 Complementary therapies for families
Complementary therapies have received mixed press in recent years.
However, many people are turning to them to relieve problems that Western
medicine has not succeeded in helping. Babyworld moderator and complementary
therapist Lynne Morgan gives you a basic guide to the most common therapies
and explains how they can help in pregnancy, childbirth and beyond…
What we now call 'complementary' or 'alternative medicine' is actually
far older and has been used for far longer than modern medicine. Alternative
therapies are still viewed somewhat suspiciously by some people yet are
often far more effective in treating certain conditions than modern Western
medicine. This is particularly true in the fields of conception, pregnancy
and birth, where so many modern treatments and medicines are off-limits
due to their potential effects on the unborn baby or young child. Obviously
there may be times when complementary therapies could be unsuitable, such
as in the first three months of pregnancy, but even then, some therapies
can still be used safely, as long as they are undertaken under the guidance
of a suitably qualified practitioner. Complementary therapies can also
be used to treat small babies and children safely and effectively.
What therapies are there?
There is a wide range of complementary therapies to choose from. Here
is a list of the most popular and how they work. However, it is by no
means extensive.
Acupuncture:
Acupuncture is a therapy which has been used in the Far East for over
2000 years. It works on the principle that disease in the body is caused
by blockages in the body's natural energy channels or 'chi'. The practitioner
will place very fine needles into certain specific points around the body
to effect healing in the patient. It has been used successfully to treat
infertility and a wide range of pregnancy-related discomforts and complications
- even during labour. Possibly the best known use of acupuncture in pregnancy
is for turning breech babies. Research studies have shown that acupuncture
is successful in around 70% of cases; at least comparable to the success
rate of the external cephalic version, which is successful in around 67%
of cases.
Aromatherapy:
Whilst certain oils should be avoided during pregnancy, an aromatherapy
massage by a qualified therapist can be very beneficial, particularly
in the treatment of oedema (swelling), backache and anxiety, provided
they are not part of a larger problem such as pre-eclampsia, varicose
veins etc. Essential oils themselves would not be used for the actual
massage but could be used in a oil burner which would provide the therapeutic
effect of the oil in a much less concentrated form. Aromatherapy is also
beneficial during labour, when it can be used to fortify and maintain
contractions, raise the spirits or simply for relaxation.
Homoeopathy:
Homoeopathy is an extremely safe and gentle form of medicine which can
be used to treat anyone of any age, from tiny babies to 90-year-old grannies.
It works on the principle that 'like cures like'. So, for instance, if
you have a problem with watery eyes, a homoeopath might give you a remedy
made from red onion as this causes watery eyes in its natural, basic form.
However, homoeopathic remedies consist of a highly diluted form of the
essence of the plant. The more dilute the remedy, the more effective the
treatment. Homoeopathy can be used for conception issues, various conditions
of pregnancy and postnatally. It is particularly useful for conditions
where there is a hormonal imbalance, such as pregnancy-related migraine.
It can also be used to induce labour or maintain contractions, for postnatal
healing, breastfeeding issues and many others.
Osteopathy/Cranial Osteopathy:
During pregnancy, weight-bearing changes occur. A mother's weight gain
will ideally reach somewhere between 20-30 pounds. With the bulk of this
weight being in the abdominal area, the mother's centre of gravity shifts
forward. In order to compensate for this, the natural curves of the spine
become exaggerated causing lower back pain. This increase in weight can
create spinal misalignment and/or postural distortions, which in turn
affect nerves, muscles and mobility of joints. Gentle osteopathic adjustments
help ease lower back pain and keep your body (nerves, muscles, organs,
etc) functioning at their optimum. Cranial osteopathy is an extremely
gentle form of osteopathy which is suitable for pregnant women and babies
alike. It can help with the many and various discomforts of pregnancy
as well as being beneficial for babies after birth, particularly if they
were subjected to a prolonged second stage when their heads become moulded.
