First Aid
In any accident or injury, your first responsibility is to apply the proper first-aid measures and to get medical help if necessary. However, homeopathic treatment can complement the standard treatment measures and help to reduce pain and speed healing so that you can get back to training as soon as possible.
Arnica is used first in all injury, for shock, pain, swelling and bleeding. Symptoms include soreness and bruised feeling, shock (person may insist they are fine when obviously they are not). It is used in early sprains to prevent bruising and minimize swelling.
Arnica can help to reduce muscle soreness after a particularly hard work out. However, I don’t recommend it be taken before and after every run as your body needs to build the ability to recover.
Rhus tox is a remedy which can follow Arnica for sprains. It is also used for plantar fasciitis. The key symptoms that would indicate Rhus tox would be increased pain on first movement, followed by improvement after continued movement.
Traumeel gel is a gel which contains homeopathic remedies such as Arnica, Hypericum and other first aid remedies. It is useful for blows, bruises and sprains, but not for broken skin. It is not intended for long term use and is most effective when used only for new injuries.
Muscle cramping is a common problem of runners and other athletes. First be sure you are drinking enough fluids – dehydration is a common cause of cramping. Be sure to hydrate well (but not excessively) every day, but in particular the day before your long run. For muscle cramping during your runs, try Calc phos 6X Tissue Salts. For muscle cramping at night which is better by heat and pressure consider Mag phos 6X Tissue Salts. I usually suggest Tissue Salts be taken in a 6X potency, 4 times per day (one tablet dissolved under the tongue, not while eating or drinking) for up to 10 days. I have had a patient who took them this way for 10 days and then before each run for a couple more weeks.
How to take homeopathic remedies
Homeopathic remedies come in various strengths (called potencies), from 6C to 50M. Unless you are an experienced prescriber, I suggest you use a potency no higher than 30C.
The number of doses of a remedy given depends on the potency you have chosen and the degree of seriousness of the injury. Note – one dose is considered to be one pellet dissolved under the tongue. It is not necessary to take more than one pellet per dose. For babies and small children (or anyone who might inhale the pellet), you can put the pellet in water and put 1 tsp in the person’s mouth. For a very serious injury (such as a head injury, second or third-degree burns), you might give one dose every 5 to 30 minutes initially.
If your condition begins to improve, do not give any further doses of the remedy. Start giving the remedy again only if the symptoms begin to relapse or there is no further improvement. If you have given several doses of a remedy and there is no improvement on any level, stop giving the remedy and re-evaluate the symptoms or seek help from your homeopath.
When to see a professional homeopath
If you have tried a few different remedies and the injury is worsening, or if you have recurring injuries (such as repeated strains or sprains) you might want to consult a professional homeopath. With recurring injuries, there may be an underlying susceptibility which can best be treated professionally.
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Happy Mother’s Day – Homeopathic first aid that every mother should have in her diaper bag … or soccer bag … or gym bag
As our children grow from babies to toddlers to teens, our bags may change, but our function as the go-to person for scrapes and spills seems never to change.
If someone in your family has an accident or injury, your first responsibility is to apply the proper first-aid measures and to get medical help if necessary. However, homeopathic treatment can complement the standard first aid measures and help to reduce pain and speed healing. Even for injuries which require medical care, homeopathic remedies can be used once an injured person’s condition is stable.
The first remedy every mother should have on hand is Arnica. Arnica is used first in all injury, for shock, pain, swelling and bleeding. Symptoms include soreness and bruised feeling, shock (person may insist they are fine when obviously they are not), soreness from over-exertion. It is used in early sprains to prevent bruising and minimize swelling.
Hypericum is useful for any severe blows to the head or spine (after first giving Arnica). It is useful for injuries to nerve endings – crushed fingertips, tailbone injuries. In tincture (liquid) form it is used to clean animal or human bites, or open burns. Characteristic symptoms include shooting pains, worse from touch, cold, dampness, fog. Better from bending head back.
The third remedy to have on hand is Apis. It can be helpful for bee stings (sometimes Ledum is indicated for bee stings also), hives, jelly fish stings, stinging nettle rash. Symptoms include swelling, itching, redness, pains stinging and burning, puffy swelling and thirstlessness. The pains are better from cold application and open air, worse from heat, touch and pressure.
Arnica, Hypericum and Apis would be my top 3 first aid remedies to carry in my bag, but I also recommend Traumeel gel, which is a gel which contains homeopathic remedies such as Arnica, Hypericum and other first aid remedies. It is useful for blows, bruises and sprains, but not for broken skin.
Homeopathic remedies and Traumeel gel are sold in health food stores and in the health food section of most grocery stores. I do not sell individual remedies, but do carry Traumeel gel and Helios Basic 18 remedy kits, which come with a small book which covers the basics of acute and first aid prescribing.
Some important notes about potency and dosage
Homeopathic remedies come in various strengths (called potencies), from 6C to 50M. Unless you are an experienced prescriber, I suggest you use a potency no higher than 30C.
The number of doses of a remedy given depend on the potency you have chosen and the degree of seriousness of the injury. Note – one dose is considered to be one pellet dissolved under the tongue. It is not necessary to take more than one pellet per dose. For babies and small children (or anyone who might inhale the pellet), you can put the pellet in water and put 1 tsp in the person’s mouth.
