Homeopathy and Vaccination of Newborns

Homeopathic medicine is available to support your baby in place of vaccination. Educate yourself – it is worth it.  The children I see who have not been vaccinated are healthy, grounded and tend to move through illness quickly and easily.

The best approach to using homeopathy for newborn care is to consult with a homeopath that specializes in working with children.  The homeopath will take your child’s case and come up with their constitutional remedy. 

The Constitutional remedy is the remedy that matches them mentally, emotionally and physically. That may seem impossible to know at a young age but a skilled homeopath will assess a baby through observation and through understanding the details of the mother’s pregnancy, birth and postpartum.  Once a constitutional remedy has been established your groundwork is done.  The Constitutional remedy is the first one to use if:

1. an acute illness such as whooping cough is going around
2. you know your child has been exposed to an acute illness
3. your child begins to experience the symptoms of an acute illness

An important thing to remember is that just because you are exposed to an illness does not mean you will get it.  Strengthening and supporting your body will assist you in having an amazing immune system.  One powerful way to do this is to use homeopathy acutely and constitutionally.  There are homeopathic remedies for every illness that children are vaccinated against.   There are also homeopathic remedies to support children working through a vaccine reaction. 

 Find a homeopath that has experience with acute prescribing and allow your child to develop the strength they were born with.  For more information on homeopathy and vaccination please visit my website or attend a vaccination lecture – www.pipermatin.com .  Lastly – it is NOT the law to vaccinate your child in Canada.  Every child is allowed to attend any daycare or school – public and private without being vaccinated.  You must sign a form and submit it to public health – beyond that there is no process for exemption.  It is our right in Canada to refuse vaccination.

Folliculinum and The Birth Control Pill

Homeopathic estrogen is called Folliculinum.  Folliculinum was created by Melissa Assilem, a British Homeopath.  One of the most common uses of Folliculinum is to assist women that are coming off of the birth control pill.  To restore their bodies on a physical and mental/emotional level.  The Pill is one of the ways we are taken away from our natural rhythms and this disruption carries over into the mental/emotional sphere as we start to lose a sense of who we are and what we want.  Some of the symptoms that show up when you need a dose of Folliculinum include:

• spotting, pain and ovarian cysts, all worse during ovulation
• PMS – swollen, painful breasts, migraines, nausea and vomiting, weepy, depressed, indecisive, panic attacks and mood swings.
• fibroid
• polycystic ovaries
• ovarian cysts

Mental/Emotional Picture

• feels controlled by another
• living out another’s expectations
• no sense of what she wants or who she is
• drained
• lives only to give it away to everyone else – energy, time and attention

Think long and hard before taking the birth control pill as it impacts women in many  more ways then just as a method of birth control.  I often see women with difficulty getting pregnant after being on the pill.  After having their contraception controlled they they then go on to have their conception, labour and postpartum controlled.  Get a sense of your own body and its  rhythms and work with it. 

Check out – Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Welcher – an excellent resource to connect back to yourself if you have been “away”.  Treat yourself with love and honour your body. 

The Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy – Review

A Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy is an e-book available on-line at www.pipermartin.com  It was written exclusively by Piper Martin, a classically trained homeopath that specializes in treating pregnant women, newborns and families.  It is an accumulation of both homeopathic  and clinical information gathered by Piper over the past 12 years both in her private practice and through attending births. 

What’s in It?

• Information on induction of labour – remedies beyond Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum, the most commonly prescribed remedies. 
• Remedy suggestions for shifting the position of the baby from breech or posterior to anterior and vertex. 
• Exact prescribing information on remedies for labour, including a special section for sexual abuse survivors on using homeopathy to assist you in managing trauma during birth. 
• There is a postpartum section which is a list of five remedies that can be used for the week following the birth for a speedy recovery.  there are also remedies to guide you along in your breastfeeding  journey. 
•  The newborn section has guidance on how to support a newborn through birth trauma and suggestions for sleep, vaccination and much more. 

This little guide book is available for $20.00 at www.pipermartin.com

Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum – Remedies for Induction of Labour

Homeopathic remedies are a beautiful way to begin labour.  They are safe, effective and it will be just as if you began labour on your own.  The trick to using homeopathy effectively is finding the right remedy. Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum are two of thousands of possible homeopathic remedies that will begin your labour.  To find your match you need to consider how fear may be holding back your labour.  Just like animals we will not labour if we do not perceive that we are safe.  Once you can access what you are feeling then you can find a remedy that will match your particular fear.  Some common remedies for induction and their fears are:

• fear of the pain – Aconite
• fear of being cut -  Staphysagria
• fear of having the baby alone – Phosphorus

For more in depth information on remedies for homeopathic induction and remedy descriptions please refer to my e-book – The Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy.

