Words: Dr Joette CALABRESE
Caulophyllum thalictroides. Two big Latin words that are all about labour.
Years ago, when I was a classical homeopath, I was trained to find the similimum — the one homeopathic medicine covering almost everything important in the case — and, use it once, or twice within a 24-hour period. And, that’s it.
Then you wait.
I heard from another group of homeopaths, or read somewhere, that Caulophyllum 6X is remarkably helpful when employed during the last couple of weeks of pregnancy — to toning up the uterus in preparation for delivery.
When I brought that information to my classical teacher back in the 1980s, she said, “Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. We never use a remedy like that. We only use a homeopathic remedy, if there are problems and we don’t repeat it daily.”
The other side of this argument was, “Well, why have problems? Caulophyllum 6X is low potency. Time and time again, when utilised once, or twice a day at the tail end of a pregnancy, it’s been shown to aid in a smoother labour and delivery.”
That was just one controversy that I had to overcome in my journey from Classical to Practical Homeopathy.
My Own Successes With Caulophyllum
I didn’t yet know anything about homeopathy in my first pregnancy. But, towards the end of my second pregnancy, I did use Caulophyllum thalictroides 6X, twice daily, for just a few days because the baby was very, very late. When he finally decided to join us, that delivery was super-fast. It was under four hours.
I did it again for my third pregnancy, and once again, it was super-fast. This time it was less than two hours. And, the baby weighed ten pounds.
I’ll put a couple more feathers in my cap for that last pregnancy: I was 43 and gave birth at home. With the help of Caulophyllum, the labour was so fast that the doctor made it only for the last few minutes of the birth. Until those final few moments, it was just the baby, my husband, a friend and me.
Indeed, in my experience — both personally and clinically — Caulophyllum is a great remedy for toning the uterus and preparing it for delivery.
Let me quickly mention that if one can’t locate this medicine in a 6X potency, the 6C, which is more readily available, will also work.
The difference between homeopathy and conventional drugs is that homeopathy does not manipulate with synthetic drugs, or overpowering procedures. It doesn’t force the body to go one way, or the other. Instead, it stimulates the body’s natural ability to correct what’s out of balance. So, even though it is not a supplement, the best way to describe Caulophyllum’s function is to tone the uterus in whichever way is needed.
In other words, if contractions begin too early, Caulophyllum calms them down. If the baby is too late, then Caulophyllum gently revs things up.
What more can you ask for than an intelligent medicine that works co-operatively with your body?
Yet, Caulophyllum is not unique. Our homeopathic medicines function as gentle nudges towards the equilibrium our bodies naturally seek. Unlike synthetic drugs of commerce that operate with brute force interference, homeopathics are an amiable, effective encouragement to the miraculous human body.
Addendum
Caulophyllum [or, blue cohosh] has long been used by Native Americans as a birthing herb, hence two of its common names: squaw root, or papoose root. Caulophyllum’s special gift is in working with women whose tissues have lost their tone, especially the tissues of the uterus. Its reputation for establishing effective contractions in labour is deserved. It works like a dream…when called for.
Some homeopathic books advise pregnant women to take Caulophyllum [in potency] during the last weeks, or even months before delivery to prepare them for an easy labour. Taken in pregnancy, Caulophyllum can pave the way for a trouble-free childbirth, if it is indicated, but if it is taken routinely and unnecessarily it can also cause some difficulties in labour. If taken repeatedly when not indicated, ‘proving’ symptoms may develop.
It can be taken by prepare women for easier births, but Caulophyllum is primarily indicated for sedentary women with poor muscle tone, for those who have a history of gynaecological problems, or difficult births. Women who are fit and have healthy muscle tone should avoid them… or, take them only on the instruction of an experienced herbalist, or homeopath.
Caulophyllum is a beautiful homeopathic medicine for women in their childbearing years, for certain conditions during pregnancy, labour, or after birth. In late pregnancy, Caulophyllum is useful for annoying Braxton Hicks contractions. In long drawn out labours, it is needed for extremely painful, ineffective contractions, which do not ‘work;’ in other words, the cervix does not dilate. The pains ‘fly about’ the abdomen, from one place to another. Sometimes the labour slows down and even stops altogether. After labour, the uterus doesn’t contract properly and becomes prolapsed, or the placenta is not expelled easily. Exhaustion, trembling, thirst and chilliness accompany the above complaints. Strangely, the chilliness is no better for being covered.
So what about the use of Caulophyllum at the end of a pregnancy to bring on labour? Since a normal pregnancy can range from 37-42 weeks, it is almost impossible to predict a baby’s birthday accurately. The question of overdue babies is a vexed one, because come the ninth month [by dates] doctors and midwives get itchy fingers and want that baby out. In many Western countries the rise of inductions and Cesareans confirms a trend towards births that are managed by medical professionals, rather than births where nature is encouraged to take its course. I am not talking of the wonderful life-saving work that medics are able to offer women whose births have become complicated. I am simply questioning the wisdom of unnecessary interventions that appear to be designed for the convenience of doctors and hospitals.
A colleague was called recently by a pregnant woman who had passed her due date and was being threatened with an induced labour. She asked whether she could take Caulophyllum. The homeopath hesitated to recommend a homeopathic remedy since she was healthy and happy in all other respects. She had tried vigorous exercise, but it hadn’t worked. She jumped at the suggestion to have a spicy meal. She went to a restaurant nearby whose specialty of the house [quite coincidentally] was a salad reputed to bring on labour in women who are ready to deliver. She ate the salad and four hours later went into labour. Six hours later a beautiful baby greeted her spicy parents.
Had the spicy dinner not worked then a few doses of Caulophyllum might have been called for, as it can help to start a labour that is late [according to dates] but ready, i.e., the baby is ready to come out and the mother’s body is correspondingly ready to deliver. I suggest women take it in the 30th potency [30C], three times daily, for up to two days, and then repeat it 3-7 days later if the labour still has not begun. There are other homeopathic medicines that may be indicated at this stage in a pregnancy when labour is delayed, but they really do need to be determined by a professional homeopath who has the skill to work out the correct homeopathic remedy. — ©Dr Miranda CASTRO, Florida, US.
