Our Online Counseling Sessions are back!

(For appointments, please email - contact@drshreya.com. Please note that the counseling sessions are conducted in one of the following languages only - English / Hindi / Marathi / Kannada) 

Since last 2 years, at drshreya.com, counseling sessions were not conducted due to varied reasons, some personal and some professional. But thanks to the patronage of our patients and friends, we kept getting queries about the same, asking when we are going to restart. Good news is that from June 2019, we have restarted our counseling sessions for all the age groups as earlier.

Here are the pointers --

·         As our patients / clients / friends know, we have a protocol according to which we first choose the patients that opt for counseling; whether they actually require counseling or mere medicinal line of treatment is enough for them, along with some auxiliary measures that are suggested. Please keep in mind that the counseling is inclusive of physical, mental and emotional conflicts in all age groups.

·         Once the patient is slotted for counseling, they are given the means of counseling –

(1) Online through video counseling or

(2) Telephonic counseling or

(3) Email counseling

·         Time slots are provided as per the convenience of the patients.

·         Patients are suggested to give their brief history and the reason for which they have opted for this service so that during counseling we do not lose much time in the primary data collection. This has to be done by patients in written format and sent to contact@drshreya.com.

·         After the completion of formalities, the sessions are conducted, during which a thorough analysis and evaluation of the problem is done and depending upon the outcome and the satisfaction of the patient, repeat session / treatment / or any other line of therapy is suggested.

So, let’s begin the journey towards a healthy body, mind and psyche, because the balance and harmony among these three is the only means to attain Real Health!

My Sincere Namaste to All!

Regards,

Dr Shreya

Importance of Mental and Emotional Harmony in Auxiliary Line of Treatment --

A good physician never stresses on medicine alone. In fact, medicine comes at second place after correcting the faults in the lifestyle of the patient. And if one wishes to have speedy recovery and lasting results, the auxiliary line of treatment suggested by the doctor is of utmost importance.

The auxiliary regime includes various dietary corrections, corrections on the plane of physical fitness and most importantly, dealing with the mental and emotional faculty of human existence. Of course the homeopathic medicine given on the basis of constitution of the patient does cater this faculty very well; however, as said, maintaining cause has to be nullified as much as possible for the medicine to act favorably. If a person is being treated for common cold and if he does not refrain from drenching himself in rains frequently, the medicine will not help. Similarly, if a physician is treating, for example, migraine, the triggers for migraine like mental and emotional disturbances have to be taken into account. Even if your medicine will eventually help him or her feel at ease on mental plane, little persuasion by the doctor and counseling can help him deal with the various situations more proactively and minimize his stress levels to great extent.

I often tend to give more attention to this aspect while I treat my cases homeopathically. Being a homeopath in itself makes us more aware of people’s psychological tendencies, attitudes and reactions. Rather, it is the base upon which we treat most of the cases. Therefore, I often give certain goals for the patients to look into and study themselves over a period of time. It is a worth exercise; that’s what most patients’ feedback is. As we homeopaths earnestly feel that our science and art of healing should help more and more people to rise above the so called rat race of the world and focus on uplifting oneself with many others, here are the certain aspects one can study and introspect upon in order to maintain the mind- body equilibrium –

(1) How optimistic I am? – Under this category, there are 2 sub-categories --

Do I count my blessings? – This is one of the most loved and helpful tips for my patients. The patients are supposed to write down daily the smallest possible positive things in their life on paper and read it every day before retiring to bed. They can keep on adding the things till the mind becomes vacant of negative aspects. Slowly but surely it helps us immensely to value the smallest things bestowed upon us by the Higher Power / nature / whatever you want to call it. Isn’t just the power to breathe supreme blessing?

How often I complain? – Under this category, patient needs to keep aside just a day and with mindful attention on that day, he / she is supposed to write the smallest instances when we utter complaining words. Right from “Still the sweeper has not arrived!! L” to “Why doesn’t the government take appropriate action?”… there are literally n number of instances when all of us create hormonal imbalances in our body by complaining about the things that are either not in our hand or without working to do something about it. We do not realize that these small instances of disapproval / disharmony / disgust are the pioneers of our future hypertensions, diabetes, strokes, heart diseases, so on and so forth. Therefore, this exercise done at regular intervals helps us realize the futility of such complaints and the way we should overcome this habit, at least for health purpose, if not for higher good.

