Homeopathy, periods, and hormonal birth control

I took the pill in my teens and twenties, on and off, to avoid pregnancy, like most of my friends.

I didn't really think about what it did to the body until I was training as a homeopath and studied Folliculinum with Melissa Assilem.

I treated my first case of pill detox while still at homeopathy college more than fourteen years ago.

Once I started to practice I soon found myself treating many women with period problems, some of whom wanted help coming off the pill.

Since the very beginning, I have had a regular stream of clients with varying degrees of period pain, breast pain, PMS, PMDD, excessive bleeding, endometriosis, irregular cycles, and PCOS.

Some women find themselves relying on painkillers, or are simply unable to function normally on one or more days of their period.

There is often (not always) a history of different types of hormonal birth control including different types of pill, IUD, implant, morning-after pill, and sometimes medical abortions.

Depending on their history we are also looking at antibiotics for UTI and perhaps for STDs, plus candida medication.

These all build up layers of toxicity that need clearing in order to restore normal biological functions.

Nutrition is also an important part of the process.

A brief history of hormonal birth control

Homeopathic principles behind my approach

There is a clear set of notes to go alongside the training.

Please make a note of the link to the webinar as this is the same link for you to watch on replay.

There are encouraging signs of change in attitudes and understanding around the complex biological process that is menstruation.

Period positivity is driven, at least in part, by new technology such as the use of smartphone apps to log and record periods, as well as moon cups and other period products.

There have been many new books on periods published in the last few years, along with the emergence of podcasts on hormones and natural fertility.

As homeopaths, we have always seen women and girls with a wide range of symptoms related to periods and fertility.

Balancing hormones and resolving these symptoms are not all we are required to do.

Our homeopathic tools are also needed to address underlying issues that include years or even decades of synthetic birth control hormones.

Research shows that while hormonal birth control continues to be prevalent among women of all ages, it is less popular with women in the 'Millenial' group, and even less so with 'Generation Z'.

The 'morning-after pill' has been helpful for women who need to avoid pregnancy after condoms fail.

'Medical' (drug-induced) and surgical abortions are both traumatic.

As practitioners, we need to understand all of these areas in order to feel confident in navigating them with our clients.

We want to give support and up-to-date information as well as effective treatment protocols.