41 – CRAMPS
Pregnant women are liable to cramps or irregular pains in the abdomen, loins, calves of the legs, and feet, especially about the fourth and fifth month, and towards the end of gestation, which are due to changes in the uterine and abdominal structures from the growth of the foetus.
MEDICINAL TREATMENT – Arnica, Bryonia, Camph., Chamomilla, Calcarea, Iris., Nux V., Rhus, Sepia, Vera – A., Verbascum-V., Vib.
INDICATIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL REMEDIES –
Arnica – Cramps from fatigue.
Colocynth – Is indicated when the cramps are followed by stiffness and soreness of the parts.
Nux Vomica – When there is considerable numbness of the limbs, as if they would “go to sleep, and with symptoms of indigestion.
Veratrum Album – This is a most efficacious remedy, especially if cold be the cause; but it is useful in most cases of the cramps of pregnancy.
ACCESSORY TREATMENT – Brisk friction to the legs morning and evening, and also while the cramps are on, will often afford much relief. At all times the feet and legs should be kept dry and warm.
42 – COLIC
Spasm, from flatulent distention of the bowels, is apt to occur during pregnancy, owing to cold or improper diet. It generally affects the large intestines.
MEDICINAL TREATMENT – Belladonna, Chamomilla, China, Coloc., Dioscorea, Hyoscyamus, Ignatia, Nux V., Plumb., Verbascum-A.
LEADING INDICATIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL REMEDIES –
Chamomilla- Colic associated with relaxation of the bowels, tearing pains around the navel, impatience and irritability.
Colocynthis – This remedy is suited to paroxysmal colic, attended with cutting, griping, or intermittent pains, diarrhoea, and too severe as well as mild forms of the disease. Distended abdomen.
Dioscorea – This remedy is much esteemed by many practitioners, as suitable for bilious colic.
Nux Vomica – Spasmodic, flatulent, colic, with constipation, or alternate constipation and relaxation; from over indulgence in food; and from fatigue.
Plumbum – Colic with constipation, especially in elderly persons; constrictive shooting or pinching pains in the region of the navel.
Veratrum Album – severe crampy pains, with or without diarrhoea, if accompanied by vomiting of bilious matter. This remedy has been preceded by Hyoscyamus with advantage.
ACCESSORY MEANS – During the violent pains of colic hot applications are useful, but a warm bath is objectionable for colic during pregnancy. A pint or a pint and a half of tepid water, boldly injected up the bowel by an enema syringe, with a long pipe, and repeated if necessary, is almost invariably and immediately successful, especially when the wind is in the lower part of the abdomen. Indigestible food should be avoided, especially pastry, vegetables, and uncooked or unripe fruits, and no food should be taken within a least three hours of going to bed. Persons liable to colic should wear a piece of flannel around the abdomen in cold or changeable weather, and keep the feet warm and dry. Daily exercise in the open air should be taken, and worry and excessive mental fatigue avoided.
43 – SALIVATION (Ptyalism)
A profuse flow of saliva occasionally takes the place of morning sickness, and is generally most troublesome in the earlier months of gestation; it is sometimes the earliest sign of that condition.
SYMPTOMS – In the morning the patient finds her mouth and throat filled with tenacious mucus, or saliva, which is ejected in roundish masses. When salivation is excessive it is a cause of exhaustion.
TREATMENT – Mercurius – This remedy is generally homoeopathic to this condition and may be administered three or four times daily.
Iris, Iodium, Ac-Sulph., K. Chlorum, etc., are sometimes required.
ACCESSORY MEANS – Nitric Acid, Chlorate or Potash, or Alum gargles are often beneficial. As a mere palliative, holding a small piece of gum-arabic in the mouth is recommended. The chewing of coffee berries has been known to cure when all other remedies have failed.
44 – CONSTIPATION
Constipation is a frequent attendant on pregnancy, especially in ladies who live in towns and lead a sedentary life. Although constipation is generally less injurious than a too relaxed state of the bowels, it may occasion many inconveniences, and should be remedied as far as possible by such means as the following.
CAUSES – Constipation in pregnancy is generally referred to the pressure of the enlarged womb upon the bowels; but t is often due to torpor of the bowels, consequent on the increased action of the womb diverting nervous and vascular forces from adjacent organs. Neglect of sufficient out-of-door exercise, and indolent habits, for which pregnancy is supposed to be justification, may also rise to constipation.
