Homeopathy for Mother and Baby

I was sent this article by Donna Lee, a friend of mine who is a Naturopath, Homeopath and Registered Nurse.  I myself use homeopathic medicines- when I first looked into it I was a huge sceptic but the amazing results I get every time I treat my hayfever (so much faster and more effective than clinical medicines and even herbs I've used in the past) have made me a convert.  Homeopathics have been used for many years on humans, animals and even plants!  Many doctors pass off the benefits as placebo, but I've seen or heard of these amazing remedies treat skin rashes, liver conditions, vomiting, colds, hayfever, insomnia, anxiety, bed wetting, infections and dozens of other ailments... in adults, kids, babies and even animals.  Now you can't tell me horses, cats and dogs are prone to 'false positives from a placebo effect'!  The best story I heard was back when I worked in Pharmacy.  A first time Mum and Dad came in for advice on their infants temperature.  They were already using panadol and nurofen consecutively and bub had been into hospital twice.  If they couldn't get the fever down, they would be back again that night.  Of course there was nothing we could offer pharmaceutically, but I gave them a bottle of Brauer Pain and Fever to try.  They were waiting outside the next morning to get another bottle (in case they ran out) and to thank us- within 10 minutes of administering the first dose the temperature had started to drop and by the fourth dose, was less than half a degree above normal.  Here's Donna's article- her contact details are at the bottom if you would like any more info!

          

Homeopathy For Mother And Baby

A growing number of parents are concerned about the side effects of conventional drugs especially in the treatment of babies and young children.  Homeopathy is growing in popularity in Australia due mainly to the success of commercial preparations sold in pharmacies such as the Brauer baby range.

One third of the French population uses homeopathic medicines, and 32 percent of French family physicians prescribe them. One fifth of all German physicians use homeopathic medicines, 42 percent of British physicians refer patients to homeopathic physicians, and 45 percent of Dutch physicians consider homeopathic medicines effective. Englands Royal Family has been under homeopathic care since the 1930s.

 The majority of the Australian population does not know what homeopathy is, however those that do use homeopathy consider it a godsend to their children as well as themselves.  Homeopathy was first described by Hippocrates 2,500 years ago, the word comes from Greek and means similar. This refers to the central philosophy that a substance that can produce symptoms in a healthy person can cure those symptoms in a sick person. For example, a person suffering from hayfever might be given a remedy prepared from onion, because in a healthy person onion usually produces watering eyes and irritation. However the substances are given in minute doses prepared in homeopathic pharmacies  avoiding  unwanted side effects making them safe to use even in situations where conventional drugs would be dangerous or inadvisable (e.g. during pregnancy, treating babies, infants and the elderly).

 Orthodox medicine often seeks to suppress symptoms by covering them over with strong medication for a quick fix this often drives illness deeper into the body. Homeopathic medicine seeks to gently bring the disease or illness to the surface so as to achieve lasting permanent cure. Homeopathy can be used to treat both physical and emotional disorders.

Before you begin to prescribe at home there are two important laws that you need to follow to use homeopathic medicines successfully:

THE LAW OF SIMILARS states that we must match the symptom picture to the illness or injury to the symptom picture of the medicine

THE LAW OF THE MINIMUM DOSE states that we must only use as little of the medicine as possible to stimulate the body’s own natural healing mechanism.

Homeopathic medicines are delicate and need careful handling. Touch them as little as possible. Shake 1 pill directly into the lid of the bottle and put it directly under the tongue of the person taking the medicine. Put the dose into a clean mouth , if possible 15 minutes before or after having anything to drink, obviously this does not apply in an emergency where it should be given as soon as possible.  You can crush and dissolve remedies in water and sip them (babies), but do not swallow pill down with water, tea or coffee. Avoid mint (notably in toothpaste) camphor, menthol, eucalyptus (often found in vapour rubs and cold remedies) when taking homeopathic remedies as these may antidote certain homeopathic medicines.

Store remedies in a cool dark place away from strong smells and small children.

Before repeating a remedy please consider the law of minimum dose carefully.

Serious injuries and illnesses should never be treated without seeking expert advice. Use your instincts and common sense, if you are worried call for help first, then give the appropriate remedy whilst you are waiting for help to arrive. If symptoms show no improvement or return after initial improvement, always seek professional help. A qualified homeopath may be needed to treat the underlying weakness in the patients constitution. If you already see a homeopath regularly, please discuss self prescribing with them.

The following are common remedies for use in pregnancy, labour and baby’s  first year.