New mothers can also benefit from cranial osteopathy, particularly if
they suffered from symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) during pregnancy.
Reflexology:
Reflexology is the manipulation of various pressure points on the feet
or hands to effect an improvement in the health of the recipient and has
been around for over 4000 years. In fact there are frescos depicting reflexology
treatments in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians! It can be used to help
with conception issues, during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.
Although reflexology is safe throughout pregnancy, some practitioners
prefer not to treat women in the first three months. However, reflexology
is very successful in the treatment of a wide variety of pregnancy discomforts
and conditions, including turning breech babies and induction of labour.
During labour itself, it can be used for relaxation and pain relief. Postnatally,
it is excellent for breastfeeding problems such as maintaining or increasing
milk supply, postnatal depression and general relaxation. Research has
shown that women who have regular reflexology treatments during pregnancy
have far shorter labours than those who don't (on average one third as
long).
Shiatsu:
Shiatsu is a gentle and powerful Japanese healing art which, literally
translated, means 'finger pressure'. Originating from oriental massage,
it affects the same points and meridians worked on in Acupuncture but
uses a method of gentle pressure through touch to re-establish flow of
energy and well-being. There are many conditions that arise during pregnancy
which can be helped with Shiatsu. Some of these include: backache, tight
shoulders and neck, pelvic discomfort or pains, abdominal compression,
rib-flair, sciatica, morning sickness, indigestion, oedema, constipation,
cramps, restless legs, high blood pressure, breathlessness, anxiety and
many more. It can also be used postnatally to restore balance to the body.
There are, of course, many other therapies which would be helpful for
conception, pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period but they are too
numerous to describe here.
What you need to know
- When selecting a therapist, it is important to know a number of things.
To start with, here is a list of 10 questions to ask when selecting
a therapist for your particular needs. Obviously these are fairly general,
but hopefully they will give you an idea once you've selected the therapy
you want to try.
- What are your qualifications and how long ago did you qualify?
(Ask them to explain their qualifications if necessary.)
- Do you have insurance?
- Are you a member of a recognised professional body? If so, which?
- How can your therapy help me / my child?
- How much experience do you have of treating my / my child's condition?
- How many treatments / sessions will it take?
- What happens in a treatment / session?
- How long are the treatments / sessions?
- What hours do you work?
- How much will it cost and what does the price cover?
Some therapists will give a free 15-minute consultation so that you can
talk to them about their therapy and decide whether it's right for you.
Use this as an interview process as well as for information and advice.
After all, you have to get on with your therapist, otherwise you won't
gain much benefit from the treatment.
Counting the cost
The over-riding concern with complementary therapies is often one of
cost. Unfortunately, very few therapies are recognised by the NHS, so
they are only available privately. Depending on where you live and what
therapy you're selecting, you could end up paying anything from £20 to
£60 per treatment or session, sometimes more. However, Sure Start programmes
often have therapists who come to the sessions and give treatments at
significantly reduced rates. There is also the possibility of barter arrangements.
Therapists are generally happy to discuss their rates and often have a
sliding scale. Some will even give you treatments in exchange for some
other service which you would be able to provide, such as cutting their
grass, helping with their filing and other such things. Payment doesn't
always have to mean money.
Where do you go from here?
There are quite a few places to look if you want to find a therapist
who can help you. The first, and most obvious would be your local area
Yellow Pages or Thompson Directory. The internet is also very helpful
and there are a number of general sites devoted to complementary therapies,
most of which have a 'find a therapist' facility. If you know the name
of the professional body you're looking for, you can look up their website.
They generally include information about their sphere of interest and
a list of their qualified, registered practitioners.
For more information
Complementary Healthcare Information Service - UK: http://www.chisuk.org.uk/
Healthy Pages: http://www.healthypages.net/
UK Therapists: http://www.uktherapists.com/
Federation of Holistic Therapists: http://www.fht.org.uk/
Where to next?
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