Homeopathy is an option that most women don't know is available to help them cope with some various complaints of pregnancy. It's an art all it's own, and I have had good luck with using it on myself for some basic pregnancy complaints- headaches, nausea and even colds. Learning how to use homeopathy so that it works for you can be challenging, but even the most basic level of understanding (plus being of an experimental nature) makes it worth it since it is one of the safest ways to “treat” pregnancy challenges.

So, are you wondering exactly what homeopathy is and how it might play a part in your pregnancy?

Homeopathy, a branch of alternative medicine, is based on the principle of “like cures like.” Homeopathic “medicine” generally consists of tiny lactose pellets that include a very diluted amount of plant, mineral or animal ingredients. The pellets dissolve in your mouth and if you have chosen the right medicine (or remedy) for you, then your body will balance itself and you will find relief from whatever you were suffering from.

A good example would be using the remedy ipecac for diarrhea. Because ipecac can cause diarrhea in a healthy person, it can also relieve it in someone who already has this symptom (“like curing like”). Unlike allopathic medicine, homeopathic remedies work with the body, instead of forcing it to do one thing or another. The thought is that your entire body is able to respond and find balance, instead of simply getting rid of a symptom.

(Just so you know, using homeopathy is a very, very safe choice for pregnancy and can even be used on infants, young kids and pets. Basically, if the remedy works for you, you should get relief, and if it is the wrong remedy, nothing will change and you won't be the worse for it).

There are boatloads of remedies to try for things like morning sickness, although you might want help from someone more experienced in choosing one (your midwife, chiropractor, or of course, homeopath). For example, you might choose sepia rather than nux vomica if you are a more emotional person who likes being alone. However, one of the most attractive qualities of learning and experimenting with homeopathy is the fact that you will be taking much more personal control of your health than you are probably used to.

There are remedies for nausea, heartburn, indigestion, headaches and also emotional issues like fear or grief. The homeopathic principle that resonates the most with me is that you can not separate the physical from the emotional when treating a condition or ailment.

Pulsatilla, for example, is the first remedy suggested for helping a breech baby turn head down in utero. There are recommendations for miscarriage, infertility, hypertension, toxemia and situations that might come up in labor too, like a long pushing stage.

If you are at this alone, it can be easier to choose a combination remedy instead of a single remedy. The combinations blend several different remedies in one pellet, so that you have the best chance of hitting the nail on the head.

Check out the available resources to learn more, and start small by purchasing a few of the well-known remedies ( like arnica, for bruising or swelling) for experimenting with.

(I was able to frequent an amazing little apothecary when I lived in Chicago, and you can now buy online from them. Just click on the link below, go to the Natural Health tab, and click on “Homeopathy” on the left menu.)

Solutions for your body-Smallflower.com