Homeopathy helped her to calm down and enjoy the antenatal period with ease.
Published in The Homoeopathic Heritage Journal September 2022
Abstract: Pregnancy itself is an emotion where every stage from conception till delivery brings different issues and concerns and anxiety is one of the feelings that a pregnant women experience commonly. While a certain level of stress, worry or anxiety is natural during pregnancy but if there is excessive worrying, frequent sense of panic, fear or restlessness on most of the days which is affecting a women’s life, mood or daily activities, it may be an anxiety disorder which is often underdiagnosed. Modern medicine for such psychological disorder are generally unsafe and has adverse effects, also cause dependency. However, Homoeopathy is one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicine therapies and has strong focus on mental health disorders and has a role to play in managing anxieties and fear without any adverse effects on mother and baby.
Keywords: Pregnancy, Anxiety, fear, Homeopathy, Arsenicum album, Calcarea carbonicum
Abbreviations: C (centesimal scale), OPD (Outpatient department), TDS (thrice in a day)
Introduction: Prenatal anxiety is the term used for anxiety during pregnancy. The rates of generalised anxiety disorder appear to be highest in the first trimester, likely due to hormonal changes. Psychologists termed it as ‘a state of emotional crisis’ which if not managed timely can results into disastrous consequences on mother as well as offspring.(1)
Tocophobia, also known as ‘fear of pregnancy’ and ‘fear of child birth’ is a pathological fear of pregnancy; which can lead to avoidance of childbirth.(2)
Who is more at risk:
- Primigravidae
- Hormonal disorders
- High risk pregnancy
- History of miscarriage
- History of Previous episodes of anxiety and/ or depression
- Lack of support from partner/ family
- Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy
- History of abuse/domestic violence
Anxiety in a pregnant woman may manifest as (2)
- Changes in emotion and behaviour
- Physical symptoms like restlessness, sleeplessness, nervousness, crying episodes or even tachycardia, change in eating habits or physical activity. Some women feel paranoid and unable to enjoy their pregnancy period, while others may wish to have a caesarean section due to fear of vaginal delivery
An anxious women may have:
- Feeling of being unwell
- Loss of appetite
- Poor concentration
- Mood swings- laughing or crying over trivial matters
- Feeling of dread
- Lack of ability to speak or think clearly
- Forgetfulness
- Panic attacks
- Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- Irritability/ Anger outbursts
- Palpitation
- Nausea/ vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Suicidal thoughts/ Self harm
Adverse effect of anxiety in mothers on the baby
Anxiety during pregnancy can results in loss of foetus, decrease in birth weight and long term effects on the unborn baby. It can cause increase in activity of the Hypothalamus – Hypophysis–Adrenal axis, endocrine disorders, hyperglycemia, shortness of breath, rash, asthma, destruction in social behaviour and fertility rate in adulthood. It can also lead to emotional problems, hyperactivity disorder, decentralization and disturbance in cognitive development of children. Abnormalities like cleft lip, cleft palate can also be seen increasingly in babies of overanxious mothers.
n Aphorism 225 he states “There are, however, as has just
Homeopathic point of view (3)
Dr Hahnemann states in Aphorism 210 of his Organon of Medicine; regarding mental diseases that “They do not, however, constitute a class of disease sharply separated from all others, since in all other so-called corporeal diseases the condition of the disposition and mind is always altered; and in all cases of disease we are called on to cure the state of the patient’s disposition is to be particularly noted, along with the totality of the symptoms, if we would trace an accurate picture of the disease, in order to be able there from to treat it homoeopathically with success.
In Aphorism 225 he states that “There are, however, as has just been stated, certainly a few emotional diseases which have not merely been developed into that form out of corporeal diseases, but which, in an inverse manner, the body being but slightly indisposed, originate and are kept up by emotional causes, such as continued anxiety, worry, vexation, wrongs and the frequent occurrence of great fear and fright. This kind of emotional diseases in time destroys the corporeal health, often to a great degree- Psychosomatic diseases.
When an individual becomes normalized by the homeopathic cure, the deeper side of his being, the will and the understanding or the rational mind are balanced. With the change in the mental and moral sphere, the physical health improves with a high degree of resistance to maladies of all kinds. Such is the transition from constitutional weakness and suffering to homeopathic health and comfort.
Case Report
Introduction: A young beautiful lady Mrs Rose who is 4 months pregnant, aged 23 years, came to my OPD with her mother in February 2021. While entering the chamber, Mrs Rose was looking so dull and weak, walking so slowly towards the chair and finally sat down infront of me.
But before I could get a chance to ask anything, she leaned down on the table. Then her mother started explaining about her mentally disturbed state and behavioural disorder.
She had few episodes of vomiting as soon as she eats or drink anything.
Physical generals
Appetite was decreased, she was having aversion to food. Vomit out everything she eats or drinks. Thirst is also not much, little quantity at small intervals.
Mental generals
She is full of fear as something wrong will happen to her or her baby. Desire company. She becomes suspicious in nature for the last 3-4 months. Whenever she gets irritated or angry, she tried to kill herself by throttling.
Family history
Her Brother also taking homeopathic treatment for his anxiety / panic disorder. It runs in family.
Her past history revealed nothing specific.
