Since the postpartum pains markedly present in the women who have experienced labor several times, it is not infrequent for the homoeopathic obstetrician to have in mind the most frequently used remedies; permit me to recall them, since I deem it more useful to the practitioner to know at a given moment how to attend with success so trying a condition, than to talk about its etiology and pathogeny, both of which should be known to all of us.
The remedies which follow have all been tried and found to be successful in obstetrical practice, and if the prescriptions are always homoeopathic-that is, according to a therapy strictly orthodox which should be followed by all Hahnemannians-we shall always have intimate satisfaction and shall feel proud to be faithful to the doctrine left us by the genial Samuel Friedrich Christian Hahnemann.
ARNICA. Indicated during last stage of labor and another dose after placenta is removed (200th) on account of bruised condition of genital organs and the strain on the general muscular system; pain excited by nursing babe.
BELLADONNA. Sudden appearance and sudden cessation of a pain; forcing pains as if the contents of the pelvis would be forced through vulva; every jar hurts; lochial discharge feels hot, flow increased with every pain.
BRYONIA. After-pains excited by least motion, even by taking a deep breath; headache as if head would split; parched lips and dry month.
CARBO VEGETABILIS. Pains turn up in distant parts from pelvic region, exacerbations and remissions occurring as regularly as if they were in the uterus.
CAULOPHYLLUM. After protracted and exhausting labor reflex pains in back and chest; spasmodic pains across lower abdomen; she is nervous, sleepless, weak.
CHAMOMILLA. Distressing after-pains, rendering her frantic and ill natured; lochia profuse and dark, clotted; wants fresh air.
CIMICIFUGA. After-pains in groins; oversensitiveness, nausea and vomiting; great tenderness on pressure; womb does not contract properly; pains cause flushing of fact and in right side of head back of orbit; she is low-spirited, restless, sleepless; predisposition to neuralgia.
COFFEA. Painfulness out of all proportion to the contraction of uterus; distressed, she cannot bear them; extreme fear of death; very sleepy but cannot go to sleep.
CONIUM. After-pains excited by putting babe to breast, pains extending from left to right.
CUPRUM. Most distressing after-pains, particularly in multiparae; cramping pains extending to extremities; severe headache.
FERRUM MET. Violent pains in loins and abdomen, like those of labor, with discharge of partly fluid and partly clotted blood; full, hard pulse; frequent short shuddering, headache and vertigo; especially suitable for feeble women with fiery red face.
GELSEMIUM. After-pains too severe and lasting too long; sensitive women who cannot compose themselves to sleep; sleep, with half waking and murmuring.
HYOSCYAMUS. Jerking and twitching; spasmodic pains; she is delirious.
HYPERICUM. Violent after-pains in sacrum and hips, with headache, after instrumental delivery, burning soreness and sensitiveness of urethra; retention of urine.
IGNATIA. Much sighing, sadness and despondency with the after-pains.
KALI CARB. Stitching and shooting pains, especially in the back, shooting down into the gluteal region or hips.
LAC CANINUM. Severe after-pains shooting down the thighs.
LILIUM TIGRINUM. Neuralgia in and around the uterus; bloating of abdomen with the pains a few days after the confinement; smarting in urethra after urination; cannot bear even the weight of covering, as painful parts we very sensitive to touch.
NUX VOMICA. Aching pains, with a desire to go to the stool with every pain; sore feeling in uterine region, so that she dreads to be disturbed; likes to have the room warm and be well covered; lochia scanty and offensive.
PODOPHYLLUM. After-pains, with strong bearing down pains.
PULSATILLA. Restless and changeable in her feelings, now better, now worse; wants fresh air.
RHUS TOX. Pains worse at night, hardly any during day; relief from changing position and from being well covered; cramps in calves.
SABINA. Pains run from sacrum to pubes; discharge of fluid and clotted blood with the severe pains, extending from pubes to highs; abdomen very sensitive to touch.
SECALE. Prolonged pains; brown thin lochia; though feeling cold does not wish covering; lochia offensive; postpartum conditions of primiparae; tonic severe contractions.
SEPIA. Constant sensation of weight in anus; pains shooting upward in vagina and are felt most in back; severe bearing down or forcing in the back, occurring in regular paroxysms.
SULPHUR. After-pains from sacrum around pubes and down the thighs; scanty lochia; feels badly in abdomen; flushes of heat;l and faint spells; feet cold or very hot, especially soles.
SULPHURIC ACID. Great sense of general weakness or sense of trembling all over, without actual trembling.
VIBURNUM. Severe cramping, spasmodic after-pains, spasmodic contractions of os uteri, pains radiating down the legs.
XANTHOPYLLUM. After-pains excruciatingly severe, continuous, extend down along the genito-crural nerves; lochia not so offensive as in Secale.
MONTERREY, N.L., MEXICO.
