Labor


Dr. Dewey discusses the homeopathy treatment of Labor in his bestselling book Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics….


Cimicifuga. [Cimic]

      In threatened miscarriage or labor when the pains fly across the abdomen from side to side, seeming to double the patient up and so severe as to cause fainting, yet doing no good, this remedy will be found most useful. The os does not dilate properly. Pains in the abdominal walls during the early months of pregnancy. There is painfulness of the cervix upon examination and the remedy allays muscular suffering. False labor pains, ” uterine rheumatism. ” It facilitates labor if taken previously, also **Caulophyllum. It is also useful for severe after pains.

**Hamamelis applied locally in such conditions is also a useful adjunct. A sheet anchor in phlebitis whether septic or not.

**Aconite. Pains unbearable, violent and frequent associated with restlessness and anxiety, the patient dreading death from labor. There is a dry, tender, undilatable genital tract. Use the 30th potency here.

Caulophyllum. [Caul]

      Intermittency of pains and tediousness is characteristic of this remedy; they are sharp and crampy and appear in the bladder, groin and lower extremities. Extreme uterine atony with no expulsive effort, and it is particularly suitable to nervous women where the pains are intolerable. Spasmodic pains fly about from place to place, exhausting the patient so that she can hardly speak. False labor pains during the last weeks of pregnancy; here it is almost specific.

Gelsemium. [Gels]

      A very useful remedy after labor has been in progress for hours and the os dilates tardily, feels hard and rigid. There is complete muscular atony, the uterus does not contract at all, hence no dilation of the os. This remedy may be used with great benefit in women who have habitually painful labors, here acting as a prophylactic; it facilitates dilatation and uterine rhythm. The pain go upward to back or chest and are useless. Dr. George Royal cautions against indiscriminate use of this remedy as causing tedious labors, use of forceps and lacerations.

Belladonna. [Bell]

      No remedy equals **Belladonna for common spasm of the os. The labor pains come and go suddenly; they are violent, but ineffectual, owing to the spasmodic condition of the os. The face gets red and the heart throbs with every pain. she agonizes because of the violence of the suffering. Marked **heat calls for **Belladonna. There is present also great hypersensitiveness; the patient is sensitive to noise, light and jarring of the bed.

Chamomilla. [Cham]

      The pains begin in the back and pass down the inner part of the thighs, and there is great nervous excitement. The labor seems particularly painful; she will be cross and declare that she will not stand the pain. The after pains are severe and the lochial flow is dark, often scanty and sometimes suppressed.

**Coffea. Also to be thought of in nervous sensitive patients who cannot bear pains. The pains are severe, but not efficacious.

The **Chamomilla patient is nervous, strung up, hyperaesthetic about examinations and so satisfactory ones are prevented. She is decidedly snappish.

**Kali carbonicum. Preliminary or premature pains beginning in the back and following the sacral and ischiatic plexuses down the thighs.

Nux vomica. [Nux-v]

      Labor pains spasmodic and severe and accompanied with constant inclination to stool and to urinate, not so much from pressure, but from a reflex cause. Fainting during the pains. The **Nux temperament will be present when the remedy is well indicated, and the patient will be oversensitive, intolerant of odors and constipated. There is apt to be also much retching.

Pulsatilla. [Puls]

      Slow, weak, ineffectual pains which are spasmodic and irregular and excite fainting. It will often restore recreant pains as surely as ergot. The patient feels as if smothering and must have the windows open. Scanty lochia. It is one of our most useful remedies in the lying in chamber. Retained placenta may also need Pulsatilla.

**Cuprum. Severe after pains, violent spasmodic pains with cramps in the lower limbs. **Secale. Prolonged and ineffectual labor pains, hour glass contractions in feeble cachectic women. Fainting fits, small and suppressed pulse may accompany the pains.

**Arnica has severe pains, a bruised soreness. There is great fatigue of the uterus, the pains are violent and to little purpose.

W.A. Dewey
Dewey, Willis A. (Willis Alonzo), 1858-1938.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.