Aconite: a plant – Aconitum Napellus (monks hood)
This remedy should be given if the patient’s symptoms have arisen after exposure to a cold, dry wind. It can be very helpful when asthma attacks are aggravated by this type of weather.
It is also a great remedy for shock – the patient may have witnessed a shocking event such as a car crash, heard some bad news or been involved in a frightening event.
It is the Number One remedy for the fear created by anticipating something like an examination or driving test, and people who suffer anxiety attacks or claustrophobia should carry Aconite about their person so they can take some to prevent panic.
It is useful for people who sleepwalk and have anxious dreams, and for pregnant women who are anxious about giving birth.
Its keynote is ‘intensity’ and it may be helpful for attacks of croup which fit the following description:
Violent onset with anxious appearance and fear in the patient. Attacks often begin at midnight and the patient sits up to obtain relief. There may be a watery discharge.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Monday, 13 January 2014
Using Homeopathic Remedies in Childbirth
ADVICE for Use of Homeopathic Remedies During Childbirth
TELEPHONE HELPLINE: for urgent homeopathic advice: 0906 533404 (in UK)
The Homeopathic Helpline is staffed by experienced homeopaths from 9.00am till midnight - it does cost £1.50 a minute but they keep the calls under ten minutes or less.
GENERAL ADVICE:
Bach Rescue Remedy - have a glass of water with 6 drops added available at all times: sip as often as liked. Birth attendants might like some too!
NOTES FOR BIRTH:
In labour, remedies are often needed frequently. One option is to crush two or three pills between two clean teaspoons, dissolve in a tumbler of water and sip as needed. They will dissolve quicker in hot water, and don't need to be fully dissolved to be effective - just give them two minutes and you can start using the water.
Remedy Outcomes:
If there is complete relief then you repeat the remedy ONLY IF the same symptoms return.
If there is some improvement which stalls, repeat the remedy every time there is a stall.
If there is very little or no improvement after you have tried the same remedy twice, it's the wrong remedy and you need to think again.
IN AN EMERGENCY the remedy needs to be taken every 5-10 minutes for several doses: the more acute the situation, the more frequently the remedy is needed. If the situation is potentially dangerous, and you aren't sure which is the right remedy, give both or all of them at the same time - one of them will work and it doesn't matter which!
You can continue treating with homeopathy alongside conventional medication or whilst waiting for medical attendants - just don't put pills under the tongue of an unconscious person or they could choke. In this situation, dissolve the pills as quickly as you can and rub the water on to an area where the skin is thin - inside of the wrist or inside of the thigh.
The picture can change from one remedy to another. Keep observing and tracking changes. You can prescribe on emotional or physical symptoms, or both.
USEFUL REMEDIES
Aconite, Arnica, Bellis Perennis, Calendula, Carbo Veg, Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, Cimicifuga, Gelsemium, Hypericum, Ipecac, Kali Carb, Kali Phos, Phytolacca, Pulsatilla, Secale, Sepia, Staphisagria
Aconite
Labour is fast and violent. Great fear or anxiety, thinks she is going to die. Pains are severe, she goes from being afraid of dying to saying "I want to die". A remedy for shock and fright. If there has been an emergency, give to Mum and everyone else. Is also good when there is fear of the upcoming event. Restless sleep during labour. Is extremely distressed, anxious and fearful.
Arnica
Take throughout to prevent bruising, every couple of hours or whenever you remember. Continue daily for a few days afterwards. Can give "second wind" if labour long, slow, painful where tiredness weakens the contractions.
Bellis Perennis (for afterwards)
"Refreshes the parts Arnica cannot reach." Heals injuries to deep tissue. Reduces pain of overstretched uterine ligaments. Especially useful after Caesarian or forceps. One daily if needed.
Calendula (for afterwards)
For use afterwards to heal cuts and tears. Take one a day.
Carbo Veg
Mainly emergency use. Collapse due to oxygen starvation. Body cold, limp, pale or blue. Use in conjunction with emergency measures. Hold one pill inside the lower lip of the patient - including newborns - until symptoms alleviate. If there is fetal distress due to oxygen starvation, give to mother, it will help baby.
