Homeopathy Tips for 9/07/10 Abortion/Miscarriage

It is sometimes confusing to hear the two terms abortion and miscarriage used interchangeably. In our Repertories the word for spontaneous abortion of the pregnancy is referred to as abortion. In medical terms any spontaneous termination of a pregnancy before the 24th week is called miscarriage.  After 24 weeks of pregnancy the delivery of a fetus that has died is called a stillbirth.

Other terms commonly used are;

• Therapeutic or induced abortion – This is an intentionally induced medical  abortion either by drugs or surgery. This can be to end an unwanted pregnancy or to stop a pregnancy because of medical reason to protect the mother.

• Threatened abortion – Bleeding or cramping in the first 24 weeks that threatens the pregnancy and  indicates that the fetus may be lost.

• Complete abortion – When the fetus and the placenta have been completely expelled.

• Incomplete abortion – Expulsion of only part of the contents of the uterus.

• Habitual Abortion – More than 3 consecutive spontaneous abortions (miscarriages).

• Missed abortion – The retention of a dead fetus in the uterus for more than 4 weeks.

• Septic Abortion – Infection of the contents of the uterus before, during or after an abortion.

Miscarriage is a common solution to a higher risk pregnancy. 15% of all pregnancies end in  miscarriage. About 85% of those are in the first 12 weeks. Most miscarriages happen because of something wrong with the fetus. Usually it is genetic abnormalities that contribute to the cause. Other causes could be  structural abnormalities in the women. Under active thyroid, diabetes, drug or alcohol abuse, or infection are the most common causes. In roughly one third of all miscarriages there is no identifiable cause.

Miscarriage is usually made known by cramping with spotting, bleeding or a discharge from the vagina. In the early stages of pregnancy the discharge or spotting may be mild. In later stages it may be severe bleeding and cramping. Eventually the fetus is expelled. If the fetus is not expelled then the mother risks infection. This is a very serious condition that could be life threatening.

An Ultrasound scan can usually tell if the fetus is living or has died. It can also tell whether the fetus and the placenta have been expelled. When the fetus is alive and miscarriage is diagnosed then bed rest for the mother is ordered. This is strictly enforced or being vertical may stimulate the abortion again. It is also imperative that the woman refrain from intercourse during this time. If the fetus has died and has not been expelled the doctor may order a D&C. Dilation and Curettage to remove them. If the ftus dies in later stages of pregnancy Oxytocin can be administered to promote labor contraction so the fetus is expelled naturally.

Grief and sadness are common for the parents of any miscarried child. It is common and talking with their doctor, family, friends or support group is encouraged. Believe it or not many people have experienced miscarriage and it is more common than one might think.

Rubrics that may be useful for Abortion/Miscarriage from the Complete 2009 Repertory are (note that miscarriage is not a term that is used in our repertory);

• Female; ABORTION (179) : abrot., absin., 4ACON., agar-se., alco., alco-s., 4ALET., aloe, alum., ambr., ant-c., 4APIS, apoc-a., arg-n., arist-cl., 4ARN., 3Ars., art-v., 3Asaf., 3Asar., asar-c., asc-c., 4AUR., 3Aur-m., aur-m-n., bac., 4BAPT., 4BELL., bor., 4BRY., bufo, buni-o., 4CALC., calc-f., calc-s., 4CAMPH., 3Cann-i., 4CANN-S., 4CANTH., caps., carb-an., 3Carb-v., cari., 4CAUL., 3Caust., cedr., 4CHAM., 3Chim., 4CHIN., chin-s., 4CIMIC., cina, 3Cinnam., cob-n., 3Cocc., 3Coff., coll., 3Coloc., 3Con., 4CROC., crot-h., croto-t., cupr., cycl., des-ac., 3Dig., 3Dulc., ergot., 4ERIG., 4EUP-PUR., 4FERR., ferr-acet., 3Ferr-i., ferr-m., ferr-p., fil., 2foll., 4GELS., glyc-g., goss., 3Ham., hedeo., 4HELON., 3Hep., hippoz., 4HYOS., 4IGN., indg., iod., 2ion-rad., 4IP., 3Iris, 3Kali-br., 4KALI-C., 2kali-chl., kali-i., kali-ma., 3Kali-n., kali-p., kali-s., kou., 3Kreos., kron., 3Lac-c., lach., lil-t., lip., 4LYC., 4MERC., 2merc-c., 3Mill., morph., murx., nat-c., nat-m., 4NIT-AC., 4NUX-M., 4NUX-V., 2ol-j., 4OP., opun-v., parth., 3Phos., phyt., 3Pin-l., pin-s., 4PLAT., 4PLB., 4PODO., 4PULS., 4PYROG., 3Rat., 3Rheum, rhod., 4RHUS-T., rosm., 3Rumx., 4RUTA, sabad., 4SABIN., 3Sang., 3Sars., 4SEC., 3Senec., 4SEP., sid-al., sieg., 3Sil., sol, 3Spong., staph., 4STRAM., succ., sul-ac., sul-i., 4SULPH., 3Syph., 3Tanac., tarent., teg-a., 3Ter., ther., thlaspi, 4THUJ., thyr., tity-t., 4TOCOPH., trach-v., 4TRIL., 4UST., uza., 4VERAT., 3Verat-v., 4VIB., 4VIB-P., visc., wies., xan., 4ZINC.

