Registered Homeopath practising in Portsmouth, Southsea, Hampshire and West Sussex
Home Prescribing
Accidents, Injuries and First Aid
The following remedies are used for injuries and first aid situations and would be useful remedies to have in stock in the home or to take on holiday. If you are can't find some of these remedies in a chemist or health food shop you can buy them directly from a Homeopathic Pharmacy such as Helios or Ainsworths. You can use either the 6c or 30c potency, but the 6c may need to be repeated more frequently.
Aconite
Fear and panic situations. Useful for fear of going to the dentist.
Arnica
No 1 remedy for any physical trauma or injury. Helps with bruising and shock.
Apis
Bites, stings and puncture wounds. Indicated when there is puffed up swelling which can look transparent or is a shiny pink colour. Pain is burning, stinging, prickling or bruised. Worse for pressure and heat but better for cool bathing. Thirstless.
Belladonna
Sunstroke or sunburn. Person is bright red, burning and hot but is worse for cold, draughts and uncovering but better for warm room and low light. Extreme thirst. May be needed for bites and stings when the modalities (better or worse for) are opposite to Apis or Ledum. With Belladonna the wound is hot but is worse for cold application.
Bryonia
Strains and sprains which are worse for slightest movement (compare with Rhus Tox which is better for movement). Sharp stitching pains. Better for cool weather and firm pressure but worse for light touch and hot weather. Person is irritable and wants to be left alone.
Calendula
Promotes healing of cuts and minor wounds.
Causticum
For burns to limbs when there is blistering, pain and restlessness. Tissue is pink rather than charred, white or coagulated.
Cantharis
Indicated for second or third degree burns when tissue is blistered, white, coagulated or charred. Also when there is extreme shock. Alternate with Arnica for shock and Aconite if there has been extreme fright.
Hypericum
Injuries to parts rich in nerves such as fingers or spine and for wounds with shooting pains. To help prevent Sepsis alternate with Ledum.
Ledum
Puncture wounds, bites, stings and splinters. Shooting, prickling pains. Parts look purple and puffy and are cold to the touch although they may feel hot to the patient. Alternate with Hypericum to help prevent Sepsis.
Sprains, strains, torn ligaments and injuries from over exertion. May come on after cooling down after being hot and sweaty. Pains worse for first movement and damp weather but better for continued motion, rubbing and warmth. Person is extremely restless and despairing about pain.
Ruta
Damage to tendons and injuries to periosteum and wrists. Indicated for tennis elbow, housemaid's knees and repetitive strains. Worse for cold damp weather and exertion and better for warmth and gentle rubbing. Useful remedy to take after osteopathic treatment if body feels bruised.
Silica
Helps to expel splinters or foreign bodies. Use in the latest stages of infection to help drain a wound of pus. IMPORTANT NOTE: As the action of this remedy stimulates the body to expel foreign bodies it is inadvisable to take this remedy if you have a pacemaker, coil or any other internal device fitted.
Symphytum
Specific remedy for bruising to the eyeball and surrounding area. Promotes healing of broken or cracked bone. NOTE: Do not give until the bone has been reset.
Urtica Urens
First degree burns and scalds when there is no blistering to the skin. Nettle stings. Sunburn with burning and intense itching. Bee stings. Worse for cold water, touch and sleep but better for lying down.
Dosage
This is the same for adults and children. Take one pill every 2 hours for up to 6 doses.
If the symptoms have significantly improve after the first few doses then stop taking the remedy and only resume if the same type of symptoms return.
If the symptoms have slightly improved continue to take the remedy 4 times daily for up to 5 days.
If the symptoms have not improved at all after the first 6 doses it is likely that you need a different remedy that is better matched to your symptom picture.
The important thing to remember is that homeopathy works on the principle of the minimum dose. Once improvement has set in stop taking the remedy. Repeat if the same symptom picture returns.
How to take homeopathic remedies
Suck the pills in a clean mouth rather than chewing or swallowing whole. Try to avoid food and drinks (water ok) 10 minutes or so either side of taking the remedy. For babies, the remedies can be crushed between two spoons and administered directly, or in a little cooled boiled water. Don't worry if the baby doesn't drink all the water or spits out some of the remedy - the remedy will still be effective if it is the appropriate one.