World Homeopathy Week 🌺⚕︎🌿

It’s Homeopathy Awareness Week! I’m very passionate about natural healing and part of my mission is to bring awareness of the benefits of homeopathy to as many people as possible via my blog. I’ll also be Including some introductory offers on treatment with me during the month of April. I’m very proud to be able to offer the healing benefits of homeopathy to my clients since I qualified as a professional Homeopath in 2018, from The North West College of Homeopathy.

Every year on April 10, World Homeopathy week is observed globally to honour the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. This day aims to increase public understanding of homeopathy’s principles and potential, fostering awareness about its benefits as a complementary system of medicine. The History of World Homeopathy Day is dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, who introduced the concept of “similia similibuscurentur” (like cures like) in the late 18th century. First celebrated in 2005, the day highlights the significance of homeopathy as a gentle and holistic healing method for all. Over the years, the observance has grown into a global movement, advocating for the integration of homeopathy into healthcare systems worldwide.

“Homoeopathy is not fantasy; it is in harmony with Nature’s way of healing”

Doctor Samuel Hahnemann 1755-1843

Significance of World Homeopathy Week is to:

• Promote awareness about homeopathy’s safe, natural and holistic approach to healing

• Educate people on its ease and effectiveness in managing acute and chronic conditions

• Encourage on going scientific discussion and research into homeopathy

• Bridge the gap between traditional and modern medical practices

The previous year’s theme (2024) was “Homeoparivar: One Health, One Family.” This years theme is to reflect the evolving role of homeopathy in global healthcare and public wellness. Observance and Activities Across the world, homeopathic practitioners, enthusiasts, and health and wellbeing organisations are coming together to mark the day through events aimed to dispel misconceptions, share new findings and promote the adoption of homeopathy as a complementary therapy. The collective effort also seeks to highlight how homeopathy can be an integral part of preventive and community healthcare. World Homeopathy Week serves as a platform to acknowledge the contributions of homeopathy to global wellness and to encourage its responsible and scientific practice. With its focus on holistic healing, the observance helps bridge traditional knowledge with modern healthcare solutions.

To help with more frequently asked questions about homeopathy, the Homeopathy Research Institute have put together a helpful page on their website here. 

So…What does a consultation with a Homeopath involve?

The initial consultation lasts approximately 90 minutes. Together we explore yours and your family’s health history. This time is yours to express the full picture of your health problems, what you would like some help with, what symptoms you experience and how life is for you. I will ask you everything you know about your condition. Confidentiality is always paramount and information shared is viewed objectively. By adopting a patient centred approach, we take into account all your symptoms that you need help with, whether they seem connected or not. Because homeopathic treatment is so individualised the emphasis is on how your symptoms or complaints are experienced by you. The opportunity to speak in depth about yourself, although unfamiliar for some, is often very therapeutic and enables people to understand themselves and their illness in a new way. You may have been given a medical diagnosis or simply feel and know in yourself that your energy, mood or body isn’t as well as it should be. Homeopathic treatment is an opportunity to explore the areas you need help with, come to understand the possible cause and find a remedy that stimulates your recovery and boosts your sense of well-being. Homeopathy is designed to help people with physical, emotional or psychological concerns.

Homeopathic medicines go through a system of extreme dilution and are mostly made from either plant, animal or mineral sources, exactly as they are found in nature. The dilutions mean that they are non-addictive, have no toxic side-effects and can be safely used alongside traditional medicines. This also makes it highly suitable for people who are especially sensitive to conventional medicines and are looking for a more gentle system of healthcare. Due to their extreme dilution homeopathic remedies prove particularly effective in treating ailments in pregnancy, childbirth and for postpartum healing and any breastfeeding issues should they arise. 

I first came to Homeopathy in 2009 when my eldest child was born. I took Homeopathic Arnica to help with the bruising and discomfort I felt on the day of her birth. I recovered well and felt drawn to this gentle system of healing and wanted to know more. Over the early years of parenting, and again when pregnant with my 2^nd child, I continued as a home prescriber to use homeopathic remedies to treat myself throughout pregnancy and for breast feeding issues. Then my family for coughs, colds, bumps, bruises, teething, earache, fevers, digestive upsets and minor injuries which were treated with great success using only my basic Homeopathic Remedy Kit and a simple guide book for pinpointing remedies. My confidence and hunger for knowledge about this gentle and effective system of medicine evolved further to then study for a professional qualification at The NWCH over 4 years. Qualifying as a professional Homeopathic practitioner in 2018 has been so rewarding for me personally and I feel honoured to share the beauty of this powerful holistic approach to health care with my many clients. 

Just some of my tips to prepare for Birth

​Before birth – To help prepare mother and baby for the optimum experience:

1. Constitutional homeopathic treatment with a professional Homeopath
2. Weekly Yoga and swimming And include some gentle pelvic floor exercises.
3. Eat as much fresh healthy food, preferably organic.
4. Any problems/worries should be talked through with birth partner/s.
5. Make a birth plan. See “Give Birth Like a Feminist: Your body. Your baby. Your choices” by Milli Hill
6. To avoid occipito-posterior labour  (‘back to back’ ie. baby’s spine facing your spine), from 36 weeks it is important to adopt positions daily, eg. in 20 minute sessions, which encourage gravity to swing baby’s back to the front of your tummy. This can be achieved daily (for example) whilst watching TV whilst leaning forward over a large beanbag or birthing ball, or spending time in all 4’s on your hands and knees (remember to protect your knees with a blanket or yoga mat). Avoid spending time on a sofa with knees higher than the hips as it can encourage the baby’s back to lie in the posterior position. Staying active during the day can help prevent this. If the baby is in the ‘back to back’ position during labour, as a Homeopathic Doula it’s possible for me to encourage baby to turn using remedies from The Helios Childbirth Kit (pictured above).
7. From 36 weeks drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea daily increases uterine tone and may help make uterine contractions more efficient when labour starts.
8. Learn useful relaxation breathing techniques and listen to meditation/hypnobirthing tracks daily to reinforce the ability to relax quickly and easily.