(2) How do I handle stressful situations? – This is one of the most important exercises to study and introspect. One doesn’t need to have some serious situation. Just think about times when because of traffic signal, you had to wait for 2 whole minutes and your mind and heart started racing about the delay. One of the worst things in today’s world is that everyone talks about nullifying stress but everyone thinks that stress is going to be part of our lifestyle. Rather, if someone is not stressed, the people around feel sorry for him that he is not stressed because he is not doing something worthwhile in his life. How pitiful!

“Letting go” and “Acting proactively” are the two basic aspects that work wonders in stress management, provided one knows when to let go and when to act proactively. Firstly kick out the thought that stress is going to be part of our life. Then think about the instances when you went off balance and created disharmony in your body and mind. Many psychologists suggest not to think of the negative instances when we lost our balance and instead we should focus on positive. But in my opinion, the negative instances should be remembered to remedy such instances in future; only then we can focus on positive. The negative instances should be made stepping stones for positive future. That gives us another big lesson that nothing in life was futile ever!

(3) What do I do for relaxation? – You know how huge our world’s population is and that creates those many ideas for relaxation and recreation. Every person has his or her own idea of relaxation. Some may find it in friends, some in pubs, some in books, and a few in spiritual quests. Even if as a liberal, we say that no idea is void, everyone will agree to one thing that whatever path we choose, the result obtained should not prove short term but should have lasting result. That itself cuts off many options from the list. As a person wanting to have body – mind balance, we should always think of this while we engage our heart and soul in such pursuits of relaxation. This is the third exercise. With awareness of the mind, one can easily start assessing his ways of dealing with stress, handling it better and relaxing in the core without being disturbed.

There are many other aspects that can be discussed as per everyone’s problems and situations but the above three are the basic exercises every person has to undertake in order to review the precious life bestowed upon us.

The world is getting more and more aware of the psychosomatic illnesses, the diseases arising from psychological imbalances. Earlier we focus on this aspect of our personality and find lasting solution, better it is for our body, mind and spirit to be used for higher purposes of human existence!

Don’t rob your children off their right to love you!

Yesterday had a talk with one of my patients, who had brought her teenage son of 15 years for some behavioral problems. Upon questioning, the problem as often seemed to have connection to the upbringing in the previous years of his childhood.

There started the thought process about which I am writing today. As it is related to our children, certainly it’s going to have far-fetched implication in tomorrow’s world. Quite an important issue actually. Even though I will refrain from narrating the above instance as it is, on a general note, I feel, today there is problem not in the feeling of love between the housemates but it’s the expression of love that needs to be thought about. Especially when it comes to the bond between parents and their children or a child, there are certain aspects that one needs to look into—

1) We must know that pampering and material association of pampering have no relation. New age has sadly diluted the meaning of pampering to a new low. Of course, that does not mean not to gift them or present them with goodies but it means creating a firm thought in their minds not to associate gifting with love! The child, who grows up believing only in costly gifts from parents, in later years, associates not-gifting with lack of love, which is very dangerous.

Only pure love from parents can create an understanding in the minds of these young people that whatever my parents do is in the best of my interest. There is no equal to this kind of faith in the child’s mind about his or her parents. And the journey of creating this faith starts during the toddler years of the child.

2) Importance of physical affection – One of the most profound sentences by one of the leading masters in the field of adolescent problems, Carl Pickhardt, is, “Lack of hugs and cuddles during the growing years and even in the adolescent years is like letting go of a powerful non-verbal intimacy between the parents and their children.” In typical eastern societies, such show of affection even within the home is considered inappropriate at times. And truly it is one of the most important factors for ill-shaping your child’s mental and emotional quotient. It is a myth that if the child is refrained from showing emotional affection to his or her parents (especially counter-gender), he or she will have lesser sexual fantasies. The study shows exactly opposite results. The study says, if a teenage boy naturally loves to hug his mom or a daughter loves to hug her dad, they have lesser complications in their later years with their life partners. The reason is simple- They are loved and are taught to love gently!

