored cake. She had even vomited a couple of times. She found
herself more fatigued. We repeated the Sepia 1M due to the relapse
following her ingestion of the coffee.
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One month later, at twenty weeks of pregnancy, Patricia reported that
things were almost perfect. Only some headaches once a week when she was
overtired. She reported having felt much better after the previous dose of
Sepia. Her moods were quite good. "Even my housework doesn't get me so
nervous. I used to get so upset that my husband had to help me. So annoyed
when there was laundry in the basket. I'm much different. I had very bad
dreams during my other pregnancies but not with this one. Before I would
dream about not having a healthy baby. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant
because I feel so good." We waited without prescribing again.
In mid-January, at twenty-seven weeks into her pregnancy, Patricia
experienced some burning in her urethra on urination and had a urine
culture done. Urinary tract infections were common for her in late-stage
pregnancy. Otherwise she was doing "great." We gave her another dose of
Sepia 1M.
One week later she called to say that her urine culture was negative but
that she was one centimeter dilated. Her OB had administered terbutaline,
both by injection and intravenous.
At this point we prescribed Caulophyllum (blue cohosh) 1M. It is possible
that another dose of Sepia would have also worked but the former is a tried
and true remedy to stall premature labor.
She called after one week to say she had responded quite well to the
Caulophyllum until a couple of days earlier when she experienced some low
back pain and was again one centimeter dilated. Her obstetrician had done a
fetal fibronectin vaginal culture which indicated that labor would begin
within the next two weeks. She went on a Terbutaline pump and took a dose
of Caulophyllum 1M that she was holding. She disliked the terbutaline
because it caused her to have heart palpitations and tingling in her
fingers. We instructed her to repeat the Caulophyllum 1M if the
contractions began again.
We next saw Patricia six and a half weeks later. She was now thirty four
and a half weeks pregnant. Her previous deliveries were at 35, 36, and 37
weeks. She had taken another dose of the Caulophyllum 1M.
Patricia called happily five and a half weeks later and shared that labor
had gone quite well at forty weeks. Labor was neither long nor painful. "I
was getting ready to go away for the weekend and decided to get checked out
first. My doctor told me, You're not going anywhere' because I was seven
centimeters dilated! I had my little boy an hour and a half later. He's
eight pounds fifteen ounces and is really beautiful."
Homeopathic Care for Mother and Baby
You will not be surprised to hear that homeopathy is the best medicine we
know of for newborns and nursing moms. And right through toddlerhood and
childhood. Many common acute conditions of babies can be self-treated quite
successfully. Others require the care of a knowledgeable homeopathic
physician or practitioner. If you are looking for the safest possible form
of medicine, look no further -- it's homeopathy!
Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman are licensed naturopathic
physicians beard certified in homeopathy. Their books include Ritalin-Free
Kids, Whole Woman Homeopathy, Rage-Free Kids, Prozac-Free, Homeopathic
Self-Care, The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine, and their newest
work, Mystics, Masters, Saints and Sages-Stories of Enlightenment. They
teach and lecture widely and practice at The Northwest Center for
Homeopathic Medicine in Edmonds, Washington and Langley, Washington. They
may be reached by telephone at 425-774-5599 or by fax at 425-670-0319.
Their websites are www.healthyhomeopathy.com and, for their enlightenment
book, www.mysticsmasters.com, which announces their upcoming booksigning
events
The Safest Medicine
Homeopathy is the safest form of medicine you will ever find, plain and
simple. Safe for pregnant moms, for newborn babes, for debilitated, elderly
folks at the end of their lives, patients who are hypersensitive to other
medications, and for animals of all sizes and species. Homeopathic
medicines are made from any substance in nature. You name it and it's a
potential homeopathic treatment. Honeybee, table salt, sea water, every
flower, plant or tree you can think of -- they're all potential homeopathic
medicines to treat a variety of physical, mental, and emotional complaints,
either acute or chronic.
