Pre-Natal Homeopathy Care for Moms - Miranda Castro

Homeopathic Solutions for Pregnancy with Miranda Castro

Pre-Natal Homeopathy Care for Moms How to use homeopathy to ease some of the common complaints of pregnancy

Miranda Castro FSHom, CCH

May 12, 2014

Who am I? ! I’m a mom (or mum) and a granny ! An edible gardener and an avid cook ! A homeopathic healer ! A writer and a teacher ! A software developer ! I make gentle healing products that work ! Oh yes and I’m a lover of chickens

Same Book – Different Title!

castroscompass.com

http://www.mirandacastro.com

! USA UK "

1


My Previous Webinar: http://bit.ly/mcpregnancy1 A pdf of the slides: http://bit.ly/mcpregnancy1pdf

May 12, 2014

What you will learn … ! My last webinar focused on women’s basic needs in pregnancy as well as some homeopathic solutions – especially the biochemic cell salts. ! This webinar is less about your basic needs and more about the remedies. Building on my last webinar I shall expand on the complaints and the remedies. I hope to bring a handful ot remedies to life and make them accessible to you for the kinds of complaints you can easily and safely treat yourself for at home!

Your Basic Needs in Pregnancy ! Nutrition/food/fluids –  Whole / Fresh / Enough but not too much –  Supplements – prenatal / food grade / smoothies –  Hydrate / Hydrate / Hydrate ! Exercise –  Just do it! Think marathon! –  Strength / Endurance / Flexibility ! Rest/sleep

Common Stressors in Pregnancy ! Trouble shoot like maniacs around any stressors to minimize their impact on your health: –  Job –  Money –  Moving house (try not to) –  Relatives (including blended families) –  Health –  The Future/The Unknown –  Advice from Tom, Dick and Harriet

–  As much as you need / Naps are excellent


2


What is homeopathy?

May 12, 2014

How Does It Work?

! Energy medicine…holistic healing ! Developed by a German doctor 200 years ago ! Tested on health people ! Works on people of all ages and pets of all kinds ! Treats first aid and acute and chronic complaints ! Affordable, green, non-toxic ! You don’t have to believe in it for it to work ! When you see it work it’s always impressive

GOALS OF HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT ! To stimulate the body to heal itself. ! To engender a sense of well-being. ! To increase health and vitality. ! To alleviate pain and suffering.


Check with your GP/midwife ! Always check in with your doc or midwife to make sure your symptoms are not serious, especially if they are persistent. –  Some seemingly innocuous symptoms can be indications of a more serious condition. For example, itching in late pregnancy can be a sign of a serious liver disorder (obstetric cholestasis), which can lead to premature labor and an increased risk of hemorrhage after delivery.

3


May 12, 2014

Is homeopathy safe in pregnancy?

Which potency and how to take?

! Homeopathy is safe for you and your baby as long as you use common sense and follow some basic guidelines.

! Use low potencies—6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C— these are nice and gentle and therefore safe for you and your baby.

–  Take only one remedy at a time (or 2 cell salts). –  Stop on improvement & repeat only if needed. –  Don’t keep taking a remedy that isn’t helping. –  Stop if you experience any worsening. –  Treat yourself only for minor, acute symptoms. –  Don’t treat recurring or chronic complaints – always get expert help for these.

Monitor the effects carefully ! If a remedy definitely helps, you can repeat it if your symptoms return—as long as it continues to help. ! Stop and start it as needed using your symptoms as a guide for repeating it. ! If your symptoms keep returning and especially if you don’t feel better in yourself then the homeopathic remedy is only working superficially and you need to choose a different remedy or seek professional advice. ! Keep notes – for every single remedy you take or give. I’m not even kidding!


! Take the remedy for a short period of time and monitor the results carefully. The right remedy will work fairly quickly in an acute situation. –  6X: take 3 to 4 times a day for up to a week –  6C or 12X: take 2 to 3 times daily for up to 5 days –  12C, 30X, or 30C: take once or twice daily for up to 3 days i.e. no more than 6 doses.

