The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Katie (Springfield, OH) on 03/01/2009
★☆☆☆☆
I am 7 months pregnant and have had severe sinus problems the entire time. Nothing OTC works for me including Benadryl or Tylenol Sinus. I've tried the Vick's Vaporizor and nothing. Afrin gives some relief but I think I've become immune to it. I've been using it for months and at increasing intervals throughout the day. So after reading all these positive comments about drinking the ACV with water, I thought I'd try it. I mixed about 2 tablespoons of ACV with 8 ounces of warm water and drank it. It tasted a little like lemon tea with no sweetener so I didn't find the taste to be terribly off-putting; however it's been about 2 hours and NO difference at all in my sinuses. I may try it again and see if it does anything with repeated use, but so far, I am not getting any effect at all from this remedy.
Natural Antidepressants
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 12/13/2008 490 posts
To Shelley from Antioch, Ca:
Hi Shelley, sorry you are having all this depression with your pregnancy, but has your doctor checked your electrolytes/creatine levels to rule out a UTI or kidney infection? One thing you can check for yourself real fast, is your potassium level. If your problem is low potassium, drinking about 3 l2-ounce glasses of fresh or frozen orange juice in a short period of time should make you feel much better for a short period of time. If this proves true for you go to visit your doctor and ask him to check you for a kidney problem.
If it is just depression, St. John's Wort of Sam-e should be safer than the typically prescribed antidepressants. A sluggish thyroid can also make you feel a lot of what you are describing, and a good stress tab (B Complex + Vitamins C & E) can help activate a sluggish thyroid. The bottle will say l a day but until you feel a difference I don't think one at meal times (notice I said meal times, not when you eat, because everybody doesn't eat the usual 3 meals per day) will cause you any problems.
Natural Antidepressants
Posted by Shelly (Antioch, California) on 12/13/2008
Hello, I am so happy to find this website. I am in need of help. I am pregnant in my 2nd Trimester and have felt considerable depression during my pregnancy. Symptoms include: Lethargic, unable to get out of bed, no desire to socialize or participate in family activities, loss of desire to complete daily tasks. I have two other children ages 7 and 2yrs old and my depression is becoming burdensome and a distracting me from caring for my other children. I am experiencing intense sadness and loss of interest in daily endeavors. These symptoms are very different than normal pregnancy hormone related symptoms as they are more intense and dark in nature. I have discussed with my doctor but I do not want to take prescription medications and would like to consider all natural antidepressants. I have heard that Sam-E is supposedly good, however I want to make sure that any natural antidepressants I may take will not have harmful side effects on the baby while I am pregnant.
Question:
Are there any SAFE all natural Antidepressant remedies available to take during pregnancy?
Thank you for your help.
Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C
Posted by Vica (Anaheim, CA) on 11/17/2008
★★★★★
I completely disagree with Kat. Please refer to the following link from the Vitamin C foundation:
http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/stone/Chapt26.htm
Scroll down to the "Pregnancy" section. It goes through all of the studies conducted on pregnant females including animal studies. It also provides the rationale behind the necessity of Vitamin C (especially during pregnancy). I have actually used the Vitamin C protocol in my last pregnancy (3 grams of Vitamin C per day 1st trimester, 6 grams 2nd trimester & 10 grams of Vitamin C in my last trimester). I can honestly say it was the easiest child birth I have had. (I should know since the last child was number 8 for my husband and I.) My baby is the most happy and mellow baby around. To this day I strive to take between 6-10 grams of Vitamin C a day. I highly recommend that everyone reads the information that can be found on
http://www.vitamincfoundation.org
One will truly be amazed at how many illnesses can be cured/treated with high doses of Vitamin C.
Pickle Juice
Posted by Salima (Madison, Wisconsin) on 05/01/2007
★★★★★
I am 19 weeks pregnant and got sick a few days ago. I didn't want to take any medicines so I've been downing cough drops for the past three days which has done absolutely nothing! I logged on to find a home remedy, and of course being pregnant I have a jar of pickles in my fridge! After drinking in the hot pickles juice I already felt better!! Aparently, the heated vapors of vinger helped my congestion and soothed my sore throat instantly. My coughing subsided dramatically and my throat didn't hurt as much. Thanks!!!!
