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Natural Remedies during Pregnancy FAQ
This FAQ is about some easy ways to remedy common pregnancy complaints. If you have a
remedy that you would like to see included, please send me mail with the remedy and
complaint.
This is not meant to replace your careprovider. Please check with your careprovider before
using any remedy. Prenatal care is an important part of every pregnancy.
Robin Elise Weiss, ICCE, CD(DONA), NACA
Pregnancy/Childbirth
pregnancy.guide@about.com
This FAQ contains the following topics:
Prevention of Pregnancy Complaints
Nausea
Heartburn
Fainting and Dizziness
Constipation and Hemorrhoids
Leg Cramps
Backaches
Coughs and Colds
Varicosities
Skin Changes
Stretch Marks
High Blood Pressure
Pelvic Pain
Insomnia
Bladder Problems
Headaches
Anemia
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Resources
As the adage goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." That is the same for
pregnancy, if not more important. Prevention comes in many shapes and sizes. The best thing
you can do is to eat a well balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, salt your food to taste, and get
regular exercise. These will help your body fend off viruses and maintain order.
This is also known as morning sickness, but can strike at anytime of the day. These symptoms
of nausea and vomiting generally go away by the end of the first three months. Things that
irritate the condition: low blood sugar, low blood pressure, hormonal changes, emotional
ambivalence, deficiency of vitamin B6 and iron, or excessive amounts of grease or certain
spices. Vomiting that is excessive needs medical attention.
Suggestions:
Deep breathing may help, as well as relaxation exercises
A protein snack before bed will help low blood sugar in the morning
Get up slowly out of bed
Take a walk everyday
Sea bands on both wrists for acupressure points
Anise, dried peach tree leaves, fennel seed, red raspberry or ginger teas
A teaspoon of cider vinegar in a cup of warm water
Infusion of ginger root
Smelling ground ginger
Increase iron rich foods in your diet
Ipecacuana 6X three times daily for 5 days
Nux Vomica 6X
Slippery Elm tablets, two before each meal
Aromatherapy: lavender, rose, or chamomile for a massage oil
Hormones released during pregnancy allow the softening of the sphincter between the
esophagus and stomach. This lets stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing a burning
sensation. This may also occur in the latter months of pregnancy as your baby pushes all of
your organs upward.
Suggestions:
Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Remain upright for an hour after eating, lying down can irritate the problem
Eating yogurt or drinking milk can help
Avoid spicy or greasy foods
Try a tablespoon of honey in a glass of warm milk
Mercurius Solubilis 6C three times daily
Fainting is common during pregnancy. the blood may pool in the lower body and the brain
may become temporarily deprived of oxygen, causing fainting or dizziness.
Suggestions:
Avoid standing for long periods of time
While standing practice contracting and relaxing your leg and buttocks muscles to help blood
return to your head
When resting lay on your side as opposed to your back
When sitting return to standing slowly
Don't get out of a hot bath too quickly
Keep cool in hot weather
If you feel faint, sit to avoid injury and place your head lower than your body, kneeling on all fours
works too
Take a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy as soon as your start to feel faint
Make sure you blood sugar isn't low, eat small protein rich snacks throughout the day
Shiatsu points Lung 9 (LU9) and Heart 7 (HT7) together, if done by someone else, or separately if
alone, for 5-7 seconds, repeat three times, then do the same to the opposite arm
Constipation can become a problem in pregnancy due to hormonal changes affecting the
digestive system. However, iron tablets can also lead to constipation as well as a lack of fiber in
your diet. Hemorrhoids are varicose veins of the rectum which are associated with pregnancy.
Preventing constipation is a good start to preventing hemorrhoids.
Suggestions for constipation:
Regular exercise, especially squatting
Plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet
Drink plenty of fluids
Drink prune juice
Nux Vomica 6X three times daily
When you have to go..GO! Do not delay the urge to defecate.
Avoid straining your bowels (This will also help prevent hemorrhoids.)
Suggestions for Hemorrhoids:
Avoid straining
Apply baking soda wet or dry to take away the itch, even add some to your bath water
Hamamelis 30X
Witch hazel or lemon juice to reduce swelling or bleeding
Comfrey or Yellowdock Root ointment
Herbal sitz baths
Cramps in your muscles are common during pregnancy. They may be caused by the weight
you are carrying, circulation changes, or calcium deficiency.
Suggestions:
Regular exercise
Adequate calcium intake
When the cramp begins, bring your toes towards you, and massage the muscle
Dissolve four tablets of Magnesia Phosphorica 6X in a small glass of warm water
Backaches can be particularly annoying. They can be caused by poor posture, inappropriate
lifting techniques, lack of exercise, or the weight of the baby and the stretching ligaments.
