Since the time when records were started women have found it difficult to bear labor pains. There are evidences of this before Biblical times ; it is mentioned in the Bible and in the records from which early medical history has been garnered. Regardless of the age in which she lived she has always expressed her resentment that a natural function should be accompanied by such pain.
Scholars have ventured hypotheses to explain why labor pains exist but have failed to furnish a satisfactory answer. It would seem that with truth and safety we can say they have been present since the Creator molded human beings. Whether the Creator intentionally planned that women should have pains during labor, or whether it evolved as an unintended imperfection or as an unavoidable by-product, human beings have never known.
But just as man has striven to create higher standards of living for woman so he has striven to free her of this bond which has been so distressing. In the last century, since anesthetics have been studied so consistently, the most progress has been made. The mental consciousness of these pains can now be relieved completely by drugs such as chloroform and ether ; partially by such combinations as produce twilight sleep and spinal anesthesia, and by local anesthetics to the separate nerves in the perineum.
But each one has its just criticism and must be branded imperfect. Discussion of these separate items is outside the intended scope of this paper, however interesting it would be. The writer rather intends to record experiences in treating the accompanying mental and nervous distress with homoeopathic remedies.
These observations may enlarge upon the present knowledge bearing on the homoeopathic remedy at the delivery room and may call attention to Chamomilla as worthy of further study. It is most often the only treatment needed for easing the fear and nervousness which seem to play such havoc by making the mother uncomfortable at the time of delivery.
In 1921 the writer first used Chamomilla in confinement cases. The success in these was so good that he has used it ever since. Not having heard it mentioned, or seen its action or use recorded in the literature since that time, the addition of a few deductions from personal observation of its use may be of some benefit to the medical profession.
In many instances in private Chamomilla has eliminated the necessity for using more expensive drugs such as ampule pituitrin. Chamomilla has been found most useful when one drop of 3x or 6x dilution was placed in a half tumbler of drinking water and then given orally, in teaspoonful doses. In mild cases one doses is sufficient and two or more seem to aggravated the condition. I prefer the 6x dilution. As many as five or six doses at intervals of five to thirty minutes have been administered in exceedingly severe cases.
I have tried the mother tincture but nothing higher than the 6x. In the fourth clinical case mentioned below, Chamomilla was used but did not give complete results, and because of the history of previous attacks of colds and cramps, Cimicifuga 3x tablet triturate was found to be successful. This relieved the condition which caused the blocked action and the case was shortly delivered. Chloroform. ether and pituitrin have been used with Chamomilla without signs of antagonistic action.
I have never know of Chamomilla being used with spinal anesthesia, twilight sleep, or the locally anesthetized perineum. My cases have nearly all been those where deliveries were made in the private home. In the hospital there is always delay and sometimes difficulty in prescribing it. The percentage of my cases in which it has been used runs as follows : 1935- 12 per cent ; 1936-5 per cent ; 1937-75 per cent ; 1938- 58 per cent ; 1939-53 per cent. This covers about 200 cases.
Opinions of Patients Who Have Experienced Reactions After Chamomilla Was Used.- Mrs. M. thirtytwo years old, white, blonde, six children, five alive. ; very nervous seemed too scared to move, somewhat restless, last confinement was very difficult as she had lost a child recently and having a new doctor affected her ; was afraid her delivery would cause her as much distress as the last one. Between her fear and anticipated pain, anxiety and uncertainty, her breathing was short, like a panting dogs ; her respiration rate was 100 per minute ; she had chills between labor pains and could hardly talk ; moaned almost continually.
This was the condition at 8 A.M. There had been only four or five pains within the hour preceding. At 8.20, she was given one dose of Chamomilla and about five minutes pains began. She said “They feel like cramps across they top of the stomach. That aint the way they been coming ; they have been starting in my back.” Objectively I observed she was not as restless and did not breathe as rapidly. By 8.35 she has no more chills and had the second hard labor pain since the single dose of Chamomilla was given. At 9, she was given one more dose of Chamomilla following which her nervousness, moaning and panting breathing stopped.
At 9.30, she was given one-half ampule pituitrin and at 9.50 birth occurred without laceration or other complication. The husband gave all the assistance the doctor had and there was no need of more. Both the mother and her husband said this was the easier labor she had ever experienced. The day after the delivery I asked the patient to explain to me any sensation she had experienced the day before, after taking the Chamomilla. All the could say was : “I was not so nervous after taking it.”.
Hazel M., aged twenty-eight, Negress, ninth child, having previously lost three ; large stature. Bag of waters had broken four days before my call to the case. This was the most marked illustration of the results obtained by Chamomilla yet experienced and also the one where the patient was probably the most grateful. On first examination, about 11 P.M. the cervix was hard and resistant and I expected a long-drawn-out labor. Her cervix was so tender that she said she could not stand it to have a birth pain. She yelled when my gloved finger touched thee cervix at examination.
She was given five teaspoons of Chamomilla between 11.30 P.M. and midnight and after each one she had a hard labor pain with firm bearing down and little or no objection from tenderness of the cervix. She was so nervous she could not close her mouth and bear down. At 11.40 dilatation was found to be complete ; on examination there was no tenderness of the cervix and the head started through.
After the case was finished and she was free from pain, I asked her if she could give me any idea what sensations she has after I gave her the medicine, and starting with both her hands at her knees she drew them up the sides of the body and to the top of her head, saying. “It made me feel different all over.” She circled her breasts and seemed to think there was a changed sensation there. She said it made her feel better through her chest and heart : “They did not feel so funny.” Then, “Why do cervix was the most sensitive I have ever known but she was able to bear down hard after the Chamomilla was given.
Mrs. P., aged twenty-five, brunette, second child. She had been in labor some hours and pains were not progressing. She complained of being all fagged out and was pleading for chloroform or something to give her rest-which was not given. Instead at 2.50 A.M. she was given one dose of Chamomilla and her pains began to be effective. A boy was born at 3:07 A.M. and there were no lacerations or complications.
After the delivery the patient was jovial and talked and laughed freely. This one dose was the only medicine given before the delivery. On December 4, while making a postpartum call (the delivery was on November 27), the patient was asked if she could notice any change in her feeling after receiving the medicine at the time of delivery.
She said, “It made everything more clear, I became more interested in what I was doing. It seemed as if I had more strength. I seemed tired before taking it. It affected me all over. It seemed as if everything was all right. It seemed as if could go through with the delivery. I felt much as if I was waking up. It seemed as if someone had turned on a light. I just felt different.”.
Mrs. T. aged twenty-four, blonde, primipara, in labor four hours. At 1 A.M. dilatation was complete but all pains were in her back and so severe they drover her almost frantic. After some hours of this cramping pains started in her legs. She was almost hysterical. She was given a dose of Chamomilla every half hour for three doses. At 6.15 she said she was exhausted and was crying from the pains in the lumbar and sacral areas.
A life history of colds and cramps being obtained, she was given one dose of Cimicifuga 3x tablet triturate. This turned the tables and at 9.39 an eight and one-half pound boy was born and produced a second degree laceration. When inquiry was made, she stated that the pains changed after the one dose of Cimicifuga.
