Many of the women and their families I have worked with over the years feel they have benefited from participation in their own health care and by utilizing alternative therapies along with our conventional medical approach.  In particular, many women find relief from minor discomforts related to menstrual cycle phases, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and menopause. This article introduces three useful complementary modalities:  homeopathy, herbology, and aromatherapy/flower remedies. These modalities may be used in addition to conventional medical care and treatments.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is integral to European medical practice. It centers on the use of plant, mineral or animal substances, which stimulate a person’s natural defenses or innate healing powers when taken in very small doses. The word “homeopathy” derives from the Greek words “homoios” (meaning similar) and “pathos” (meaning disease or suffering), and homeopathic medicines are selected for their ability to cause symptoms similar to those a person is already experiencing. Symptoms are viewed as the body’s effort to re-establish homeostasis or balance, and homeopathy seeks to support, rather than suppress, the body’s inherent effort to heal itself. In other words, homeopathic remedies go with our bodies’ natural defenses. The basic principle of homeopathy is called the “law of similars.”

Many common women’s ailments can be treated using homeopathy. A single remedy or combination may be helpful for menstrual cramps, morning sickness, indigestion, headaches, sinusitis or chronic vaginitis.

There are several good companies (Boerike & Taefel, Dolisos, Boiron) that make combination remedies containing several substances which could be useful. These are easy to find in a good health food store.

Herbology

Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes throughout many cultures across time. The leaves, roots and stems of many “weeds” have tremendous healing properties when used as teas, tinctures, in capsules (dried herbs) or as tinctures (concentrates) or salves. Herbs are full of vital minerals and vitamins which support and feed the body, increase energy and uterine tone.  Herbal tonics improve general health by balancing and sustaining energy flow and focus in the body. Tonics can curb annoyances and help in preventing major problems. Red raspberry leaf, brewed as a tea or infusion is the best known, most widely used and safest of all uterine and pregnancy tonics. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid that gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus. Many herbs can be used to aid in relaxation such as chamomile, linden flower, catnip, lady’s slipper, and passionflower. Herbal baths can help with insomnia, Steep 4 tablespoons of dried herbs, choosing any combination of lavender, lemon balm, linden flower, catnip, in a quart of hot water for 20 minutes. Strain the tea and add to the bath.

Make sure that you tell your health care provider if you are taking herbs for medical conditions as they may interact with other medications you may be taking.

Aromatherapy/flower remedies

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, the concentrated essences of various flowers, fruits, herbs and plants for their medicinal, cleansing and natural fragrance properties. They are potent, very complex in their molecular structure and powerful, yet do not remain in the body or leave any toxins behind like chemicals do.  The essential oils one can safely use in pregnancy: Tangerine, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Geranium, Chamomile, Rose Bulgar, Rose Maroc, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang, Lavender. The oils can be used in a bath, shower, in a massage oil, or to scent a room with a diffuser. For morning sickness put 4-6 drops of spearmint essential oil in a bowl of boiling water placed on the floor by the bed overnight. This calms the stomach and the aroma molecules will waft up and gently do their work while you are asleep. After 3 nights, the morning sickness should subside. Alternately, put one drop on your pillow. There are many excellent massage blends for varicose veins and hemorrhoids, indigestion, insomnia and leg cramps. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy  by Valerie Ann Worwood is an excellent reference for use for pregnancy, menopause and other gynecological problems, stress, as well as for babies and children.

Most people tend to enjoy better health, get more out of life and give more to family and friends when they feel fulfilled, positive and happy. Research supports that emotional and physical health are linked. Flower remedies can help when situations arise where we need to stay in balance and move forward. Flower remedies, such as those developed in the 1920’s and the 1930’s by Dr. Edward Bach, a medical doctor, bacteriologist and homeopathic physician, can help with depression, grief, loss, nervousness, self-esteem, despair, fear, uncertainty, sensitivity and loneliness.  They are based on a persons’ state of mind and personality.

The Bach Flower Remedies are 38 plant and flower remedies that are beneficial in meeting the demands of everyday life. Each remedy aids in a corresponding basic negative state of mind or specific emotion; however, they can be taken singly or in combination. Using these remedies can help you take control of the way you feel during times of stress and change throughout the life cycle. Recognizing exactly how you feel is the key to selecting the appropriate Bach Flower remedy. Match the exact mood you are in to the suitable remedy. Dr Bach devised seven general emotional groups under which he categorized 38 individual flower remedies, each of which relates to a specific emotional state as below: