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When morning spoils the day - Hyperemesis Gravidarum


Kate Middleton was recently hospitalized for a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) or severe pregnancy-related morning sickness. Nausea during pregnancy can be miserable. At at time when many changes are occurring the condition is believed to be caused by higher-than normal levels of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG. ,  Some women only feel ill or queasy in the morning, but for some it lasts all day and is even troublesome at night. Discomfort usually eases off by the third or fourth month, but not always.

In the 1960's a drug Thalidomide helped many women find comfort from the condition only to encounter disaster when they delivered. The drug had disastrous side effects. Babies were born with shortened limbs, blindness, deafness, heart problems and brain damage...over 10,000 of them.  This prompted physicians to be more judicious or cautious in prescribing during pregnancies - not just the morning sickness but all ailments including minor indispositions like coryza or a severe viral.

Homeopathy offers a safe alternative to restoration of health, all that it needs is to understand the individualized manifestation of the symptom in the person.  Although for Kate Middleton or Sarah Ferguson, or a Shilpa Shetty or any other woman for that matter who  endures a label called ' Hyperemesis Gravidarum' (HG), From homoeopathic point of few the set of symptoms of every woman will be unique to her physical and emotional makeup and hence these set of symptoms will guide a homoeopath towards the right remedy and thus aid in restoring her to normalcy.  This is individualized health care solution.
I list below a set of symptoms that indicate towards a remedy and rules out the others...the symptoms found under each of these remedy finds resonance with the personality of the woman afflicted with the labelled condition and hence prescribed on the principle of 'Like cure like' or 'similia similibus curantur'

The remedies not to be considered as medical advice or a prescription but only to impress the intricate individualization process involved in ensuring a safe and gentle cure to a conditions where in some cases compels  a woman to  abort the child so as to relieve her of the discomfort, or cause undernourishment, or face increase  risk of intra-uterine growth restriction resulting in a low birth weight, and may also have to battle prenatal depression.


Asarum: This remedy is indicated when a woman feels very ill, with constant nausea and retching. She is extremely sensitive to everything—especially noise, which can aggravate the nauseous feelings. She feels best when lying down and resting. Cool drinks or food may help, but it is hard for her to even think of eating.
Colchicum: Horrible nausea that is worse from the sight and smell of food (especially eggs or fish) often indicates this remedy. The woman retches and vomits, and has a sore and bloated feeling in the abdomen. She has trouble eating anything — although she often craves things, when she tries to eat them they make her sick. She is likely to feel ill from many smells that others don’t even notice.
Ipecacuanha: This remedy is indicated for intense and constant nausea that is felt all day (not only in the morning) with retching, belching, and excessive salivation. The woman may feel worse from lying down, but also worse from motion. Even after the woman vomits, she remains nauseous.
Kreosotum: When this remedy is indicated, the woman may salivate so much that she constantly swallows it, becoming nauseous. She may also vomit up food that looks undigested, several hours after eating.
Lacticum acidum: This remedy is indicated for “classic morning sickness”: nausea worse immediately on waking in the morning and on opening the eyes. The woman may salivate a lot and have burning stomach pain. She usually has a decent appetite and feels better after eating.
Nux vomica: Nausea, especially in the morning and after eating, may respond to this remedy—especially if the woman is irritable, impatient, and chilly. She may retch a lot and have the urge to vomit, often without success. Her stomach feels sensitive and crampy, and she may be constipated.
Pulsatilla: This remedy can be helpful if nausea is worse in the afternoon and evening (often in the morning, as well). The woman is not very thirsty, although she may feel better from drinking something cool. She can crave many different foods, but feels sick from many things (including foods she craves). Creamy foods or desserts may be appealing, but can cause discomfort and burping or bring on vomiting. A woman who needs this remedy usually is affectionate, insecure, and weepy—wanting a lot of attention and comforting.
Sepia: Gnawing, intermittent nausea with an empty feeling in the stomach suggests a need for this remedy. It is especially indicated for a woman who is feeling irritable, sad, worn out, and indifferent to her family. She feels worst in the morning before she eats, but is not improved by eating and may vomit afterward. Nausea can be worse when she is lying on her side. Odors of any kind may aggravate the symptoms. Food often tastes too salty. She may lose her taste for many foods, but may still crave vinegar and sour things.
Tabacum: This remedy can be helpful to a woman who feels a ghastly nausea with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She looks extremely pale, feels very cold and faint, and needs to lie very still and keep her eyes closed. If she moves at all, she may vomit violently—or break out in cold sweat and feel terrible.

Aude Sapere!

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