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San Francisco – Mission District: The Women’s Building – Maestra Peace Mural (Photo credit: wallyg)

Nothing embodies the innate wisdom of a woman more than giving birth. This wisdom decides how fast the fetus grows, when and where contractions start, and how the birth event itself unfolds. Even with medical intervention, it’s the woman’s body, and the wisdom within, that guides and assists the entire creative process.

There is so much information on the web about what you should and should not do, eat or take during pregnancy. And then, there’s always the plethora of advice, solicited or not, from your mothers, sisters, girlfriends and the check-out ladies at the supermarket. In the end, however, it’s your intuition, your innate wisdom that counts. So, take the following with a bucket of salt, a pitcher of margaritas and enjoy!

Homeopathics and Pregnancy

Homeopathy is the safest medicine to take during pregnancy. Homeopathic remedies contain no chemicals, no preservatives and no artificial colors or flavors…in fact, they contain nothing in the material sense at all. The power of Homeopathy lies in the energetic resonance imprinted within the remedy itself – you might call this the innate wisdom of a remedy. Not only does mommy benefit from the gentle, healing effects of the energy of homeopathics, but the baby will respond to the resonance of the given remedy as well. Each remedy, just like each person, is singularly unique in its purpose and affinities. Homeopathic remedies are so unique that ten pregnant women may each require ten different remedies for one very common complaint such as morning sickness.

How do you know which remedy is right for you? Professional homeopathic consultation is the most reliable way to find the most effective remedy. Here are the highlights from three of the top remedies recommended during pregnancy.

Sepia

Close up of a cuttlefish head, showing the well developed eye. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sepia is most often recommended for problems associated with a woman’s hormonal cycle – premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrheal, and post partum depression are covered by this remedy. Sepia is an especially important remedy to consider for the early stages of pregnancy when the whole body is re-programming itself to nurture new life. This re-programming can send the hormones on a roller coaster of highs and lows, making you feel anxious, depressed and worn out. Miranda Castro in The Complete Homeopathy Handbook paints an excellent picture of this remedy:

“Sepia…is especially needed for the typical worn-out-mother-without-any-support syndrome, for women who are worn down by the cares of life and too many children with not enough time between them for their bodies to recover.” (p. 147)

Specifically, Sepia is generally effective in cases of backache, constipation, exhaustion, headache, insomnia, hot flashes, nausea, and depression – all originating from imbalances in the hormonal sphere.

Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla, a remedy prepared from the Pasque flower, is similar to Sepia in many respects: it’s affinity for the female hormonal system, general aversion to getting wet, and the symptoms are better for movement. The woman needing Pulsatilla, however, will be soft and affectionate yet weepy and tearful, sometimes not even knowing why. Pulsatilla, like Sepia, is generally worse for hormonal changes during pregnancy and can become depressed with insomnia. Pulsatilla is especially important to think of in the last trimester and beyond for these rubrics:

Labor stalls, contractions irregular or ineffectual
Breech presentation: Pulsatilla is known to turn malpresentation in the last days or even hours before birth.
Weeping while breastfeeding (ibid, 137-138)
Post-partum depression
Sciatica, varicose veins and anemic conditions will all benefit from Pulsatilla

Pulsatilla is a beautiful remedy for symptoms originating in the hormonal and circulatory spheres, causing general weakness and sadness.

Belladonna

Belladonna (Atropa Belladonna) (Deadly Nightshade) (Photo credit: Plbmak)

Belladonna is well known for cases of suddenly high fevers with delirium. Many of the usual symptoms calling for Belladonna come on suddenly with great intensity, often with hot, red and hard swelling of the affected parts – a burning fever, swollen glands, etc. Belladonna is less appreciated for chronic complaints, but no less important. All the symptoms associated with Belladonna, as with Sepia and Pulsatilla, are generally worse for hormonal imbalances and worse for getting wet. The complaints are congestive with sensations of throbbing or pulsating. Belladonna is especially called for in cases of high blood-pressure and pre-eclampsia. Some of the tell tale symptoms include:

Sudden high fever
Migraine headaches
Hypertension
Tonsilitis
Mastitis

Belladonna is very useful to have on hand during pregnancy if you become suddenly ill with symptoms that are scalding hot and painfully throbbing, and when taken immediately with the onset of symptoms can avert a trip to the Emergency Room. Of course, as always, consult your physician if the symptoms persist or become life-threatening.

During my pregnancy I used Sepia and Pulsatilla to support my emotional stability and Belladonna during a scary and inense bout with the flu. I was literally on the phone with the on-call nurse at the hospital; Belladonna in one hand and a thermometer in the other. The usual list of over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, Nyquil and Aspirin are all off limits during pregnancy and all the nurse could tell me was to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest…which is actually the best advice. Trust your body to heal itself, trust that illness and dis-ease come from within and when the scope of the symptoms go beyond your ability to adapt, trust in the right homeopathic remedy to inspire your innate wisdom into self-healing action!

*I cannot stress enough the importance of working with a qualified medical professional as well as your friendly neighborhood homeopath. Homeopathy will support your overall well-being, your ability to adapt to pregnancy and recover from childbirth, but it is no substitute for medically necessary intervention especially in cases of eclampsia, pre-mature birth and malpresentation.*