Labor+Pains

==**Definition:** == The physical discomfort and pain associated with the birthing process.
 * IBIS:**

==**Etiology:** == Labor pains are due to the contractions of the uterus as it begins and continues to expel the fetus. False labor pains are those that occur before the birthing begins; often substantially in advance of the birth. They are not usually very severe.

==**Somatic therapies:** == • relaxation breathing: during pregnancy to lessen labor pains • pregnancy exercises


==**Nutrition:** == eating principles: • light foods that are easily digested: fruit, juices • supply enough fluids, herbal teas

==**Botanicals** == • Anemone pulsatilla (toxic): for weak, sluggish, ineffectual labor in women inclined to weep (Felter, pp. 583-585) • Caulophyllum thalictroides (toxic): use during labor to ease pain or as a partus preparator; indicated for uterine pain with weight and fullness extending into thighs; for delays in labor due to sluggish contractions, weakness and fatigue; for debility due to lack of uterine power and secondary to chronic pelvic inflammation (Felter, p. 282) • Cimicifuga racemosa: for weak, irregular contractions; will diminish false labor contractions, but will strengthen and regulate true ones. Has oxytocic action enhanced by minute doses of Aconitum napellus (toxic) and Atropa belladonna (toxic). Use 15-60 drops tincture every 30 min. for 2 hours (Felter, p. 466) • Cytisus scoparius (budding tops): oxytocic action when contractions are weak and ineffectual (Anderson Geller) • Helonias dioica: used as uterine tonic prior to labor, early stages of labor. Use 5 drops in a sip of water during first stage, effect lasts 3 hours (Weed, p. 68) • Hypericum perforatum: labor pain; complementary to Scutellaria lateriflora (Weed, p. 68) • Lobelia inflata (toxic): anti-spasmodic; cervical os thick and rigid; use 30-60 drops in hot water no more than 3 times in 2 hours, noting any nausea or respiratory effects (Felter; Stansbury) • Scutellaria lateriflora: pain of dilating cervix (Weed, p. 68) • Valeriana officinalis: muscular spasms and shaking seen in late stages of labor (Stansbury) • Viburnum opulus: promotes effective regular contractions and prevents hemorrhage (Felter, p. 695)

==**Chinese Formulae** == • Cinnamon and Hoelen F. (Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan): Easing childbirth in women who are either excessively Yin or Yang (Flaws, p. 45, Hsu, 1980, p. 423; Yeung, p. 113; Bensky and Barolet, p. 322) • Tang Kuei and Peony F. (Dang Gui Shao Yao San): Easing childbirth in women with balanced constitution (Flaws, p. 45, Hsu, 1980, p. 585; Yeung, p. 77; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 177; Bensky and Barolet, p. 251)

==**Acupuncture** == note: this card has three sections: difficult labor, retained placenta and postpartum hemorrhage

after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Qi Xu (Deficiency) and/or Stagnation; Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) and/or Xue Yu (Blood Stasis); dysfunction of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and/or Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)
 * DIFFICULT LABOR**

» illustrative combinations for difficult labor: see also: delayed parturition • (1) three cones, green bean size, of moxa directly to GV-20; (2) LI-4; (3) Sp-6, Lv-1 and UB-60; (4) St-25 and CV-4; seven cones, one-half rice grain size, of moxa directly to tu yin and UB-67 (d. D) to facilitate difficult labor (So, 1987, p. 267) • LI-4, Sp-6, UB-60, UB-67 and tu yin for delayed parturition, retained placenta, sluggish delivery (Flaws, 1989, p. 100) • Sp-12, St-30, LI-4, GB-21, Lv-4 and Sp-6 for difficult labor (Shanghai, p. 677; Lee and Cheung, p. 336) • Sp-6, UB-60 and UB-67 for difficult labor (Finkelstein, p. 50) • UB-67, Sp-6 and LI-4 for difficult labor (Finkelstein, p. 51) • UB-31, UB-32, LI-4 and Sp-6 for difficult labor (Lee and Cheung, p. 336) • Sp-6, UB-67; LI-4 and/or UB-60 for difficult labor (Finkelstein, p. 51) • LI-4 and Sp-6 (D); with UB-67 (d.D three times) for difficult labor (Shanghai, p. 677) • St-36 and UB-67 will hasten delivery (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 236) • Sp-12, St-30, LI-4, GB-21, Lv-4 and Sp-6 for difficult labor (Shanghai, p. 677; Lee and Cheung, p. 336) • UB-31, UB-32, UB-33 and UB-34 (-): open pelvis and disperse Lower Warmer Stagnation to expedite labor • PC-6 and Kd-3 (+) resolve palpitations and dyspnea (Qiu and Su, p. 21) • PC-6 and GB-21 (-) relieve distention and fullness of chest and hypochondrium (Qiu and Su, p. 21) • LI-4 (++) and Sp-6 (+): promote smooth Qi and Xue (Blood) circulation

after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Spleen Xu (Deficiency); Qi Xu (Deficiency); Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency); dysfunction of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and/or Dai Mai (Girdle Vessel)
 * POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE**

