by Eileen Nauman

Please do not try taking these remedies on your own...

Arnica — take right before delivery — when real labor begins.

1. Homeopathy for Mother and Infant, by Douglas M. Borland, Indian Books Periodical Syndicate, New Delhi, India, $1.40
   
2. Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby's First Year, by Miranda Castro, St. Martin's Press, NY, 1992, ISBN 0-312-08809-4, $15.95
   
3. Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Richard Moscowitz, MD, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA, 1992, ISBN 1-55643-137-6

[See also the review of The Homeopathic Pregnancy and Childbirth Manual by Betty Idarius in Health World , July/Aug 1990]
 
If you use any homeopathic remedies, please 'bone up' on them more thoroughly by reading about them in the materia medica of your choice. Also, take a homeopath into the labor room with you — at the least have one standing by to help you (even if you have to have your husband or friend run out in the hall of the hospital and make a phone call to the homeopath to update her or him on your conditions and symptoms) take the proper remedy (if needed). Please do not try taking these remedies on your own — I find that mommies in labor aren't thinking too clearly and it's very hard to handle your own case in the midst of birthing.
 
I've had women whose friends would familiarize themselves with the information below, have the 6C or 30C kit in hand, and they were the 'team' with the mom in the labor room — plus, a homeopath was present or a midwife or a midwife/homeopath (the best of all worlds) was working with them.
 
Homeopathic Birthing Kit Remedies
6C or 30C potency, Part 1
 
Aconitum, Arnica, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Cantharis, Carbo vegetabilis, Caulophyllum, Causticum, Chamomilla, China, Cimcifuga, Gelsemium, Hamamelis, Ipecacuanha, Kali carbonicum, Nux vomica, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Sepia, Laurocerasus, Rescue Remedy [a Bach flower essence remedy, not strictly homeopathic — Ed.] and Calendula tincture (in a glycerin base, preferably).
 
Before Birth

1. Aconitum — for fear she is going to die during labor, frightened about labor/birth, anxious, restless, to allay shock, desires cold drinks, highly excitable and experiences insomnia. Take 1 to 2 doses before real labor begins.
   
2. Arnica — take right before delivery — when real labor begins. This makes the labor faster and far less painful because it relieves the 'bruising' to the tissue and muscles during and after birth. Excellent after birth — take every 20 minutes until you feel better (no more than 6 doses of 30C, up to 10 doses of a 6C). Keeps bleeding at a minimum, alleviates major soreness.
   
3. Caulophyllum — if labor pains are sluggish and short, it will promote progressive labor and speed things up. This remedy is for labor that fails to progress. Use 30C if birth does not progress (higher potency if approved by your homeopath).
   
4. Gelsemium — for anxiety and anticipation of labor/birthing. There is diarrhea accompanying this set of feelings and possible trembling.

After Birthing

1. Arnica — for soreness, swelling and bruising. Take at the end of labor and it will prevent after-pains and soothe over stretched/exerted muscles.
   
2. Calendula tincture — dilute with distilled water 1:10. For local tears, rips or cuts in the skin. It will speed up healing. Also aids in halting local bleeding.

Suppressed Milk

1. Bryonia — the breasts are hot and painful, worse on movement of any kind, you're thirsty and dry.
   
2. Carbo vegetabilis — you're in a state of collapse, you're pale, cold and want a lot of fresh air.
   
3. Chamomilla — you're irritable as hell, and cannot bear any pain anywhere.
   
4. Pulsatilla — you're weepy, emotional roller coaster, hot but not thirsty (thirstless)
   
5. See homeopath.

Bleeding In General

1. Aconitum — bleeding with fear that you're going to bleed to death/die, with anxiety.
   
2. Belladonna — blood is hot feeling, bright red and congested looking. Your face (and head) is hot, red/flushed. Pulse if taken is bounding, hard and full. You are made worse by any type of jarring, any noise, light or motion. hot and red are keynotes here.
   
3. Carbo vegetabilis — a state of eminent collapse, hemorrhage with a very pale face, you are cold everywhere, cold sweat, you want fresh air, want to be fanned constantly.
   
4. Caulophyllum — after a hasty, swift labor, you are tremulous, weak, and uterus is soft and flabby feeling. Bleeding is free and passive appearing.
   
5. China (Cinchona) — hemorrhaging after fainting, complete debility after loss of blood, you lose your sight and there's ringing in the ears.
   
6. Hamamelis — (opposite of Aconitum disposition) even though there is a slow, steady flow and loss of blood you are not worried or concerned about it in the least — no anxiety, no alarm about it.
   
7. Ipecacuanha — heavy bleeding with heavy breathing (gasping for breath, literally) and nausea. The blood gushes. Pulse: weak. Head is hot, covered with a cold sweat.
   
8. Phosphorus — blood is persistent and bright red: stops and starts — a keynote. Weak, cold or empty or sensitive feeling in abdomen. Lower back (small of back) feels 'broken'. Heat runs up the back. Craves ice or ice cubes. Thirst for cold drinks.

Bleeding From Retained Placenta

1. Belladonna — blood feels hot, looks bright red and congested. Your face (and head) is hot, red/flushed. Pulse is bounding, hard and full. You are made worse by any type of jarring, any noise, light or motion. hot and red are keynotes here.
   
2. Cantharis — burning pains (in ovaries or os coccyx region). Urination is painful but helps to expel material from placenta. Constant uterine discharge.
   
