Homeopathy For Women Today

For labour

To prepare a woman for labour, Caulophyllum 6 CH (birthroot) taken daily helps to soften the cervix. Cimicifuga (black cohosh) also in a 6 CH potency helps to reduce the intensity of Braxton Hicks contractions, and a general level of anxiety and fear of the birth. It too can be taken in a 6 CH potency a month before her due date. A woman needing Cimicifuga to help her labour often goes on an ironing or cleaning nesting spree just before labour starts, earning Cimicifuga the title of ‘queen of the broom’! Women, who have a very lax musculature or have had a number of babies, can tone their uterine muscles with raspberry leaf tea. It is not indicated for first time pregnancies. Weak anaemic women with heavy muscular uterine pains during pregnancy find Aletris, ‘the Arnica of the womb’, very helpful.

In my experience, Nat mur is a particularly useful remedy to give just as labour starts, because it can help women having their first child achieve transition emotionally and in the labour proceed from one phase of their lives to a new phase. If failing to dilate, many women can be saved from needing to have a caesar done by taking a single dose of Nat mur of a high potency. Gelsemium in a high potency could also be given just as labour starts. A woman needing Gelsemium suffers anticipatory anxiety, feels weak, trembly and heavy, and labour pains can be weak, ineffectual and centred in her back. Gelsemium is especially indicated at the transition phase of labour when she feels she can no longer go on.

During labour Caulophyllum will help with pains that slow down and become weak. Belladonna is especially suited to women having their first baby in their late 30s or 40s. They become flushed in the face, quarrelsome and angry under the stress of labour. It is also useful for hot, throbbing, congested breasts as the milk comes in. Nux vomica and Chamomilla are other remedies to consider for excessive irritability.

To be continued……

Dr Barbara Lewis, BSc, DHom, DHerb, MNIMH, is a registered herbalist and homeopath in practice for the past 24 years. She has taught homeopathy at the Durban Technicon, and has recently co-authored a self-help book on homeopathy. Dr Lewis practices at the Refuah Healing Centre in Sea Point and in Rondebosch, Cape Town. 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 9:38 pm and is filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.