INJURIES: FALLS, BRUISES

• Arnica is the Homeopathic aspirin. It is the first remedy to think of in any injury, because is treats pain and shock. If the accident is particularly severe, Aconite may be indicated also to treat the shock or fear associated with the injury, before Arnica is given.
• Arnica is also known as the sportsman’s remedy because of its usefulness in treating pain associated with muscle strain.
• For bumps and bruises, Arnica ointments are available in pharmacies and they can be used directly on the spot. It is useful to take Arnica internally as well, to promote healing.
• If the spot bruised, hit or crushed is in a nerverich area, (like fingers, toes, mouth or anus) Hypericum should be used, especially if the pain is throbbing and radiating. Hypericum is often indicated for a fall on the spine or coccyx.
• When the head has been injured and headaches persist, Natrum sulphuricum should be thought of.

SCRAPES, CUTS

• When the skin has been broken, Arnica ointment should not be applied. Calendula ointment is used instead to promote repair of the skin. Again, Arnica can be taken internally, as well as Calendula to promote the body’s healing capacity.
• If the cut is made with a sharp knife, or if it is deep, Staphysagria is a good remedy to prevent scarring.
• Calendula mother tincture can be put in bath water to help heal cuts in hard to reach areas. You can soak a wound this way or even make a spray solution to apply to wounds.
• Hypericum should again be though of for fingers and toes and that searing, throbbing pain associated with such wounds.

PUNCTURE WOUNDS

• Ledum is the #1 remedy for puncture wounds and is usually given first. It is considered a preventative against tetanus which can result from such wounds.
• After Ledum, or if the Ledum stage was missed, Hypericum follows well and is used often the beginning signs of tetanus have appeared (red streak from wound towards body and shooting pain).
• Again Staphysagria can be used if the puncture is quite deep.

WOUNDS TO THE EYE

• Arnica is the first remedy to use for a wound to the eye, especially if the eyeball is injured or if the soft tissue around the eye is bruised.
• Aconite is also used for injury to the eye, especially is a foreign object is imbedded there and the patient is fearful.
• For blunt injury to the eye which causes headaches, symphytum is the remedy of choice and can even heal longlasting, chronic ailments following a blow to the eye.
• Ruta is a good remedy for acute eye strain.

SPRAINS

• Arnica is again the first remedy to consider in cases of sprain, externally and internally, as it alleviates pain and causes the reabsorption of blood which accumulates in the soft tissues when blood vessels are broken in an accident.
• The second remedy to consider for sprains is Ruta gravoelens. It is used to treat injury to connective tissue, tendons and periosteum which are characterized by stiffness.
• For less severe sprains which leave a sensation of stiffness on first motion, Rhus tox. is the primary remedy. Rhus will continue the healing after Arnica has been used to reduce the swelling of an injury.
• Bryonia is used when the former remedies cannot completely heal a sprain and the injury is worse from any motion.

FRACTURES

• Again with any accident Arnica is given first for pain and swelling, Aconite as well if the patient is very frightened, which can often be the case with a fracture.
• When a fracture is suspected, this must first be verified by XRay. Once the fracture is set, Symphytum is the remedy to repair the fracture.. Bryonia is used for fractured ribs and should be considered if a fracture remains painful after administering other remedies. Calc. phos. can also be used in slowhealing fractures.
• Ruta is used more for injuries to the periosteum and to the knee, shin, or elbow. Ruta can be taken before and after XRays to minimize sideeffects.

BITES, STINGS

• Bee stings are treated with Apis (redness, burning, swelling, sticking pains) as well as for allergic reactions, hives, with the same characteristics.
• Ledum is used to treat mosquito, black fly, and sand flea bites. It can be taken internally at 200C or as an ointment externally to relieve itching.
• Arnica is used more to treat wasp stings.
• Hypericum is used to treat more painful bites such as those of moose flies or deer flies, which remove a chunk of skin
• The bites of snakes or other animals are usually treated like puncture wounds.
• Staphysagria is also used for insect bites which itch excessively and create large welts. It can be taken preventively to reduce the number of bites when you know that you will be exposed.

