Natural Health: What can I take to ease labour pain? 

Can I take any natural remedies to help me through the labour?

A TENS machine can be an excellent resource for coping with pain during labour. 

Many women also find massage, particularly using reflexology and acupressure techniques, helpful. It is difficult to know what will work until you are in labour — some women do not want to be touched at all — but it is helpful to be prepared. 

Other resources to have on hand include hot packs, cold packs, and ice chips to suck on. 

If you are planning a water birth, it can help to reduce the pain during the final stage of labour. 

Aromatherapy can also be helpful, although some scents can cause sensory overwhelm.

If you choose to have essential oils on hand, there are several good choices. 

Clary sage is well known for helping to regulate labour and improve contractions, relieve pain, and calm the mind. 

Sweet orange and petitgrain can help lift your mood and reduce anxiety and are good to use during transition. 

They can also help with feelings of fear or fatigue. 

Roman chamomile calms the mind and reduces muscle tension. 

Rose and rose geranium support dilation of the cervix, and can help reduce feelings of overwhelm.

Peppermint is a good essential oil if you experience nausea or vomiting. It can also be refreshing and uplifting if labour takes a long time.

Homoeopathy can also help during labour, but it is best to chat with a qualified homoeopath or purchase a specific set of remedies for pregnancy and labour.

Raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus) has a long-standing reputation for strengthening and toning the uterus during the final six weeks of pregnancy. 

It is widely available in loose-leaf tea or tea bags. You should ideally take two to three cups daily.

Raspberry leaves are highly nutritious, containing calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus and vitamins A, C, and E. 

They are also a valuable post-partum remedy for restoring tone to the uterus and pelvic muscles and enriching breastmilk.

My elderly mother has developed painful varicose veins in her legs. 

She takes short walks daily but otherwise is seated throughout the day. What would you suggest?

Varicose veins are often an issue due to their appearance, but in some cases — as with your mother — they can cause pain and itching and leave the skin more vulnerable to injury. 

You are very wise to address the issue since these veins can be linked with ulcerations in the elderly.

Some simple herbal remedies can help as internal and topical remedies. Soothing calendula (Calendula officinalis) helps strengthen the walls of capillaries and veins, improve tone, and reduce inflammation. 

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) can help disperse any pooling or stagnation of blood and promote healthy circulation. 

Both calendula and yarrow can be taken as a pleasant herbal infusion. 

Use a teaspoon of dried herb per cup of near-boiling water and steep for four to six minutes. Your mother will need to drink two to three cups daily for the best effect.

Yarrow can interfere with antacid and blood pressure medications, so if your mother takes either of these, she will need to check with her doctor.

Vitamin K is an essential nutrient that strengthens and repairs the veins and capillaries, promoting healthy circulation. Your mother will need to take the vitamin K2 form of this supplement as directed.

Any activity that stimulates the circulatory system will help, so the short walks are ideal. If she can do some form of leg movement while seated, such as elevating one foot at a time and alternating flexing and pointing her toes, this will also help.

• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.