• Generalities; ABORTION, complaints after (37) : alet., arn., ars., asar-c., bapt., canth., 3Caul., chin., cimic., goss., ham., hedeo., 4HELON., kali-br., kali-c., 3Kali-s., 3Lil-t., manc., murx., podo., 2pot-a., psor., puls., 3Pyrog., rheum, ruta, 3Sabin., sec., senec., 3Sep., sulph., tanac., ter., thlaspi, tril., 2ust., 3Verat-v.

• Female; DEAD fetus, to expel retained (9) : arist-cl., 3Canth., crot-h., mand., 3Puls., pyrog., ruta, 3Sabin., sec.

• Female; METRORRHAGIA, hemorrhage; Abortion; during (31) : anac., 3Apis, arn., 3Bell., bry., caul., cham., 3Chin., 4CROC., 3Erig., ferr., hyos., 3Ip., 3Kali-c., 3Lyc., mill., 3Nit-ac., 4PLAT., plb., puls., ruta, 4SABIN., 3Sec., sep., 3Sil., 3Sulph., 3Thlaspi, 2trach-v., 3Ust., 4VIB., vib-p.

• Female; METRORRHAGIA, hemorrhage; Abortion; after (39) : alet., 3Arn., 4BELL., blum-o., 3Bry., caul., 4CHAM., 3Chin., 3Cinnam., cocc., 4CROC., erig., 4FERR., ferr-p., ham., 3Hyos., 3Ip., kali-c., kalm., 3Lyc., merc., 4MILL., nit-ac., nux-m., nux-v., op., 4PLAT., plb., psor., puls., 4SABIN., 3Sec., sep., sil., 3Sulph., sym-r., 4THLASPI, tril., 3Ust.

• Female; METRORRHAGIA, hemorrhage; Abortion; threatening, in (14) : 3Calc., cimic., 3Croc., erig., goss., 3Ham., 4KREOS., 3Lyc., 3Mill., 3Puls., ruta, 3Sabin., 3Tril., 3Ust.

• Female; ABORTION; Month, week; first month (4) : alco., 4APIS, 3Croc., vib.

• Female; ABORTION; Month, week; second month (14) : agar-se., 2apis, 3Cimic., croc., des-ac., 4KALI-C., kali-n., plb., 3Sabin., 3Sec., senec., thuj., tril., vib.

• Female; ABORTION; Month, week; third month (18) : 3Apis, bell., cimic., 3Croc., des-ac., 3Eup-pur., 4KALI-C., 3Kreos., 3Merc., 3Nux-v., plb., 4SABIN., 4SEC., sep., thuj., 3Tril., 3Ust., vib.

• Female; ABORTION; Emotions, after (9) : 3Acon., 3Bapt., 3Cham., cimic., 4GELS., 3Helon., lil-t., 3Nux-v., sep.

• Female; ABORTION; Inertia of uterus, with (12) : alet., 3Carb-v., 3Caul., chin., cimic., ferr., 3Helon., puls., sabin., sec., senec., ust.

