If you are looking for natural pain medication following a c-section and are concerned about the effects of the medication on your baby while you breastfeed, it might be worth trying out a few herbal analgesics that are effective substitutes for painkillers.  (The image is of Jamaican dogwood).

Aviva Romm recommends in her fantastic book, Natural Health After Birth, California poppy and Jamaican dogwood to be taken either alone or together in small quantities with other herbs. She claims they are non-addictive and not contraindicated for use while breast-feeding but she is also obliged to say there have been no real studies to confirm their total safety. Below are two recipes that may be taken regularly for 1 week after which time you should stop. She says you should not modify the proportions of the herbs or increase the dose.

 Herbal Analgesic 1: Eschscholzia Combination (Take for pain with inability to sleep)

1oz tincture fof California poppy

1 oz tincture of cramp bark

1 ounce tincture of passionflower

1/2 ounce tincture of chamomile

1/4 ounce lavender

1/4 ounce vegetable glycerin

Combine the tinctures and the glycerin

Dose: 1/2 teaspoon up to 8 times daily. Up to 1 dose every 30 minutes for 2 hours to promote sleep.

Herbal Analgesic 2: Piscidia Combination

For abdominal pain with intestinal gas or discomfort

1 oz tincture of chamomile

1/2 ounce tincture of hops

1/2 ounce tincture of lemon balm

1/4 ounce tincture of Jamaican dogwood

1/4 ounce vegetable glycerin

Combine the tinctures, then add the glycerin.

Dose: 1/2 teaspoon up to 6 times daily
 

Aviva Romm writes:

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September 25th, 2007 | Permalink