Homœopathy in
obstetrics and Gynæcology.
By A. Dwight Smith, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain CazaletThe Subject on which I
have been asked to speak is “Obstetrics and Gynecology,”
giving a few of the more common homœopathic remedies frequently
indicated. Perhaps some may feel that I should not give advice on
obstetrics since it has been over seven years since I delivered my last
baby on May 1, 1959. However, my first group of babies was delivered in
the summer of 1911, when I had a summer internship in the Hahnemann
Hospital at Rochester, New York, and I did obstetrics from the beginning
of my practice in the fall of 1912 until quitting in 1959. Perhaps out
of this 48 years of experience something of value may be gleaned.
Hahnemann
Hospital at Rochester, New YorkYears ago practically
all homœopathic physicians in general practice did obstetrics while
today there are many less homœopathic physicians and very few of them
do obstetrics. I am sure of one thing-the expectant mother and the
newborn child have been deprived of much superior care by this scarcity
of homœopathic physicians doing obstetrics. Mothers certainly have more
normal pregnancies and deliveries under homœopathic care, with far less
abnormalities and complications. Also, one seldom sees abnormal children
with congenital defects where the mother has had good homœopathic
prescribing all during pregnancy. I believe there is far less danger of
defective babies in homœopathically treated RH negative mothers ;
at least that has been my experience and I have delivered quite a number
of them where they have had several children. I also believe that homœopathic
treatment would take care of the pregnant woman who contacts German or
3-day measles during her pregnancy. However, I cannot cite specific
cases as this complication has not been, understood until comparatively
recently, but I have no doubt delivered some mothers who had had German
measles during their pregnancy and without abnormal children.Women usually respond
to good homœopathic prescribing during pregnancy better then at any
other time. It is often possible to cure them of various chronic
ailments during pregnancy, that you may have been unable to do before
pregnancy.
Dr A. Dwight SmithMy experience has been
that nurses in the maternity wards of the hospital had a great deal of
respect for homœopathic care of maternity cases, without themselves
knowing anything about homœopathy and appeared to regret it when I quit
doing obstetrics. Many of my cases have told me that when they went to
the hospital for confinement, the nurses asked them who their doctor was
and they said, “Oh, we do not have any trouble with is cases”.
Some of the-nurses have asked me at different times why it was that they
never had any temperatures or complications in my cases after delivery
while so many of the other physicians’ patients had fevers or some from
of complication. My reply was that all of my patients were treated homœopathically
all during pregnancy. Good prescribing during pregnancy ensures a more
normal and easier delivery. The mother gets over the delivery more
rapidly and is back to normal sooner.Almost any remedy might
be called for in obstetrics and gynæcology but these are some that are
frequently indicated.
Arnica montana.
During
the later years of my obstetrical work, I gave Arnica 6X routinely to
all of my obstetrical patients-following delivery, unless some other
remedy was specifically indicated. It hastened recovery and relieved the
soreness of the tissues. It also helped prevent any fever or other
complications. The 6X potency was used instead of a higher one because
in the modern hospitals of today, there are too many things used
routinely that would interfere with a higher potency.
Calendula. Calendula
used
externally is not really homœopathic, but I always kept a bottle of the
tincture in the obstetrical department to be used on any sutures where
there were lacerations.The obstetrical nurses
were very careful to tell me when the bottle was getting empty, as they
said that they had never seen anything relieve the soreness of
lacerations as it did. Many doctors recommend diluting the Calendula,
but I have found that it is more effective when used full strength, only
applying it sparingly. It is also useful as a vaginal douche when
diluted to one-fourth or fifth strength. I would not want to practice
medicine without Calendula as it is practically the only antiseptic that
we use loyally.
Dr William A. YinglingPulsatilla.
One of the earliest complaints of the pregnant woman is morning
sickness. It may vary from a condition which is merely disagreeable to
one that is very serious. Choice of the remedy depends on the type of
patient and the concomitant symptoms. Pulsatilla to for the timid, weepy
peevish woman who is phlegmatic in temperament and slow in her
reactions. Worse in the evening, cannot get to sleep at night. Chilly,
yet aggravated by heat. Aggravated by rich food, by pork. No thirst.
