I’m absolutely delighted to meet live with my Gateway to Homeopathy Study Group members. Hearing their enthusiasm and answering their questions is energizing. In fact, I probably receive just as much reinforcement and inspiration from you as you do from me.
But one question comes up time and time again during those Study Group meetings. This particular question often emerges on my Facebook forums as well:
“Should Apis, Pulsatilla and Sepia be avoided during pregnancy?”
So, to provide a written resource for you, here’s my response. Are you ready? Do you have a pen handy? Here it comes:
“There is no one, definitive answer.”
Well, I’m betting that wasn’t quite what you were looking for, so let me expound a bit.
Perhaps you have heard never use Apis, Pulsatilla or Sepia during pregnancy.
While I won’t quite go as far as to say never, I will say those three medicines are indeed used during pregnancy — if quite necessary. They must be used with caution, in specific ways — astutely — with a knowledgeable and delicate hand.
Apis is rarely used during pregnancy. However, it is sometimes valuable during events causing severe, edematous swelling — such as anaphylaxis.
Say, right in the middle of your very first shrimp cocktail, you suddenly discover you are allergic to shrimp — and you happen to be pregnant. With lips and tongue swelling, Apis 30C has a reputation for emergency intervention. It would generally be used as often as every 5 minutes (depending on the severity of the reaction) until noteworthy improvement.
Pulsatilla can be used to great effect at the end of a pregnancy. When used knowledgeably, in the proper potency and frequency, Pulsatilla has been known to turn a breech baby to ready it for birth. (I discussed this more extensively in my blog post, Birthing Series Part One: Turning a Breech Baby.)
Sepia, however, is sometimes used during pregnancy. So, while it is sometimes valuable under certain circumstances, it should be avoided by those new to homeopathy who don’t yet have the firm hand of experience and confidence to use it competently.
Why all the caveats? The reason is, homeopathy is medicine! It often (not always, but often) requires competence, knowledge, experience, and confidence to employ it correctly with the respect it warrants. As I have said many times before, homeopathy is not completely safe; it is relatively safe. We must be responsible — make wise, educated, informed decisions, and use this medicine sagaciously. (Cool word, huh? Look it up and remember it in relation to using these medicines during pregnancy.)
Should you believe you’re experiencing a dire need for one of these remedies during pregnancy, consider yourself as appearing before the “Homeopathy Rationale Court.” Make your case and make it well.
If, after making your case, you believe your rationale is sufficient to gird up your decision, then go forward. However, stay with lower to mid potencies if you're a novice and stop when improvement is observed. Or, err on the side of caution and seek advice from an experienced homeopath. Or even better yet … learn as much as you can by joining my study groups and courses so that you can be that experienced homeopath in your family.
And then … pass on the good news of homeopathy!
Warmly,
P.S. In honor of all the pregnant moms and/or moms of pregnant moms, I have added over a dozen new protocols to my original Feminopathy course! These protocols will focus on pregnancy, labor, nursing and newborn care. That’s where you’ll find more answers than you had questions.
I’m excited to teach you about homeopathic medicines every pregnant woman should know. Some of these remedies are protective for both mother and child while others address potential problems that may arise.
In other words, we’ll discuss both standard, healthy pregnancies, as well as those pregnancies that don’t go according to plan.
This is Practical Homeopathy®: proven, reproducible, effective protocols specific to women’s special health issues. Click here to learn more.
I am a homeopath with a worldwide practice working with families and individuals via Zoom. I'm also a teacher and most importantly, a mom who raised my now-adult children depending on homeopathy over the last 31 years. I lived decades of my life with food intolerances, allergies, and chemical sensitivities until I was cured with homeopathy, so I understand pain, anxiety, and suffering. You may feel that your issues are more severe or different than anyone else’s, but I have seen it all in my practice and in my work in India. My opinion is that nothing has come close to the reproducible, safe and effective results that my clients, students and I have achieved with homeopathy.
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Joette is not a physician and the relationship between Joette and her clients is not of prescriber and patient, but as educator and client. It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Joette presents. Homeopathy doesn't "treat" an illness; it addresses the entire person as a matter of wholeness that is an educational process, not a medical one. Joette believes that the advice and diagnosis of a physician is often in order.
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When I looked up remedies for morning sickness both sepia and pulsatilla were both listed as possible remedies amongst a couple others. I used both as they seemed to match my symptoms the best. Neither took it away completely but did take the edge off a bit. Should I have not used them or should do I have any reason to be worried that I used them? My pregnancy has been perfect otherwise.
As long as we use homeopathic medicines according to the instructions including the potencies, frequencies as well as the length of time, they do good.
Swimming is dangerous when you don’t know what you’re doing in open water where there may be sharks while swimming alone. But if you follow the rules of swimming, it is a wonderful activity.
Thank you for putting this out there. I did not realize that there were certain remedies to avoid. Could you explain this a little more? Everywhere I’ve read so far about homeopathy says that’s it’s great for pregnancy because it is so gentle. What could happen if a pregnant woman took these medicines? How would I know this if I hadn’t signed up for your emails? I have read several places that apis is an option for bug bites especially if there is hot and swelling but there has never been a caution that pregnant women should not use it.