Suggestions:
Utilize good posture
Use proper lifting techniques
Pelvic rocking
Massage
Sleep with pillows supporting your legs and back
Wear flat heeled shoes that offer good support
Heat (bath, shower, pad, sock)
Swimming
Don't move in a jerky fashion
Stretch daily
Herbal Liniments may help
St. John's Wort tincture, 15-25 drops in a glass of water every few hours as needed
For severe pain add 3-5 drops of Skullcap tincture to the above
Chiropractic help may be of use as well
Pregnancy can cause your mucous membranes to swell. This can make it more difficult to get
rid of coughs, colds, etc. Prevention is key here. Eat well, and get plenty of rest and exercise.
Also avoid people who are contagious if possible.
Suggestions:
Well balanced diet
Increase Vitamin C foods
Eating garlic or onions can help with infections
Zinc and Vitamin C supplements will help increase your resistance
B vitamins help if you are under stress
Use a humidifier
Use Aconite 6X every two hours for 24 hours at the first sign of a cold
Allium Cepa 6C three times daily for a streaming head cold
Eucalyptus, lavender, lemon and tea tree: 2 drops pf each oil into a bowl of water, inhale steam
for 10 minutes Do not use in conjunction with homeopathic remedies.
Recipes:
Herbal Decoction for colds:
4 Cloves
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
a few slices of fresh ger
1 pints of water
a slice of lemon
honey
Add the spices to the water, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the lemon and
simmer for a further 5 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey. Drink a hot cup of this every 2
hours.
Cold Tea:
Peppermint
Chickweed
Echinacea
Blackberry leaves
Mix equal parts of the herbs in a container and take a heaping teaspoon into a tea bag. Steep in
boiling water for 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey. You can drink this as often as needed for cold
symptoms.
Pregnancy causes changes to the blood volume and hormone levels. The increased flow of
blood and the relaxation of the muscular walls of the blood vessels leads to a more difficult
return of blood from the lower body. They can appear in the legs, vulva, or rectum (see
hemorrhoids) The varicose veins that area a result of these changes can be painful, itching, and
unsightly. However, heredity does play a part in this process. Here are some ideas to help.
Suggestions:
Massage may help prevent, but avoid if varicosities develop
Avoid standing for long periods of time
Exercise regularly (Swimming, yoga and walking are great)
Eat well, including plenty of fiber, Vitamins A, C, E and B complex
Eat raw garlic, onions and parsley to increase the elasticity of your veins
Never cross your legs
Avoid tight clothing
Support stockings may help if you raise your legs up before putting them on
Raise the foot of your bed 3-4 inches
Put your legs up whenever you can
Exercise the pelvic floor and inner thigh muscles
Horse chestnut, nettle, yarrow, St. John's Wort and Shepard's Purse help improve blood flow
Ointments of comfrey, yellow dock root, plantain or yarrow may help stop bleeding, reduce pain
and ease swelling
Hammamelis 6X three time daily for up to a week for painful varicose veins (stop when you get
symptom relief)
Calcarea fluorica 6X is good for building up elasticity
Skin changes abound during pregnancy. Some are pleasant, others are not. Most of these
changes will go away shortly after the birth of your baby. Here are some ideas for the not so
pleasant changes that pregnancy can bring.
Suggestions:
Pigmentation:
Use a sunblock when in the sun
Never bleach your skin
Use St. John's Wort oil to help prevent discoloration
Eat foods rich in PABA and folic acid
Itching:
Changing laundry detergents to a dye free, perfume free brand
Wear cotton clothes
Oatmeal baths help with itching
Chickweed ointment
Bach Rescue Remedy Cream
Lime Flower teas before bed can be soothing
Acne:
Acne may either get better or worsen during pregnancy, try to keep your face dry, and avoid oils
Contrary to popular belief, stretch marks cannot be prevented. Your best defense is healthy
skin, and good genetics behind you. These marks will fade and turn silvery after the birth.
Suggestions:
Eat the proper diet to help your skin be healthy
Drink plenty of fluids (Skin that is well nourished stretches better)
If you have itching, use a cream to moisturize the area, some people prefer a Vitamin E oil
Take Calc Fluor 6X 3 times daily for a week starting in early pregnancy, continue alternate weeks
for the rest
Recipes:
Stretchmark Oil
dark glass 50 ml bottle
50 ml of wheatgerm oil, or mixture of wheatgerm and almond oil
essential oils of lavender and neroli
Fill the bottle with wheatgerm oil, or the mixture of wheatgerm and almond oils for a thinner
solution. Add 15 drops of the essential oil of lavender and 10 drops of the essential oil of
neroli. Massage daily after bathing.
High blood pressure may be physiological or a reaction to stress or anxiety. Your blood
pressure will be checked regularly throughout your pregnancy. There are many things you can
do to help maintain a health blood pressure.