» illustrative combinations for postpartum hemorrhage: • (1) indirect moxa to GV-20 and yin tang; (2) TW-6; (3) Sp-6 and St-36; three cones, one-half rice grain size, of moxa directly at Lv-1 and Sp-1 for excessive hemorrhage after childbirth (So, 1987, p. 267) • Sp-9, St-36 and TW-6 (tonify and retain passively for 30 minutes), then remove needles and apply moxa to St-36 for hemorrhaging in childbirth; if continuous cold sweats follow the hemorrhaging, apply moxa, indirectly with a moxa pole or over a layer of salt, to CV-4, CV-6 and CV-8 (Flaws, 1983, p. 47)

after assessing the person and palpating, consider these patterns: Qi Xu (Deficiency); Xu (Deficiency) and Stagnation of the Qi and Xue (Blood), esp. caused by Invasion of Perverse Cold; dysfunction of the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) and/or Ren Mai (Conception Vessel)
 * RETAINED PLACENTA**

» illustrative combinations for retained placenta: • GB-21 (-), UB-60 (-), LI-4 and Sp-6 for retained placenta; may also add CV-3, CV-4 or CV-6, and UB-67, if necessary (Flaws, 1983, p. 47) • Kd-6 and TW-5 for retained placenta (Shanghai, p. 297); bring down the afterbirth (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 283) • GB-21, CV-3, UB-60, LI-4 and Sp-6 for retained placenta (Flaws, 1983, p. 47) • UB-60, TW-5, GB-21, St-18, St-31, Sp-8, Sp-9, CV-3, CV-4 and CV-6 for retained placenta (Flaws, 1983, p. 47) • Kd-6 and PC-6 for retained placenta (Flaws, 1983, p. 47) • GB-21 and Sp-6; Kd-3, UB-67, UB-47/52 and UB-32; CV-3, CV-5, CV-6 and CV-7 for retained placenta (Mann, p. 151) • LI-4, Sp-6, UB-60, UB-67 and tu yin for delayed parturition, retained placenta, sluggish delivery (Flaws, 1989, p. 100) • GB-21, CV-3 and UB-60 (can also add: LI-4 and Sp-6) for retained placenta (Mann, p. 151) • TW-5 and Kd-6 to bring down the afterbirth (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 283) • UB-31, UB-32, UB-33 and UB-34 (-): open pelvis and disperse Lower Warmer Stagnation to expedite discharge of retained placenta

» related combinations: see also: delayed parturition • St-30 (+), GB-34 (+), CV-3 (+) and then Sp-6 (-) to treat atony of the uterus (Flaws, 1983, p. 45) • PC-3 and TW-5 (can also add: LI-4 and LI-11) for post-natal spasms due to Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) due to Wind invading and ascending (Mann, p. 151-152) • PC-3 and SI-3 (can also add: PC-6) for post-natal spasms due to Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) in which there is loss of control of the muscles (Mann, p. 152) • Sp-6 and CV-6 for pain in lower abdomen after confinement (Mann, p. 152) • UB-25 and UB-31; LI-10, St-36, LI-4 and Sp-6 for puerperal fever (Mann, p. 152) • Lv-6 and Sp-6; CV-6, CV-3 and CV-2; TW-7 for postpartum vaginal discharge (Mann, p. 152) • St-36 and Sp-6 (-): replenish and regulate Xue (Blood) and Qi

==**Homeopathy** == • Actea racemosa: “shivers” during first stage; pains too strong • Arnica montana: soreness after a severe labor; violent after pains • Bellis perennis: pains too distressing; spasmodic; too weak or ceasing; after-pains • Caulophyllum thalictroides: long, exhausting labor fails to progress; trembling, rigid os with with uterine atony and passage of dark passive blood • Chamomilla: spasmodic pains, press upward; patient intolerant to pain • Coffea cruda: severe labor pains; patient greatly excited; severe pains in the small of the back • Cuprum metallicum: cramps, sudden blindness during labor • Lachesis: pains after labor • Opium: horrible pains in uterus with urging to stool; cessation of labor pains with coma and twitchings • Pulsatilla: false pains; intense inertia; weeps because she has not delivered; labor pains too weak; spasmodic or ceasing • Viburnum opulus: false pains

==**Subtle Support** == • notes: A, A#, B, C, C#, D, E, F, G, G#

• chords: A minor, C minor, D minor, D# minor, tonic (Gimbel, p. 116)

pain: • Mendelssohn's Spring Song • Meditation from Thais • Chopin's Preludes • On Wings of Song • Andante, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony • Adagio, Beethoven's Pathetique Symphony (Heline, p. 18)


==**Mind/Body** == • All problems that delay childbirth or make it difficult are ultimately signs of an attempt to hang onto the child. The same issues may arise later in life between mother and child when the child wants to leave the parental home. The whole of human life alternates between the two poles of 'letting in' and 'letting go'. (Dethlefsen, p. 189)

• Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); controls the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, especially the contractility of the muscles and moistening of the sinews; has an intimate relationship with the genitals and Lower Warmer; and reflects emotional harmony and movement. » Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement. » Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) predisposes to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). » Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216) Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation.
 * Chinese psychophysiology:**

• Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion and manifests in the muscle tissues; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood) and holds it in the vessels; resolves Dampness and Phlegm; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced. » Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence. » Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity. » The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and/or Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.

• Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; governs Water to regulate body fluids; facilitates inspiration by grasping and pulling down the Qi of the breath; manifests through the reproductive function, and governs the process of passing on life to offspring; and displays the effects of sexual dissipation, overwork, chronic degenerative processes, and extreme stress. » Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance. » Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. » Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).