And this journey of having natural, loving hugs and cuddles with your child begins in his or her childhood. Many times, mothers complain that their growing son no longer likes to come near her or avoids the hugs. The study concludes it differently. Even if we agree that certain traits are carried since birth, loving gently is a trait one can acquire from his or her parents through the growing years. More the parents spend quality time with their kids, understand when to move away from them (in public settings), when they actually need to be cuddled and patted, how to take care of their needs without letting them overtly pampered, and when & how to discipline them.

3) So here’s the third important point that the parents must discipline their children. We as parents must understand this simple fact that disciplining does not mean not-loving them; rather it means loving them wholeheartedly. Every man or woman who grows up under optimally disciplined parents lauds his or her parents for not letting them go astray in the later years of their life. But the word optimal is very important. It implies the right way to discipline, following what we teach, keeping all the communication channels always open and rooting a firm thought in their minds – “I am with you, come what may!”

4) Backing the expression of love by loving words – Almost all men or women who love unselfishly, at some point of time in their life are loved unselfishly by their parents. Cultivating the natural flair towards being sensitive to others starts in the childhood. We as parents define our roles as parents especially when we are bogged down by our day to day routines. These are the times when the child actually learns how to cope with stress and still be loving. There is certainly no harm in shouting at times but that shouting should be backed by the explanation and love. Shouting to take out our frustration is a big no!

There are many such small things we as parents can imbibe in ourselves first and then in our kids, only to have a great society later. Most kids that go the wrong way in their adult life have its seeds sown in their growing up years. We as parents cannot shrug off our responsibility and blame today’s bombardment of outside influences on the kids as the sole reason for the wrong path.

The change begins at home first. We should remember that the marks, grades, degrees etc may not matter in the after years but a loving gaze, a pat, a hug and a sensible grown up man or a woman does make a big difference to the society at large! And the one who is happy is successful. Period.  

Homeopathy and Breathing Techniques for the Tranquillity We Wish For!

(Articles are subject to copyright)

Most of my patients know that when I prescribe, I give a set of auxiliary guidelines to follow to almost all my patients. In most of them, irrespective of the health issue they suffer from, I prescribe certain relaxation techniques and breathing technique like Pranayama. No wonder most people get back with a positive feedback saying they are getting positive improvement when they couple homeopathy with these auxiliary guidelines.

How does that happen?

Why does that happen?

To understand the complementary nature of homeopathy and yoga or Pranayama, we need to know where and how homeopathy acts. Homeopathy, as most of you know, is a holistic way of healing. It treats the ‘Person’ and not just his or her ‘disease’! The reason behind this holism is quite obviously the subtleness with which the homeopathic minute dose acts and the subtlety of the plane on which this dose acts.

When a man lives in this world, he wears layers of masks on him. He may ‘show’ the strength physically, mentally and emotionally.  At the same time, he may hide his innate fears, guilt, bad habits, mental setbacks and things alike. During homeopathic case taking, the keenness of observation and a proper comprehension of the past history shred these masks to pieces. A homeopath tries to visualize the intricate human being, one of the delicate species on this earth that is as vulnerable as any other animal. When that real human being is grasped in the mind of a homeopath, he prescribes as per the patient’s personality. Personality is nothing but the REAL YOU! And that real you is one of the most subtle things you can see. That is why when the homeopathic minutest dose acts favourably, it influences that inner being, which is vulnerable owing to its subtlety.  Rather, it will not be an exaggeration to say that unless the homeopathic dose is closest to this subtle plane, CURE is impossible!

AND

Yoga and Pranayama are the best possible techniques that again get one closest to their innermost being. “Yog” means Union. It is the union of you with your soul, where the Higher Power resides. All religions and scriptures agree to this. That is why Yoga and Pranayama are NOT religious entities; they are for one and all. They are the way of living a purposeful life for which we are born!

That is the reason, many times I insist to my patients to begin some kind of relaxation technique or breathing technique first and later we get them on homeopathic course of treatment. That way, the doses that we design for CURE act more favourably and suitably.

I think it is my observation and I am sure many homeopaths who believe in Yoga and Pranayama will agree to me that people, who have some inkling towards inner journey of the soul, are better candidates for homeopathic treatment. That obviously does not mean homeopathy does not act on extroverts. But I believe, when applied properly, homeopathy not only relieves the external health issues but it converts the individual positively, brings tranquillity in their lives and stabilizes their disharmonized lifestyles.