Remedies for Newborns with Eye Discharge

Mucus discharge that appears in the eyes of newborns is very common.  If you are breastfeeding then make it a habit at every feed to squirt your babe in the eye with your breast milk.  This will greatly increase their ability to move through a sticky eye.  If they still seem to need a little support consider the following remedies:

Pulsatilla 200C- 2 pellets once a day for three days.  The discharge of a Pulsatilla baby is thick, yellow and sticky.  The discharge might have a changeable nature – i.e.:  switch from eye to eye, seem to disappear and then reappear, move from the eye to the nose and back again.  Pulsatilla babies prefer to be held, petted and cuddled constantly.  They definitely want to sleep with their parents and have close contact at all times. 

Medorrhinum 200C- Medorrhinum discharge is green. Give two pellets of Medorrhinum one time and wait and observe.   Generally babies that need Medorrhinum often have a tendency to bad diaper rashes – to the point of blistering.  They are night babies, they like to sleep all day and be up all night.  They are also snufflers, they snort and gurgle all night long when they are first born.  All colds for them tend to go to their eyes. 

For more specific information on homeopathic newborn care please visit my website or access my e -book:  The Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy.

Homeopathic Induction – Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum

The two most common homeopathic remedies used to induce labour are Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum.  These are often prescribed by midwives and naturopathic doctors to “prepare” the uterus for labour.  Your body has its own system in place to prepare for labour.  If you are overdue then you need to find the correct remedy that matches your fear.  It is seldom a physical problem that holds women back from birth – it is your head that is interfering with the natural, wise  process of your body. 

 If you can access exactly what your fear is you can shift it with a remedy and glide into labour. 

 Cimicifuga and Caulophyllum are remedies that are wonderful to augment labour ONCE it is happening.  These remedies will encourage contractions once the cervix has started dilating and you are having contractions.  I suggest taking them in the following manner:

Cimicifuga 15C or 30C – 2 pellets

allow them to dissolve and then take

Caulophyllum 15C or 30C – 2 pellets

repeat this every 15 min. for one hour so you have taken a total of four doses of each remedy.  For specifics on remedies and induction of labour please visit my website and access my e-book – the Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy. 

Homeopathy and Breastfeeding

Homeopathy is completely safe while you are breastfeeding.  It will assist both the mother and the baby both physically and mentally/emotionally.  There are a wide range of remedies to support milk supply, heal from mastitis and treat thrush. 

Remedies for increasing Milk Supply – To increase milk supply STAY in BED, SKIN TO SKIN with your baby.  Call on your family and friends to provide you with food and water, rest and the milk will come.  You can also try the following homeopathic remedies to encourage your body.

Pulsatilla 200C- 2 pellets once a day for three days.  Pulsatilla women are usually weepy, in need of company and physical comfort and affection.  They want to feel cherished and cared for postpartum.  If they are feeling lonely or left out then the milk supply will be effected.  This is a milk supply that seems good, then dwindles, comes back up and changes again.  There is a lot of changeability in the mood of the mother and the baby along with the shifts in the level of breast milk. 

Lac Humanum 200C

This is a remedy made of breast milk.  It is important for women that are experiencing difficulty bonding with their babies.  Women that feel uncomfortable with breast feeding and are unsure about their own instincts in this regard.  For example the woman may feel worried about not being able to measure the amount of milk a baby is consuming in a feeding.  She may need a lot of reassurance about her confidence in being able to fully  nourish her child.

Healing from Mastitis

When using homeopathy to treat mastitis it is vitally important to act as soon as the symptoms appear.  You will have a much greater opportunity to heal quickly if you have the remedies on hand and take them when you first notice the following:

• pain, tenderness, shooting pain
• red streaks, red, local spot
• feeling of congestion in the breast
• fever, headache and irritability
• achy feeling, as if you are getting ill

Mastitis usually occurs when you are overdoing it and not drinking enough water.  Go to bed, drink water and line up the baby’s chin with the place on your breast that is painful.  This positioning will allow the baby to drain that particular duct.  The two most important remedies to have on hand are:

1.  Belladonna 1M – 2 pellets as needed – you may need to repeat this remedy a few times to completely clear the pain.  Belladonna states come on fast and get bad quickly.  The fever, heat and redness are strong features – the Belladonna time is 3:00 pm so if you notice it begins or worsens at that time it is likely a Belladonna mastitis.  You may also have a throbbing headache. Belladonna usually effects the right side of the body first and most strongly.

2.  Bryonia 200C – Bryonia has a strong connection with dehydration – usually the lips are very dry and the woman is extremely thirsty for cold water.  There is a high level of irritability, headache and a strong desire to have NO movement, they hold their breasts walking up and down the stairs and wear a bra to bed.  The pace of this remedy is slow and the progress of the pain is slow compared to the quick, violent onset of Belladonna. 

