Many times pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding take their toll on the female body in ways that seem beyond reparation and completely out of our control. From the weakening of the immune system to periods fatigue, mood swings, morning sickness and acne, the doctor’s office is no longer the only source of refuge. In fact, many women are now working with their physicians to meld conventional medicine with alternative remedies that allow them to regain a sense of control over their changing bodies while taking a more holistic approach to their health. However, just because a remedy is labeled “homeopathic,” “natural” or “organic” does not automatically mean that it is safe for pregnant or lactating women. In fact, many complementary treatments have yet to be sufficiently studied and none are FDA regulated, which means that these treatments could be potentially safe or extremely dangerous for a developing fetus or newborn. Also remember that these alternative treatments are not miracle cures nor are they substitutes to your physician’s advice. So, be sure that you consult with your physician and contact the InfantRisk Center before beginning any alternative, self-administered treatment.
To get you started taking control of your own health, we have developed a list of alternative remedies, for a few common illnesses, that have been studied and shown to be relatively safe for both the pregnant and breastfeeding mother.
The Common Cold
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has been shown to be effective in decreasing the length and severity of the common cold in children as well as in adults who are exposed to taxing physical circumstances. However, contrary to popular opinion studies suggest that there is no real decrease in the risk of catching a cold if Vitamin C supplements are taken prophylactically. Additionally, vitamin C consumption must be monitored. Too much or too little Vitamin C can cause harm to adults and children. If too little Vitamin C is consumed scurvy results and if too much Vitamin C is consumed liver and kidney failure can ensue. Thus, if you feel a cold coming on make sure you’re consuming the normal recommended allowance of Vitamin C per day from your diet and/or prenatal vitamin (85 mg per day for pregnant women and 120 mg for breastfeeding women; upon consumption of 1800 mg or more side effects may result). Also, the use of high doses during pregnancy may lead to rebound scurvy in the newborn infant. So be cautious of overdoses of vitamin C while pregnant.
Safety:
Vitamin C is essential for your health and your infant’s development. It helps the body fight infection, protect cells by disposing of free radicals and make collagen, which is a component in tendons, skin, cartilage and bones. Pregnant women should be especially conscious of their Vitamin C intake since some animal studies have found that a lack of Vitamin C during fetal development can lead to decreased metal function. Thus, getting enough Vitamin C is important, but most women who are pregnant or breastfeeding typically obtain the recommended dosage from their diet and prenatal vitamins. Additionally, Vitamin C is easily transferred across the placenta, which is important for development but could also be dangerous if taken in extreme concentrations. So if you feel that stuffy nose, sneezing and sore throat coming on, be sure you drink your OJ, take your pre-natal vitamins and just relax.
Zinc
The human rhinovirus is the most common infective agent in the human body. It is also the cause for 10-40% of common colds. Zinc has been shown to stop the rhinovirus from replicating inside the body. Additionally, some studies have shown that using Zinc oral lozenges decreases the duration of cold symptoms in adults. These studies used zinc gluconate or zinc acetate lozenges, providing 9-24 mgs of elemental zinc, which were taken every 2 hours (while awake) starting within 24 hours of the onset of cold symptoms. Keep in mind that other studies that used other types of zinc lozenges, such as those with flavoring, did not show any change in the duration of cold symptoms.
Safety:
Zinc is an essential mineral that is required for your cell’s enzymatic functions and the recommended daily allowance for adults is 12-15 mg per day. While zinc does enter the breastmilk, growing newborns require zinc and as long as supplementation does not exceed 25-50 mgs per day, it should be safe. Additionally, zinc acetate or zinc gluconate are fine for pregnant and breastfeeding women to use to treat cold symptoms. However, avoid zinc sulfates because those have been shown to be detrimental to proper immune system function. Additionally, some studies suggest that people with acne have lower levels of zinc than individuals who are acne free. Thus, by taking zinc supplements for your cold, you could also be improving your complexion! One last point, zinc is concentrated in the milk of breastfeeding mothers, so be certain to avoid overdosing this mineral in breastfeeding mothers, as the infant may receive an overdose.
