Homeopathic Managment of Pregnancy and Labour

Originally Published in “The Torch of Homeopathy”, April 1963, Vol V, No. 2

Pregnancy Disorders

By

Dr. (Smt.) Sarla Kamthan, B.M.S., Hon. Physician,

Ram Krishna Mission Hospital, Lucknow

Editor’s Note :- All the medicines described here, for different conditions, must not be used without consultation from a homeopath.

I. Pregnancy

Kali Phos 30X  : Morning and Evening and Calc. Phos 6X twice after meals if continued for 2 months before delivery, brings on easy and safe delivery and a healthy child is born.

Actaea Racemosa ( Cimicifuga Racemosa) 1X – 30  : Clarke says that it has ensured live-births in women who previously had borne only dead children from indiscoverable causes.

Caulophyllum Thalictroides : A preparatory medicine for women who have difficult labours. Much recommended to avert threatened abortion and to prevent premature labour – HUGHES.

Mercurius Corrosivus : The best remedy for albuminous nephritis of pregnancy – LUDLAM.

Bellis Perennis 1X : An excellent remedy for the varicose veins of pregnancy; Hamamelis V. to be applied externally.

Note :- Cupurum M., Nux.M., Nux.V., Sep., Sec.C. are to be remembered first for convulsions during pregnancy.

Petroleum : For gastralgia during pregnancy (Nux.V., Anac., Chlel., Sep.), relieved by constant eating.

Note :- Kali Brom., Apoc., Con., Mag.Carb. are the  chief remedies to be considered for cough during pregnancy.

Acetic Acid 30 : Sour belching and vomiting are accompanied by water-brash, salivation day and night (Lac.Ac.) and oedematous swelling of feet.

Sepia 200 : Has a salutary effect in removing constipation of pregnancy.

Symphoricarpus Racemosus :

(a)             Dr. Dewey supports the palliative action of Symphoricarpus in 1X potency for nausea-vomiting while Dr. Burdick has pressed for 200^th potency.

(b)            For nausea at the sight or smell of food we will rarely need to look beyond Ipecac., Sep., Colch. Or Symph. – B.C.WOODBURY.

(c)             Nat. Phos – Sour vomiting accompanied by yellow coating of tongue ( white coating – Ant. Crud.)

(d)            Tabacum – When there is deathly nausea. (Symph., Amyg. With vomiting accompanied by salivation, cold perspiration and prostration.)

(e)             According to Dr. Teste, Staph. Is indicated when vomiting is preceded by dizziness and nausea.)

(f)              When vomiting is offensive, Carb.Ac., Psor., and Kreos. Are to be considered first.

(g)            When the women is chilly, eructations and vomiting are < in the morning, particularly after stool, Nux. V. is the remedy.

(h)            When nausea-vomiting is accompanied by dryness, drowsiness and thirstlessness, Nux.M. is helpful.

(i)              When vomiting is < in the evening and patient is hot but thirstless – Pulsatilla acts best.

(j)              Nausea – sour eructations and sour vomiting with intolerance of milk and nervousness, Mag.C. should be the remedy.

(k)            Kali.Bich. is most useful remedy for vomiting of pregnancy – KENT – often vomits glairy or viscid fluid with loss of appetite and feeling of load in stomach.

(l)              Cocc. Ind. – excellent for nausea in the morning with extreme aversion to food and desire for cold drinks (Phos)

(m)         When vomiting takes place 2 or 3 hours after eating, Kreosote is the remedy.

Pulsatilla 30 : Corrects mal-position of the foetus in uterus, if the cause is not mechanical – FARRINGTON.

Sabadilla : Woman considers herself pregnant while her abdomen is only bloated with flatus.

Ratanhia : Toothache during pregnancy. Compelling her to getup at night and walk about as lying < it.

Note :- Mag. C. is similar to Ratanhia in toothache.

II. Abortion (Miscarriage)

Viburnum Opulus 3X : Often between 1^st and 3^rd month, severe spasmodic or squeezing pain, commencing in back and going to lower part of the abdomen and thighs.

Apis Mellifica 6-30 : Often at the 2^nd month, labour loike pains preceded or associated with burning, stinging pain in ovaries, scanty urine thirstlessness and feeling of heat.

Sabina 30 : Often at the 3^rd month, passive hemorrhage or appearance of blood-spots followed by pain in back going to the pubes,  the flow being bright-red mixed with small clots.