• Female; ABORTION; Injuries, after (6) : 3Arn., cinnam., ham., 3Puls., 3Rhus-t., ruta

• Female; ABORTION; Tendency to (78) : 3Alet., aloe, 3Apis, arg-n., asaf., asar., aur., 3Aur-m., aur-m-n., bac., 3Bapt., bufo, 3Calc., calc-s., cann-s., carb-v., 3Caul., cedr., 3Cimic., cob-n., cocc., croc., erig., 3Eup-pur., ferr., ferr-acet., 2ferr-m., 2foll., gels., glyc-g., goss., ham., 3Helon., hyos., ign., iris, 4KALI-C., kali-chl., kali-i., kali-ma., kali-n., kali-p., kreos., kron., 3Lyc., merc., merc-c., 3Mill., 4NUX-M., nux-v., 2ol-j., phyt., 3Plat., 4PLB., puls., rhus-t., ruta, 3Sabin., sang., 3Sars., 3Sec., 3Sep., sieg., sil., sul-i., 3Sulph., syph., tanac., thuj., thyr., 4TOCOPH., tril., 3Ust., verat., 4VIB., 3Vib-p., wies., 3Zinc.

• Female; ABORTION; Threatening (73) : 3Acon., alet., ambr., 3Apis, apoc-a., 3Arn., 2asaf., 3Asar., asc-c., aur., 3Bapt., 4BELL., 3Bry., buni-o., 3Calc., cann-i., 3Cann-s., 3Caul., 3Caust., 4CHAM., 3Chim., 3Chin., 3Cimic., cina, cinnam., cocc., coff., 3Croc., dig., dulc., erig., 3Eup-pur., 3Ferr., 3Gels., goss., 3Ham., hedeo., 3Helon., 4HYOS., 3Ign., 4IP., 3Kali-c., 3Kali-chl., 4KREOS., lyc., 3Merc., 3Mill., nit-ac., 3Nux-m., 3Nux-v., 3Op., opun-v., phos., plat., 3Plb., podo., 4PULS., 3Rat., 3Rhus-t., 3Ruta, 4SABIN., sang., 4SEC., sep., 3Sil., 3Stram., sulph., 3Tril., 3Ust., 3Verat., 4VIB., vib-p., xan.

As in any case with homeopathy it is necessary to prescribe to the whole picture of the person. Understanding the feeling and sensations as well as the physical symptoms will help select much better remedies than physical symptoms alone. Here are a few of the most common remedies for Abortion/Miscarriage;

• Aconitum Napelus – Threatened abortion from fright, anger or a fear that something horrible will happen. Dizziness on rising. Sudden onset.
• Arnica – Threatened abortion caused by a fall or blow, shock or concussion. Trauma. Bleeding without pain. Body sore all over as if from a bruise.
• Belladonna – Severe bearing down pains. as if everything would protrude out the vagina. Pains come on suddenly and cease suddenly.
• Caulophyllum – Habitual abortion from atony of the uterus. Severe back and loin pain with feeble contractions.
• China Officinalis – After abortion when hemorrhage continues. Great loss of blood. Useful in recovery after abortion and loss of vital fluids.
• Helonias  Dioca- Uterine tonic. Useful in threatened abortion and habitual abortion.
• Pulsatilla Nigricans – Flow ceases for a while then returns with double the force. The cessation and return is repeated often. Desire for fresh air.
• Pyrogeneum – After abortion to help expel pregnancy and to help with septic conditions from incomplete septic abortion.
• Rhus Toxicodendron – Abortion caused by strain or lifting. Must change position. Worse at nigh and during rest.
• Sabina – Threatened miscarriage especially during the third month. Pains start in the small of the back and go around to the pubes. Bright red flow of blood with clots. Partly bright fluid and partly clotted discharge, increasing with every motion.
• Secale – Prolonged bearing down pains. Copious black blood and fluid. Especially good after miscarriage has happened. Great debility and lack of pulse.
• Sulphur – Helps retain pregnancy and the tendency to abortion. Promotes the expulsion of the dead fetus.
• Ustilago – Retained placenta after abortion.
• Viburnum – Threatened abortion with bearing down pains and intense cramping.

This is only a partial list of the most common remedies for issues of abortion and miscarriage. Always take the case. Pay attention to the strange rare or peculiar symptoms that may be present. Give the remedy for the whole person and not just the physical symptoms. Offer guidance and understanding when abortion happens. It is a very delicate time for the family and good homeopathy for grief is always helpful. Having a few of these common remedies around will help you help the mother and child and might make the difference between bringing a healthy and happy child into the world or not. Always ask for help during difficult times. There are powers that be that are greater than ourselves that want to help. They need to be asked because they do not want to interfere in our earthly realm unless asked. And do good homeopathy!