Many times I feel we homeopaths have much more to do than merely treating the sick. With our medicines and the judicious auxiliary regimes, we can actually change the world to a far better position than what it is now! Even when one person transforms himself to a positive calm individual, the society at large transforms eventually, isn’t it?

(Please write to contact@drshreya.com for any queries, feedback etc)

Sleep Disorders and their Homeopathic Treatment – (Top 10 Homeopathic Remedies for Sleep Disorders)

(For any health queries and consultation, please write to contact@drshreya.com) 

(Copyright- drshreya.com)

“SLEEP” is something one cannot live without. It is as natural as hunger. But if it is a natural response, why do so many people suffer from various sleep disorders? Majority of people at some time or the other during the lifespan suffer from some sort of sleep problem, which affects their general health.

It is concluded that for optimal body functions, good mood, healthy hormonal functions and overall health, sleep is very important. When some type of sleep problem occurs as a result of some external physical or mental barrier like high stress levels etc, once that barrier is expelled, the normal sleep pattern returns. When, however, the irregular / absurd sleeping pattern becomes almost a habit, one needs effective therapy to combat it. Before we go to how to combat sleep disorders, we need to know what different types of sleep problems we humans encounter. There are lot more types of sleep problems once we delve deep into the issue and not just the problem of insomnia or sleeplessness. Let’s see—

Types of Sleep Disorders—

1)   Oversleeping (Hypersomnia)- Medically, the normal sleep is said to be between 7 to 9 hours at night. If you’re sleeping far more than this, you do suffer from hypersomnia. In this problem, people suffer from excessive day-time sleepiness and drowsiness, and also extended sleep hours at night at times. Many people that suffer from this problem may have high anxiety levels, low energy levels or some memory troubles. In people with obstructive sleep apnoea too, in which the person suffers from sudden breathless spells during sleep, might suffer from oversleeping during the day. Also some over the counter medications, anti allergic drugs and alcohol can lead to oversleeping problem.

2)   Insomnia (Sleeplessness) – This is by far the commonest sleep problems and many people today are fighting the problem throughout the world. The list of causes is endless, starting from depression to wrong food habits. Primary insomnia is the one where there is no known direct cause behind insomnia. Secondary insomnia, the problem can be linked to some health disease like asthma, depression, heartburn, arthritis, etc.

The most important causes behind insomnia are –

n  Stress- that may be related to anything ranging from discord between the partners, death of a loved one, job problems etc.

n  Environmental factors like excessive noise, light or excessively hot ot cold temperatures etc.

n  Conventional drugs

n  Irregular sleeping pattern due to variety of causes.

n  Some kind of physical pain

The symptoms of insomnia include irritability, sleepiness during the day, memory or concentration problems, general fatigue etc.

3)   Snoring- Occasional snoring can occur with anyone and may not be significant. However, when it occurs in obese people and leads to some sort of obstruction to breathing, it is a serious issue and needs proper treatment. There are some side effects of snoring that has some kind of obstructive cause behind. They include frequent waking from sleep, poor night’s sleep and strain on the heart if the obstruction is severe.

4)   Night terrors and nightmares- Night terrors are common in children. Episodes of intense crying and fear during sleep with difficulty in arousing the child can almost diagnose the night terrors. There may or may not be any mental and/or emotional cause associated with such episodes in the children. But during homeopathic treatment, one has to consider all such factors very carefully.

5)   Parasomnias- These are sleep disorders that affect during arousals from REM (Rapid-Eye-Movement) sleep or partial arousals from NERM (Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement) sleep. Various sleep problems are encountered under this type, that are, sleep-walking, rhythmic movement disorders, sleep talking, nocturnal leg cramps, sleep paralysis, irregular heart rhythms, teeth grinding (bruxism), enuresis (bed-wetting) etc.  

6)   Sleep Related Eating Disorders- In this problem, the person shows abnormal eating pattern during the night. Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is characterised by eating during the night in full awareness and failing to fall asleep thereafter. People with hard and fast diet rules during the day are more vulnerable to such problem. Excessive work-related or relationship related stress is also linked to NES.

