Homeopathy for Pregnancy: Pulsatilla

June 15, 2009 at 9:00 pm (Comfort Measures, Homeopathy) (alternative remedies, nausea, pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms)

There are many remedies for the discomforts of early pregnancy.  The nausea, tiredness, emotional swings and psychological adventures can be unsettling, and many women try one thing after another to relieve them.  Over the next few posts, I’m going to introduce you to three remedies that can help to address the overall energy of the pregnant mama, and in doing so, help to relieve the turmoil of the first few months.

In choosing one of these remedies for personal use, there are two different ways you can go about deciding which one might work for you.  The first is to look for your specific symptom within the descriptions of each of the remedies, and see which one lines up best with your headache, nausea, etc.  The other way is to look at the overall description of the remedy and see if it describes you in general, or at least your general experience while you’re having the symptoms.  The more aspects of the remedy that match your experience, the more likely it is to work for you. I’ll explain a bit about dosing at the end, but remember that I’m not a homeopath, and so if you have any questions, it’s a really good idea to consult with a good ND (naturopathic doctor) or classical homeopath.

Pulsatilla

Have you ever had a gentle, flowing friend who could change emotions at the drop of a hat? She might smilingly tell you about the latest funny thing her kitten did, only to begin crying as she’s reminded of her childhood cat who is now gone. Some people think she’s a bit spacey, maybe even a little ungenuine because of the ease with which her mood and outlook changes.  But the better you get to know her, the more you realize that she feels each state she’s in fully and completely- while she’s happy, she is completely happy.  When she’s mad, she is wholly mad.  The same with all her moods, as easily triggered as they may be.  You’ve noticed that, once you get used to her changeability, friendship is fairly smooth with her.  That is, unless you forget a plan you’ve made with her, or make a dismissive comment, or act aloof around her- anything that triggers her fear of being abandoned.  She is as cuddly as the kitten or puppy she loves, as long as she feels safe in her relationships. If she feels she’s about to be abandoned, she can become incredibly emotional and clingy, calling you to find out where you are, if you still like her, and why you’ve hurt her in this way.  Once you make up, though, she doesn’t hold a grudge- she’s back to her former easygoing, sweet self.  She delights in going to great lengths to please you, and she loves creating beauty everywhere she goes.

Pulsatilla is the homeopathic form of the Wind Flower, or Pasque Flower.  As the name implies, this flower grows in meadows, constantly buffeted by breezes and winds.  In the same way, a person who resonates with pulsatilla changes as the winds blow.  In fact this changeability is a key symptom for pulsatilla ailments.  If a pain changes frequently in location or intensity, if a secretion changes in color, scent or amount, or if the characteristic mood swings are present, pulsatilla is a good remedy to consider. In general, pulsatilla symptoms are also better in the open air, and better with mild exercise.  Pusatilla is considered to be one of the main women’s remedies; my Materia Medica describes it as belonging to “females of mild, gentle, plethoric, yielding disposition, who cry readily and weep while talking.  Pale, chilly blondes.”

Now I’ll address some of the specific symptoms within the pulsatilla picture.  All of these descriptions are drawn from Murphys’ Nature’s Materia Medica. 

Stomach:  Nausea with bitter taste.  Gas.  Belching with taste of food.  Stomach feels heavy. Persistent nausea, better after vomiting.   Vomiting with pale face, chilliness.

Head:  One-sided headaches, pulsating, bursting.  Teary eyes on the side of the headache.  Headaches better with walking in open air. 

Food:  Hunger, but doesn’t know for what.  Thirstlessness.  Craving for rich foods, creamy foods, desserts, but symptoms worse for those foods.

Stools:  Constipation alternating with diarrhea.

Breasts: Milk leaking before she’s even pregnant.   When nursing, she cries as she pulls her baby to her breast. After weaning, breasts remain very full and sore.

Pregnancy:  This remedy is specific for turning breech babies.  Along with acupuncture and chiropractic, it is a good thing to try if your baby is in the breech position after 30-34 weeks.

The standard doses for home use are 6c and 30c.  If you’re having acute symptoms, you can try 30c, one to three times a day (or more or less, as your intuition guides you).  For less acute discomfort, or if your system is particularly sensitive, you can try 6c, up to three times a day.  Check in with your body and your intuition to guide you in taking these remedies, or read about dosing on some homeopathy sites to give you more ideas.  Or, of course, check with your homeopath, who can personalize your treatment and help you track your particular symptoms and reactions.