Medical emergencies generally follow an accident or occur as a result of a sudden serious illness. Additionally in family life, urgent relief is often needed for those illnesses that are not life threatening but occur suddenly when immediate professional help is not available. Ideally, you should have a first-aid box at home that contains suitable homoeopathic medicines for all these different type of emergencies.
Immediately after accidents and the onset of sudden serious illnesses, your first priorities are to telephone a doctor and/or an ambulance, and attend to the normal first aid procedures. While you are waiting for professional help to arrive, however, there is much that you can do with a first aid box that is stocked with well chosen homoeopathic medicines. This section of the article provides you with useful suggestions for a wide variety of emergencies. Both the victims and the onlookers may feel a sense of shock and one or more doses of “Aconitum “in the highest potency you have available can be very helpful in combating their symptoms.
It is said that more people are converted to the use of homoeopathy by “Arnica “than by any other homoeopathic medicine. Arnica has an essential place in every first-aid box because of its effectiveness in treating both bruising and bleeding. Less well known, however, is its use during a suspected heart attack as it helps to allay anxiety, and to alleviate emotional or mental bruising when you are left feeling very hurt or rejected after some disturbing conversation or event.
Less serious conditions, such as the sudden onset of diarrhoea, tooth ache or sore throat, vomiting, usually respond well to starting the correct homoeopathic medicine at the earliest opportunity.
USING HOMOEOPATHY IN AN EMERGENCY
You can use any potency that you have available. The most easily available potencies are 6C or 30C will provide quick relief, but using a higher potency is also safe. If you use the 6C potency you may find that you will have to repeat the dose more frequently and for longer.
Homoeopathic medicines can be used safely at the same time as conventional medicines and may even enhance their action.
Once you have chosen the homoeopathic medicine you should place it in the mouth of the patient as soon as possible.
You can repeat the dose every five or ten minutes without risk, but once the condition of the patient is seem to be improving, you should not give a further dose until this effect appears to be wearing of .
If there is response after six doses you should consider changing the medicine.
FIRST-AID BOX
To start with, it is always a good idea to buy a few medicines, specifically for emergencies and some suggestions for your basic first-aid box are given here. Howeve , as you become more familiar with homoeopathic medicines and begin to use them more your self and your family you will soon build up a store of homoeopathic medicines, many of which can be use full to treat different ailments as they arise. Suggestions for the medicines that you are most likely to need for a more comprehensive first-aid box are given.
Homoeopathic pills, granules and powders will keep indefinitely provided that they are stored in a cool dark place away from strong smells, including perfumes and mothballs. The top of bottles should be firmly tightened. Liquid potencies often have a short shelf life and the advice of your pharmacist should be sought.
AFTER CARE
Recovery time after an accident or serious injury can some times be shortened with homoeopathic medicines, for example Symphytum may aid the repair of a bone after a fracture. If you are using homoeopathic medicines in this way you should tell your doctor.
In addition to the normal contents of a first aid box such as dressings, bandages and scissors you can keep a supply of homoeopathic medicines for emergency use.