The above mentioned six types of sleep problems are by far the commonest. Recognizing that one has sleep problem and approaching a physician as early as possible can avert many adverse consequences. Also the conventional drug therapy has not quite succeeded in annihilating the sleep problems in their totality without making the patient addicted to the drugs. Also the drugs might act very temporarily and not give lasting relief, while leading to many side effects. That is why more and more people are approaching the safe and efficient homeopathy for treating their sleep troubles.

Before we proceed to "how to apply various homeopathic medicines for sleep disorders", let us be very clear that there is no generalized drug for treating people with insomnia or hypersomnia. Every homeopathic physician must have a detailed case history of the patient with his physical, mental and emotional picture very clear. A proper case evaluation needs to be done in order to track the miasmatic dominance, physical and mental totality, and the constitutional analysis. The aetiology (causative factors) behind sleep disorders should be assessed cautiously. If the causative factors revolve around absurd lifestyle of the patient, a sound and adaptable suggestions must be given in order to see if he improves without medication.

Yes, let’s be very clear in our mind that unless the person absolutely needs medicine, we should not give him; if the removal of causative factor leads to normalcy.

Here are some of the important homeopathic medicines and their signs and symptoms as regards the sleep disorders. Please be very careful while having access to these drugs, as a careful assessment of all the factors by an expert is a must!

Top 10 Homeopathic Medicines for Sleep Disorders—

1)   Coffea cruda –

n  Wakeful mind and the person is on constant move

n  Can sleep only till 3 am.; later only dozes

n  Extremely alert sleep. Disturbed by dreams; wakes with a start

n  Excessive mental activity, flow of idea result in nervous excitement.

n  Sleeplessness during pregnancy with flow of ideas

n  Sleep disturbed by itching of anus

n  A sudden joyful news or surprise may cause sleeplessness; associated with irregular violent palpitations

2)   Ambra grisea-

n  Worry is the chief causative factor behind insomnia

n  Dreams full of anxious moments

n  Business troubles leading to sleeplessness (Bry)

n  May be associated with nymphomania in women

n  Cannot sleep in new places and in the presence of unfamiliar people

n  Limbs to go sleep on slightest pressure; arms go to sleep (go numb) while lying down

n  Worse by music, any unusual thing

3)   Passiflora-

n  Very useful and one of the empirically given drug for insomnia, because it has a calming influence on the nervous system.

n  When mental irritation or pain is the cause

n  In wakeful sleep resulting due to exhaustion

n  Especially useful in nervous people and aged people with insomnia

n  Mentally worries, hypochondriac, overworked people with a tendency to convulsions

n  May be associated with night cough

4)   Daphne indica-

n  Absolute inability to sleep

n  Aching of bones leading to insomnia

n  Nightmarish sleep with anxious dreams

n  Dreams of cats - black cats

n  He develops chilliness and clamminess when startled from sleep

n  May be associated with craving for tobacco

5)   Cimex-

n  Irresistible sleepiness

n  With weariness and inclination to stretch often

n  Post-intermittent fevers, the person suffers from excessive sleep

n  May be associated with constipation

6)   Cyclamen-

n  Sleepiness in women with excessive moroseness and lassitude

n  Great disinclination to work with constant desire to lie down.

n  Great dejection and melancholy

n  Worse during evenings; better during menstrual flow, in the warm room

7)   Belladona-

n  The patient imagines to see ghosts and dreadful animals

n  The child starts up very often and gnashes his teeth

n  When he starts from sleep suddenly, goes into spasms

n  Red face in starting up suddenly at night, redness of eyes and semi-stupor condition

8)   Cypripedium-

n  Sleeplessness in young children that are over-stimulated brains

n  Babies wake up and play whole night

n  First the baby wakes up, cries out, is wakeful and begins to laugh and play.

n  Sleeplessness during teething and intestinal troubles

9)   Nux vomica-

n  One of the stalwart remedies for sleep problems due to excessive night watching and alcohol

n  Health troubles start due to insomnia

n  Cannot sleep after 3 am until towards morning and later feels sleepy

n  Awakes feeling wretchedly

n  Dreams full of hustle bustle and hurry

n  Feels drowsy after meals and in the early evening

n  Better after a short nap, unless aroused

n  Snoring (Also consider Hippozaenium / Lemna minor when due to nasal bone problems and nose obstruction)

10)                 Lycopodium-

n  One of the important constitutional remedies in sleep related troubles

n  Feels drowsy during the day

n  Startling in sleep

n  Dreams of accidents

n  Wakes at night feeling hungry

n  Better after midnight

As said earlier, the above 10 remedies are mere a glimpse into how a homeopathic remedy is selected for sleep troubles. One has to be very careful to put an end to a maintaining cause if any (like smoking / alcohol abuse etc) in order to get lasting relief. But yes, as a homeopath, I can assure that with proper selection of a right homeopathic remedy, a person can enjoy his natural right to sleep pretty well and feel refreshed in the morning!

