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Homeopathy for Injuries
by author Stephen Malthouse, MD

Homeopathy is an ideal medicine for injuries. In general practice and walk-in clinics, a physician sees children and adults with every type of injury, from bumps and bruises to lacerations and fractures.

Conventional medicine’s forté is the stabilization of acute trauma, offering the needed basics: ice, compression, elevation, and analgesics for sprains. X-rays and casting of fractures. Suturing and surgery if necessary. Homeopathy adds to this level of treatment with the remedies Arnica, Bellis perennis, Hypericum, Ledum, Cantharis, Calendula, and Symphytum.

Arnica montana, the Alpine daisy, is the best medicine for bruising trauma, such as a kick in the shin while playing soccer. A head injury would benefit from , especially if a hematoma (bruised lump) forms on the scalp. Give Arnica in 200C potency every 15 minutes (under the tongue) for concussions or brain injuries. Arnica will also ease a back that is sore from shovelling snow this Canadian winter. All rock climbers should carry it in their daypacks - for tumbling off mountains or twisting ankles.

Bellis perennis, the Carpenters’ daisy, does excellent work for injuries to pelvic organs. One of my patients fell astride a log and couldn’t urinate due to prostatic swelling. Bellis perennis did what the urologist couldn’t do. By the next day, he was peeing almost normally. Bellis is "a princely remedy for old labourers, especially gardeners," wrote Dr. Compton-Burnett, a 19th-century homeopathic MD (and perhaps gardener), so we keep it on hand in Victoria. It’s a useful remedy to store in your tool kit if you’re a weekend carpenter (like me) and can’t swing a hammer straight.

Hypericum, homeopathic St. John’s wort, is not used for depression as is the herb, but rather for nerve injuries. Cuts to the fingertip or lip, areas that are rich in nerve supply, or injuries to the spinal cord will benefit from - give one dose of 200C potency hourly. Shooting pains travelling down the limb are characteristic of nerve injuries suitable for treatment with Hypericum.

Ledum, homeopathic Marsh tea, is ideal for puncture wounds. Characteristically, the wound feels cold and pains tend to shoot up the injured limb. Stepping on a nail would call for this remedy. Give 30C or 200C potency every one to four hours as needed.

Cantharis, made from Spanish fly, will treat burns (and also bladder infections if burning irritation is the prominent symptom). In conventional medicine, doctors use Cantharis in a crude form (Cantharin) to burn off warts. Since homeopathy uses the principle of "Like cures like" (in other words, what can burn in large doses can cure burns in small doses), a small homeopathic dose of Cantharis will treat scalds and sunburn injuries. Take 200C every 15 minutes until pain free, then every one to four hours.

Calendula tincture, made from the garden Marigold, is an excellent solution to apply locally to a wound. It cleans the wound and promotes healing. Homeopathic Calendula pills, when dissolved under the tongue, act systemically and treat really ugly wounds that are badly infected. Try 30C every four hours.

Symphytum, the potentized Comfrey plant, is known as "Knitbone." It has a remarkable ability to heal fractured bones, even those that fail to unite despite being well positioned in a cast. But Symphytum should only be used after the fracture has been properly aligned, otherwise the bone will "knit" crookedly. Take one dose of 200C nightly for seven days. Symphytum is also known as "Arnica of the Eye" and is preferred over Arnica for injuries causing black eyes.

With these homeopathic remedies in hand, you can improve the outcome of almost every type of injury.

Stephen Malthouse, MD, practises homeopathy in Victoria, BC.

Source: alive #256, February 2004