Almonds
Posted by Karen (Birmingham, Michigan) on 09/12/2007
★★★★★
ALMONDS: I had been taking aciphex for my acid reflux for over a year. After trying to lose weight with no success, I discovered over the internet that some people have a weight problem with aciphex. I stopped using it and decided to try a natural remedy that I used when I was pregnant and it works! It's real simple: plain almonds. I eat about 5 with breakfast and then eat a few each time I eat and I haven't felt my reflux. This was a remedy that a nurse told me about many years ago when I was pregnant with my first child, 1981. I'm so glad I remembered it. Just to let you know, I am a drinker of chlorinated tap water; (read below) but somehow that remedy makes sense, too. Oh, and by the way, I began to lose weight after stopping the aciphex!
Epsom Salt, Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Amanda (Philadelphia, PA) on 11/06/2007
★★★★★
I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy and my baby is sitting on my sciatica nerve. I can barely walk somedays but this helps alot! I take a pretty hot bath with Epsom Salt, A bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil in the bath and soak for 20-30 minutes. It helps alleviate the pain a great deal. You can also get on your hands and knees (all fours) and tilt your pelvis and this relieves pressure. I hope this helps.
Raspberry Yogurt
Posted by Kelly (Flint, Mi) on 12/10/2007
★★★★★
I was Pregnant and unable to eat anything.It was a miserable feeling.I tred Ale and crackers and other things sugested by family and freinds,nothing worked ..then i tried raspberry yogurt and was able to eat I was so happy and felt much better I hope this helps somebody.
Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C
Posted by Kat (Albuquerque, New Mexico) on 12/11/2007
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Ted, just wanted to comment on a reply were you stated that vitamin c can help prevent miscarriage. ascorbic acid (synthetic vit c i believe) is actually and abortificient in early term pregnancy, so you should be sure to note that unless a woman is trying to terminate a pregnancy, she should never take ascorbic acid while pregnant (ascorbic acid is the main ingredient in most off brand and lower priced vit c supplements.)
Cell Salt
Posted by Janine (Brisbane, Australia) on 12/26/2007
★★★★★
I had acid reflux during my first pregnancy and had some relief with over the counter alkalizers. This pregnancy I didn't want to alkalize my stomach acid so I can digest effectively - but I still needed some relief. My naturopath recommended nat phos, the cell salt (also called SP or sodium phosphate) which is working very well, at least as well as antacids without the worry of poor digestive side effects or aluminium additives. Be sure to chew the tablet, or dissolve it in warm water.
Black Cohosh for Labor and Delivery
Posted by Brigitte (Houston, Texas) on 01/11/2008
★★★★★
Labor and delivery-Black Kohosh: Only use this product a week and a half or at the earliest, two weeks before delivery if used before this time it can induce premature labor; but when used as described here, it helps to strenghten the uterine wall to facilitate an easier and less stressful labor and delivery. I suggest that an expecting mother take one herbal supplement with each meal. IE, one at breakfast, one at lunch and one at dinner. Continue this regiment until you finally deliver your baby. One added benefit to this herbal remedy resides in the fact that you will not experience the excrutiating pains similar to contractions that are felt when you are nursing the child post natal. You may feel minor discomfort but, thank God, it is nothing like the pain you will endure if you do nothing at all. I am speaking from experience when I tell you this works.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sarah (Columbus, Ohio) on 02/06/2008
★★★★★
I am 3 months pregnant and have been sufferring from terrible digestion issues (GERD, nausea, constipation, bloating, gas, etc). One of my friends told me to try apple cider vinegar to help alleviate some of my symptoms. I had my husband buy me a generic brand of ACV at the grocery store and I just started taking it yesterday. I believe that it is already making a difference in the way my gut feels; however, I just read one of the articles on this site that says distilled/pasturized ACV is "dead" and that you are losing most of the value if you are not using an organic, non-distilled version. My doctor does not want me to take anything that is not pasturized (for fear of any bacteria harming my baby). Does this mean it is pointless for me to use the grocery store brand of ACV? I haven't been using the ACV for long enough to know if it is truly effective at alleviating my problems or if all the "feeling better" stuff is just in my head. If anyone can confirm whether regular store bought (pasturized) ACV is still useful, I would greatly appreciate your comments.