Can use it when not so urgent - especially if craving air, especially cold air, with little or no vitality and a pinched, pale or blue face. Great for pain of trapped wind after Caesarian.
Caulophyllum
If induction is threatened because you are late for dates: one every hour for three hours (do this daily). If it doesn't work, either you or the baby isn't ready.
In labour, contractions are ineffective or stop before they become very painful, labour is slow. There can be exhaustion and shaking, and neuralgic (twinge-ing) pains. Usually used in the first stage of labour to establish strong productive contractions. Use with caution. Do not repeat unless you have to.
Also for sharp and painful contractions which are short, ineffective, spasmodic and unstable, moving around the bladder, groin or thighs. Contractions slow or stop completely, due to exhaustion. Cervix fails to dilate. May be thirsty.
If she is not thirsty and Caulophyllum doesn't work, try Gelsemium.
Also see Cimicifuga - they are similar.
Chamomilla
Over sensitive, violent bad temper. Labour exceedingly painful, pain unbearable. Backache labour. The mood is quite obnoxious, angry, impossible to please - she asks for things then doesn't want them. Feels and looks too hot.
Cimicifuga
Like Caulophyllum, the contractions are in the lower half of the uterus, painful, sharp and spasmodic. Cervix remains rigidly closed or fails to dilate. But with Cimic, contractions move from side to side, or down into the hips or thighs. She becomes very disjointed - physical symptoms alternating with intense mental or emotional symptoms. She has dreadful fear, foreboding. She truly feels she can't carry on.
Gelsemium
Try it if Caulophyllum fails to produce good strong contractions.
Back-ache labour. Lethargic, lifeless, dazed. No thirst.
Slow, sluggish labour. Droopy, appears stupefied, but is mentally alert. There can be chilliness and shivering. Might feel better alone.
Hypericum (most useful after birth)
Useful if pain in coccyx after birth esp after forceps. Pains shoot along nerves with intensity. Particularly after Caesarian, epidural, episiotomy. Alternate with other post-birth remedies like Arnica and Calendula.
Ipecac
Can help labour pains. Can feel nauseous, has dark rings under eyes, blue tinge to face. Bright red haemorrhaging with constant violent nausea.
Kali Carb
This is an extremely useful remedy and probably the most used from the kit prior to the actual labour, because it helps lower back ache. Backache labour. Irritable AND anxious and bossy. But she needs company. Posterior presentations where labour gets stuck. Backache is greatly relieved by firm pressure. Headache during labour. Chilliness after contraction.
Use afterwards if there is any pelvic instability, lower back pain, pain in hip joints etc.
Kali-Phos
Exhaustion. Very helpful for simple tiredness in labour with no other symptoms. Take between contractions. Can be used often throughout labour whenever energy is low. Useful for attendants too if they are fading.
Phytolacca (for afterwards)
Breast feeding problems. Cracked nipples; blocked duct; breast lumpy; abscess/mastitis.
Pulsatilla
Can be used from 36th week to encourage transverse/breech baby to turn.
Easy to spot in labour: gives up during labour, weepy, clingy, pathetic, loses courage, thirstless, hot and craves fresh air or is better for fresh air - hates a stuffy room. She pleads for help. Contractions short, weak or stop entirely.
Also good for afterpains, esp if weepy.
Secale
Like Pulsatilla she is intolerant of stuffy rooms, but emotionally more stupefied, with much longer contractions. If these stop, trembling may begin. Most often used to antidote ill effects of Syntometrine, which is often routinely injected to speed up expulsion of placenta. Take immediately after injection if possible. Can be used to encourage a retained placenta to be pushed out naturally, if contractions are too weak.
Sepia
Gives up in labour, very exhausted - sags on every level. Pains severe with dragging down sensation. Feels irritable or indifferent to loved ones, responds badly to sympathy. Sluggish and weepy. Uterine prolapse with strong bearing down sensation.