For a very serious injury (such as a head injury, second or third-degree burns), you might give one dose every 5 to 30 minutes initially.
If the person’s condition begins to improve, do not give any further doses of the remedy. Start giving the remedy again only if the symptoms begin to relapse or there is no further improvement. If you have given several doses of a remedy and there is no improvement on any level, stop giving the remedy and re-evaluate the symptoms or seek help from your homeopath.
When should I consult a professional homeopath?
If you have tried a few different remedies and the injury is worsening, or if you have recurring injuries (such as repeated strains or sprains) you might want to consult a professional homeopath. With recurring injuries, there may be an underlying susceptibility which can best be treated professionally.
First Aid Treatment with Homeopathic Remedies
If someone in your family has an accident or injury, your first responsibility is to apply the proper first-aid measures and to get medical help if necessary. However, homeopathic treatment can complement the standard first aid measures and help to reduce pain and speed healing. Even for injuries which require medical care, homeopathic remedies can be used once an injured person’s condition is stable.
Some important notes about potency and dosage
Homeopathic remedies come in various strengths (called potencies), from 6C to 50M and higher. Unless you are an experienced prescriber, I suggest you use a potency no higher than 30C.
The number of doses of a remedy given depend on the potency you have chosen and the degree of seriousness of the injury. Note – one dose is considered to be one pellet dissolved under the tongue. It is not necessary to take more than one pellet per dose. For babies and small children (or anyone who might inhale the pellet), you can dissolve the pellet in water and put 1 tsp. in the infant’s mouth.
For a very serious injury (such as a head injury, second or third-degree burns), you might give one dose every 5 to 30 minutes initially.
Stop on improvement – repeat as needed
If the person’s condition begins to improve, do not give any further doses of the remedy. Start giving the remedy again only if the symptoms begin to relapse or there is no further improvement. If you have given several doses of the remedy (between 3 and 6 doses) and there is no improvement on any level, stop giving the remedy. It is probably not the correct remedy and you need to re-evaluate or seek help from your homeopath.
Your homeopathic First Aid Kit
As injuries and accidents don’t always happen during store hours, it is advisable to keep a basic first aid kit of homeopathic remedies on hand. I would recommend having the following remedies to begin with (you can always add to this base as you become more experienced): Arnica, Hypericum (pellets and tincture), Ledum, Rhus tox, Ruta, Apis, Belladonna
Arnica - use first in all injury, for shock, pain, bleeding, etc. Symptoms include soreness and bruised feeling, shock (person may insist they are fine when they are obviously not), soreness from over-exertion, bruising. In early sprains, to promote healing.
Hypericum - used for injuries to nerve endings – crushed fingertips, tailbone injuries. Severe blows to head, spine or coccyx. To clean animal or human bites, or open burns (in tincture). Characteristic symptoms include shooting pains, worse from touch, cold, dampness, fog. Better from bending head back.
Ledum - use for puncture wounds, bruising (after Arnica), insect or animal bites, for fracture (after Arnica), black eye from a blow. The injured area can be cold and numb, relieved by cold. Worse at night, from warm applications and from the heat of bed.
Rhus tox - use for joint sprains (or Ruta), old sprains, poison ivy, poison oak. Characteristic symptoms include pain on first movement, better after continued motion, better from heat. Thirsty, restless, injured area is hot and swollen. Worse from cold, damp weather.
Ruta - use for injuries to tendons, wrist sprain, wrist ganglion, joint sprains (or Rhus tox), bruised bone, shin splints. Often is used if Rhus tox has not acted. Worse from cold, lying down, wet weather, rest.
Apis - use for bee stings, hives, jelly fish stings, stinging nettle rash. Symptoms include swelling, itching, redness, pains stinging and burning. Puffy swelling. Thirstlessness. Better from cold application, open air. Worse heat, touch, pressure.
Belladonna - use for heatstroke. The patient is hot, very red. Symptoms include throbbing, confusion. Better leaning the head back. (Versus Glonoine, which is better holding the head forward, better by cold application and cold air, can’t lie down because the pillow is beating.)
Recommended books:
When should I consult a professional homeopath? If you have tried a few different remedies and the injury is worsening or not responding, or if you have recurring injuries (such as repeated strains or sprains), you might want to consult a professional homeopath. With recurring injuries, there may be an underlying susceptibility which can best be treated professionally.
My favorite book for treating acute illnesses with homeopathy is:
The Complete Homeopathy Handbook A Guide to Everyday Health Care by Miranda Castro R.S.Hom . This lovely book covers “Safe and effective ways to treat fevers, coughs, colds and sore throats, childhood ailments, food poisoning, flu and a wide range of everyday complaints.”
The book is well laid out and covers a brief overview of the history and theory of homeopathy, which complaints can be treated safely at home and the basics of case taking and prescribing. The remedy information (materia medica and repertory) is clear and easy to read. I love the section on Complaints you can treat, as it contains a wealth of practical information (organized into DO, DON’T AND SEEK HELP IF) to complement your homeopathic prescribing.
Published by St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1990 and available from http://shop.mirandacastro.com and amazon.ca (see link above).