Common Complaints ! Aches & pains:

! Heartburn

–  joints in general

! Hemorrhoids

–  back in general

! Insomnia

–  ligament/groin pains ! Morning sickness ! Anemia

! Emotional stresses:

! Braxton Hicks

–  Anxiety

! Constipation

–  Fear

! Cramps ! Fatigue

–  ‘Emotional’ ! Restless legs

4


May 12, 2014

Quick Symptom Look up Chart

Aconite (Acon.) FEAR about baby

First signs acute illness

SHOCK

Restless & not at all OK’

Arnica (Arn.) BRUISED Aching

Active baby Overdid it Injury

Says ‘I’m OK’


Bellis perennis (Bell-p.) BRUISED Aching – beyond Arnica

SOFT Tissues

Worse TOUCH

Abdominal/back Ligaments (round)

GROIN pains

5


May 12, 2014

Calcarea carbonica (Calc.)

Caulophyllum (Caul.)

Anxious – worries about everything

Braxton Hick’s

Clammy Sweaty

Sluggish

Pica

Chilly

Cimicifuga (Cimi.)

Coffea (Coff.)

Deep gloom

Overexcitement

with Sighing

Over-excitable

Abdominal pains – fly about

Back and Joint Pains (any)

Restless and Excitable


Joint Pains (small joints)

Late Baby

Insomnia

Sensitive to noise

6


May 12, 2014

Ignatia (Ign.)

Ferrum met. (Ferr.)

SAD & SIGHING

MOODY

PALE (face, lips, gums)

Flushes and Perspires easily

No appetite & feels full quickly

Aimlessly Restless

Worse/sensitive smoke and coffee

Holds feelings inside

Contradictory symptoms

Lycopodium (Lyc.)

Ipecacuanha (Ip.)

Irritable & Anxious Dread ordeal

Deathly Nausea with salivation Bloated & Gassy

Clean Tongue


Vulnerable

Nothing helps even vomiting

Big appetite Quickly full

Worse 4-8 pm

Craves Sweets esp. Chocolate

7


May 12, 2014

Nux vomica (Nux-v.)

Mercurius (Merc.)

Mercurius vivus or Mercurius solubilis (same remedy)

Irritable and (over) sensitive

RESTLESS

Burning pains

Worse heat and cold

Worse at night

Worse cold anything

Tense & cannot relax

Pulsatilla (Puls.) ‘Pre menstrual’ Weepy/Depressed Wants company

Changeable everything

No thirst


Over sensitive to everything

Worse mornings

Sepia (Sep.) ‘Pre menstrual’ Irritable/Weepy/Depressed Wants to be alone

Better fresh air

Worse rich fatty foods

Heavy / Saggy

No appetite (except sour)

Better ‘exercise’

Better eating (temporarily)

8


Zincum (met) RESTLESS LEGS

May 12, 2014

REMINDERS ! Do not self prescribe for chronic complaints. ! It is always advisable to seek professional advice for long-standing complaints. ! Check with your homeopath before self-prescribing. Remedies have relationships with one another, and it is a shame to take a remedy that inadvertently counteracts the effects of a remedy that has worked well.

Worn out and trembly

Twitchy muscles/lids

Caulophyllum: when not to take

! Let your homeopath know if you are planning on taking the cell salt pregnancy program. –  http://bit.ly/mcpregnancy1

Caulophyllum: when to take

! Do not take routinely

! Annoying Braxton Hicks contractions.

! Do not take in the last weeks or months of pregnancy unless prescribed by a professional homeopath (other health care professionals including doctors and chiropractors may enthusiastically embrace homeopathy and make misguided recommendations)

! If induction is threatened because you are late for dates take as follows:

! Do not take unless indicated

–  One dose every 4 hours for up to two days. If it doesn't work, either you or your baby aren’t ready to be born or the dates are wrong. ! If early labor is slow, contractions are short, ineffective or stop, before they become very painful. With exhaustion and trembling. –  One dose every 1-4 hours for up to 6 doses.


9


Cell Salts for Simple Anemia/Fatigue

May 12, 2014

Cell Salt for Simple Cramps

! Calc-phos 6X alternating with Ferr-phos 6X

! Mag-phos 6X

! Mild anemia

! Dissolve 4 tablets in a cup of warm water (not hot!) and sip frequently.