MEDICINAL TREATMENT – Ac. -N., Aloe, Alum, Bryonia, Collinsonia, Hydras., Lycopodium, Nux V., Opium, Platina, Plum., Sepia
LEADING INDICATIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL REMEDIES –
Bryonia – Constipation from torpor of the bowels, especially in warm weather, with determination to the head, irascibility etc.
Collinsonia – Constipation with Piles, especially if associated with uterine disorders.
Hydrastis Canadensis – Simple constipation from torpidity of the bowels.
Nux Vomica – Indigestion, with a sensation as if the lower bowel were closed, and frequent ineffectual urging to stool, flatulent and Piles. It is specially indicated in persons of a hasty, vehement disposition, and when too little out-of-door exercise is taken. In chronic Constipation it may be alternated with Sulph. giving Sulph. in the morning and Nux V. in the evening.
Sulphur – In chronic cases a short preliminary course of Sulph. is generally advantageous.
ACCESSORY MEANS – Daily out-of-door exercise; a tumbler of fresh spring water taken either on going to bed or on rising;the sparing use of animal food, the free use of vegetables, ripe or preserved fruits, brown bread, oatmeal porridge, etc., also the hip-bath. When the bowels remain for many days unmoved, and there is uneasiness in consequence, an enema of tepid water, or soap-suds, may be had recourse to. In using the enema several points should be carefully observed – that the rectum-tube be well greased, that the instrument be emptied of air before insertion, that the injection proceed slowly, that if pain be occasioned, the injection be suspended till it is gone and then renewed, and that the slow injection be continued till there is an urgent desire to evacuate. A wash-hand basin full of water may be required; a small quantity may suffice. If only a small quantity can be retained, and no result follow, the injection should be repeated after a little while. The appropriate medicine need not be discontinued on this account, for although the bowels are moved by this mechanical assistance, their torpidity still remains to be cured. The wet compress for the abdomen, described in the Section on “Piles,” is also a most valuable adjunct. In some cases a small suppository of soap will ensure a comfortable action of the bowels in an hour.
45 – DIARRHOEA
Diarrhoea is not so frequent in pregnancy as constipation, but is generally more prejudicial. If very severe and long- continued, it is apt to induce Abortion.
CAUSES – Nervous irritation, induced by pregnancy; cold, to which pregnant ladies are very liable; insufficient or defective dress; disease of the mucous membrane of the bowels. Diarrhoea sometimes follows conception so closely, that the patient has her attention first drawn to it by her condition, and it may return regularly every month, as though it were vicarious of menstruation.
MEDICINAL TREATMENT – Ant. C., Arsenicum, Bryonia, Calc-C., Camph., Chamomilla, China, Collinsonia, Dulcamara, Mercurius, Phosphorus, Phosphorus-Ac., Sulphur
LEADING INDICATIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL REMEDIES –
Arsenicum – Motions watery, brownish, corrosive, or offensive, with colicky pains before evacuation, worse after meals and at night, and especially when arising from cold or tainted animal food.
Calcarea Carb. is useful under similar conditions and if necessary, may be alternated with it, giving Sulph. for a few days, and then Calc-C. for a few days, and afterwards repeating the course.
Chamomilla – Yellow or green stools, bitter taste in the mouth, thirst; bilious vomiting; sharp pains in the stomach or bowels; flatulence.
China – Loose evacuations containing undigested food, and most troublesome soon after meals or at night.
Collinsonia – Diarrhoea alternating with constipation; Piles.
Dulcamara – Diarrhoea from cold or wet, the motions being greenish or mucous, preceded by colic, and most frequently in the evening.
Mercurius – Bilious diarrhoea, the discharges being greenish and passed with much straining; yellowish coated tongue, bitter taste, etc.
Pulsatilla – When the discharges are bilious or slimy, with nausea, eructations, clammy and bitter taste, but without thirst, and worse in the evening. Diarrhoea due to rich, indigestible food, as pork, stewed meats, pastry, etc., is very amenable to Pulsatilla.
Phosphorus – May be required when Diarrhoea is attended by physical or nervous debility, easily induced perspirations, night-sweats, wasting, and frequent desire, to pass water, which is often profuse.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."