A visit to the emergency department is going to be required for serious accidents and injuries such as broken bones, extensive wounds or burns, heart attack or stroke, and it’s always good to check in with the GP or ED if you are unsure either way. The recommendation is to “always seek medical assistance in an emergency!”
Some of this advice is going to apply to situations where you may not be within easy reach of medical assistance so your kit and your knowledge are going to be more important, particularly if you have no internet access. Homeopathics can be a really useful adjunct and are helpful in the recovery phase and to speed up the healing process, as well as to avoid ongoing issues.
It will also be useful information for emergencies such as bushfires and similar, where remedies may also be given to animals including domestic pets if required. Drops are easiest to administer and can be popped on the head or back if you can’t get close enough to give by mouth! You could also add drops or pilules to a water bowl or trough.
These acute situations are where single remedies are often king! There are quite specific remedies for specific situations and getting to know them so you are familiar in an emergency is important if you want to use homeopathy in all areas of your lifecare.
What I have included here is a list of the most often used remedies and their applications and then a mini repertory, which shows a situation and the likely remedies. If you are a single remedy prescriber, as opposed to using some of our HomeoCombinations, I suggest you print this list off and store with your first aid kit or purchase the small and inexpensive Homoeopathy for Home Prescriber book, available in the online store.
Just some general advice before we get into the remedies.
Potency
30c is generally fine for accidents and injuries, but really use whatever you have because the body will work with it. If you need to continue doses for a few days then a 6x, 6c or 30c can be given 3 or 4 times a day or 200c once or twice a day.
How often?
Usually we say to give the remedy until the symptoms settle and repeat if they reappear. Since this can make for a bumpy ride in the treatment of acutes, my recommendation is to give your doses quite frequently to start with – hourly or even every 10 minutes for up to 5 doses if the situation is quite intense.
Once things settle down you can reduce to 2 hourly and then 3 or 4 times a day if you feel the same remedy is still required.
For bruising or broken bones you may need to repeat remedies like Arnica for a few days to a week or more.
Nil by mouth
If you have a situation where you suspect the patient may need surgery and should have nil by mouth then drops can be a better option. You can put the drops on the pulse points, top of the head or around the lips, if you would prefer to give nothing at all by mouth just in case.
If you have pilules you can put 1 or 2 pilules in ¼ glass of water or in a water bottle, stir vigorously or shake, then do the same as above. If that’s not possible, just crush a pilule and apply where it seems appropriate.
Remember we are working with something that has a unique energetic frequency, so it’s a bit like being in contact with a mobile phone, rather than taking a pharmaceutical drug. The remedy works dynamically which is why it will often work quickly.
Remedies
Aconite – Ailments after a mental shock eg bad news, witnessing an accident
Shock, fright and anxiety are prominent often with great fear (sometimes of dying) and restlessness. Panic attacks after fright. Palpitations. Symptoms are sudden, acute, intense and painful. Heart attack, stroke. Snake bite. Very high fevers with dry burning heat or drenching sweat with unquenchable thirst. Useful at first sign of cold, cough, earache etc especially after exposure to cold dry wind. Very thirsty for cold drinks.
For heart attack, stroke, snakebite – give while waiting for the ambulance to reduce damage to cardiac system and to calm the patient. Apply externally (see above) if you are unsure about what will be required at the hospital.
Better open air. Worse around midnight.
Apis Mellifica – Sting of bees, wasps, jellyfish, etc, with much heat, stinging and swelling. Skin may appear rosy red and shiny. Allergies, reactions to stings, certain foods or medicines, hives and inflammation.
Anything with a lot of swelling, heat, stinging – cystitis, shingles, puffy or red eyes, earache or tonsillitis, fluid retention. Patient is often fearful, tearful, excitable, touchy. May not want to be touched – especially children. Aversion to drinking.