Later, for worn out, dragged down feeling when woman is careworn from childcare.
Staphisagria (usually after the birth)
Pains after the birth, with resentment, anger or humiliation. Feeling of assault, esp if invasive procedures have been needed. She does not want to be touched. Give daily for three days if the birth involved any of these: intrusive or painful internal examinations; insertion of a catheter; an enema; forceps delivery; episiotomy, stiches; use of stirrups. Might be weepy. A cystitis remedy. Also good after D&C.
BY SYMPTOM:
Placenta, Retained
With bearing down sensation, Secale or Sepia or both
After long exhausting labour, Arnica
Contractions weak or non-existent, Pulsatilla
With bleeding, Ipecac
With shaking, Caulophyllum or Cimic
Bleeding during labour
Bright red, hot, profuse, constant, Ipecac
With nausea or gasping for breath, Ipecac
Alternates with contractions, Pulsatilla
Dark - Gels, Ipecac, Secale
Dark and fluid - Secale
Use Arnica to help prevent
Cervix
Fails to dilate, Caul or Cimic or Puls
Half open or hard, Sepia
Rigid, Gels, Cham, Cimic, Caul
Remains tightly closed, Cimic
Wide open but contractions stop, Gels
Contractions
Atonic (flabby), weak - Caul or Gels
Slow or stop - Caul or Gels
Alternate with bleeding - Puls
Extend to back, buttocks - Kali Carb or Cimic
Extend to thighs, Caul or Cimic
Move up the back - Gels
Move side to side - Cimic
Finish at the throat with choking sensation - Gels
Push the baby upwards - Gels
Prolonged tonic contractions - Secale
Lacks expulsive power, esp second stage - Puls
Fine, needle like up from cervix - Sepia
"Hour glass" contractions - Cham, Secale, Sepia
Cease and bleeding starts - Cimic, Puls, Secale
Painless - Gels
Strength weakened by fruitless efforts - Secale
Exhaustion
With no other symptoms - Kali Phos
During long or difficult labours - Arnica
Causes contractions to stop - Caul
With backache labour - Kali Carb
With unbearable pains - Cham
With weepiness - Puls
With long contractions - Secale
Better from moving around - Sepia
After Pains
Groin area, intense - Cimic
Long-lasting - Secale
Extending to hips, buttocks, legs - Kali Carb
Worse if baby feeds - Arnica, Cham, Puls, Secale
With sore bruised feeling - Arnica
With weepiness - Puls
With disappointment/resentment about the birth - Staph
Unbearable - Cham or Cimic
The Homeopathic Helpline is staffed by experienced homeopaths from 9.00am till midnight - it does cost £1.50 a minute but they keep the calls under ten minutes or less.
GENERAL ADVICE:
Bach Rescue Remedy - have a glass of water with 6 drops added available at all times: sip as often as liked. Birth attendants might like some too!
NOTES FOR BIRTH:
In labour, remedies are often needed frequently. One option is to crush two or three pills between two clean teaspoons, dissolve in a tumbler of water and sip as needed. They will dissolve quicker in hot water, and don't need to be fully dissolved to be effective - just give them two minutes and you can start using the water.
Remedy Outcomes:
If there is complete relief then you repeat the remedy ONLY IF the same symptoms return.
If there is some improvement which stalls, repeat the remedy every time there is a stall.
If there is very little or no improvement after you have tried the same remedy twice, it's the wrong remedy and you need to think again.
IN AN EMERGENCY the remedy needs to be taken every 5-10 minutes for several doses: the more acute the situation, the more frequently the remedy is needed. If the situation is potentially dangerous, and you aren't sure which is the right remedy, give both or all of them at the same time - one of them will work and it doesn't matter which!
You can continue treating with homeopathy alongside conventional medication or whilst waiting for medical attendants - just don't put pills under the tongue of an unconscious person or they could choke. In this situation, dissolve the pills as quickly as you can and rub the water on to an area where the skin is thin - inside of the wrist or inside of the thigh.