Some natural cold treatments for the pregnant or breastfeeding mother to avoid:
- Siberian Ginseng
- Andrographis
Headaches
Scientists are not sure exactly what causes headaches, which is why the drugs used to treat headaches have such differing effects. Additionally, most of the natural substances that have been found potentially effective in treating headaches also mimic the comprehensive mechanisms of conventional drugs. Over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches, which are often times debilitating and the last thing a new mother wants to deal with. When faced with the recurring pain or pure annoyance that seems to become exponentially worse when you’re tired or attempting to soothe a crying infant, many women are willing to try just about anything when the traditional acetaminophen regimen doesn’t seem to be doing the trick. Here are a few safe alternatives to the conventional medications for just about any type of headache.
Caffeine
Caffeine is FDA approved to be used with analgesics like acetaminophen for the treatment of simple headaches and migraines. While studies have shown that caffeine is actually very effective in decreasing the pain that is experienced during tension and migraine headaches, you must also remember that excessive caffeine use actually causes headaches in some individuals, as does caffeine withdrawal.
Safety:
During pregnancy caffeine crosses the human placenta causing similar levels of the fetus as in the mother. Thus, women should monitor their caffeine consumption and ensure that it is below 200 mg per day. Consumption of caffeine above 200 mg has been associated with miscarriage, premature birth and low birth rates. So, about 2 cups (at most) of coffee, soda or tea per day consumed in tandem with a pain reliever should keep your headaches at bay. Additionally, women who are breastfeeding should keep in mind that occasional use of caffeine will not seriously affect the milk supply, chronic and excessive usage can. Further, watch your infant closely, as caffeine may cause excitement and insomnia in some infants. So if you are breastfeeding, be careful with caffeine and watch you infant for symptoms of excitement.
Peppermint Oil
The topical use of 10% peppermint oil has been shown to reduce the intensity of a tension headache, after 15 minutes of application, when applied to the forehead and temples. Additionally, most peppermint oils contain a large percentage of menthol, which is most likely responsible for the soothing action.
Safety:
Peppermint oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in the United States for oral and topical use. Just be sure to avoid topically using peppermint oil on infants and children. A high concentration of peppermint, such as that found in peppermint oil, has also been shown to suppress lactation and engorgement. If you plan to continue breastfeeding, avoid using this treatment.
Riboflavin
Some scientists believe that migraine headaches are a result of malfunctioning mitochondria, the part of the cell responsible for making chemical energy to power the body. Thus, it would make sense that an effective treatment for migraines would improve the function and efficiency of the mitochondria. Well, that’s just what riboflavin does. In fact, some studies have shown that riboflavin reduces the frequency of migraines in patients by half.
Safety:
Riboflavin sounds like a godsend for migraine sufferers. However, as usual, there’s a catch. For riboflavin to be effective in migraine, the user must take 400 mg per day. This is a very high dose. In fact, it’s over 200 times the recommended daily allowance. While this may seem like a dangerous amount, most individuals with proper kidney functions have no detrimental effects. Additionally, the use of riboflavin by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding is probably safe because riboflavin is easily saturated so excessive levels are not absorbed by the body. But despite the proposed safety, we don’t really advise the use of high-dose riboflavin for headaches in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Some natural headache treatments for the pregnant or breastfeeding mother to avoid:
- Feverfew
- 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
- Willow Bark
Burns and Wound Healing
Honey
The topical application of honey directly to a wound or mild burn site or its dressings has been shown to increase the healing time of burns and wounds as well as decrease pain, help clean, and reduce the infection rate of burns and wounds. In fact, some studies reported successful wound healing with the honey when other methods failed. Additionally, the topical application of honey appears to favorably compare to the silver sulfadiazine and moisture polyurethane dressings used to treat burns as well as hydrogels used for the treatments of wounds. Manuka honey is particularly popular in burn units now.
Safety:
The topical application of honey is probably safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in all dosages. However, honey should never be given orally to an infant less than 12 months of age due to the risk of infant botulism.
For further questions contact the InfantRisk Center at (806)-352-2519.
References:
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