–  Calc phos in the morning (on waking) –  Ferrum phos at night (at bedtime) ! More serious anemia

! Repeat twice a day (if the cramps are at night/in bed) or as needed.

–  Calc phos in the morning and mid-afternoon –  Ferrum phos at night and mid-day

Cell Salt for Acidity/Indigestion

Cell Salt for Exhaustion/Insomnia

! Nat-phos 6X

! Kali-phos 6X

! Take 2-4 times a day if a bit ‘acidic’.

! Take 2-4 times a day if generally exhausted and having a hard time sleeping.

! In addition take every 5-30 minutes depending on the severity of the acidity symptoms for up to 6 doses.


! In addition take at bedtime – every 5-30 minutes until you fall asleep.

10


May 12, 2014

Aches & pains ! Back aches/pain—especially lower back. ! Feet aching/pain—especially after standing on them for any length of time. ! Abdominal pain—from active babies, and especially from ligaments stretching. ! Joint pains—from hormonal activity and extra weight (hips/knees).

Arnica & Bellis perennis ! Arnica ! Sore and bruised and worse for touch ! Bellis Perennis ! Pains not helped by Arnica ! Stretched ligaments esp. the groin ! My Joint and Muscle Cream works for everyday aches and pains

Braxton Hicks Contractions ! Caulophyllum (Caul.) –  Sharp pains coming and going esp. in back and lower abdomen ! Cimicifuga (Cimi.) –  Shooting pains fly about the abdomen (and back) ! Pulsatilla (Puls.) –  Lots of pains but no baby – mother is in a Pulsatilla state. And/or the baby is late!

Constipation ! Lycopodium –  Tremendous gas/bloating. Feels full up quickly. –  Anxious and irritable. Especially anticipatory. ! Nux vomica –  With hard stool and frequent, ineffectual urging. –  Irritable (physical/emotional) and irritable. ! Sepia –  Sheep dung, or large stool or strains with soft stool –  Lump sensation after stool. –  Depressed (apathetic) and snappy.


11


Cramps ! Calcarea carbonica –  In calves, feet or toes on stretching leg in bed (sleep) at night. ! Nux vomica –  Cramps from physical (and emotional) tension ! Magnesium phosphoricum (cell salt) –  Better heat and pressure. Worse cold.

May 12, 2014

Emotional ‘States’ ! Fear of the birth, of death: Aconite ! Anxiety about everything: Calcarea ! Anxiety about upcoming ordeals: Lycopodium ! Depressed with black cloud: Cimicifuga ! Depressed and irritable: Sepia ! Depressed and weepy: Pulsatilla ! Depressed and hiding feelings: Ignatia ! Irritability and irritable: Nux vomica ! Irritable and anxious: Lycopodium

Fatigue ! Tired and anemic: Ferrum ! Tired and twitchy/restless: Zincum ! Tired and breathless: Calcarea ! Tired and saggy: Sepia

Heartburn ! Mercurius (Merc.) –  With belching and hiccups, worse at night. ! Lycopodium (Lyc.) –  With tremendous gas and bloating. ! Nux vomica (Nux-v.) –  From overeating or eating the wrong foods. ! Natrum phosphoricum (Nat-p.) –  Tremendous acidity – with yellow tongue.


12


May 12, 2014

Hemorrhoids

Insomnia ! Coffea – cannot fall asleep

! Lycopodium –  Bleeding, external, large – with constipation –  Painful when sitting ! Nux vomica –  Bleeding, itching, large – with constipation –  Better cold bathing ! Sepia –  External – from previous pregnancies

–  sleepless from thoughts/excitement, good news ! Ignatia –  sleepless from any emotional stress especially loss, disappointment, shock, unexpressed feelings ! Nux vomica – cannot fall asleep after waking –  sleepless from mental strain, overwork, over anything, aggravation or an over-active mind

–  Incredibly painful during and after a stool

Morning sickness ! Ipecac –  Constant/deathly – relieved by nothing. –  With salivation. Clean tongue ! Nux vomica –  Constant – with salivation, retching (can’t vomit)

Water retention ! Natrum sulphuricum –  Swollen legs/ankles with no other symptoms ! Natrum muriaticum –  Swollen legs/ankles in women who are craving (and eating) too much salt/salty foods.