Crocus Sativus 30 :  Often at the 3^rd month, the flow being painless, black and sringy.

Secale Cornutum 30-200 : In early or later months in women, full of heat and hence craving for open air, with feeling of tingling and creeping in extremities, the blood being dark or black, fluid and often offensive.

Sepia 6-200 : Often at the 5^th or 7^th month, but it acts only as a preventive after the hemorrhage is checked, the leading symptoms to prescribe it is that the woman feels weight in the uterus as if the contents are going down, mental apathy is also present.

Actaea Racemosa ( Cimicifuga Racemosa) 30 : Suits women as a preventive remedy particularly those of rheumatic diathesis, also when miscarriage is threatened by appearance of pains which fly across the abdomen from side to side.

Caulophyllum Thalictroides 30 : When miscarriage is threatened at any stage, by appearance of pains in back and sides of abdomen or labour-like pains appear suddenly.

Thuja 6 or 1M : A preventive remedy for the females having sycotic history behind, miscarriage takes place often at the 3^rd or 5^th month.

Pulsatilla 30-200 : It overcomes tendency to miscarriage, false conception , moles etc. and stops growth of fibroids. – KENT.

Note :- Puls. Patient is of changing symptoms (Physical and Mental both) and always craves for open air.

Note:-  1. When underwear is blood-stained during pregnancy signifying miscarriage tendency or when there is passive hemorrhage. Sabina 30, Arnica Montana 30, Hamamelis 30-200 and Secale Cor. 200 are to be considered first according to ttheir symptoms.

2. When there is active hemorrhage i.e. profuse bleeding, the following are to be considered:-

Belladona 6-30 : Bright-red and clotted blood, accompanied by frontal headache but is felt by her as if the flow is warm.

Cinnamomum 3X : Bright red and clotted after strain or misstep, after Arnica M. fails.

Millefolium Officinale (in 5 drops dose) : When the blood is bright red but non-coagulable, the cause being traumatism such as blows, heavy-lifting etc.

Trillium Pendulum 3X-6 : When bright red, clotted blood is discharged from slightest movement, often accompanied by pain in hips and back.

Hamamelis Virg. 1X or 30 or 200 : The blood is darkish and non-coagulable, accompanied by sore-feeling internally. The mother tincture may be applied externally. Douching is preferable.

Secale Cornutum 30-200 : When the blood is dark, offensive and non-coagulable. If, however, it fails, Carbo.Veg. takes its place; both the remedies are full of heat and prostration.

Note :- Nit.Acid and Aur.Mur. 30 should not be lost sight of in syphilitic cases.

             Sabina and Arnica M. are not ruled out in profuse hemorrhage.

III. Labour Pains

Actaea Racemosa ( Cimicifuga Racemosa) 30 : When the os is rigid and does not dilate properly, the pains adhere to the sides of the abdomen rather than in the centre. Woman is sensitive to noise and shivers in the 1^st stage.

Sarsaprilla 30 : When fainting fits interrupt labour; or when everything seems loose and open but pains do not advance, either weak or suppressed.

Viscum Album : Dr. E. M. Holland advises it in tea-spoonful doses from a mixture of 30 drops in water to hasten difficult cases of slow, painful and protracted labour.

Gelsemium 6-30 : When labour is habitually painful, os tardily dilates despite long-lasting labour, pains instead of going downward, shoot up to chest and back; sometimes pain begins in back and appears to go to the uterus but diverts to back. (Chamo.)

Caulophyllum Thalictroides 30 : When labour pains are distressing or deficient with no expulsive effort owing to the atonic conditions of the uterus or false labour-pains appear. A few doses increase pains to facilitate delivery and correct deranged vitality.

Belladona 6-30 : When due to the spasmodic rigid condition of the os, which does not dilate (Gels., Cimic.) the labour pains appear and disappear suddenely, throbbing frontal headache, woman is sensitive to light, noise, touch and jarring of bed.

Kali Carb : When labour pains are centered in back, extending to thighs and do not go to the centre of operation. 

Nux Vomica 6-30 : Fainting and frequent desire for stool and urine during labour pains, eructations, pains go from back to thighs the os being rigid, feeling of chilliness – wants to be covered (Reverse of Puls.)