To Initiate Labour

A first baby is often anything up to two weeks over date. Don’t panic or let others decide when your baby will come. Your baby will come when you and they are ready. I always tell clients to share a ‘Due month’ NOT a due date. This can really help to discourage the unhelpful “Any news” texts and messages from excited family and friends once you get to 40 weeks!

If you need help to initiate labour maybe think of these natural methods by boosting the birth hormones:

1. Take a gentle walk in nature.
2. Clean the house/make soup/enjoy mindful activities in the house to occupy your mind.
3. Gentle Nipple stimulation, especially effective when lying in a warm bath.
4. Watch a romantic/sexy movie.
5. Make love. Prostaglandin in semen will help contractions. With a pillow under the thighs, let semen bathe the cervix for as long as possible.
6. Eat a whole fresh pineapple. Full of Vit C and gives you a lovely boost pre labour
7. If you are not used to rich curry, eat one. As it rushes through the bowel, the uterus is stimulated, and it can set things in motion.
8. Your partner to give you a foot massage, paying particular attention to the Shiatsu point of the cervix which is situated on the base of the heel.
9. Enjoy a professional pregnancy massage, with me, in the comfort of your home.
10. If baby is in breech position (bottom down or other variations) to help encourage baby to turn a Homeopath may prescribe the remedy Pulsatilla 200c in a single dose.
11. If you are post 40 weeks you may like to take the homeopathic remedy Caulophyllum 30c 3 x daily until labour starts. This remedy helps ripen the cervix.
12. If you are overdue and feel that labour is delayed due to fear or anxiety consider a single dose of the following remedies: Aconite 200c – worry, anxiety or fearful of labour and birth. Gelsemium 200c – holding back the process with an emotional state of anxiety about how you will manage ie. Waters may have broken and then labour may have started but then stopped.

During Labour

1. Snack every 2 hours, or as and when desired.

​* Small bowl of soup

* Fresh juice (or herbal tea) with honey. 

*  Small pieces of fruits (frozen grapes are excellent) 

Birth Partner to encourage the woman to withdraw into herself. Respect her privacy and help her do this by limiting activities/talking around her. Try to assist in this process synchronise breathing of everyone present with the mother’s breathing and the contractions. The mother can take Arnica 200c every 3-4 hours once the labour is well established. In labour you are using muscles you do not normally use and this will give the muscles a boost. Arnica is also a natural prophylactic against bruising. It can also help to prevent excessive bleeding post birth.

*  The mouth can become very dry in labour. Offer filtered/spring water or watered down fruit juice, take one teaspoon or small sips regularly in labour.

*  Mother should be encouraged to pass urine every two hours; a full bladder can impede baby’s decent.

*  Everyone present should have Dr Bach’s Rescue Remedy on hand, so that they can stay calm around the mother. I carry Bach Flower Rescue remedy in my Doula bag when attending births.

For me, as a Holistic full spectrum Doula, my support goes beyond the traditional roles of a doula by embracing a comprehensive approach to support that spans the entire spectrum of reproductive experiences. This includes not only childbirth but also fertility, loss, and postpartum periods. The term “holistic” implies my focus on the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and an acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of all aspects of reproductive health. My pregnancy and birth support as a Holistic Full Spectrum Doula means I provide continuous emotional and physical support to clients during labour and childbirth and the early bonding time with their new baby. I assist in creating a birthing environment that aligns with the mother’s preferences and values to support her ability to make her birth experience truly her own.

Fertility Support: Unlike traditional doulas, Holistic Full Spectrum Doulas extend their support to individuals navigating fertility challenges. I offer emotional support, information, and holistic approaches to enhance fertility. This can also include period and menstrual cycle education for women at all stages of life.

Postpartum Care: Beyond the immediate postpartum period, Holistic Full Spectrum Doulas continue to offer support. I assist with the emotional adjustments, breastfeeding, and the overall well-being of clients as they navigate new parenthood and get to know their new baby.

Education and Advocacy: A key role of Holistic Full Spectrum Doulas is to provide education on various reproductive experiences and advocate for the individual’s choices. This includes empowering clients to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

Qualities of a Holistic Full Spectrum Doula

Compassion and Empathy: Holistic Full Spectrum Doulas approach their work with deep compassion and empathy, recognizing the unique challenges and joys associated with different reproductive experiences.

Holistic Knowledge: I have a diverse skill set that encompasses traditional doula practices, knowledge of alternative therapies, and an understanding of the emotional and spiritual aspects of reproductive health. I enjoy an awareness of emotional energy manifestations in the body, energetic blocks, the chakra systems and have additional training and experience with gentle movement modalities through my Yoga Teacher Training, specialising in Pre & Postnatal Yoga therapy.

Non-Judgmental Approach: Holistic Full Spectrum Doulas foster an environment free of judgment, where my clients’ feel safe sharing their experiences and making choices aligned with their values and life choices.

If you would like to know more about my services and how I can support you on your journey please do get in touch today via my contact page
I’d love to hear from you!
Love Dani xx