The main uses of homeopathic Arnica are for injuries to soft tissue, trauma to the body, bruising and haemorrhage.
You can wait until symptoms call for this remedy, or take 1 pill when labour begins as a prophylaxis.
It is far more important to let labour take her physiological path than to disturb it unnecessarily.
If you are offering Arnica to anyone, always seek their permission. It’s good practice, I feel, to ask before a birth begins “If I see a situation where I think a certain remedy will help, shall I offer?” And remember that if the receiver says “No” put the pill away!
People who may need Arnica present a picture of feeling bruised, battered, maybe feeling as though they are knotted, and exhausted. Pain may be aching, pressing, stitching, tearing, burning or numb. Yet they will tell people that they are OK because they just do not want to be touched or approached. People needing Arnica will often say that the bed is too hard, and be restless in bed, trying to find a comfortable spot. They may have a hot body with cold limbs. So Arnica can also help with these symptoms if someone has flu!
You do not need to have all of the symptoms covered, but one of them will be dominant.
For brevity, I have bullet pointed symptoms that may call for Arnica. I have not suggested a potency, it is better to use what you have, although during pregnancy, a 30C, if only touching the edges, can be repeated.
Pregnancy:
• Anytime any injury, or just “over doing it” leaves a feeling of being bruised.
• Baby’s movements cause a bruised sensation.
• Premature labour caused by over exertion or an accident.
During labour, here a 200C maybe preferable:
• They will fear being approached because they do not want to be touched.
• They may appear to be in a stupor, yet will answer questions with clarity.
• During a labour that seems to be going no where, contractions are violent, and the womb feels fatigued. Mum may have a lot of flushing to the face but the rest of her feels cool, her back may feel extremely sore.
• Arnica is a great help both to the labouring woman and her supporters when the labour is long. One pill can be enough to re boost energy and to help with the exhaustion often felt after baby is born. Labour support can also take an Arnica when leaving.
• The person needing Arnica may be overly sensitive to pain, but you won’t hear them screaming about it.
• When labour is slow and Mum feels bruised, and as if baby is lying sideways.
• If it is hard to push, give Arnica
• When the body begins to birth baby, discreetly give Arnica to help reduce trauma / injury to soft tissue.
After Birth:
• Discreetly give an Arnica pill
• Perineum is bruised, swollen, sore.
• Releasing a placenta if the womb is feeling bruised.
• Mum dribbles urine with an urge to pee but cannot.
• Early stages of Thrombosis Phlebitis when the leg is very sore and tender, especially following a labour where there was prolonged pressure on pelvic nerves and blood vessels.
• After pains, when labour was too long and hard, and after pains feel like bruising
Baby:
• Head Injury, haematoma / swelling. Give to mother and baby, repeat every 2-3 minutes for 4 doses or until response is seen. If baby does not respond to Arnica, Natrum Sulphuricum is usually needed.
• If you birthed a premature, posterior, breech baby or had shoulder dystocia or forceps birth.
• Asphyxia. Usually Aconite is needed first, Arnica is a good backup when baby is bruised and swollen, and may have tremoring limbs, jerky breathing and a hot head with cold body. Please note that there are other homeopathic remedies that may be more suitable in this situation.
Caesarean Birth:
If you know that you are going to have a caesarean birth, do NOT take Arnica until after surgery.
Dosing:
Either take 1 pill as needed or put 1 pill into a glass or small drinking bottle of water, stir vigorously. This becomes the remedy and every sip is a dose.
If possible, stir or shake before each dose. This can be a very easy way to take Arnica during labour and immediately after.
The day after birth, repeat Arnica up to 4 times a day, reducing as symptoms improve. If you are breastfeeding baby will get the remedy through your milk.
When symptoms requiring Arnica have gone, stop taking the remedy.