THE BASIC REMEDIES
Shock fright, angina, mastitis, sudden illness after being in a cold or draught ……………… Aconitum
Insect stings, cystitis, rashes , and swellings , that are pink and shiny (like a bee sting )……………….Apis mellifica
Any injury where there is a shock, bruising or angina ………Arnica montana
Diarrhoea with vomiting, anxiety colds and hay fever ………Arsenic album
Sudden high fever, boils heavy and painful periods …………Belladonna
Painful cough, influenza , mastitis , painful and swollen joints ..Bryonia alba
Frantic unbearable pain for example earache or tooth ache …..Chamomilla
Low fevers accompanied by tiredness or haemorrhage ……Ferrum phos
Inflenza that occurs with stage fright or before an ordeal such as examination ………………..Gelsemium
Nerve injuries , for example to the finger tips , toes ears , and base of the spine …………….Hypericum
Grief , emotional shock , reactions to coffee or tobacco smoke ……Ignatia
Nausea , bronchitis and asthma …………Ipecacuanha
After too much food and/or alcohol , cystitis , hay fever , sudden colds , or cramp ………………..Nux vomica
Nausea vomiting , hormonal changes period pains or styes………..Pulsatilla
Sprains and strains , chicken pox , shingles , cold sores , or herpes …..Rhus tox
Homoeopathic creams or mother tinctures
Cuts and sores ……..Calendula
Bruises ……………..Arnica
Sprains ……………..Ruta
Burns …………….Urtica urens (cream or mother tincture)
FURTHER REMEDIES
Hay fever colds tickling coughs ………..Allium cepa
Fear anticipating such things as examinations or flying ……Argentums nitricum
Violent abdominal pain for example periods or diarrhoea, cramps …..Colocynthis
Sore eyes in colds and hay fever ……………..Euphrasia
Painful , festering , boils and abscesses and puncture wounds ……..Hepar sulph
Sinusitis ……..Kali bichromicum
Puncture wounds insect bites ……….Ledum
Anticipatory fears, digestive upsets or palpitations ……….Lycopodium
Period pains, angina , colicky bowel pain …….Mag phos
Sore throat or mouth ulcers ………..Mercurius
Grief or rejection , premenstrual symptoms , colds and hay fever
Digestive upsets , bronchitis haemorrhage sore throat anxiety …….Phosphorus
Sprained ankles or wrists ………..Ruta
Problems caused by females hormone levels ………………Sepia
Early morning diarroea anxiety , itchy skin conditions …….Sulphur
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
A sense of panic and great restlessness, craving for ice cold drinks …..Aconite
For use after any form of injury especially when there may be bruising ..Arnica
Restlessness with anxiety and marked exhaustion ……Arsenic album
A loss of bright red blood occurs which clots easily, head is hot , face is red ……………..Belladonna
Patient shows signs of collapse with cold clammy sweat ……..Carbo veg
Faintness and weakness with ringing in the ears the blood is dark, almost brown ……………….China
The blood is profuse, bright red and clots easily especially useful for nose bleeds ………….Ferrum phos
A slow but steady flow of dark blood, a feeling of exhaustion, but no anxiety, bleeding occurs from piles ………….Hamamelis
The blood is bright red, persistent bleeding but in fits and starts a feeling of emptiness in the stomach, a craving for ice cold drinks ………Phosphorous
A brisk flow of blood with dark clots and pelvic pain ……..Sabina
Dosage – use the 30c potency, take every 5 minutes until an improvement is maintained.
CUTS AND LACERATIONS
If the skin becomes damaged by being torn open, treatment to some extent depends upon the type of damage produced. When the cut is from a sharp blade, the result is known as incised wound and it may bleed very freely because the damaged blood vessels cannot shut down easily. When the injury produces a wound with irregular edges, it is called a laceration. These tend to bleed less freely but are more likely to become infected. After cleaning with warm water, firm pressure or squeezing the edges of the wound together will usually stop bleeding. A firm, clean dressing may then be put over the area
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
When there is immediate shock ………….Aconite
Good to use if there is a lot of bruising …….Arnica Montana
If there is much bleeding and infection likely ……Calendula
If the wound is deep and/or extensive, and if a lot of pain is being suffered …………………..Hypericum
INSECT BITES AND STINGS
If the sting is left in the skin try to remove it carefully with tweezers but do not squeeze it as the poison will be forced out into the skin.
If a sting occurs in the mouth or throat, or if there are multiple stings, go to a hospital at once.
