Re: [ozmidwifery] crystal therapy

[Denise Hynd]

Dear Jennie I commend your efforts particularly as student midwife in the context of meidcalised australian birthing "services" but Please can you not say childbirth contractions are "pathological pain states"  mild, moderate or severe  though what is done to women when they are having contractions  I would consider pathological in that it shows a lack of understanding of childbirth and how to work with contractions and labour in general. To say such things is to in advertently support the use of the treatments  you are trying to avoid   By the way what is EM ?? Denise Hynd ----- Original Message ----- From: pjwant To: ozmidwifery Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 4:56 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] crystal therapy Dear List,   I have recently been using crystals at work with some success. Several of my patients have said "they gave me something to focus on; they gave me something to hold on to; I felt protected; I think they really did work thankyou.....However, the sceptics have engaged their will and notified the NPC that they feel this therapy makes us look unprofessional, practicing witchcraft, there is no strong evidence to support their use....etc.... Thus I am no longer able to use the crystals in my work until I find some evidence to support their use.   Therapies such as pethidine and epidurals are sold to all women as "safe modalities for pain relief" instead of being used appropriately to rescue mothers in severe pathological pain states. It is a shame that my strong critics have nothing else to offer women, a sad reflection on our profession. These drugs are offered without any conscious recognition for the evidence available that demonstrates an increased incidence of PND; decreased breastfeeding rates;....etc  or as Michel Odent predicts ever increasing levels of violence in our society due to a generation of offspring who did not have access to the level of oxytocin that promotes bonding and a capacity to love: feeling numb on the inside; not being able to complete tasks; disconnected from society; increase in youth suicide........drug abuse.........the list goes on. But "thats ok....its protocol so lets not concern ourselves with the evidence that suggests these therapies should be avoided in the majority of women"   I need your support to help me work towards achieving safer outcomes for women. I would appreciate any information or evidence any of you may have which may help me develop a protocol for the use of complementary therapies such as crystals etc.... or send me a copy of a protocol you have developed in your working environment. Kind regards Jennie Want (RN.EM.BMid..Masters of Midwifery student)