Morning
Sickness: Homeopathy Helps Curb Nausea in Pregnancy
by Myra Nissen, CCH, & Margo Adams, Classical Homeopaths
Published:
Community
Kids, March 2008, Volume 5, Issue 3
The anticipation and excitement of pregnancy is often tempered
with physical discomfort. Sometimes you begin to feel nauseous,
experience vomiting, or have appetite changes as early as
three weeks. This can last through the first trimester of
pregnancy and sometimes extends the entire term. Morning
sickness can appear at any time and is not to be confused
with the more serious condition of uncontrollable vomiting
called hyperemesis gravidarum. Hyperemesis gravidarum can
lead to serious ailments such as dehydration and even liver
damage and should be tended to by a physician.
While there are many self-care tips, Homeopathy can be a
useful means of addressing the symptoms of morning sickness
and initiate generalized wellness. Hormonal and metabolic
changes as well as your susceptibility all affect your body’s
adjustment to pregnancy. Many feelings may rise around this
event. Joyful anticipation, excitement, or ecstasy, and
at times doubt, ambivalence, or even fear may challenge
your wellbeing.
There are numerous approaches to consider for Homeopathic
care. Constitutional care is one. Constitutional care helps
bring about a general wellness and can help lessen the tendencies
towards disruptive symptoms. This is the type care where
you develop a partnership with a qualified Homeopath and
begin treatment under the Homeopath’s guidance. This
type care requires a commitment to the process both from
the client and the Homeopath. It is working closely with
a Homeopath to improve general overall wellness. Constitutional
care is what we recommend for anyone considering conceiving
or for anyone wishing to bring about better health in general.
Homeopathy can even prevent inherited predisposition to
certain illnesses.
For simple home care, here are few common remedies to try.
Remember in Homeopathy it is important to pay attention
to the symptoms and match them to the remedy picture.
Ipecacuanha is an excellent remedy to consider when there
is constant nausea which is unrelieved by vomiting. You
simply do not feel better after vomiting. You might experience
sharp pains around your naval which may or may not be accompanied
by bright red uterine bleeding. Vomiting occurs as soon
as you eat. Another symptom that is peculiar to the Ipecacuanha
picture is a clean tongue, certainly not a condition one
would think of with vomiting. Interestingly, Ipecacuanha
is what is used to make Ipecac, the emetic used to induce
vomiting. However, when Homeopathically prepared, it can
relieve this symptom. While this may appear to be contradictory,
it is an example of one of the principles on which Homeopathy
is based, “Like Cures Like.” What has the capacity
to make a healthy person sick has the ability to make well
a person who is suffering with similar symptoms.
If you are nauseous but not necessarily vomiting, and nausea
starts with the smell of food, or even the thought of food,
think of Colchicum. You might also experience tremendous
bloating. With Colchicum, passive motion - such as riding
in a car - makes you feel better. Colchicum is made from
Homeopathically prepared Meadow Saffron.
Nausea and vomiting accompanied by persistant retching and
gagging could suggest Nux Vomica (Nux-v). Like Ipecacuanha,
a Nux-v person might feel worse with the odor of food and
vomits as soon as food is eaten. Unlike Ipecacuanha, a person
needing Nux-v will also be restless and irritable.
Another common remedy for morning sickness is Sepia Officinalis.
A person needing this remedy will have constant nausea yet
feels better from eating. The vomit might be milky with
mucous. Perhaps you are worn out from previous births or
overly concerned about your unborn child. You may even be
afraid of having a child. You might experience a craving
for pickles, vinegar, and sour foods.
If your symptoms closely resemble any of these remedy pictures,
you might try one of these remedies. Remedies can be found
in your local health food store or from your Homeopath.
If you would like to try Homeopathy, here are some simple
instructions for use. Drop one pellet from the lid of the
container in approximately 4 oz. of water. Let dissolve.
Stir about 5 times and take one teaspoon. Stir and repeat
taking one teaspoon every 20 minutes up to 2 hours. Take
the remedy and then wait for a positive response. A positive
response is relief from the symptoms. Remember in Homeopathy
– LESS IS BEST! Stop as soon as you feel relief. The
remedy has done its job. If you finish the two hours with
temporary, partial, or no relief, STOP. This is not the
right remedy for you. Consult a trained homeopath. If conditions
such as nausea, vomiting, and uterine hemorrhaging are persistent
or severe -- seek immediate medical attention. Your life
and your baby’s life could be at risk.
Homeopathy is useful for all stages of pregnancy, labor,
and postnatal care. It can be used effectively for babies
as well as grandmothers, in fact, any age person or pet
in your family can reap its benefits. If you want to include
Homeopathy as part of your prenatal care, midwives trained
in Homeopathy can help you through the birthing process
or you may consult a professional Homeopath. Many Homeopaths
are available to work with you and your midwife to guide
you though this magical time.
Learn tools to use Homeopathy effectively at home to support
the health & wellbeing of you and your family, join
us at our class “Bloom Into Homeopathy: Discover the
Wonderful Healing of Homeopathy.” Class will be held
April 22th, 7 – 9 PM through the City of Benicia Parks
and Recreation. If interested, call 707-750-4455. Keep abreast
of useful information. Sign up
for Myra’s complimentary eNewsletter, Feel Better
~ Naturally!
Contact Margo at margo@homeopathyblessed.com.
Myra Nissen, CCH, and Margo Adams are homeopathic consultants
with offices in Vallejo, Benicia, and Pleasant Hill. Please
see our ad.
