How to Use Homeopathy During Every Stage of Pregnancy
Finding the balance between safe and effective remedies during pregnancy can feel like a never-ending battle—one that can directly impact the wellbeing of your growing baby and make you feel out-of-control anxious.
You’ve never cared so much about the food and medicines that go into your body.
But as your belly grows, so does discomfort—in the form of acid reflux, back pain, and morning sickness. It’s true, there are many self-sacrificing moments that come with pregnancy and motherhood.
But this doesn’t have to be one of them.
There are plenty of holistic and all-natural solutions to help ease everyday symptoms without exposing you to last-resort pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter drugs.
One of them is homeopathy.
Understanding Homeopathy and Why to Use It in Pregnancy
A few hundred years ago, there were two standard treatment methods for illness: homeopathy and allopathy.
Allopathy is what we now consider “traditional medicine”—or, a reliance on symptom management through pharmaceuticals, surgery, and other mainstream procedures and therapies.
Homeopathy relies on highly diluted plant-based remedies to lead the body to heal itself. Instead of treating symptoms, the goal of homeopathy is to get to the root of the body’s imbalance.
For many years, these two methods of treatment were at odds with each other. Allopathy tends to be invasive and expensive. Practitioners require years of careful study at medical school. On the other hand, homeopathy requires much less study time and can even be used at home without a doctor’s intervention.
In short, it threatened the security of allopathic medicine.
This may explain why homeopathy became obsolete (at least in the Western world).
But this doesn’t mean it’s ineffective.
When the right plant remedy is matched to your symptoms, it can have a profound effect on how you feel. And since homeopathic remedies are highly diluted plants, they’re extremely safe to use, even in pregnancy.
Benefits of Homeopathy for Pregnancy
Here are some reasons I recommend using homeopathy for pregnancy (alongside gentle movement, targeted supplements, nontoxic living, and nutrient-dense foods).
Homeopathy is effective. Finding the right remedy match for your symptoms can be complicated at first (it involves diving into mind, body, and spirit symptoms). But once you master this piece, homeopathy can be great for relieving mild symptoms and helping you feel more like yourself.
Homeopathy is nontoxic and noninvasive. Since homeopathic remedies are made from highly diluted plants, they’re much safer alternatives to over-the-counter drugs.
You empower yourself. Once you start learning to use homeopathy for yourself, you’ll feel empowered to use it for your whole family. This is an incredible tool to have in your toolbox as you walk through pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood.
You may be able to skip standard labor treatments. Whatever your birth plan entails, having homeopathy on your side can help mitigate labor symptoms and even calm emotions. You’ll feel more equipped to take on your nontoxic birth plan with remedies at the ready.
Build Your Own Homeopathy Pregnancy Kit
Having these remedies on hand can help you mitigate the most common symptoms during all stages of pregnancy. Remember, the best remedy is the one that matches your physical and emotional symptoms best. To get the full breakdown of a homeopathic remedy and the associated constitution, check out The School of Homeopathy or Miranda Castro’s book The Complete Homeopathy Handbook.
Nux Vom for Nausea and Morning Sickness
The remedy nux vomica (or nux vom) is generally helpful for symptoms of nausea. In pregnancy, it may help relieve morning sickness or mitigate other symptoms of digestive distress (heartburn, constipation, bloating, etc.). Use this remedy if you experience multiple of these digestive symptoms—especially if they’re worse in the morning.
Calc Phos for Better Nutrient Absorption
This remedy (also known by its full name: calcarea phosphorica) is technically a cell salt—one of the twelve essential materials that make up the human body. It can be helpful to take cell salts during pregnancy to aid in your baby’s growth and development.
It’s common for women to crave salty and processed foods during pregnancy—perhaps because they’re quick calories. While I typically encourage women to eat what they can, calc phos may help you tolerate whole foods and full meals while reducing your cravings. This is a powerful way to ensure you’re getting optimal nutrients, especially if your stomach is sensitive.
Arnica for Swelling and General Discomfort
By far the most well-known homeopathic remedy, arnica montana is used often for bruising, swelling, and other bodily discomfort. You can take arnica in pill form, by liquid dose, or even topically apply it to a swollen ankle. Arnica is often recommended in cases of varicose veins, too.
Keep arnica on hand during labor and postpartum stages. It’s great for blood flow, localized trauma, and bruising—and it can be a great support through the stress of birth and postpartum.
Carbo Veg for Improved Circulation
If you experience frequent digestive distress alongside issues with circulation and blood flow, then carbo veg (carbo vegetabilis) may be your ideal remedy match. People who need this remedy often feel cold and physically weak. They like to be alone and don’t want to be stuck in humid or abnormally warm rooms.
Cell Salts to Support Baby’s Growth and Development
Like I mentioned earlier, cell salts include the twelve essential materials that make up the human body. Some are helpful for building strong teeth and bones (calc phos and silica) while others support tissue growth and cellular health. If you’re experiencing regular morning sickness or you’re worried about your baby’s growth, taking regular cell salts may help to support fetal development (while strengthening your body in the process).
Pulsatilla for Hormonal Changes
It’s totally normal to go through mood swings and hormonal changes during pregnancy. But it’s not always comfortable—and sometimes those mood swings can get out of hand.
Pulsatilla nigricans is a homeopathic remedy that’s helpful for women experiencing drastic hormonal changes. If you had PCOS, inconsistent periods, or endometriosis before pregnancy, this is an even more compelling reason to try pulsatilla.
Kali Carb for Back Aches
Kali carb (or kali carbonicum) is a homeopathic remedy often used for stitching side pain or lower back pain. You might also feel weak at the knees or at the site of pain and experience regular swelling. Those who need kali carb may have back pain accompanied by swollen eyes, lung or breathing complaints, and coughing.
Announcing My Brand New Homeopathy for Pregnancy Package
As a pregnancy nutritionist, I help my clients explore an intentional, personalized, and whole-body approach to wellness. Pregnancy is such a sacred time, and it deserves the most careful nourishment and attention to detail we can offer you and your baby.
I’ve recently teamed up with my mom, Sandy Nannen (a homeopath at Uncommonly Good Health), to offer the ultimate nutrition and homeopathy package. Together, we’ll help you tackle nutrient-dense meal planning, supplement support, lab testing (as needed), lifestyle recommendations, and homeopathic remedies for acute pregnancy symptoms.
The goal of this package is to address any current hormonal symptoms, build up your nutrient stores, and create an environment where you and your baby can thrive—in all stages of pregnancy and postpartum. As a mom, you’ll feel empowered with health and wellness tools you can use throughout motherhood to show up as your most energetic and present self.
Explore My Nutrition + Homeopathy Package
About the Author:
Katie Braswell is a holistic nutritionist focused on optimizing women’s health at all stages of pregnancy and motherhood. She believes women’s health recommendations are drastically behind the times and has made it her mission to change that—using real food and ancestral methods that help women regain vibrancy and wellness. Her continued education has led her to graduate from the Lily Nichols Prenatal Nutrition Institute and the Fertility Academy.