Have a blissful sleep! J

BREAST FEEDING— Needs More Awareness (Homeopathic Treatment of Agalactia)

With in-depth analysis with homeopathic treatment of Agalactia- no/less breast milk--

(For any queries or consultation, please write to contact@drshreya.com)

If there is something incalculably important as regards your baby’s health, it’s breastfeeding. Nowadays we read pamphlets about the importance of breastfeeding but when it comes to practical application of the same, we as doctors are coming across more and more cases of low breast milk supply. In a single day in our clinic yesterday, I encountered 3 such cases; felt it’s essential to write in depth about this issue, as it’s certainly in the interest of our future generations.

It does not need much to understand that breast milk is the complete food for the babies. NOTHING can replace breast milk. More importantly, no mammal in this entire world feeds its offspring on others’ milk. It’s only human who unnecessarily uses his freedom to choose in wrong manner.

Here are some of the reasons why a mother MUST breastfeed—

** Benefits to the baby—

1)    Assures baby’s health, immunity, growth and development

2)    Averts problems like childhood obesity

3)    Resistance to infections and allergies is far better in breastfed children than in bottle fed children.

4)    Ensures a very close bond between mother and child.

5)    Breastfed babies have comparatively fewer incidences of diarrheas and vomiting during teething

6)    Breastfed babies have better shaped dental framework (especially incisors)

7)    Reduced chances of adulthood diseases like hypertension, diabetes, arthritis etc.

8)    Breastfeeding has also shown to reduce ear infections in children because of which they need to be on antibiotics recurrently.

9)    Breastfed children have fewer dental cavities throughout their life

10) Fewer psychological, behavioural and emotional problems

** Benefits to the mother—

1)    A mother who breastfeeds her baby well is capable of reducing the fat gained during pregnancy faster (Breastfeeding releases a hormone in the mother (oxytocin) that causes the uterus to return to its normal size more quickly.)

2)    One of the most important benefits is – breastfeeding mothers are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life and also have lower risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancers.

3)    A stronger emotional bond with the baby!

Considering these huge benefits, any mother should definitely breastfeed the child. But why so many patients come to us saying they don’t have enough milk flow and therefore the child has to be fed with bottle?

Let’s face the fact that less breast milk is the biggest myth women try to tell themselves. It is not possible for a woman who has given birth normally or by Caesarean section, to produce less or no milk for her baby, unless there is some obvious physical / pathological reason.

Then why so many mothers complain of low milk supply? Are there any reasons? Yes, here they are –

Causes of Agalactia (No / Less Milk)

1)    Waiting too long to start breastfeeding is by far the commonest cause behind low milk production. A mother should start to feed her baby right after the birth!

2)    Breastfeeding with strict gaps in between- Many mothers tell us that they give strict gaps of at least 3-4 hours between two breastfeeding sessions. Not done! Breastfeed as often and as frequently as you can. Or we can say breastfeed as often as your baby needs. Your growing bundle of joy may need the milk every half an hour or 1 hourly or 2 hourly. When he / she cries for milk, feed them, at least for the first few months. That will surely work as a booster for the enhanced milk production.

3)    Unawareness of the proper feeding techniques—Though this is rare nowadays, considering the hospital staff taking ample care about the proper feeding technique to be taught to the new mom, it is still seen as one of the chief causes behind less breast milk. Proper holding of the baby, having a thin pillow on your lap, etc are some of the important tricks that will allow your baby to suckle properly, which in turn will enhance milk production.

4)    Some medicines like (over the counter) cold or flu medicines can reduce milk production. Also oral contraceptives should be avoided as far as possible, which also can have an adverse effect on establishing a good milk flow.