Cupurum Metallicum : During the progress of labour, patient suddenly becomes blind, convulsions come on commencing in fingers and toes – COWPERTHWAITE.

Pulsatilla 6-30 : (a) Ineffectual pains causing fainting and smothering with desire for open air.

(b) In labour when pains are irregular, tardy, defective and even placenta is unduly retained, Puls. will often do good service – HUGHES.

Chamomilla 200 : Tormenting labour-pains exciting anger to the extent of making her uncivil, pains begin in back and go down to the inner part of the thighs, the os being rigid. Pains go upward also.

Secale Cornutum 30-200 : Fainting fits during prolonged distressing and ineffectual labour-pains, everything loose and open but delivery does not take place in women constitutionally feeble and cachetic. (Sars.)

Note :-

(1)            Pains sometimes cease – Bell., Cimic., Calc.C., Op., Puls., Sc.C.; Pains ineffectual – Kali.C., Puls., Sec.C.; Pains Very tormenting – Chanm., Gels., Kali.C., Sep., Caul., Bell., Arn.M.

(2)            (a) For Retained Placenta – Canth., Sep., Nux.V., Puls., Sec.C., Sab..                                                                      (b) In Retained Placenta without symptoms – Sep., After abortion and Puls. after labour are highly recommended by W. A. YINGLING. 

(3)            For After-Pains – Mag.Phos 3X-6X(biochemic), Cham., Cimic., Caul., Xantho., Arn., Puls. Nux.V.

(4)            Lochial discharge –

(a)Suppressed – Bry.,Puls.,Pyrog., Sul., Dulc., Cham, Cimic., Hyos., Stram., Bell., Asoka.

(b)Protracted – Carb.Ac., Sec.C., Nat.Mur., Senec.,Plat., Rhus.T., Kreos., Asoka., Caul.

          (5)     False pains during pregnancy are often removed either

                   by Caul. Or Puls. 30.

          (6)     Dr. Hogon found Calc.Fluor to facilitate labour.

IV  Prolapse Uteri –

Argentum Metallicum : Prolapse uteri with pain in left ovary (right ovary Palladium) and back, sometimes cervix (neck of uterus) swollen or ulcerated.

Argentum Nitricum : Prolapse uteri is accompanied by ulceration of os or cervix uteri, a desire for cool open air and a feeling as if minutes to pass are hours to pass.

Aurum Metallicum : Prolapse uteri due to the induration and weight of the part, not relaxation, with melancholy mood – life seems burden.

Lilium Tigrinum : Prolapse uteri or vagina – must press vulva with hand or cross legs to relieve the constant feeling of bearing down with profound depression of spirits, frequent desire for stool and urine, palpitation etc. and relief by pressure.

Natrum Chlor : Prolapse uteri with shutting and opening sensation, lumbago and morning swelling of hands.

Palladium : Prolapse uteri with pressive pain in sexual organs, pain in lower abdomen, right ovary, inflamed and desire to lie down. Imagines herself too tall-craves praise for self.

Platinum Metallicum : Prolapse uteri with painful sensitiveness (Sep., Nat.Mur) and voluptuous tingling.

Pulsatilla : Prolapse uteri with pressure in abdomen, changeableness of symptoms, sleeping of limbs and liking for open air.

Rhus Tox. : Prolapse uteri from straining or over-exertion with lumbago, < by beginning to move.

Sepia : Prolapse uteri with congestions, yellow leucorrhea, indolent and hypochondrical mood and disliking for cold air.

Ferrum Metallicum : Prolapse of vagina in anemic women with glowing face, irritated by slightest opposition or triffles and hemorrhagic tendency.

Aloe Socotrina : Has cured prolapse uteri of long standing when associated with fullness, heat of the surface of the body, tendency to morning diarrhea, dragging down of the uterus and sensation of a plug wedged in between coccyx and rectum. – KENT

Benzoic Acid : Prolapse uteri with uric acid diathesis and very offensive urine.

Natrium Muriaticum : 1. Prolapse uteri with backache relieved by lying flat, and bearing down feeling < in the morning, palpitation with weeping mood which is < by consolation;

2. Bearing-down feeling threatening prolapse, < in the morning, must sit up to prevent prolapse.

Natrium Carbonicum : Great remedy for bearing-down pains with sadness and sensitiveness to noise and music; heat and exertion are intolerable.