Homeopathic medicines can also be taken during pregnancy. Here's which ones to choose to treat sore throats, smog-induced coughs and pollen allergies.
One of the first things women "discover" when they are expecting is that, when it comes to treating ailments, it is best to avoid so-called conventional medicines. This does not apply to homeopathic medicines. Thanks to their high dilutions, homeopathic remedies generally present no side effects and can therefore be used to treat, effectively and safely, not only the typical discomforts of pregnancy, but also other conditions, including seasonal ones. For expectant mothers dealing with the typical ailments of the spring season, homeopathic therapy can represent a valuable aid.
Unsettled weather alternating warm, sunny days with cold and windy ones, temperature swings between indoor and outdoor environments — these are just some of the factors that can cause laryngitis or pharyngitis, in a word: a sore throat. What to do? Women who treat themselves with propolis will know that packaging often carries the wording "contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding". Being a plant-derived bee product, propolis can indeed be allergenic. In addition, care must be taken with the alcohol contained in sprays and syrups based on this substance, which is best avoided during pregnancy. Homeopathy can therefore be a valid alternative. For acute pharyngitis it is advisable to take 1 tablet every 1–2 hours of Homéogène 9, while for laryngitis Aconitum napellus 9 CH is indicated (5 granules every 2–3 hours).
Even during pregnancy, women who suffer from seasonal allergies must "take action". Instead of corticosteroids and antihistamines, whose use is inadvisable during pregnancy, homeopathic dilutions of pollens can be used. If, for example, the expectant mother is allergic to birch, she should take white birch pollen in a 9 CH dilution. At the first symptoms — typically an itching sensation in the nose or eyes — one can act immediately by taking Sinalia, a medicine traditionally used for the symptomatic treatment of allergic oculorhinitis (5 granules 3 to 6 times a day, depending on the intensity of symptoms).
Homeopathic medicines can also be useful for pregnant women who, during seasonal changes, tend to sleep poorly. Unlike benzodiazepines, which are best avoided during pregnancy, homeopathic remedies present no side effects or risk of dependency. In cases of, for example, insomnia due to hyperactivity or with early nocturnal awakenings, Nux Vomica 30 CH may be helpful (5 granules once a day).
Coughing is not only associated with winter, but can recur throughout the year. Such is the case of the so-called "smog cough", linked to the ever-increasing pollution levels in large cities. What is more, in spring fine particulate matter mixes with pollen, causing discomfort to more sensitive individuals. Homeopathic therapy offers several useful solutions for relieving this troublesome symptom: Bryonia 9 CH and Spongia tosta 9 CH, for example, are very useful for a dry cough, while Ipeca 9 CH is more suitable for a chesty cough. In each case, 5 granules every 3–4 hours, or as needed, are recommended. There are also syrups containing a selection of homeopathic medicines recognised for their action on irritation of the airways. Unlike other syrups, homeopathic ones have the advantage of containing no active ingredients with a sedative (such as dextromethorphan) or mucolytic action, with which possible side effects are associated, such as drowsiness, tachycardia and constipation.
By Dr Giancarlo Balzano, surgeon and gynaecologist, expert in homeopathy