Sometimes there is an unnecessary concern that the baby is not getting enough milk. One has to understand when we can safely say that the baby is getting well nourished by his / her mother’s milk.

Here are the signs of proper baby’s nourishment on breast milk—

1)    Baby is waking for feeds

2)    Baby is settling between most feeds

3)    Passing yellow soft stools at least once a day

4)    By approximately 2 weeks, the baby is back to the birth weight. Thereafter the baby gains approximately 150 grams or more per week for the first three months of life

5)    The baby needs at least 4 to 6 nappy changes in 24 hours

If your baby shows these signs to a larger extent, do not worry. He is being nourished well on mother’s milk and does not need ANY external means of nourishment.

But in the polluted lifestyles that we live these days, there are still chances that the mothers are suffering from less breast milk for their babies. In such cases, our saviour Homeopathy plays the big role of re-establishing mother’s milk flow. Here’s how—

What is important while prescribing homeopathically for Agalactia (Lack of milk flow in mothers)—

1)    A proper history taking is of utmost important. While treating many such cases, we have seen that majority of women with low milk supply have some psychological / mental / emotional baggage. With the rightly chosen homeopathic remedy, if we are able to brush aside this causative factor, we can establish milk flow in the woman again.

2)    The physical attributes of the woman prior to delivery of the child and after the delivery are very important. Her bowel movements, urine output, water consumption, eating habits and mental picture need to be considered before we prescribe.

3)    Another important aspect is to study family history. In “Sycotic” family traits, often less milk flow has been observed. People with positive family history of diabetes, asthma, some allergic disorders, etc also suffer from such problems at times.

4)    Individualization- Like in every case, one has to be very cautious not to generalize your remedy for agalactia. Take the entire case properly, analyze the constitution, study the remedies, repertorize when necessary and only then prescribe for that PATIENT!

Homeopathic Remedies that Help in Mothers with Less Breast Milk—

Though a thorough case evaluation is necessary, some homeopathic remedies work exceedingly well in such mothers. Let’s see the drugs and their individual features in this regard –

1)    Agnus castus-

·         Post-partum sadness is one of the most important causative factors that leads to agalactia in Agnus mothers.

·         The woman just cannot be made happy.

·         She also suffers from hysterical palpitations.

·         She just hates sex while having totally relaxed genitals.

·         There is yellow leucorrhea.

·         She is so sad that feels she is going to die soon.

2)  Urtica urens-

·         The woman has swollen breasts with lack of milk

·         There is almost always a very excoriating leucorrhea and itching of private parts.

·         The diminished secretion of milk may be the bye product of suppressing urticarial or similar rashes during pregnancy

·         Patients with gout and/or uric acid diathesis

·         Women with rheumatic pains

·         Excessively swollen breasts but no secretion

3)  Lactuca virosa-

·         There is tightness of the chest with reduced milk secretion

·         One of the empirically used drugs for enhancing milk production.

·         Associated with absolute sleeplessness in the nursing mother

·         Dull circulatory system, leading to tremors, coldness of the extremities etc.

·         Restlessness

4)  Asafoetida-

·         Deficient milk with oversensitive breasts

·         Almost always associated with great flatulence and regurgitation of fluids

·         Associated with gurgling sounds in the abdomen which eventually are passed out with loud and difficult eructation

·         Can be due to suppressed eruptions during pregnancy, when associated with above mentioned stomach complaints

5)   Bryonia-

·         Stitching pains and tightness in breasts with sudden decrease of milk

·         Deficient milk in mother after a fit of anger

·         Breasts are so swollen and painful that the mother cannot walk without pain in breasts

·         Due to stagnation of milk, there might be infection of breasts, leading to fever

I need to stress that the above mentioned remedies are just some of the important ones. Especially in the cases with deficient breast milk, we have to identify the causative factor behind it (mental / emotional / physical) and later treat the lady.

For example, I have observed a case of Pulsatilla lady who could not nurse the baby after she came out of the bathroom. Suddenly there was reduced flow of milk. It was due to washing her legs after going to loo and leading to suppression of breast milk. Though rare, such observations are very crucial while finding the right remedy.

What is more important is educating the mothers about the necessity of breastfeeding. It is the right of the baby and one should never sabotage it for anything in the world!