Pregnant women, with good reason, are wary of conventional medications.
Some, such as thalidomide, have been clearly and publicly implicated in
serious congenital malformation. Others, including Prozac, have been shown
to cause minor birth defects but they are so well-advertised that you would
only discover such a problem by carefully examining the scientific
literature as we did (Reichenberg-Ullman and Ullman, Prozac-Free (Prima,
1999, p 23). Many other pharmaceuticals have not been adequately tested
during pregnancy. Although, in general, herbs are gentler and safer than
prescription medications, many are contraindicated during pregnancy. Not so
with homeopathy. A pregnant woman can rest assured that homeopathic
medicines are absolutely safe.
If a woman wants to self-treat during pregnancy she needs to make sure that
the condition she is treating is uncomplicated and acute, rather than
chronic, and needs to follow the guidelines carefully. (Our book,
Homeopathic Self-Care: The Quick and Easy Guide for the Whole Family, and
other books written by experienced professionals rather than writers with
no clinical experience, are what we recommend.) The most trouble she can
generally get into by treating herself with homeopathy is that an
incorrectly chosen medicine will have no effect or, by taking a medicine
far too often one can (rarely) develop symptoms of the remedy (proving
symptoms). These will go away rapidly when the homeopathic medicine is
discontinued. However, many pregnant women and new moms prefer treatment
from an expert, which is often the best course of action.
In this article we will share our experience in treating pregnant women and
babies over the past nearly 20 years including several cases from our
practice.
Homeopathy During Pregnancy
Homeopathy can be quickly and remarkably effective for many symptoms and
conditions arising during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman inquires, "What is
the one best thing I can do to insure that my baby is born healthy?" a
homeopath will answer, "take your own constitutional medicine as early in
the pregnancy as possible." Hahnemann readily encouraged healthy diet and
hygiene, so optimal prenatal diet and nutritional supplementation, medical
care, lifestyle, and peace of mind are essential. But, in addition, the
more in balance a pregnant mom is on an energetic level, the smoother labor
is likely to proceed and the greater the chance of giving birth to a
vibrantly healthy baby. There are no guarantees in utero. A certain number
of babies will be born with a variety of genetic defects and congenital
abnormalities. Correct homeopathic prescribing during pregnancy simply
increases the likelihood of a healthy child.
Homeopathy can treat nearly any condition in a pregnant woman. Just to give
you an example of how it works, we present information on morning sickness,
perhaps the most common complaint we treat during pregnancy. There are two
distinct ways in which homeopathy can treat morning sickness. If your
overall health is quite good, morning sickness is your only real complaint,
and the symptoms are quite straightforward, you may be able to treat
yourself quite successfully.
The following information is drawn from Judyth's book, Whole Woman
Homeopathy: The Comprehensive Guide to Treating PMS, Menopause, Cystitis,
and Other Problems- Naturally and Effectively (Prima, 2000, p 140-141). We
are limited by our contract with Prima to a 1500-word excerpt, but you will
find details on how and when to take the medicines in the book.
Acute Homeopathic Self-Care for Morning Sickness
* The most common medicines for morning sickness are Sepia and Colchicum.
* When aversion to the smell of food is the strongest symptom, consider
Colchicum first.
* For severe vomiting, use Ipecac and for the most terrible nausea, use
Tabacum.
* When aversion to sex is a strong symptom, consider Sepia or Kreosotum.
* Sepia is for conditions that are much better from vigorous exercise or
dancing, which differentiates it from the motion sickness medicines such as
Tabacum and Cocculus. The latter two are for symptoms that are much worse,
not better, from motion.
* Veratrum is the medicine of choice if you are very cold, are suffering
from vomiting and diarrhea, and would die for fruit, ice, and sour foods
like pickles or lemons
A woman should notice at least a 50%, often 75% or more, improvement in her
nausea of pregnancy within one to two weeks after taking the proper
homeopathic medicine.