–  Worse after eating. Better for vomiting. ! Sepia –  Intermittent. Gnawing/empty feeling in stomach. –  Better after eating (temporarily).


13


May 12, 2014

Shopping!

Floradix

Aesculus, Hamamelis & Paeonia Cream

For hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Helios Creams are fabulous. They have been meticulously produced in the UK by Britain's leading homeopathic pharmacy using only the finest quality organic tinctures and natural plant-based ingredients.


Floradix is a clever non-chemical, vegetarian, food and herb-based formula that boosts iron without causing side effects like constipation. There are different versions and sizes.

14


My Healing Cream for Joints/Muscles For achy joints or muscles anywhere!

May 12, 2014

Calms Forte

bit.ly/mcscars

A clever formula that includes Arnica and Rhus tox which helps any aches or pains that are worse for first movement and better for heat and continued movement.

My Healing Cream for Scars It works! On stretch marks as well as episiotomy and c-section scars. It’s non-toxic – there are no parabens, no sulphates, And there’s no lanolin or beeswax either. It’s deliciously smooth and non-sticky!


bit.ly/mcscars

Castro’s Pregnancy & Baby Kit $149.00 (value $292) Special offer includes a signed copy of my mother and baby book! This is a great kit with full-size (160 tablet) bottles. Remedies: Aconite, Arnica, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bellis perennis, Borax, Bryonia, Calc carb, Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, China, Coffea, Colocynthis, Dioscorea, Gelsemium, Kali carb, Kali mur, Kali phos, Mag phos, Nitric acid, Phosphoric acid, Phytolacca, Pulsatilla, Sepia, Silica, Staphysagria, Stramonium

15


Same Book – Different Title!

May 12, 2014

Tests & Treatments in General ! Pregnant women—especially first timers—are vulnerable because they want to do the best for their babies and tend to agree to tests and treatments they might otherwise question. ! In pregnancy a little hesitation goes a long way. ! Blood and urine tests etc. –  Learn what’s normal for pregnant women. ! Dental treatments: complete before pregnancy. –  Avoid x-rays and fluoride treatments.

#  USA

UK "

! Ultrasounds –  Homeopath Lauren Feder: http://bit.ly/Pok0rE

Herbs ! Herbs are medicines. Some herbs are more medicinal than others. ! Don’t take medicinal herbs during pregnancy without professional advice. ! Take just what you need and no more. Stop on improvement and repeat as needed. ! Don’t take anything because your friend did and it helped her or because you read about it on the internet. ! American Pregnancy Association recommends: http://bit.ly/PKuKPP


16


Vaccinations ! The CDC are recommending pertussis (Tdap) and (inactivated) flu shots for pregnant women.

May 12, 2014

What is homeopathic thinking? ! Softly softly. Less is more (except for love & exercise!)

–  Flu vaccine safety/pregnancy 1.usa.gov/QKv8xc

! Take as much of the whole picture into account as possible, when doing or thinking about anything.

–  Flu vaccine effectiveness: 1.usa.gov/RJ9Ww7

! Reduce stressors:

You’ll want to read both sides of the ‘story’ in order to make an informed decision. –  Dr Mercola has a lot to say bit.ly/Rwq9GN –  Lauren Feder advises caution bit.ly/OigZLz

–  Environmental, medical, physical, emotional etc. ! Get your basic needs met. ! Be proactive. Get informed. Become an active participant in your own health care. ! Scope out the territory if it’s new to you … preferably with a knowledgeable guide.

Additional Bits ‘n’ Bobs ! My Additional Handouts: http://cl.ly/VUSm –  My article on homeopathy in pregnancy discussing Caulophyllum and Arnica/Bellis. –  The NCH’s beautiful brochure ! My mini videos and webinars: bit.ly/mcvidswebs ! My articles – scroll down for a few articles of mine on homeopathy in pregnancy: bit.ly/QCI8u2 ! Thank you! Happy everything!!!


17