Should you be interested in greater depth of knowledge you might be interested in my course titled “Feminopathy” or my study groups, Gateway to Homeopathy.
Mrs. Calabrese,
I came across a Homeopath’s notes on a case from the year 1869 in, “Journal of Homoeopathic Clinics, Volumes 1-2” which said that he gave Spongia 200 to a woman for coughs, to be taken as needed. During the next 6 months, she miscarried two times after taking a few doses. She didn’t suspect it until afterwards, when again taking a few doses, she experienced a “flowing like the menses” lasting for several days.
This was a surprise to me as I’ve never heard of this with Spongia nor do I see it in the MM. What do you think of this? Have you ever heard of such a thing with Spongia?
Thank you & blessings.
In the literature, Spongia is related to ovaries and other female reproductive organs. Dr.Constantine Herring noted the case that you’re referring to that is of course noteworthy but nowhere else in any literature do I find a reference to such an occurrence. That’s probably because it’s not uncommon to find in the writings of one homeopath not repeated in the writings of another if the event is not noted time and again. In other words, we often find outlying cases appearing here and there. Having said this, knowing that homeopathy is medicine and that it can affect different people in different ways is always of paramount awareness.
We love ColdCalm at the first sign of a cold, but it has both Apis and Pulsatilla! Should a pregnant woman avoid it? Thank you. 🙂
I urge women to use these specific medicines with caution. That is, not to be used in high potencies, too frequently, and for an extended period of time. I don’t consider Coldcalm a threat unless it’s abused. As I always say, follow the directions and stop once improvement ensues or if the medicine doesn’t act.
Mrs. Calabrese,
Hypothetically, if you yourself were in that emergency shrimp cocktail situation with a pregnant woman and Apis 30 and 200 was not enough, would you have any hesitation going to a 1M or 10M? Or at that point, would even you rather prefer to look toward a different anaphylactic remedy?
Thank you for teaching us all “how to fish”. I am very grateful.
I wouldn’t hesitate for a minute. Apis is a problem during pregnancy only when it’s not the correct medicine and it’s repeated over and over.
Thank you 💙
Hi Joette. Can you please guide me how to take liquid homeopathic dilutions during pregnancy. We don’t have pellets available here. I am concerned that the high alcohol concentration in the medicines might harm the baby if taken directly.
Follow the directions on the outside of the bottle. Depending on the manufacturing pharamacy, it will be made clear how to dilute.
Okay so for example, it says 3-5 drops of dilution in a teaspoon of water three times a day and I am experiencing the onset of cold so I may take that dosage for Aconitum 30CH and Bryonia 30CH (I read about them preventing the onset of cold).
Please confirm if this would be safe dosage, especially if I am in the first trimester.
I can not determine what is safe for you.
As an aside, the protocol is Aconitum 200/Bryonia 30, not Aconitum 30.
You’ll become more comfortable with homeopathy as your knowledge grows.
Okay thank you for the response. Another question is that can a 10 month old take these dilutions in a teaspoonful of water ?
homeopathic medicines are used for all ages and species.
Would taking sepia just prior to becoming pregnant become an issue for the newly pregnant mom-to-be? Just wondering if there is a safe span of time to be on sepia before it creates a health issue for the soon-to-be pregnant mom.
I don’t know if this is helpful, but I thought I could share my personal experience.
My homeopath was treating me for postpartum depression with sepia prior to me getting pregnant. I was on it regularly for 4-5 months.
What she told me, was that it was safe for me to use, but during pregnancy usually one of two things happens to mothers. Either we go into a different state, or our pre-pregnancy state gets more prominent. Since I’m the former, she recommended that I stop it. I was on sepia for a few weeks early pregnancy, with no harm.
As Joette mentioned in a comment above, the problem seems to be more if it is the WRONG remedy, done over and over. This is true if you’re not pregnant either.
When in doubt, leave it out. You don’t need the stress of wondering if it’s harmful to your child.
I’m 17 weeks pregnant and have what send to be terrible poison ivy(I did pull some out of the garden) I’ve tried all other natural remedies and nothing is kicking it. I read your blog on poison ivy and ordered rhus tox and graphites as the graphites description was exactly what I’m experiencing. But this is the first time I’ve ever used homeopathy, do I take the rhus tox first to see if it works or do I take the graphites first or both?? Assuming they’re both safe in pregnancy since they weren’t listed here. Thank you
We always employ the medicine the most closely fits the symptoms.
Dear Joette and other readers,
Are there any other homeo remedies that need to be avoided during pregnancy (besides these three used with caution)? I’d like to see a list of all that are to be avoided. Thank you!
These three medicines are to be avoided during pregnancy if the user does not understand how to use homeopathy. They are only cautionary remedies. Other than knowing that homeopathy is medicine and is RELATIVELY safe. In my experience, no others ought to be avoided.
Hi, can someone tell me how many Caulophyllum C6 I schould take daily in the pregnancy? I have it now at home and I want to make sure, that I take the right portion. I do not have training waves or something. My daughter has also to turn with the face to the other side, but her hat is already deep down in my lower part. I am in the 39.week. So I am short before my due date.
Thanks for helping us !!! 😀
The number of pills that comprise a dose is printed on the side of the bottle.