Naturopathic Self-Care Recommendations for Morning Sickness
These are other measures that can be used in addition to homeopathy or
while waiting for the medicine to act. Once this has occurred, these other
recommendations are generally no longer needed.
* Eat small amounts of food frequently.
* Grab a bite before getting up in the morning.
* Chew Saltine crackers to help relieve the nausea
* Stick to bland foods such as broth, rice, and pasta.
* Tea (preferably herbal) and toast are usually well-tolerated.
* Sipping ginger root tea is a time-tested reliever of nausea. Use a
one-quarter-inch slice of ginger root boiled in a cup of water for fifteen
minutes.
* Many herbs, such as pennyroyal, need to be avoided during pregnancy.
Research carefully before using any herbs, especially in your first trimester.
Stimulating Stomach 36, an acupressure point in the soft place between the
knee and the outside of the leg where the tibia and fibula bones meet,
often helps to alleviate nausea. Use firm rotary pressure on the spot for
several seconds. Repeat as needed.
Advertisement
Constitutional Care for Morning Sickness
Anna: I was so looking forward to my third and final pregnancy. Having gone
through it twice before, I thought this one would be a breeze. A piece of
cake. I was definitely wrong! Almost immediately the morning sickness set
in. I had suffered morning sickness for the initial ten weeks of my first
pregnancy and virtually none with my second child. So, as my pregnancy
progressed beyond fourteen weeks and I was still four pounds lighter than
when I began, I knew I had to do something fast! Driving was impossible
unless I carried a bag in which I could vomit. Pop Tarts and Ramen Noodles
were my survival diet.
Conventional medicine does not offer a completely safe option for morning
sickness. My obstetrician prescribed Hydroxyzine to help with the nausea,
but it offered only temporary relief with no guarantee that it would not
harm my baby.
I saw Judyth during my 14th week of pregnancy. After an hour-long
interview, she prescribed Meadow Saffron. Within the next two weeks, my
morning sickness diminished and I gained six pounds.
Six weeks later, I went back to see her. Though physically much better, I
felt like I was riding an emotional roller coaster with no brakes. Judyth
gave me another dose of the same medicine. Within 48 hours, I felt like my
normal self.
During my 8th month of pregnancy, I once more experienced morning sickness
coupled with muscle pain in my shoulder, loose bowel movements, and
sleeplessness. Again she repeated the Meadow Saffron and, as before, I felt
immediate relief.
I can't explain why Meadow Saffron can cure morning sickness, pregnancy
blues, muscle pain, loose bowel movements, and sleeplessness. Nor why the
medicines Judyth has given me for mastitis and all three of my children for
a variety of physical and behavioral problems, have worked so consistently
and beautifully. I can only say, "it works!"
Anna is one of the most engaging and delightful women I have ever met. Down
home, friendly, and vivacious. And her children, whom I also treat, are
equally delightful, especially since her daughter has received the right
homeopathic medicine. Anna came to see me for the first time nearly a year
ago when she was thirteen and a half weeks pregnant. She was beset with a
horrible gagging sensation as soon as she smelled, looked at, or even
thought about food. Her stomach felt achey and full of gas bubbles. The
gagging occurred about six times a day and vomiting two to three times
daily. Anna had experienced similar symptoms while pregnant with her son,
but not as severe or long lasting. She also had what she described as a
"weird thing with her toes," which turned out to be Raynaud's syndrome
(incredible coldness and a purplish discoloration). She even had to wear
socks at night to get to sleep.
Colchicum (meadow saffron) made the rest of Anna's pregnancy a joy. She
needed a total of four doses over the course of five months until she
delivered an adorable baby and then again shortly after the birth for
thrush and continued uterine bleeding. The Colchicum has worked like a
charm every time.