IMBEDDED OBJECTS, BOILS

• Silicea is the primary remedy for ejecting splinters or any foreign object trapped under the skin. If Silicea is not successful, and the splinter is very sensitive, Hepar sulph 30 will do the job.
• For boils, Belladonna can be given before pus forms, when the boil is very red, hot, painful and shiny.
• When a boil is extremely sensitive and feels like there is a stick under the skin, Hepar sulph. Is again useful. Silica can be used acutely or constitutionally to treat boils which develop from every little injury.
• When a child develops crop of angry-looking boils, especially on the buttocks, Sulphur is often the remedy.

BURNS, SCALDING

• For minor scalding or sunburn Calendula tincture or gel can be applied externally. It can also help in treating scars from previous burns. A red hot sunburn can be relieved with Belladonna.
• Cantharis can be used internally or externally or both for more serious burns. A bad sunburn with blistering calls for Cantharis.
• Causticum is used only internally for seconddegree burns.
• Urtica urens is also a good remedy for first degree burns, especially if they sting.

MEDICAL PROCEDURES

• Before a trip to the dentist, or any other medical procedure, if you are fearful, take Aconite 200C, you will be surprised how calm you can become.
• Arnica should be taken before and after any procedure to minimize shock and help to heal bruising.
• Hypericum should be taken after an operation in a nerverich area of the body. It helps to repair traumatized nerve tissue.
• For incisions, Staphysagria is indispensable. It is usually given in a single dose after an operation. It also helps to cope with feelings of invasion which often follow surgical intervention of any kind.
• For the sideeffects of anaesthetics, such as nausea, confusion and other discomforts, Phosphorus is the choice remedy. It can be given repeatedly until the unpleasant symptoms subside.
• For injections, either vaccinations or for local or general anaesthesia, Ledum can counter the shock to the system. (puncture wound)

CLEANSING

• Nux vomica is the universal homeopathic cleanser and is usually administered in 200C potency once after a one-time exposure to toxic substances, such as medication or obnoxious fumes, or overindulgence in stimulants. If a person is more consistently exposed to toxic substances, sometimes Nux, along with a homeopathic dilution of the substance itself can be used on a regular basis to counteract long-term ill-effects.
• When specific traumas are identified as blocking healing, specific corresponding homeopathic remedies can be used in sequential ascending doses to clear out the system. The ensuing reaction is termed at “cleansing” or “healing” reaction.

EMOTIONAL REMEDIES

Often the most powerful blockages to healing can be longheld and unexpressed emotional traumas. It is a good idea to treat these emotions before they become a serious problem for the health of the individual.

• FEAR: The first line remedy for fear is Aconite. A generalized anxiety can be treated with Aconite 30C, whereas a more specific frightening event can be treated immediately with Aconite 200C even before the onset of symptoms if the severity of the fright warrants it.
• GRIEF: When a person suffers a loss, of a dear friend, pet, or loved one, Ignatia is the firstaid remedy. Ignatia can safely be given as high as 1M, but a lower potency will do, although it may have to be repeated.
• ANGER: Staphysagria is the remedy for anger and resentment and it can be used to treat both immediate and longerterm instances. If a person experiences a deep humiliation, invasion of privacy or violation, Staphysagria can prevent that emotion from taking hold and coloring their whole perspective on life. Suppressed anger can lead to a number of physical ailments, particularly targeting mainly the digestive tract and liver, but can also result in tension headaches. Chamomilla is the remedy most often given to children when they experience stomach upset or other symptoms after a fit of anger or tantrum. Other remedies which are for symptoms following anger are Colocynthis (abdominal pain, headache, neuralgia > bending double, pressure) and Nux vom. (stomach pains> warmth, warm drinks, bending backwards).

When a single incident has brought on symptoms, often a single dose will be sufficient to relieve. In all cases, follow the patient carefully, if symptoms improve then relapse or cease to improve, repeat dose. If symptoms do not improve, repertorize symptoms again and see whether another remedy is needed or if you want to increase the potency. If the symptoms are very intense, sometimes a lower potency will not reach them, or may have to be repeated very frequently to have an effect.