Pulsatilla is indicated in labor pains ceasing ; distressing ;
spasmodic ; irregular ; too weak ; too strong ; too
slow ; ineffectual. False pains and labor-like pains which make her
walk about to obtain relief. Dr. W. A. Yingling, in his Accoucheur’s
Emergency Manual, says that abnormal presentations may be righted if
Pulsatilla is given before the membranes are ruptured or the presenting
parts are finally engaged. Other remedies will do the same but
Pulsatilla is probable more often indicated for such a condition. It is
suitable for mild, fearful women, who are in an apparently healthy
condition, yet the uterus seems almost inactive in the labor.
Natrum Mur.
The
Natrum mur. patient is excitable, laughs immoderately at something not
ludicrous, and then becomes sad and anxious. When consoled she become
angry. Throbbing headache, pain as if the head would burst. Violent
hiccoughs. Nausea is caused by bread, acids food, fats and the smell of
tobacco. Worse in the morning, better from cold things. The nausea is
accompanied by pyrosis and vomiting of thin watery fluid. Unquenchable
thirst but craves salt. Natrum mur. may be indicated when labor pains
are ineffectual.
Ignatia. Ignatia
has
many of the symptoms of Natrum mur. but is characterized by hysteria,
much sighing and sobbing. Nausea with weak sinking feeling in the
stomach is relieved by eating or taking a deep breath. Craving for acids
and indigestible things. Severe twitching and cramps, worse from
pressure. The headache of Ignatia is usually a sharp, boring pain.
Nervous spasms amounting almost to convulsions during labor. It is
useful in nausea, arrested labor, after-pains and hæmorrhage
where-indicated.
Arsenicum album
has nausea from sight or smell of food ; regurgitation of acrid
matter, worse after eating or drinking. Craves small amounts of acid
water often but loves warmth. Irritable, restless, anxious with fear of
death. It is indicated in labor where there is a sense of exhaustion
after every effort, however small.
Nux vomica
has pyrosis after acid or fatty foods and continual nausea, worse in the
morning. Sleepless at night, irritable no appetite and constipated. Nux
vom. may be indicated in metrorrhagia, false or inefficient labor pains
and where after pains are too violent.
Moschus
has
violent vomiting in the morning at the sight of food. Fainting,
hysteria, violent rage. Feels cold, is better from warmth. There is
aggravation from pressure, motion or cold. Sulphur is indicated in labor
when the pains are too weak or cease and in cases of retained placenta,
with hour-glass contractions. Symptoms are sudden and frequent flushes
of heat all over the body, burning eructations, worse from warmth and at
11 A. M. There is great desire for sweets, aggravation from milk.
Weakness at 11 A. M. and must eat, but eats little and drinks much.
Cimicifuga racemosa
is another remedy having a tonic effect on the uterus, preventing
miscarriage. The patient is worse by touch, motion, cold air and better
from rest. When abort pains are severe and tedious, Cimicifuga causes
the pains to become rhythmic and softens the rigid os. It promotes
normal involution and hastens recovery.It has nausea of
pregnancy with severe frontal headaches with intense pain in the eyes,
better from pressure. Dejection and incessant talking. It is used in the
treatment of painful and irregular menstruation and in pregnancy where
there is a tendency to abortion and given before term it renders labor
easier, prevents after-pains.
Aletris farinosa
often gives relief in most obstinate vomiting of pregnancy and in weak
persons with a tendency to abortion. There is weakness, constipation,
loss of appetite, and nausea better from drinking coffee or eating
dinner. It is also indicated in menorrhagia with profuse, very dark
blood.
Helonias,
like the two preceding remedies, is a uterine remedy of great power,
tonic in its effects on the prolapsed uterus and ligaments, valuable in
threatened abortion and often in albuminuria of pregnancy, also. The
breasts are sensitive and there ma, be severe backache, worse over the
kidneys. Worse from motion cool air and better from warm air. When
indicated it is helpful in amenorrhœa and dysmenorrhœa.
Vipera torva
is indicated many times in varicosities and phlebitis during pregnancy
and the menopause. A striking modality is the sensation as if the legs
would burst when hanging down. Also remember Hamamelis in knotty,
swollen, painful varicose veins and ulcers.One could enumerate
many more remedies valuable in obstetrics and gynæcology not mentioned
here. In conclusion may I say that homœopathic prescribing prevents
many complications in pregnancy, averts many malformations in the
newborn and carries the patient through the menopause much comfortably
than under any other form of treatment.A. DWIGHT SMITH, M. D.,
GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA.
Source :
Journal of American
Institute of Homœopathy, March April 1967.Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001