Labor
Planning for excellent prenatal and delivery care, drafting the perfect
birth plan, gathering together the ideal birthing team, and preparing in
every other way can increase the odds of a smooth labor and delivery, but
one never knows. We recommend having on hand a homeopathic self-care kit,
or at least a few essential medicines. The problem with having available
only two or three is if you don't happen to have the best-indicated
medicine with you, it is of no use. Again, problems during labor can
sometimes be quite successfully treated through self-care but may need the
expertise of a trained homeopath as you can see in the following stories.
Acute Homeopathic Self-Care for Labor
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* The best homeopathic medicine for extreme fear of death is Aconite. It is
also an excellent medicine for trauma, shock, and bleeding and is sometimes
used routinely following labor and can be used for exhaustion during labor.
* Caulophyllum is one of the best medicines for stalled labor.
* If you are feeling weak after losing blood, China can be of great benefit.
* Cimicifuga can be a great aid for women with late labor with cramps in
the hips or pelvic pain from one side to the other.
* If you feel sleepy, exhausted, and can't keep your eyes open during
labor, try Gelsemium.
* To speed up the birth of an overdue baby, try Pulsatilla.
* Sepia, among countless indications, is good for exhausted women who feel
like moving around and exercising during labor.
Naturopathic Self-Care Recommendations for Labor
* Trust your intuition! It is your body and your baby.
* Make up a carefully considered birth plan well ahead of labor and
delivery, then be as ready as you can to alter it if necessary due to
unforeseen circumstances.
* Gather together your perfect birth team to support you in every way
possible during this challenging and exhilarating experience. Choose
professionals whom you trust to be thoroughly experienced and competent and
loving, who can stay calm during an emergency. Don't forget someone to
videotape the birth if you wish to have a visual memento of your remarkable
experience.
* Perhaps the most important advice to cope with labor is "Breathe,
breathe, breathe."
* Change positions as needed to remain as comfortable as possible and keep
the labor moving along.
* Create a birth setting with all of the elements that are most conducive
to your well-being and to ushering into the world your newborn treasure.
* If you choose to use homeopathy during your labor, have all the potential
medicines available as well as access to an experienced homeopath if the
need arises.
* In a pinch, if you want additional help and no homeopathic medicine fits
your symptom picture, take 5 drops of Rescue Remedy under the tongue up to
every half hour.
* Pace yourself. Rest, sleep, relax, take a gentle walk, ask for a
massage- whatever is needed to keep you focused or distracted as needed.
* Rely on your birth team to provide you with whatever you want and need to
eat and drink. Remember to push plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
* Take one step and make one decision at a time, depending on how the
events unfold.
* If you really need conventional medications, ask for them. If you have a
strong preference to use them only if absolutely necessary, share this with
your birth team so they can encourage you to use other options and leave
medication for a last resort.
* Don't try to do it all yourself! This is a time for you to receive all
the help you need in every way!
Constitutional Care to Prevent Preterm Labor
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Patricia called in August, 2000 because of her intention to become pregnant
combined with her fears of preterm labor. Although she had given birth to
three healthy babies, the oldest of whom was seven, her late-stage
pregnancies were problematic. She had suffered two miscarriages before her
last baby and was on heparin shots from the beginning to the end due to
blood clots in her uterus. Patricia had undergone D and Cs for both
miscarriages and chose to take progesterone suppositories during her third
pregnancy.
Dehydration resulted in several trips to the emergency room. It was
difficult for her to force herself to drink during her pregnancies. "I
start panicking from the fourth month of pregnancy due to my fear of
preterm labor. During my first pregnancy, labor started in the seventh
month, in the eighth with my second child, and at 29 or 30 weeks with the
third. They sent me home on a Terbutaline pump. I went into labor the day
after they took it off. I'm trying to get pregnant again and I want to
avoid all this.
