Accidents
Bruises: A bruise (or medical term, contusion) is an injury caused by a blunt object which damages the soft tissues beneath the skin, causing broken blood vessels and the progressively blue/purple/yellow coloring of the injured area. Bumping into the corner of the countertop or falling down stairs causes this type of injury.
What to Use: Arnica Montana (as a herb or homeopathic remedy) is the first line of defense to heal bruises; Arnica promotes healing, counteracts shock that accompanies a serious fall, has an antibacterial action and aids reabsorption of internal bleeding into the tissues. Arnica is taken orally (homeopathic), and Arnica ointment is applied to the skin (herbal or homeopathic). For blunt injuries to issues with concentrations of nerves—fingertips, toes, spin, palms, soles, knees—use Hypericum, known as "Arnica of the nerves." When a severe bruise remains swollen and discolored despite Arnica, use Ledum to complete the healing. For areas of sensitive bone covering, such as the shin, Ruta graveolens is most effective
Cautions: Do not use Arnica cream on broken skin.
Case History: My eight- and ten-year-old girls were playing "airplane" in our new apartment in Cairo. The ten-year-old sat upon the upturned feet of her sister and was jettisoned across the bed—crashing her knees into a heavy wooden footboard. Pains shot up and down her legs. I immediately gave her Arnica tablets for shock and pain, elevated her legs and applied ice packs on her kneecaps. I sprayed Hypericum tincture on her knees (since this was an injury to nerves as much as muscle tissues). She continued taking the Arnica orally every 15 minutes for about two hours before the pain subsided. Forty-eight hours later she and her sisters were bouncing on a trampoline. WMB
Sprains and Strains: A sprain is injury to the soft tissue around a joint, causing muscles, ligaments, and tendons to be stretched or torn. A ligament is a band of fibrous tissue tying bones together. A tendon is a fibrous band that connects a muscle to a bone. The most common sprains are of the ankles, fingers, wrists, and knees, but we all know back strains after excessive exertion.
What to Use: For shock in such an accident give a dose of Arnica (orally) immediately. Arnica relieves shock as well as bleeding in the tissues and may be all that is needed. If, however, there is not major healing after a day or so, try Ruta graveolens. Ruta is especially effective on injured tendons, ligaments, and on the bruised periosteum or bone covering. If Ruta does not relieve the pain from torn connective tissue within 24 hours take Symphytum, a deeper-acting remedy. Symphytum is made from the plant comfrey, which has been called the "knit-bone" plant throughout history. The herb Comfrey, which can also be applied as an cream or ointment, supports cell regrowth in connective tissues and bones and breaks down red blood cells in bruising. The herb Thyme, as an oil used in a compress or added to a hot bath, acts as an antispasmodic and stimulates blood flow to the tissues to aid repair.
Cautions: Use Comfrey as an ointment only if the injury is clean; long-term use is not recommended.
Wounds: A wound is a break in the skin with the soft tissues beneath the skin usually injured as well. There are four types of wounds: incisions, lacerations, scratches and abrasions, and punctures. An incised wound is clean cut. A lacerated wound is torn and may be jagged. An abrasion is a scrape that rubs off the top layer of skin. A puncture wound is made by a sharp object such as a nail, tack, or pin.
What to Use: Prepared from the tall, wild marigold, the “herb of the sun,” Calendula officinalis, is the foremost homeopathic medicine for wounds. Hypericum and Ledum are also useful, Hypericum for relieving pain of injured nerves, and Ledum lotion for puncture wounds and sprains. (Note that Arnica is not to be used with an open wound; it will usually irritate the skin severely.)
Incised Wound: To treat a superficial incised wound, cleanse with Hypericum or Calendula lotion and apply a sterile gauze dressing and bandage. Keep the dressing clean and moistened with Calendula or Hypericum lotion. If the area becomes red or inflamed, you may decide to consult with a professional. Hepa sulphuris three times a day for a few days should reduce inflammation.
Commonsense & Complementary treatments: Taking increased amounts of vitamins C, A, and E, plus zinc will aid in healing.