Worse heat, touch, pressure. Better cool drinks/packs
Arnica – First remedy after accident or injury to reduce shock, bleeding and bruising. For swelling, soreness, broken bones (follow with Symphytum 200c and Calc Phos 6x or use our Broken Bones & Fractures Combination), slipped disc, spinal injury (follow with Hypericum 200c). For shock, trauma, violence to mind or body, bleeding of small wounds. Sprains, strains, over-exertion. Useful following surgery to assist with bruising and bleeding. Sore, bruised, aching pain. Don’t want to be touched or assisted. Will often say they feel fine despite serious injury. Very restless. For fish hooks and similar wounds (with Hypericum) especially those which require stitching. Threatened abortion from a fall, soreness of body during pregnancy.
Worse touch, being jarred. Better lying down.
If in doubt, always use Arnica as your initial first aid remedy.
Arsenicum Album – Extremely anxious and restless. Fears being alone, anxiety about health, fussy and difficult to please. Very thirsty for frequent sips. Burning, cramping pains and discharges – vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal distress. Food poisoning, headaches, asthma, sore throats. May feel cold.
Worse midnight to 2am, cold food and drink. Better heat, hot drinks and food, company, fresh air (headaches).
Belladonna – Sudden onset with throbbing, sharp, cutting or shooting pains, burning radiating heat, very high fever, bright redness, restlessness and dilated pupils. Lethargic or hyper, delirious, striking and biting. Sunburn, heat stroke with headache and fever, minor burns. Headaches which are hammering, bursting, from too much sun. First stage of ear infection with red, hot ear, sore throats, fever. Usually no thirst. (Aconite – more anxious and fearful of death, more thirsty).
Worse touch, light, noise, being jarred, draughts to head, night. Better warmth
Calendula – Useful for treatment of lacerated and suppurating, raw, open and inflamed wounds. Known traditionally for its antiseptic powers. May help control bleeding from a wound and soothe wound pain. Promotes healthy healing of wounds and ulcers and may help resolve scar tissue. Can be used alongside antibiotics if required. Wounds that don’t heal.
Cantharis – Burns with blistering, bites and stings with blistering. May help the pain following a burn and help promote healing. Sunburn, insect bites all with blisters. Burning pain in the affected area with other symptoms.
Worse movement, drinking, urination Better lying down, warmth, night
Carbo Veg – known traditionally as “the corpse reviver” this remedy acts upon the venous circulation assisting with oxygenation of the blood. Useful in collapse states where the patient is almost lifeless; air hunger, drowning, asthma attacks and useful for smoke inhalation. Wants to be fanned.
Worse from warmth Better being fanned, elevating the feet, loosening clothing.
Hepar Sulph – Over-sensitive is a keynote on all levels. Very painful, inflamed wounds. Good for inflammation which is slow to resolve – wounds, abscess, etc. Angry, irritable, speedy – very difficult when sick. Very chilly. Splinter-like pain anywhere, as if swallowed a fish bone or pin.
Better warmth of bed, heat, wrapping up. Worse getting cold, at night, touch, pressure.
Hypericum – “Arnica for the Nerves” Crush injuries, lacerations of fingers, tips; painful penetrating wounds; may have spasms from the injury. Shooting pain along the nerves. Wounds which are excessively painful. Surgical pain, forceps delivery, dental work. Falls on spine or coccyx, concussion, episiotomy. Bites or stings (snakes, spiders – after Aconite), wounds caused by nail or splinter with pains as above. May require a 200c potency but use what you have in an emergency.
Worse movement, touch, cold air
Ignatia – Acute emotions after death of partner, relative or friend, stillbirth, ending a relationship or disappointment of some sort. Patient may be hysterical or silent with sighing, trembling or tears. May present physically as spasmodic, cramping pains or contradictory symptoms.
Worse cigarette smoke, coffee, guilt, worry Better eating, keeping busy, walking
Ipecac – Persistent nausea and/or vomiting on its own or with other conditions. Migraine headaches with severe nausea and vomiting. Vomiting does not relieve. Morning or travel sickness. Bleeding especially uterine hemorrhage or heavy periods.
