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Herbs for Pregnancy
Natural Medicine in the Modern Age
By Johnathon Allen
For centuries before the emergence of modern medicine, children were born at home into the hands of midwives and the mothers were assisted throughout pregnancy with widely available herbs and homeopathic remedies.
Though modern medicine has gone on to supplant nearly every natural remedy on earth with a synthetic substitute, the herbal tinctures and formulas traditionally used for pregnancy are still an effective way for mothers to deal with the discomfort and nutritional issues encountered during pregnancy.
"Traditional midwives have worked with herbs for centuries and their accumulated wisdom has been passed down through the ages," says Sudi Storm, a traditional midwife and herbalist from Ashland, Ore. "Today, we know more than ever before about what herbs and homeopathics work for different situations. Ironically, herbs are often better, cheaper and healthier than their modern medicinal counterparts."
According to Storm, there are a number of conditions a mother is likely to experience throughout her pregnancy that can be alleviated with the use of herbal supplements and a focused diet. For example, when a doctor might suggest a mother with heartburn use antacid tablets, an herbalist is likely to suggest a more natural approach.
"Antacids are very toxic to the system and do not heal the digestive imbalances that many pregnant women experience as a result of hormonal changes," Storm says. "Over the long run, antacids can actually make digestive problems worse. In this situation, we usually recommend a liquid calcium magnesium supplement, such as the one offered by NF Formulas, or digestive enzymes to help a mother find relief."
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