"I can take problems, but when something goes really wrong, I'll get
nervous. Let's say if my husband comes home really late and be home two
hours later than he said or my kids were cranky or I was tired, I'd put up
such a fight then afterwards feel guilty. I'd scream, rant, rave. My
husband is such a calm type, listens, never screams back. He's amazing. Or
if my mother-in-law would talk to me about certain things or her problems,
I'd start yelling at her and say she's wrong. The next day I feel really
guilty. It happens when she calls me at the end of the day when I'm tired.
I just let loose. I'm a very different person than she is. How she thinks,
I'll think the opposite. I can't stand to have things lying around my
house. I get so nervous that everything should be put away. In fact, I get
hysterical and start yelling, ranting, raving. My own mother always tells
me I'm bossy and dominant.
"I don't get along with my sister-in-law either. I got mad at her and told
her not to come back unless she called. It started when I was very tired,
nursing my two-month-old baby. Her daughter was tearing around my house
getting into things and breaking them. I would be so exhausted that I just
couldn't handle it and I let her know how I felt.
"My periods definitely changed since the kids. I used to get them every
three or four months My OB told me I couldn't get pregnant without
medication but six months after marriage I was pregnant. I used to get
periods every 40 to 50 days. Now they're 35 to 38 days apart. The first day
is very painful. I take Advil the whole day before the pain starts. It
makes me feel totally disabled. I double over -- like I'm in labor all over
again. Terrible cramps...real contractions in uterus down into upper thighs.
"I'm very bad with pain in general. My first two babies I had without an
epidural. The third time I wanted an epidural at 3 centimeters. I didn't
want to feel anything. With my second son, I was screaming so loud in the
labor room from the pain. I was doubled over, rolling in pain, couldn't sit
or stand.
"I was very nauseous with my last baby. I lost a lot of weight. The nausea
was terrible. Everything I smelled or touched. I couldn't even look at my
husband or children."
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We inquired about Patricia's sexual energy, which she described as
"terrible" during the first few months of her pregnancies. "I get cramps in
my feet during my pregnancies also. And a lot of heartburn. I take Tums for
it. I feel like there's a dragon in me. Spicy food -- forget it."
Patricia's fears included airplanes, being a backseat driver and dying
young. Sometimes she would talk to her husband and instruct him what he
should do with the kids if she were to die when they were little. "I tell
my husband he can remarry after I die, but not to a wicked stepmother. He
looks at me like I'm crazy. I also have a fear of my house burning down."
Her dreams were about something bad happening to her baby. Most of her
scary dreams occurred during her pregnancies. "I was quite revolting. My
mother used to beg me to do something and I would purposely not do it. I
wouldn't even let my sister come in and sit on my bed. I was never happy. I
had very hard time with friends till I was 17. I was raised in a strict
Catholic family. I was forced to follow rules I did not believe in. My
mother made me dress so conservatively. I'd feel out of place with the
kids. I just wanted to fit in. Now that I'm married, I dress the way I want
even if my mother doesn't like it. She still doesn't approve of me. I like
t o be independent and not rely on anybody. When I'm pregnant I have to lay
in bed and not do a thing. I really don'tlike that."
We prescribed Sepia 200C based on Patricia's history of preterm labor,
morning sickness, irritability with her family, irregular periods,
menstrual pain, feeling of being forced to do things against her will,
desire to be independent, and low sexual energy during pregnancy.
Six weeks later she called and reported that she was about four weeks
pregnant. She had begun to feel weak and queasy "Whenever I look at food, I
get nauseous. Everything stinks. I was feeling fine until two days ago. I
haven't ranted and raved. Sex is totally out because of my nausea." We
prescribed another dose of Sepia (cuttlefish ink) 200C for the morning
sickness and recommended prenatal vitamins.
Patricia called two weeks later to say her nausea was better immediately
after taking the Sepia but that her symptoms were now back. We prescribed a
higher dose: Sepia 1M.