The picture can change from one remedy to another. Keep observing and tracking changes. You can prescribe on emotional or physical symptoms, or both.
USEFUL REMEDIES
Aconite, Arnica, Bellis Perennis, Calendula, Carbo Veg, Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, Cimicifuga, Gelsemium, Hypericum, Ipecac, Kali Carb, Kali Phos, Phytolacca, Pulsatilla, Secale, Sepia, Staphisagria
Aconite
Labour is fast and violent. Great fear or anxiety, thinks she is going to die. Pains are severe, she goes from being afraid of dying to saying "I want to die". A remedy for shock and fright. If there has been an emergency, give to Mum and everyone else. Is also good when there is fear of the upcoming event. Restless sleep during labour. Is extremely distressed, anxious and fearful.
Arnica
Take throughout to prevent bruising, every couple of hours or whenever you remember. Continue daily for a few days afterwards. Can give "second wind" if labour long, slow, painful where tiredness weakens the contractions.
Bellis Perennis (for afterwards)
"Refreshes the parts Arnica cannot reach." Heals injuries to deep tissue. Reduces pain of overstretched uterine ligaments. Especially useful after Caesarian or forceps. One daily if needed.
Calendula (for afterwards)
For use afterwards to heal cuts and tears. Take one a day.
Carbo Veg
Mainly emergency use. Collapse due to oxygen starvation. Body cold, limp, pale or blue. Use in conjunction with emergency measures. Hold one pill inside the lower lip of the patient - including newborns - until symptoms alleviate. If there is fetal distress due to oxygen starvation, give to mother, it will help baby.
Can use it when not so urgent - especially if craving air, especially cold air, with little or no vitality and a pinched, pale or blue face. Great for pain of trapped wind after Caesarian.
Caulophyllum
If induction is threatened because you are late for dates: one every hour for three hours (do this daily). If it doesn't work, either you or the baby isn't ready.
In labour, contractions are ineffective or stop before they become very painful, labour is slow. There can be exhaustion and shaking, and neuralgic (twinge-ing) pains. Usually used in the first stage of labour to establish strong productive contractions. Use with caution. Do not repeat unless you have to.
Also for sharp and painful contractions which are short, ineffective, spasmodic and unstable, moving around the bladder, groin or thighs. Contractions slow or stop completely, due to exhaustion. Cervix fails to dilate. May be thirsty.
If she is not thirsty and Caulophyllum doesn't work, try Gelsemium.
Also see Cimicifuga - they are similar.
Chamomilla
Over sensitive, violent bad temper. Labour exceedingly painful, pain unbearable. Backache labour. The mood is quite obnoxious, angry, impossible to please - she asks for things then doesn't want them. Feels and looks too hot.
Cimicifuga
Like Caulophyllum, the contractions are in the lower half of the uterus, painful, sharp and spasmodic. Cervix remains rigidly closed or fails to dilate. But with Cimic, contractions move from side to side, or down into the hips or thighs. She becomes very disjointed - physical symptoms alternating with intense mental or emotional symptoms. She has dreadful fear, foreboding. She truly feels she can't carry on.
Gelsemium
Try it if Caulophyllum fails to produce good strong contractions.
Back-ache labour. Lethargic, lifeless, dazed. No thirst.
Slow, sluggish labour. Droopy, appears stupefied, but is mentally alert. There can be chilliness and shivering. Might feel better alone.
Hypericum (most useful after birth)
Useful if pain in coccyx after birth esp after forceps. Pains shoot along nerves with intensity. Particularly after Caesarian, epidural, episiotomy. Alternate with other post-birth remedies like Arnica and Calendula.
Ipecac
Can help labour pains. Can feel nauseous, has dark rings under eyes, blue tinge to face. Bright red haemorrhaging with constant violent nausea.
Kali Carb
This is an extremely useful remedy and probably the most used from the kit prior to the actual labour, because it helps lower back ache. Backache labour. Irritable AND anxious and bossy. But she needs company. Posterior presentations where labour gets stuck. Backache is greatly relieved by firm pressure. Headache during labour. Chilliness after contraction.