Worse food, smell of food, cold Better warmth, lying with eyes closed
Ledum – Puncture wounds, eg rusty nails, insect stings, animal bites; bruises, eye injuries especially where infection is a risk. Feel intensely cold, as does injured part, but better by cold applications and does not want to be covered. Pain tends to travel upwards. Affinity for capillaries (bloodshot, bruised or black eyes). Parts become blue, purple and puffy. Weakness, numbness or twitching of part. Always seek medical care for an open wound.
Worse warmth, at night Better cold applications
Phosphorus – Anxious, excitable, fearful (being alone, dark, death, storms). Acute fear where Aconite does not help, especially of thunderstorms. Wants company. Irritable and sluggish when ill, apathetic, energy flares up and subsides to exhaustion again. Wounds which bleed freely (internal or external), gush bright red blood, blood noses. Electrocution. Use following surgery if there is bleeding or a reaction to anaesthetic with dizziness. Vomiting especially when given cold water. May be helpful for smoke inhalation if the picture fits. Very thirsty.
Better after sleep, cold drinks, massage. Worse cold, change of weather.
Rhus Tox – Following accidents and injuries especially to the back or from overuse of a limb which is stiff on first movement and better for continued motion. A good remedy for acute flare ups of arthritis and similar, with stiffness. Usually restless. Abscesses, boils, sprains and strains to fibrous tissue and joints, hot painful swelling of joints.
Better for warm applications, hot baths, movement Worse cold wet weather, before a storm, at night, getting chilled or wet after being hot
Ruta Grav – Good for damage to periosteum or tendons. Useful in connective tissue problems. Horrible stiffness and soreness felt in muscles and tendons. Injuries to connective tissue, tendons and periosteum (covering of bones), from strains or twisting of joints. Acute bursitis and tendonitis, often with effusion. Injuries to forehead, shins; bones close to surface. Patient is usually restless. Often used with or after Arnica. If you cannot choose between Ruta and Rhus Tox you can alternate or better still use RRA (Rhus Tox, Ruta, Arnica 30c combination)
Worse over-exertion, touch, cold, damp. Better lying down, warmth, motion
Silica – Injuries that are inflamed and often full of pus. Can be used alongside antibiotics if necessary. May help to expel foreign objects such as splinters by producing pus and then erupting, abscess, boils, styes. For wounds that are slow to heal. Ailments after immunisation. Patient is very cold.
Worse drafts, open air, storms, immunisation Better wrapping up warmly
Symphytum – Cartilage or bone injuries, periosteal injuries, fractures which fail to heal (with Calc Phos). Use for broken bones and fractures but do not use until the bone has been set as it has a reputation for being very fast acting. Use in 200c and accompany with Arnica for bruising and bleeding, and Calc Phos 6x (twice a day for one month or more) to assist with calcium uptake to the break and rebuilding of bone tissue. Helpful for bone pain. Affinity for eye pain following a blow.
S.O.S. – Our own version of Rescue Remedy but more appropriate for the experiences of the 21st century. Useful for shock, trauma, after accidents, or for hyper, excitable children. Anxiety before an event, such as the dentist or exams. Apply in drop form to bites, stings, bruises, etc.
Combination Remedies
We have a wide range of combinations in our online store and a choice of kits which can be useful to have on hand. These can include both single and combination remedies if you want to tailor your own kit.
The most useful for first aid situations would be:
Ouchy for bumps, bruises, bites, wounds, etc
RRA for sprains, strains, aches and pains, and bumps and bruises as a result of an accident, injury or overexertion.
But there are many more combinations which may be appropriate, depending on your living situation, leisure pursuits and environment.
