Homeopathy for Everyone

Homeopathy for bumps and bruises

Schools are back and winter sports are back on the agenda.  People taking part in sports (and sometimes just everyday life!) can frequently get into scrapes and homeopathic remedies can be invaluable in helping to reduce inflammation and bruising, promote healing and help with shock and trauma. Homeopathic remedies can be used while waiting for medical help to arrive and alongside conventional treatments to aid and speed up recovery.

How do I use homeopathy in first aid situations?

The remedy that best suits the person and the injury should be selected.  The remedy should then be taken regularly depending on the severity of the injury. If the symptoms are intense, the remedy can be repeated as often as every 15 minutes, as the intensity subsides, it should be reduced.  If the symptoms return, repeat the remedy.

The injured person may need many remedies in succession; a remedy for fright, followed by a remedy for blunt trauma and so on. (Try to leave space between each remedy so that you can ascertain the effect of the remedy just given.)

When should I seek medical help?
•Any head injury except very minor bumps
•Any loss of consciousness or confusion up to 48 hours after the accident
•Bleeding or discharge from the ear or nose
•Neck pain
•Injuries that do not improve within 24 hours
•Bruises that are unexplained or worsen after 24 hours
•If a bone may be broken
•If an area of infection becomes hot and swollen or if red lines develop from a wound
•If there are foreign bodies in the eye

Using homeopathic remedies should not stop you from using your common sense.  If in doubt seek medical assistance. 

The remedies

Arnica

This is the remedy most people are familiar with.  It is for bruises or bruised feelings and soreness. It is good as a first remedy for swelling, sprains and strains and even for hoarseness caused by shouting support from the side lines! In cases of broken bones and multiple fractures give Arnica first; you may have to follow with another remedy.  Arnica is useful for head injuries – especially if they don’t look well but they insist that they are fine and do not want to be touched. 

Aconite

People needing this remedy will definitely let you know that they are not fine – they may even fear they are going to die. Fright, panic and fear are the main things you will see.  This remedy may calm them down enough for you to work out what is going on.  (You may even use it for pre-match nerves!).  They may have a sudden sore throat or fever after being out in cold dry winds. Aconite is sometimes called the ‘arnica of the eyes’ and can be used as a first remedy if someone is poked in the eye or gets dust or sand in their eye during sports.

Ledum

This is good for injuries with dark bruising (including black eyes) that feel cold and are better for cold applications.   It is also useful for puncture wounds with deep soreness and swelling of 2 or 3 inches, deep red and painful.  The injury needs ice and will be much worse if you remove the ice for even a second!   Any time an injured part feels cold, give Ledum.

Symphytum

If someone is hit in the face or the cheek give Symphytum or Ruta in preference to arnica. The knee would be Symphytum or Ruta. You can start with Arnica but a lot of times, that will help but not cure. You may have to give two or three remedies in sequence to give rapid relief.
Symphytum works well with bones and it will promote healing; give Arnica first; once the [broken] bone is set – and not before - give Symphytum. It helps remove pain, inflammation and swelling.

Hypericum

This is the ‘nerve’ remedy. This is the pain when someone shuts your fingers in the door or drops something on your toe and the pain shoots. There may be numbness and tingling.  There may be spinal injuries, especially falls on the tail bone, pinched nerves or crush wounds.

Calendula

This remedy is often used as a cream with hypericum as ‘hypercal’ – an antiseptic. They can both be used for cuts, open wounds, abrasions, chapping, chafing, bleeding and stabbing

Bryonia

Whatever the injury may be, whether it's a broken bone, (and Bryonia is the #1 remedy for acute fractures), a bruise or a sprain, the reaction of the Bryonia person is always the same: He can't move! The slightest movement causes a sharp pain! Even breathing might make the pain worse, so he is breathing very shallowly. Firm hard pressure gives him relief and he will want the area immobilized.

Rhus toxicodendron ("Rhus tox" for short)

Unlike Bryonia, Rhus tox must move! They cannot sit still! Usually with Rhus tox the injury is a sprain or strain. They feel terrible stiffness, which is relieved by stretching and moving and is worse as soon as they sit for any length of time or lie down. Moving helps them enormously, so does heat and hot bathing and massage.

Ruta

This is very like Rhus tox. It is for strains and sprains, tendon injuries, and a feeling of stiffness. The injury is worse for cold and better for heat.  The person wants to lie down and is better for it. Ruta is also good for injuries to the shins and other areas that are thinly covered, like the forehead, chin, elbow, cheek bone.                                                    
 

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