Cautions: If an incised wound is deep or there is a possibility of a cut tendon, seek professional medical help at once.
Lacerated Wound: To treat a minor laceration, cleanse the wound with water and mild soap (no dyes, no perfumes) and apply a dressing moistened with Calendula lotion or Hypericum lotion. Arnica (orally only) may be needed for shock If the laceration is extensive seek professional medical treatment immediately. After the wound has been treated by a doctor, give Hypericum internally three times a day or hourly if the pain is great, until the pain eases. When pain has subsided, give Arnicatwo or three times/day to speed healing.
Scratches and Abrasions: While scratches and abrasions are common occurrences, they can be dangerous if raw skin is exposed to dirt or foreign matter. If foreign matter is ingrained in the wound, seek professional treatment. For routine first aid, clean the area gently and thoroughly with Calendula lotion.
Puncture Wounds: Gently press around the wound to aid bleeding which carries out germs that might otherwise be entrapped. (If excessive bleeding occurs, apply direct pressure with a clean dressing.) After washing your hands check that no foreign object remains in the wound. Ledum is the best remedy for puncture wounds as it prevents sepsis (disease germs in the blood and tissues) and promotes healing. Wash the wound with Ledum lotion, then soak the wound in water (distilled or filtered is best) to which you’ve added a few drops of Ledum or use a compress moistened with Ledum lotion.
Cautions: Tetanus, a very serious infection, is always a danger with puncture wounds, with the germs carried on a rose thorn, needle, or tack (rusty or not). Due to the ever-present danger of tetanus, see a professional for treatment of any puncture wound but the most minor—then, still get another tetanus shot!
Burns: Burns may be caused by hot food or liquids, burning materials, chemicals or electricity and range from minor to life threatening.
What to Use: With all but the most minor burns, there is an element of shock; give Arnica immediately (one dose is usually enough). Usually as shock subsides, pain increases. Give Cantharis every 15 minutes until pain lessens; take a dose later if pain returns. Causticum, a mineral preparation, is another effective internal remedy for burns.
Homeopathic physicians recommend Causticum in severe cases of burning where there is blister formation. A tincture of Urtica urens, made from the stinging nettle plant, is a soothing external burn remedy; make a lotion by adding one-half teaspoon of tincture to one cup of purified water. Moisten gauze with the lotion of Urtica urens and apply as a compress. Hypericum lotion and Calendula lotion or ointments are also external remedies for burns—use whichever you have on hand. Another sure-to-cure treatment is the Aloe vera plant; break off a piece of this hardy plant and rub the juices directly onto the wound. (The Aloe vera plant is hardy, easy to grow, and reproduces rapidly—recommended for every household. Blue or green tinted bottles of aloe on store shelves are helpful but not the same.)
Cautions & Commonsense: Don’t ever smear butter or any other greasy ointment such as petroleum jelly on a burn. If the burn is severe, the doctor will have to remove the ointment, causing more suffering. To avoid contamination of a burned area, apply only a sterile gauze or piece of clean cloth. If possible, immerse the burned area in cold water to which you’ve added a few drops of Hypericum or Urtica urens lotion; this relieves pain and prevents pooling of fluid in the surrounding tissues. If the burn is on the torso and cannot be immersed, apply a clean napkin or handkerchief saturated in the lotion to the area. A blister provides a sterile covering for a burn—don’t puncture a blister. (Refer to a Homeopathic First-Aid book for more explicit details on treatment for different types of burns.) If a large surface of the body is burned, or if the burn is very deep, cover the victim with a clean sheet and rush to the hospital. Call 911 if available in your community, or call to alert the ER staff. Administer Arnica immediately for shock.
Case History: Before I was aware of the homeopathic medical system, we had an Aloe vera plant on the windowsill to treat skin irritations and the occasional burn. By the 1990s I discovered Calendula cream (conveniently available in a tube at the health food store) could stop pain in a few moments when a pan of boiling water spilled onto my foot—no blistering, no scar. When the girls or I failed to spread sunblock lotion on evenly and suffered patches of scorched skin from the desert sun, Calendula cream healed the skin—no blistering, no peeling, no pain. WMB