Choose a first aid remedy
This is a brief list of first aid applications. You may find that more than one remedy is required from this list. Either alternate the remedies or add your selection to a water bottle, shake and take a sip as the dose. Also consider remedies such as Ouchy and RRA which are combinations of the most indicated remedies for first aid situations.Abortion, threatened – Arnica
Abscess – Ledum , Hepar Sulph, Silica
From a bite – Ledum
Very painful to touch – Hep S
Suppurating injury – Silica, Sulphur
Accidents, general – Arnica, Hypericum
Allergy to bee sting and similar – Apis
Anaesthetic, following – Phos
Anxiety – Aconite, Ars Alb, Phos, SOS
Back injury – Arnica, Hyper, Rhus Tox
Bee stings – Apis, Ledum
Bites, puncture wounds; animal – Ledum, Hyper
From poisonous animals – Aconite then Ledum or Hyper
Black eye – Symphytum, Hyper
Black eye, bruising – Ledum Arnica
Bleeding – Arnica, Phos
Blood nose – Aconite, Phos, SOS
Bones (broken, fractured, pain) – Symph, Calc Phos
Bruising – Arnica
Burning pains – Apis, Cantharis
Burns – Aconite, Belladonna, Cantharis
Chilblains – Rhus Tox
Collapse – Carbo Veg, SOS
Cuts – Calendula, Hyper
Diarrhea – Ars Alb
Electrocution – Phos
Eye strain – Ruta
Falls – Arnica
On coccyx – Hypericum
Fever with great heat & little thirst – Belladonna
Fever with great thirst – Aconite
Food poisoning – Ars Alb
Foreign objects – Silica
Fright, fear, panic – Aconite, Phos, SOS
Fear of thunderstorms, loud noises – Phos
Gastric symptoms – Ars Alb, Nux Vom
Grief – Ignatia
Heart attack – Aconite
Heat rash – Belladonna
Hemorrhage – Ipecac, Phos
Gushes, spurts, bright red – Aco, Arnica, Phos
Hives – Apis
Hypothermia – Aconite, Carbo Veg
Inflammation, infection – Hep S
Inflammation, joints – Ruta
Injury especially to soft tissue – Arnica
Bleeding, bruising – Arnica
Lacerations – Arnica, Hyper
Painful – Arnica
To eyes – Arnica, Ledum, Symph
To feet – Arnica, Ledum
To head – Arnica then Hyper and/or Nat S
To nerves or parts rich in – Hyper
To periosteum – Ruta
Itchy, hivey rash – Apis
Jellyfish stings – Apis
Nausea not relieved by vomiting – Ipecac
Needle stick injury – Ledum, Hyper
Nerve pain – Hyper
Puncture wound – Arnica then Ledum, Hyper
Rashes – Apis
Rat poison, ingestion of – Aconite followed by Ipecac
Restlessness – Aconite, Ars Alb, Rhus Tox
Shock – Aconite, SOS
Physical shock from injury – Arnica, Carbo Veg
Smoke inhalation – Ars Alb, Carbo Veg, Phos
Snow blindness – Aconite
Spinal Injury – Arnica, Hyper
Sprains & strains – Arnica, Rhus Tox, Ruta
Stiffness, worse beginning to move, better continued
movement – Rhus Tox
Stroke – Aconite
Sudden onset – Aconite. Belladonna
Sunburn – Bell, Cantharis
Sun stroke – Amyl Nit, Belladonna, Glonoine
Surgery, following – Aconite, Arnica, Phosphorus,
Bellis P (deep abdominal surgery), Sulphur or Surgery Combination
Swellings (tight, red, shiny) – Apis
Tendonitis, bursitis – Ruta
Vomiting – Ars Alb, Phos
Worse after cold water – Phos
Wounds – Arnica, Hyper, Ledum
Infected – Hep S
Puncture wounds – Ledum, Hyper
That won’t heal – Calendula, Silica
To forehead, shins, periosteum – Ruta
Always seek medical help in an emergency.