More and more people are seeking alternatives to conventional drugs… alternatives that are safe, gentle and effective.  Homeopathy is a great option for anyone seeking better options to keep them well. 

At NCH we are working hard to bring our members FREE, easy to follow webinars led by great instructors that explain how to select the curative remedy for patients with sore throats, coughs, flu, ear infections, pregnancy issues, first aid and much more.   The webinar series is called Homeopathy@Home and is really exceptional.

The next two upcoming webinars are set - ”Asthma & Allergies: Treating the Whole Person Homeopathically” with Pearlyn Goodman-Herrick, ND,DHANP,CHC on March 13th and “First Aid & Acutes - How to Treat Your Pets When They are Ill” – with James Schacht, DVM, CVH.  That webinar will also be in March.

You too can enjoy these easy to follow webinars and get lots of other useful benefits by becoming an NCH member for just $4 a month.  To learn more go to:  http://www.nationalcenterforhomeopathy.org/member-benefits/

Mild lower backache results from gravity as the body changes. “Round ligament pain” is usually felt as a brief, sharp pain or a longer-lasting dull ache in the groin or lower abdomen, as your ligaments stretch and thicken to support the growing uterus. Make sure to sleep on a firm bed and wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes. Try one of the following remedies for additional relief:

Kali carbonicum: You have a bruised, dragging feeling with sudden sharp pains up and down your back, buttocks, and thighs. Pain in the hip joint is common. Hard pressure over the painful area offers relief, but you feel worse from touch. You’re very sensitive to changes in weather, cold, and drafts; you want to be warm but not overheated. You may feel irritable, touchy, and domineering.

Belladonna: Pain comes on fast and disappears just as quickly; it’s worse from sudden jarring movements and from touch. You’re very restless. You may have a flushed, red face with dilated pupils, and be thirsty for lemonade. Older women with their first pregnancy respond very well to Belladonna for backache.

Sepia: Your back feels tired with an aching, dragging pain in your lower back, possibly worse on the left. You have a sensation of heaviness or bearing down in your pelvis as if everything might fall out. You may be depressed and chilly. (See Morning Sickness and Hemorrhoids for more indications.)

Bellis perennis: This remedy can stop the pain of sciatica of pregnancy or any pain in the groin extending down the legs that makes walking difficult, which often comes on during the last months of pregnancy.

During the early stages of pregnancy, changing hormone levels may contribute to insomnia. During the last trimester, discomfort from the growing baby, increased urination, and anticipation of the birth may keep you awake at night. One of these remedies may give relief:

Coffea crudum: You can’t sleep because you’re excited and euphoric - or you’re uptight and extremely sensitive to teh slightest pain. All your senses are very acute and you wake at the slightest sound. Your mind is overactive and dreams are vivid. You are anxious, energetic, and very tired at the same time - much like someone who drank too much coffee. Take this remedy an hour before bedtime and also on waking in the night.

Aconite: You have a lot of fears, the biggest being that you’ll die in labor. You are restless in sleep, with vivid, frightening dreams.

Try eating a dry cracker before getting out of bed. Avoid rich, high-fat foods. If the nausea is worse when you’re hungry, eat frequently but in small amounts. One of the following tried-and-true remedies also may help.

Pulsatilla: Your nausea is worse in a warm stuffy room, better in the open air and better from walking slowly. You crave rich, sweet, fatty foods, but they make you feel worse. You are not thirsty. You tend to be weepy with changeable moods; you want comfort and reassurance. Eating the wrong foods can bring on headaches with a bursting pain over your eyes.

Colchicum: You are extremely sensitive to the small of food and may gag at the very thought of food. Your nausea can last all day and is worse from motion. You want carbonated drinks. You prefer to lie with your knees drawn up, since stretching out your legs can cause nausea.

Ipecacuanha: Your severe, constant nausea is not even relieved by vomiting. You salivate profusely and may have to spit frequently. (Note: This remedy is homeopathically prepared and diluted Ipecacuanha and is NOT interchangeable with the common drug store Ipecac used to induce vomiting.)

Nux vomica: Your nausea is strong, especially in bed on waking, but you’re unable to vomit. You are very hungry but feel worse after eating, with indigestion and cramping. You may be irritable and oversensitive to light.

Sepia: Your nausea is worse from the smell and thought of food. You have a sinking feeling in the stomach that makes you feel faint, eating may relieve it but only temporarily. You crave vinegar and pickles, as well as sweets. You have a sensation of heaviness or sagging in the pelvis. You may feel indifferent to your loved ones because you’re exhausted; but physical exercise makes you feel better overall.

Heartburn is one of the most common complaints of pregnant women, perhaps because hormonal changes relax the esophagus, allowing acid to back up. Try cutting out spicy and greasy foods, and sleep with your head and shoulders elevated. Ginger tea can be helpful if you drink it before or during a meal, rather than when you actually have heartburn. One of these homeopathic remedies may also bring relief.

Pulsatilla: Your heartburn comes on at different times of day and after eating various kinds of foods (especially rich, greasy ones). Your burps have a sour bitter taste. Your stomach and abdomen feel empty, with gurgling and rumbling in the evening, and pressing pains. You feel better in fresh air. (See Morning Sickness for more indications.)

Carbo vegetabilis: Bitter, sour, rancid burping along with nausea and a very bloated abdomen are typical; burping gives temporary relief. You may feel worse after rich, high-fat food. You crave fresh air and want the windows open and fans turned on. You feel physically exhausted and mentally sluggis, but when you lie down the indigestion is worse. You tend to have cold hands and feet and varicose veins.

Many women fear that labor will be painful, but we now know that fear can actually contribute to labor pain. So prepare for your baby’s birth with childbirth education to better understand the process and with relaxation training (e.g., self-hypnosis) to reduce fear and lessen or eliminate discomfort.

If pain does become problematic during labor, homeopathy can work quickly and safely to relieve you. For example, if you experience extreme pain in the back during labor (“back labor”), certain homeopathic remedies (e.g., Kali carbonicum) can be very effective.

Homeopathy has a long history of helping the laboring woman in many other ways as well. For example, if exhaustion overwhelms you or if labor has stalled and is not progressing, a well-chosen homeopathic remedy can set you right and get your labor back on track. Of course, you will likely need an experienced homeopathic prescriber at your side during labor to help you select a remedy (some of the most frequently used remedies include Caulophyllum, Cimicifuga, Arnica, Bellis perennis, Belladonna, and Kali carbonicum). Visit the National Center for Homeopathy web site to find a directory of practitioners.

Hormonal changes that relax the muscles of your pelvis in preparation for labor can slow down digestion, while your growing uterus puts pressure on other organs and veins. This can make you prone to constipation and hemorrhoids. Along with drinking lots of water and eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, one of the following remedies may help.

Sepia: Your abdomen feels bloated and full. Ineffectual urges and straining with bowel movements lead to hemorrhoids and varicose veins. You may have a heavy, sagging feeling in the pelvis. You may be worn out from previous births or the demands of the household. (See Morning Sickness & Backache for more indications.)

Lycopodium: Your inflamed, achy hemorrhoids are painful when touched, and may bleed. Stools are large, hard, difficult to pass, with a burning sensation afterwards. You crave sweets; have bloating and much gass; are hungry but easily full. Constipation is worse after travel. You may be generally mild-tempered but bossy and domineering at home.

Hamamelis: This is a good remedy for bleeding hemorrhoids that protrude, pulsate, and itch. Varicose veins may appear on the abdomen and legs along with ankle swelling after being on your feet all day. The varicose veins are especially worse with heat and may impair your ability to walk. You may also have nosebleeds.