At the next appointment in late September, Patricia was eleven weeks
pregnant. She experienced slight nausea, but nothing compared to her
previous pregnancies. She complained of fatigue and couldn't seem to
remember to take the prenatal vitamins. Patricia was now able to cook
dinner. "My nervousness is so much better. I can get annoyed but I don't
scream. It really surprises me that I don't overreact anymore. I haven't
had any incidents lately of getting irritated with my mother-in-law. She
doesn't seem to talk as much about her problems. In fact I appreciate her
much more. I don't take her for granted. My heartburn is only occasional."
We did not prescribe at this time.
Five weeks later Patricia's nausea returned strongly after she ate some
coffee-flavored cake. She had even vomited a couple of times. She found
herself more fatigued. We repeated the Sepia 1M due to the relapse
following her ingestion of the coffee.
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One month later, at twenty weeks of pregnancy, Patricia reported that
things were almost perfect. Only some headaches once a week when she was
overtired. She reported having felt much better after the previous dose of
Sepia. Her moods were quite good. "Even my housework doesn't get me so
nervous. I used to get so upset that my husband had to help me. So annoyed
when there was laundry in the basket. I'm much different. I had very bad
dreams during my other pregnancies but not with this one. Before I would
dream about not having a healthy baby. Sometimes I forget I'm pregnant
because I feel so good." We waited without prescribing again.
In mid-January, at twenty-seven weeks into her pregnancy, Patricia
experienced some burning in her urethra on urination and had a urine
culture done. Urinary tract infections were common for her in late-stage
pregnancy. Otherwise she was doing "great." We gave her another dose of
Sepia 1M.
One week later she called to say that her urine culture was negative but
that she was one centimeter dilated. Her OB had administered terbutaline,
both by injection and intravenous.
At this point we prescribed Caulophyllum (blue cohosh) 1M. It is possible
that another dose of Sepia would have also worked but the former is a tried
and true remedy to stall premature labor.
She called after one week to say she had responded quite well to the
Caulophyllum until a couple of days earlier when she experienced some low
back pain and was again one centimeter dilated. Her obstetrician had done a
fetal fibronectin vaginal culture which indicated that labor would begin
within the next two weeks. She went on a Terbutaline pump and took a dose
of Caulophyllum 1M that she was holding. She disliked the terbutaline
because it caused her to have heart palpitations and tingling in her
fingers. We instructed her to repeat the Caulophyllum 1M if the
contractions began again.
We next saw Patricia six and a half weeks later. She was now thirty four
and a half weeks pregnant. Her previous deliveries were at 35, 36, and 37
weeks. She had taken another dose of the Caulophyllum 1M.
Patricia called happily five and a half weeks later and shared that labor
had gone quite well at forty weeks. Labor was neither long nor painful. "I
was getting ready to go away for the weekend and decided to get checked out
first. My doctor told me, You're not going anywhere' because I was seven
centimeters dilated! I had my little boy an hour and a half later. He's
eight pounds fifteen ounces and is really beautiful."
Homeopathic Care for Mother and Baby
You will not be surprised to hear that homeopathy is the best medicine we
know of for newborns and nursing moms. And right through toddlerhood and
childhood. Many common acute conditions of babies can be self-treated quite
successfully. Others require the care of a knowledgeable homeopathic
physician or practitioner. If you are looking for the safest possible form
of medicine, look no further -- it's homeopathy!
Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman are licensed naturopathic
physicians beard certified in homeopathy. Their books include Ritalin-Free
Kids, Whole Woman Homeopathy, Rage-Free Kids, Prozac-Free, Homeopathic
Self-Care, The Patient's Guide to Homeopathic Medicine, and their newest
work, Mystics, Masters, Saints and Sages-Stories of Enlightenment. They
teach and lecture widely and practice at The Northwest Center for
Homeopathic Medicine in Edmonds, Washington and Langley, Washington. They
may be reached by telephone at 425-774-5599 or by fax at 425-670-0319.
Their websites are www.healthyhomeopathy.com and, for their enlightenment
book, www.mysticsmasters.com, which announces their upcoming booksigning
events
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