                               

PREGNANCY

Exhaustion:  Arnica 200c , Kali Phos 200c

Breach position: Pulsatilla 200c (take in 36^th week)

Induction:  (alternative to) Caulophyllum 200c

Flu: (just before due date) Gelsenium 200c

Malposition of baby:  (at 36^th week) Breech Pulsatilla 200c, Transverse Pulsatilla 200c, Arnica 200c

Nausea:  during pregnancy Ipecac 30c repeat as necessary

Panic:  about birth Aconite 200c, after previous bad experience Cimicifuga 200c

Premature labour:  (to prevent/stop) after fall Arnica 200c, fright Aconite 200c

Sciatica:  (caused by position of baby) Bellis Perennis 200c

Wind:  trapped with pain Carbo veg 200c

                         

DURING CHILDBIRTH

Many midwives are now trained in homeopathy, ask your hospital if they have trained staff alternatively ask your homeopath to attend your birth or  train your partner in the use of homeopathic medicines before your due date. Homeopathy can be used safely alongside or instead of any pain relief offered by your medical team.

Back pain during labour:  Gelsenium 200c, Kali Carb 200c, Pulsatilla 200c

Bladder:  (labour pains around) Caulophyllum 200c

Bleeding:  during labour ( bright red, profuse) Ipecac 200c

Cervix:  fails to dilate Caulophyllum 200c or Cimicifuga 200c, half open or hard Sepia 200c, wide open but contractions stop Gelsenium 200c

Contractions : atonic (flabby) weak Caulophyllum 200c or Gelsenium 200c, slow or stop Caulophyllum 200c or Gelsenium 200c, lack expulsive power (especially in second stage) Pulsatilla 200c

Exhaustion: during long difficult labours Kali Phos 200c

Despair:  gloom during labour Cimicifuga 200c

Impatience/Irritability: Chamomilla 200c

Labour Slow: Caulophyllum 200c (speeds up labour). To Fast: or violent Aconite 200c

Oxygen starvation: of mother or baby Carbo Veg 200c

Posterior presentation:  Kali Carb 200c

Shoulder of baby gets stuck:  Arnica 200c

Stillborn baby: give mother Cimicifuga 200c (gloom) Aconite 200c (shock) Ignatia 200c (grief).

Straining excessively: Arnica 200c (repeat often)

Vagina:  hot, dry ,tender ,won’t dilate Aconite 200c

                       

AFTER CHILDBIRTH

After Pains: after many children Secale 200c, groin area intense Cimicifuga 200c, long lasting Secale 200c, extending to hips buttocks legs Kali Carb 200c, worse if baby feeds Arnica 200c,Chamomilla  200c, Pulsatilla 200c, Secale 200c.

Anger : (often suppressed) about the birth Staphisagria 200c

Back Pain:  Kali Carb 200c, After epidural Hypericum 200c

Breasts:  painful radiating pain from nipple phytolacca 200c, Red, hot, throbbing Belladonna 200c; Pale, hot, worse from moving Bryonia 200c.

Bruising: Arnica 200c or  Bellis perenis 200c

Caesarean: after effects of, Arnica 200c, Bellis Perenis200c, Calendula 200c, Hypericum 200c

Catheter: after effects of Staphisagria 200c

Cracked nipples: Phytolacca 200c

Epidural: after effects of  Arnica 200c, Hypericum 200c

Episiotomy: Calendula 200c, Hypericum 200c Staphisagria 200c

Forceps delivery: after effects of Arnica 200c, Bellis Perennis 200c, Calendula 200c, Staphisagria 200c

Inflammation of penis in newborn : Arnica 200c

Irritability: Chamomilla 200c or Sepia 200c

Milk:  to much Pulsatilla 200c, to little milk : Dulcamara 200c.

Milk filled breast lump:  Silica 30c & massage lump regularly with warm flannel.

Placenta: retained with bearing down sensation Secale 200c, Sepia 200c;

Prolapse:  Sepia 200c; after forceps delivery, Secale 200c

Syntometrine: antidote Secale 200c give asap

Teething/ irritable baby:  Chamomilla 30c

Thrush : Borax 30c give to mother and baby

Urine retention:  mother Arnica 200c baby Aconite 200c

Vaccinations: Give baby Brauer pain and fever relief 1 dose 2hrs before vaccination 1 dose an hour after.

Wounds: Hypericum 200c or Calendula 200c.

Creams and Ointments

Arnica:  can be used externally on unbroken skin, reduces bruising and swelling.

Calendula:  Use on cut broken or sore skin. The ‘homeopaths antiseptic’. A wonderful healing balm. Calendula tincture can be added to bath water(20 drops) or diluted to make a compress.

Remedies The  majority of the above remedies are available in a handy 18 remedy childbirth kit from Helios Homeopathics  other stockists of homeopathic remedies available via mail order include Newtons Pharmacy Sydney and Simillimum homeopathic pharmacy in new Zealand.

Some useful books for further reading include:  

Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby’s First Year by Miranda Castro. 

Homeopathic Medicine For Children And Infants by Dana Ullman. 

Homeopathy & Child Care by Dr Sashi Kant Tiwari.

If any further questions or concerns please contact a professional homeopath

Donna Lee ND, RN

Naturopath, Homeopath, Registered Nurse.

Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine)

EMAIL: aurumhomeopathy@gmail.com