Analysis and evaluation of the symptoms according to Kentian method
| Physical generals | Mentals generals | Particular symptoms |
| Thirst for small quantity at frequent intervals+ Weakness+++ Chilly patient+ | Suspicious+ Fear of being injured++ Mentally restless+++ Suicidal tendencies+ | Excessive vomitings during pregnancy++ |
Following symptoms were considered for repertorization using Hompath:
- Stomach; vomiting, pregnancy during
- Mind; suspicious
- Mind; fear, injured, of being
- Generalities; weakness
- Mind; restlessness
- Sleep; sleeplessness
- Stomach; thirst, small quantities for
- Mind; suicidal disposition
Repertorial Result(4)
Fig. 1. Repertorial analysis using Hompath
Prescription
Arsenicum album 200/ water dose(5)
Followed by Rubrum met 30, TDS for 3 days was prescribed
Justification for the selection of the prescribed remedy
On repertorial analysis, Arsenicum album came to be the highest ranked remedy, covering maximum number of symptoms of the patient. Considering the Materia medica, Arsenic is a well known remedy for the state of fear and anxiety of any kind. The remedy ‘Arsenic’ has characteristics mental restlessness with rapid disproportionate prostration along with the thirst for small quantity of water. Suicidal tendencies which lacks courage(6), frequently matches with that of the patient. The prescription was based more on well-marked mental symptoms, so medium potency of Arsenic i.e. 200C was chosen, considering the susceptibility of the patient.
General management
Reassure the patient. Counselling plays a vital role along with the homoeopathic treatment and helps your patient to cope up with the negative emotions. Encourage the pregnant woman to discuss the fears and anxieties with spouse, family or friends. Advice to attend regular antenatal classes and group discussions. It is important to advice the family members especially the spouse to provide emotional support to the female.
Follow ups:
| Date | Status of the Patient | Prescription with justification |
| On 3rd day | The patient’s physical and emotional state was improved There were no vomiting episodes, weakness was much better. Sleep is better No attempt of suicide, she looked relaxed than before. | Rubrum met 30 was repeated as before for a week. |
| March 2021 | The patient came with her mother for her few complaints which are still persisting like she had difficulty in sleep; she wants to sleep but she can’t. She can’t stay alone; always want someone besides. If not, start crying. She had fear of darkness. She said- Doctor, I want to recover, please help me. I do regular path, I listen to gurbani, I pray regularly for my baby. God will help me to recover, right! Her mother reported about her suicidal thoughts which were present in starting too. | Calcarea carbonicum 200/ water dose Followed by Rubrum met 30, TDS for a week Justification for the follow up remedy selection: On repertorisation using Hompath (Repertorial Analysis given in Fig.2), the remedies came with highest ranks were Calcarea carbonicum and Stramonium. Both the remedies are chilly. In order to differentiate and to find out the correct simillimum for the patient, further enquiry was made and it was found that she was afraid of her mother in law, her husband was not that supportive so she was living with her parents only. She desires to be protected and supported by her mother and brother. All these pointed out towards Calcarea personality who needs security and stability in life, and had a feeling of being weak to face the cruelty and roughness of the world.(7) |
| After a week | The patient was quite better, looked happy. She slept better in the past week. No suicidal attempt. She talked to her mother-in-law comfortably. Fears and anxiety which she had before were much better. | Rubrum met 30, TDS for 15 days. |
| April 2021 (Telephonic follow up) | She was doing well. She shifted to her in laws, Sleep is good, no suicidal thoughts were there. | Nothing was prescribed In November 2021, she came to my OPD with a cute baby girl in her hands. The happiness is quite visible on her face. |
Fig. 2. Follow up- Repertorial analysis using Hompath
Conclusion: Homoeopathy is the unique system of medicine, which works on the principle of ‘Individualisation’. It treats the patient as a whole considering the physical, mental and social sphere of the patient which constitutes the totality of the symptoms because it is the only guiding tool to the patient’s simillimum. Unlike modern medicines, homeopathic remedy never cause dependency and are free from any adverse effects and can be used safely during pregnancy for any complaints. There are no specifics, Constitutional treatment based on individual symptoms gives permanent and safer results.
References
- Shahhosseini Z, Pourasghar M, Khalilian A, Salehi F. A Review of the Effects of Anxiety During Pregnancy on Children’s Health. Mater Sociomed. 2015 Jun;27(3):200-2. doi: 10.5455/msm.2015.27.200-202. Epub 2015 Jun 8. PMID: 26236168; PMCID: PMC4499279.
- Homeopathy for mother and child care (obstetrics), training manual, vol 1, 2015; Central council for research in Homoeopathy
- Hahnemann S. Organon of Medicine. Reprint Edition. Indian Books and Periodicals Publishers; 2004. 142,143,146.
- Hompath software
- Organon of Medicine, Sixth edition, aphorism 272
- Boerick W, Pocket manual of Homoeopathic materia medica & repertory, low priced edition, 2006, B jain publishers (P)Ltd. New Delhi
- https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/the-soul-of-remedies-calcarea-carbonica/
Author:
Dr Shweta Singh, MD (Hom.), PhD sch.
Chief Administrator – KHA Homeopathy Study group, Pro Bono