Homeopathy during breastfeeding

Motherhood is not limited to Mother's Day. Every day is Mother's Day. While most people do not think about what motherhood means outside of Mother's Day, in my blog I would like to address the special and unique needs of mothers.

Rarely is there a more beautiful time of bonding for mother and child than the breastfeeding period. But precisely because this time is so precious, the pressure to succeed can feel overwhelming for a new mother and any problems all the more burdensome.

I have already written about which homeopathic remedies should be taken only with caution or preferably not at all during pregnancy: Your questions about homeopathy and pregnancy answered.

Can I take homeopathic remedies while breastfeeding?

Since then I have received many enquiries on the subject of homeopathy during breastfeeding. Many of you are uncertain whether homeopathic remedies may be taken while nursing.

Let me put it this way: homeopathic remedies are medicines and should always be treated with the respect they deserve. They should also be used purposively and according to the circumstances.

For example, there are homeopathic remedies that support weaning. If I take one of these remedies, I must also expect my body to react accordingly. If I underestimate the potency of a homeopathic remedy, it is quite possible that reactions will occur that I did not anticipate. So we should never take a homeopathic remedy that reduces milk production if we want to increase milk supply.

Aside from that, I cannot think of any homeopathic remedy that — when taken for everyday complaints such as coughs, colds, injuries or emotional issues — would adversely affect breastfeeding.

Breasts and Bryonia

As you can imagine, there are specific homeopathic remedies that can be very beneficial.

Bryonia is, for example, an excellent remedy for breast complaints. Here is a little mnemonic:

Just think 'BB' – Breasts and Bryonia

Breast pain responds very well to Bryonia 30, taken twice daily until the symptoms have significantly improved (read more about homeopathic dosing here). Bryonia is by no means the only remedy for this, but it is one of the most important in this area.

Homeopathy for mastalgia

Some time ago I wrote about mastalgia: When mammography is painful.

What exactly is mastalgia? It's simply another word for breast pain. Sometimes medical terms sound more complicated than they are. I've had clients come to me and say, 'My breasts hurt so much. But what if I have mastalgia?' It sounds as if something creepy is lurking in the dark corner.

No. Certain medical terms mean exactly what you can recognise from the symptoms. The term mastalgia is derived from the Greek words 'mastos' (breast) and 'algos' (pain).

Mast-algia. Breast-pain.

The same happens when people say, 'I don't have arthritis, I just have joint pain.'

What do you think 'arthritis' means? It is Neo-Latin and originally comes from the Greek 'arthron' – meaning joint – and '-itis', which means 'inflammation'. So if you have inflamed and painful joints, you have arthritis.

In my many years in practice I have observed that it is human nature to believe one's own condition is unusual or even rare. In most cases this is not so. Others have had this condition before and many were successfully treated with homeopathy.

Bryonia during breastfeeding

For mastalgia (breast pain) the indicated remedy is generally Bryonia 30, regardless of whether the pain occurs as a symptom of menarche or menopause. Even boys whose breast tissue can become swollen and painful during puberty benefit from Bryonia 30, taken twice daily until the symptoms have markedly improved.

But Bryonia has another use directly related to the breasts. If a breastfeeding woman produces too little milk, Bryonia 30, taken twice daily, can stimulate milk flow.

As always in homeopathy, many roads lead to Rome. There are other remedies that can stimulate milk flow in breastfeeding mothers.

China for milk production

Many women benefit from Chinchona officinalis 200 (China 200), taken twice daily. However, this remedy should be used with caution because China can stimulate milk flow so strongly that the baby may not want to feed at the breast anymore, thinking, 'Yuck! Here they come again — the Niagara Falls!' Please remember that you only have to breastfeed one baby, not the whole nation! Once a homeopathic remedy takes effect, it should be stopped and only repeated if necessary.

It is always advantageous to learn as much as possible about homeopathy so that you know which remedy suits a particular situation and which accompanying symptoms are important for the prescription.

Stay healthy, because only a healthy mother can be the healer of the family!

With thorough homeopathic knowledge you are equipped for every eventuality and will become the heroine of your family and your friends.

There are few better ways to be convinced of homeopathy! Spread the word.

Warmly,

Yours,

Source: Using Homeopathy While Breastfeeding