Treatment of Thrush - this appears on both the mother and baby, usually after antibiotics have been in use during the labour or postpartum.  Systemically taking acidophilus daily and giving an infant acidophilus formula to the baby is appropriate to create a healthy flora in the gut.  In terms of homeopathic remedies:

Borax 200C – this is an incredibly effective remedy for thrush in newborns.  Besides the distinctive white patches on the tongue and cheeks babies needing Borax are extremely sensitive.  They will be fast asleep and wake as soon as they are put down.  They startle at the slightest sounds and prefer to have some time on their own vs being caressed and carried all the time.  This remedy may be one to consider if the mother is experiencing postpartum depression – it is a grief remedy and the baby may also be experiencing a type of postpartum depression.  Two pellets for both the mother and baby will usually clear the mouth within 1-2 days.  For more information and support regarding homeopathy and breastfeeding please visit my website and access my on-line book – The Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy.

Homeopathic Remedies for Back Labour

Back labour is usually long, painful and difficult to manage without pain medication.  There are solutions.  Anatomically you and your baby both understand that there is an easier way to be born.  A posterior position means that the baby’s back is facing your back, an anterior position means that the baby’s back is facing outward.  An anterior position is the optimal position for birth.  Labour progresses faster because the baby’s head is applied to the cervix in a way that allows dilation to occur.  The pain is less intense and focused on the abdomen as opposed to the small of the back.  I have two main suggestions – the first is seek out a chiropractor that treats pregnant women and newborns.  They will be a valuable part of your support team, both as a pregnant woman and as a new mother.  Chiropractic can greatly influence the length of your labour.  Adjustments during pregnancy support your body’s own desire to create free passage for your baby. 

The second suggestion is to consider homeopathic remedies.  The main remedy for a posterior position is Kali carb200C.  This remedy will work during pregnancy, it is not necessary to be in labour to take the remedy.  If you know your baby is posterior and you are nearing the end of the your pregnancy go ahead and take a dose.  If it is going to work it will create a shift in position within 24 hours.  Take two pellets one time and wait 24 hours.  If you are in labour and experiencing most of the sensation in your back then you can take two pellets of Kali Carb200C at that time.   A Kali Carb situation is one in which the woman is asking for intense counter pressure on her back.   This remedy will create a shift within a few contractions. 

 There are several other remedies that are also appropriate to take for a posterior presentation – to access information on these remedies please look for my article on Posterior Presentations, Issue 58 in Midwifery Today.    You  may also refer to my website and e-book – A Homeopathic Guide to a Vibrant Pregnancy.

Homeopathic Estrogen – Folliculinum

One of the ways homeopathic remedies develop is that homeopaths look at substances that are in a sense poisoning society.  Estrogen is one of those substances.  the most common way in which this is occurring is due to the effects of the birth control pill.  One of the main symptoms of this remedy is that mentally/emotionally it seems to create a state in which the woman forgets who she is, what she needs and wants and only begins to live to please everyone else.  It is interesting that as a drug the birth control pill is most commonly prescribed during the teenage years.  This would be the very time that  most young women are just forming a sense of them selves, separate from their families.  What happens when the birth control pill comes into action at this point?  Some of the common symptoms include:

• Emotionally/psychically sucked dry
• postpartum depression
• self denial
• forget who they are
• gets lost in relationships
• addicted to rescuing people
• difficult bond between mother and child
• as if controlled by another

We seem to start to remember who we are as menopause approaches and the estrogen levels start to decline.  Folliculinum can really support women as they break addictions and relationships that promote a loss of the self.  For some fabulous information on Folliculinum please visit www.melissaassilem.net- this is the homeopath that created the remedy and the symptom picture of Folliculinum.

Homeopathic Medicine for Pregnancy and Childbirth

This week I taught the first session of Homeopathic Medicine for Pregnancy and Childbirth program.  This is a course I developed about ten years ago and I have been teaching it primarily to midwives across Ontario.  I needed to add something new to the program to keep it alive and interesting and so I created an art component. 

This first session we began by sewing ourselves a womb.  In it we placed our intentions for the course in terms of a safe place to explore our creativity.  One of the reasons I decided to add in the art dimension was so that we could learn about ourselves as practitioners and understand anything we might need to clear or gain perspective on in the realm of birth.  We learned some strategies for case taking during pregnancy and birth and studied some clinical cases of remedies such as Arsenicum, Pulsatilla and Sugar. 

Our main focus for the evening was the topic of conception.  I ask each patient what would have been happening when they were conceived and each of them has an answer.  Our awareness does extend back this far – and it often carries forward into our lives.  We used pastels, charcoal and conte to draw our own conceptions and then our own births.  The results were quite amazing.  Next week we will look at folliculinum and lac humanum, two remedies I have used extensively in practice and relate it to our own human experiences as mothers and women.