3. Carbo vegetabilis — a state of eminent collapse, hemorrhage with a very pale face, you are cold everywhere, cold sweat, you want fresh air, want to be fanned constantly.
   
4. Caulophyllum — uterus is flabby, with no tone. An 'inactive' uterus.
   
5. Pulsatilla — Weepy, and wants company and sympathy. Thirstless. Will move the labor along. Carves fresh air and wants to remain warm.

Labor Pains

1. Caulophyllum — slow labor. Pains are short, irregular, intermittent, spasmodic with no real progress. Rigidity of the Os. Remedy will revive the labor pains and further progress of labor. False or deficient labor. Mother is exhausted and fretful. Remedy gives 'tone' to the uterus.
   
2. Chamomilla — unbearable labor pains — absolutely cannot tolerate the pain. Very irritable, fretful, easily distracted. Labor is erratic contractions, spasmodic labor pains with a pressing downward feeling to them.
   
3. Nux vomica — labor is spasmodic, inefficient (and labor pains extend to rectum with a desire for stool and frequent urination), mother is irritable. (placenta retained).
   
4. Pulsatilla — labor is slow. Mother is weepy, emotional roller coaster. Remedy will move labor along if slow and other mental symptoms fit: mother is sensitive, emotional, craving fresh air and warm nature.

Back Labor Pains

1. Causticum — tearing sensation, drawing pain in the muscles and fibrous tissues. Paralysis. Uterine inertia during labor, distressing, sore, aching pains in the lower back.
   
2. Gelsemium — Dull, heavy pain. Muscles ache, feel bruised and the least exertion (walking/moving) causes fatigue. There is a dull, aching feeling in the lumbar and sacral region, and it moves upward. Deep pains in muscles of back, hips and lower legs. Face is flushed looking, hot, but thirstless and weak. Mother is trembling and apathetic (couch potato — doesn't want to move at all). Wants to be quiet and left alone, but is excited, anticipatory and anxious, too. Rigid os, false labor pains, pains pass up the back and extend to back and hips, pains in the back, through it, or up it.
   
3. Kali carbonicum — weakness felt in the small of the back, stiffness in spine, stitches (sharp and intermittent) around kidneys and right shoulder blade. Burning sensation to the spinal column. Exhaustion. Uterine hemorrhage. Pains linger in back and pass down the buttocks. Pains cut across the lumbar region — and mother wants her back pressed (against something solid). Labor pains are relieved by belching.
   
4. Nux vomica — lumbar pain, inefficient labor pains extend to the rectum, desire for stool and frequent urination. Irritable, very sensitive to noise, light and odors. Doesn't want to be touched. Pains in the back descend to thighs; a drawing pain.
   
5. Pulsatilla — Sacral pain during labor. Labor is slow, mother is weepy, wants company and sympathy, thirstless, warm and wants fresh air.
   
6. Chamomilla — tearing pain begins in the back and radiated down inner sides of legs. Cannot bear the pain. Very irritable.
   
7. Belladonna — feels as if "my back will break" — drawing pains in the small of the back down to her thighs.

Placenta Retained

1. Arsenicum — with fear and anxiety.
   
2. Belladonna — face hot/flushed and red, sensitive to noise, jarring and lights.
   
3. Cantharis — burning pains, painful ruination which helps to expel material from uterus.
   
4. Caulophyllum — uterus is atonic and flabby, helps the process along. Mother is exhausted.
   
5. Gelsemium — is achy, thirsty, weak and exhibits anxiety. Pain runs up abdomen or up and backward.
   
6. Ipecacuanha — with nausea.
   
7. Nux vomica — with irritability.
   
8. Pulsatilla — weepy, wants fresh air. No uterine contractions. Try this remedy when no symptoms are present.
   
9. Sepia — bearing down pains from uterus.

Emotions of Mother:

1. Aconitum — Fear, fright or anxiety
   
2. Pulsatilla — Emotional, roller coaster emotions, wants sympathy, company, sensitive to heat, thirstless, dry mouth. Helps move the labor along
   
3. Chamomilla — Irritable and absolutely cannot bear any of the pains
   
4. Sepia, Natrum muriaticum or Kali carbonicum, or see homeopath — Indifferent, disconnected from the process, or depressed
   
5. Rescue Remedy (RR) — Four drops in eight ounces of water. You can put RR directly on skin, pulse points of wrist, on lower lip or drops directly into mother's mouth on an 'as needed' basis.

Baby Endangerment:

1. Carbo vegetabilis — baby collapsed, limp, flaccid, gray color, 'blue' baby, cold newborn and/or almost dead.
   
2. Rescue Remedy — see above instructions.
   
3. Arnica — for inter-cranial hemorrhage of baby, bruised after a hard birth, will stop bleeding, allay shock or trauma experienced from birthing, cesarean section shock/trauma.
   
4. Aconitum — baby is shrieking in sheer fright, terror or has panicked look on its face.
   
5. Laurocerasus — baby has lack of reactions, 'blue' baby, gasping for air and breath. Does not breathe after having mucus removed from nose and mouth.

Breast Infections:

1. Phytolacca — best and most common remedy to use for breast and breast milk related problems. Breasts are hard, yet sensitive. For mastitis. Also: Belladonna, Bryonia and Calcarea carbonica.

May you use this material and knowledge guided by your heart, compassion and the wisdom to seek counsel from your local homeopath on its use and application.

Send your feedback and suggestions for the acute department to acutes@cam.dungeon.com.