Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1998 Feb; 4(1): 13-6.

Empowering women: homoeopathy in midwifery practice.

Cummings B.

Homoeopathic Midwifery Service, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, Republic of Ireland.

This is brief introduction to the principles of homoeopathy, and to how homoeopathy can be prescribed safely and effectively in pregnancy and birth. Women may choose to self-prescribe for minor ailments or to seek a practitioner's advice whilst remaining in control of their health-care decisions. Case examples are given to illustrate how women can achieve empowerment through homoeopathy and birth by having more choices open to them, using their self-corrective abilities and relieving distress. Midwives learn from mothers, and the increase in interest in homoeopathy amongst midwives is because mothers want to avoid chemical or mechanical intervention in birth. Midwives can see that to realistically support the empowerment of women to give birth naturally, mothers need a non-toxic therapeutic approach to relieve distress.