Suggestions:
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy, balanced diet, containing plenty of raw fruits and vegetables
Protein is very important in preventing high blood pressure and ecclampsia, you need at least 80
grams of protein daily
Limiting red meat can help you maintain a lower blood pressure, make sure you are getting protein
from other sources
Salt your food to taste, do not eliminate salt from your diet
Cucumbers help reduce blood pressure
Avoid stress where possible
Instead of coffee, tea, or colas, drink: raspberry leaf, nettles, limeflower or dandelion teas
Juice of half a lemon or lime plus two teaspoons of cream of tartar in a half a cup of water once a
day for three days, lowers your blood pressure, if needed, repeat after a break of two days
2-4 capsules of Passionflower daily, or 15 drops of the tincture three times a day, continue for
several weeks for the most benefit
If you develop pre-ecclampsia:
Include potassium rich foods into your diet (bananas, and lightly cooked potato peel)
A minium of 2400 calories a day are required
Drink Raw beet juice to balance the sodium/potassium ratio in your blood, about 4 ounces daily
Take a B complex taken daily with 100mg B6 or brewer's yeast
Young dandelion leaves are excellent sources of calcium and potassium, this will vitalize your
kidneys and reduce edema
As your pregnancy continues, the weight of the baby and your changing form may cause pain
when your pubic joint expands in preparation for birth.
Suggestions:
Regular exercise
Rest when you need it
Warm compresses at the site of pain
May worsen after walking or standing a lot
May be worse when you are tired
Insomnia can be caused by a lot of factors: restlessness, the need to urinate, worry,
overstimulation, discomfort, etc.
Suggestions:
Avoid stimulants
Eat a few hours before bedtime, making sure your meal is easily digestible
Try drinking chamomile tea before bed, or limeflower
Try warm milk or a calcium and magnesium supplement
Make sure that your room is well ventilated and your bed comfortable
Use extra pillows as needed
Do some pelvic rocking before bed, followed by a warm bath
Massage of the head and neck may relieve tension
One tablet of Passiflor 6X, Coffea Cruda 6X or Nux Vomica 6X before bed or if you awake in
the middle of the night
A few drops of Bach Rescue remedy in water will help you if your are restless
Add two or three drops of essential oil of lavender to a base oil and use it with a massage before
bed
Cystitis, an infection of the bladder, is not uncommon during pregnancy. This is due to the
added stress placed on your bladder because of the increased volume of fluids in your body.
Suggestions:
Avoid junk food, refined starches, sugar, coffee, tea and foods high in acidic content
Eat live yogurt daily
Drink plenty on fluids, especially water
Wear cotton underwear
Avoid using soap to wash your genitals or using bubble bath or bath salts
After intercourse emptying your bladder and washing with water may help reduce the risk of
infection
Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom
Include garlic, leeks and cabbage in your diet
Blend unsweetened cranberry juice with parsley three times daily
Barley water, chamomile, marshmallow and raspberry teas are effective
Try taking 500g daily of Vitamin C until symptoms improve
Resulting from hormonal changes or stress, headaches can be familiar during pregnancy.
Suggestions:
Get plenty of rest
Exercise regularly
Excessive caffeine can cause headaches, as can caffeine withdrawal. If you have been totally
avoiding caffeine, a cola or cup of caffeinated tea may help
Try relaxation exercises
Soak a washcloth in cold water containing a few drops of essential oil of lavender. Apply to
forehead and rest in darkened room
Massaging the neck and spine may help
Anemia is very common during pregnancy. We try and ward it off by prescribing iron tablets,
this can be ineffective and actually cause other problems. However, there are times when we
check for anemia that aren't appropriate. We tend to want to check for anemia right after an
expanse in blood volume. When this occurs it will take a bit for the red blood cells to "catch
up" to the rise in volume. This can look like anemia, when it's really not. Here are some other
methods of getting the iron you need.
Suggestions:
Eat lots of iron rich foods (liver, leafy greens, beets, oysters, heart and tongue)
Avoid caffeine, it prevents absorption of iron
Avoid excessive bran, alkalinizers and phosphates, they inhibit absorption
Drink something with vitamins C with your iron supplements (tablets or herbal), Vitamin C aids in
the assimilation
Cook with cast iron
Good herbal sources of iron: Parsley, Nettles, Amaranth greens, Dandelion root, and Kelp
Yellow Dock root
Prevention: 1T of decoction or 25-40 drops of tincture daily
Presenting with anemia: Same dosage as above but three times a day
T his syndrome affects a lot of us. I am assuming since you are probably reading this on a
computer that you type quite a bit. This puts you at a higher risk.
Suggestions:
Use a wrist rest by your computer
Sleep with your arm on a pillow at night
Massage: Have a partner massge, using thumbs, from the inside of your wrist outwards and down
Kneel on hands and knees, lean your body forward stretching your wrists, hold for a few seconds
Hold your hand above your head and wiggle your fingers
A splint on your wrist at night may also help
Acupressure: Locate the point Lung 10 (LU10) in the center of the fleshy mound at the base of
your thumb, press firmly, hold 5-7 seconds, repeat 3 times
Acupuncture
Natural Pregnancy by Janet Balaskas
Wise Woman Herbal: The Childbearing Year by Susan Weed
Husband Coached Childbirth by Robert Bradley
Aromatherapy for Pregnancy and Childbirth by Margaret Fawcett
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