Use afterwards if there is any pelvic instability, lower back pain, pain in hip joints etc.
Kali-Phos
Exhaustion. Very helpful for simple tiredness in labour with no other symptoms. Take between contractions. Can be used often throughout labour whenever energy is low. Useful for attendants too if they are fading.
Phytolacca (for afterwards)
Breast feeding problems. Cracked nipples; blocked duct; breast lumpy; abscess/mastitis.
Pulsatilla
Can be used from 36th week to encourage transverse/breech baby to turn.
Easy to spot in labour: gives up during labour, weepy, clingy, pathetic, loses courage, thirstless, hot and craves fresh air or is better for fresh air - hates a stuffy room. She pleads for help. Contractions short, weak or stop entirely.
Also good for afterpains, esp if weepy.
Secale
Like Pulsatilla she is intolerant of stuffy rooms, but emotionally more stupefied, with much longer contractions. If these stop, trembling may begin. Most often used to antidote ill effects of Syntometrine, which is often routinely injected to speed up expulsion of placenta. Take immediately after injection if possible. Can be used to encourage a retained placenta to be pushed out naturally, if contractions are too weak.
Sepia
Gives up in labour, very exhausted - sags on every level. Pains severe with dragging down sensation. Feels irritable or indifferent to loved ones, responds badly to sympathy. Sluggish and weepy. Uterine prolapse with strong bearing down sensation.
Later, for worn out, dragged down feeling when woman is careworn from childcare.
Staphisagria (usually after the birth)
Pains after the birth, with resentment, anger or humiliation. Feeling of assault, esp if invasive procedures have been needed. She does not want to be touched. Give daily for three days if the birth involved any of these: intrusive or painful internal examinations; insertion of a catheter; an enema; forceps delivery; episiotomy, stiches; use of stirrups. Might be weepy. A cystitis remedy. Also good after D&C.
BY SYMPTOM:
Placenta, Retained
With bearing down sensation, Secale or Sepia or both
After long exhausting labour, Arnica
Contractions weak or non-existent, Pulsatilla
With bleeding, Ipecac
With shaking, Caulophyllum or Cimic
Bleeding during labour
Bright red, hot, profuse, constant, Ipecac
With nausea or gasping for breath, Ipecac
Alternates with contractions, Pulsatilla
Dark - Gels, Ipecac, Secale
Dark and fluid - Secale
Use Arnica to help prevent
Cervix
Fails to dilate, Caul or Cimic or Puls
Half open or hard, Sepia
Rigid, Gels, Cham, Cimic, Caul
Remains tightly closed, Cimic
Wide open but contractions stop, Gels
Contractions
Atonic (flabby), weak - Caul or Gels
Slow or stop - Caul or Gels
Alternate with bleeding - Puls
Extend to back, buttocks - Kali Carb or Cimic
Extend to thighs, Caul or Cimic
Move up the back - Gels
Move side to side - Cimic
Finish at the throat with choking sensation - Gels
Push the baby upwards - Gels
Prolonged tonic contractions - Secale
Lacks expulsive power, esp second stage - Puls
Fine, needle like up from cervix - Sepia
"Hour glass" contractions - Cham, Secale, Sepia
Cease and bleeding starts - Cimic, Puls, Secale
Painless - Gels
Strength weakened by fruitless efforts - Secale
Exhaustion
With no other symptoms - Kali Phos
During long or difficult labours - Arnica
Causes contractions to stop - Caul
With backache labour - Kali Carb
With unbearable pains - Cham
With weepiness - Puls
With long contractions - Secale
Better from moving around - Sepia
After Pains
Groin area, intense - Cimic
Long-lasting - Secale
Extending to hips, buttocks, legs - Kali Carb
Worse if baby feeds - Arnica, Cham, Puls, Secale
With sore bruised feeling - Arnica
With weepiness - Puls
With disappointment/resentment about the birth - Staph
Unbearable - Cham or Cimic
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