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Alternative Medicines

Are They Key to a Healthy, Happy Pregnancy?

By Jacqueline Rupp

A decade ago alternative medicine needed a full introduction. Most people had rarely heard about it or tried anything beyond the pharmacist's counter.

Today, holistic therapies are part of the American mainstream, with an ever-increasing amount of doctors researching and using these alternative medicines and a rise in the demand by the general public for an alternative to prescription drug-based treatments.

For pregnant women, alternative therapies can offer unique solutions for both common pregnancy-related annoyances and some serious complications. In general, holistic therapies focus more on the individual as a whole, not just a specific symptom, and offer pregnant women the chance to take stock of their overall well-being at a time when so many changes are occurring both physically and emotionally. Because the term "alternative medicine" refers to a large group of individual treatments, we've taken just two forms – homeopathy and herbal therapies – to explore what they can offer pregnant women.

Many people think of alternative therapies as a traditional age-old therapy that has been passed down through generations of native peoples. However, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann only developed homeopathy two centuries ago. His name still stands atop some of the prominent hospitals in Philadelphia, Pa. In homeopathy, small amounts of medicine are given to a patient based on the person's specific symptoms. Today, these little white balls of medicines can be found in many major health and natural food stores. Patients place one or several of these pellets in their mouth and allow them to dissolve.

"The medicine is chosen using the Principle of Similars, which states that a substance that can cause a set of symptoms in a healthy person in an experimental setting can cure that same set of symptoms when they occur naturally in a sick person," says Dr. Janet Levatin, a holistic pediatrician and homeopath in Brookline, Mass., who has been in practice for 20 years. "The medicine stimulates a healing response in the patient, which causes her body to come more into balance and have fewer or less severe symptoms."

Dr. Levatin says these medicines are actually made of toxic substances, which have been prepared and diluted to remove the toxicity. There are special homeopathic pharmacies that produce these medicines and are sanctioned by the FDA. Side effects associated with homeopathic medicines are rare, and virtually anyone, from infants to the elderly, can take homeopathy. Similar to other alternative therapies, homeopathy can be combined with standard medical treatments.

During pregnancy, using homeopathy can help many problems. Practitioners typically interview patients to understand the symptoms and possible underlying problems. Homeopathy can help with minor discomforts such as morning sickness, fatigue and back pain. "Homeopathy is especially effective for nausea of pregnancy," says Levatin.

For more serious complications, such as high blood pressure, anemia or gestational diabetes, homeopathy can be added to the regular medical care a woman is receiving. "Close follow-ups with her homeopathic practitioner would maximize the likelihood of success," says Levatin. "She may find that her need for conventional care is less if the homeopathic treatment is successful."

So how can you find a good homeopath? "It is best to seek out a homeopath who has had good training," says Levatin. "There are homeopaths that are licensed health care practitioners, such as MDs (medical doctors), DOs (osteopathic doctors), NDs (naturopathic doctors) and others. There are also homeopaths who have received advanced homeopathic training and have become certified in the field even though they do not have a license in a conventional medical field."

Want to see more?

• Calming Pregnancy Fears
• Being a Laid-back Mama: Beating Stress is Good for Expectant Moms
• Just For Fun: Pregnancy Video Guide
• Talk about it!

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