SYMPTOMS/MEDICINES
For use as soon as possible after the sting occurs ……..ledum 30c
Where there is much burning, stinging and rapid swelling ………Apis mellifica
The area is red hot and angry looking ………..Cantharis 30C
To treat a bee sting ……………..Carbolic acid 30C
The area remains cold, numb and very sensitive, but is better after cold dressing ………………Ledum30C
The area is hot and blue …………Tarentula Hispania 30c
Where is an itchy blotchy , allergic type of skin reaction…………Urtica urens 30C
With a bee or wasp sting a few drops of the appropriate mother tincture dabbed on the area sting will help to soothe it …….bee stings – Urtica urens , wasp stings –Ledum , gnat bites –Hypericum
PUNCTURE WOUNDS
Any sharp object such as nail, needle or garden fork can produce a puncture wound. If it is deep, there is considerable risk of infection having been introduced by the sharp object, and injury to deeper tissues may also have been caused, puncture wounds require a tetanus injection.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
Use as soon as possible after the injury occurs ——-Ledum 30C
The wound still remains painful after treatment with Ledum …..Hypericum 6C
The area remains cold and numb and is sensitive to touch, getting relief from cold applications ……….Ledum 6C
A splinter remains in the wound ………Ssilica 30C
The area becomes infected hot, red , swollen and painful ……..Hepar sulph 30c
BURNS, SCALDS AND SUN BURN
Burns are injuries caused by heat, certain chemicals, electricity, extreme cold and radiation. When the heat is dry the injury is called a burn. If the heat is moist as in steam, the injury is known as scald. The seriousness of the injury depends upon its size and also its depth.
A burn more than 2.5 cm /1 inch square which goes deeper than the very surface of the skin needs medical attention. All but very small and minor burns and scalds require medical attention after immediate first-aid.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
There is always fright and shock …………Aconite followed by Cantharis
Where there is only minor redness of the skin ……..Urtica urens
CONCUSSION AND HEAD INJURIES
Immediate first aid procedures should always be carried out. All but minor bumps and bangs which may produce local tenderness and bruising require medical attention. First give Arnica 30C and repeat at 15 minute intervals for three doses followed by Hypericum 30 C every half an hour for four doses.
FAINTING
Fainting is due to lack of oxygen to the brain. It can arise from being in a hot, stuffy atmosphere, or follow any sort of emotional upset or disturbance. Frequent or repeated fainting attacks require medical investigation.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
For after a fright or with severe pain …………Aconite
When anaemia is present ……………………..Acetic acid
If it occurs from over eating ………………..Antim tart
If it comes about from fear, lack of breath and stomach ache …….Arsenicum album
If it happens on sitting up ………….Bryonia alba
If it occurs because of stooping …………..Elaps corallinus
If it happens after exertion …………….Glonoine
If it happens from tight clothes ………..Lachesis
If it happens in a warm room …………Lilium tig
If it occurs with hysteria …………….Moschus
Fainting occurs from nasty smells ……….Nux vomica
A tendency to faint …………….Sepia
Occurs about 11 am ………….Sulphur
Happens from the slightest exertion ….Veratrum alba
HEART ATTACK
The symptoms of a heart attack are a sudden, agonizing constricting, chest pain which may radiate to the neck, jaw or arms. Mainly on the left side. The patient is usually in shock – cold and sweaty with a grey complexion and shallow, rapid pulse. The pain does not pass with rest.
Sudden severe chest pain for which there is no apparent cause require urgent diagnosis by a doctor as medical care is best started early
Homoeopathic treatment should be applied while waiting for medical assistance.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
Great anxiety with difficulty in breathing, plus numbness and tingling in the fingers, feels better sitting up. ……………Aconitum
Chest pain after exertion or fatigue, chest feels sore and bruised …………………………….Arnica montana
Heart feels as if grasped in a fist, lower part of chest feels tied down and there are cries of pain …Cactus grandiflourus
Weakness and numbness in left arm, skin has a blue tinge, fears the heart will stop if move about ……..Digitalis
Wakes from sleep feeling smothered and unable to lie flat …………Lachesis
Violent pain in chest and left arm, pulse is very rapid and there is great difficulty in breathing …………….Latrodectus mactans
Woken by pain with heart feeling as if it trapped in a vice , need to bend double to try to ease the pain ……….Lilium tigrinum
Palpitations and irregular pulse with paroxysms and tightness the upper chest ……………………………Tabacum.
HEAT STROKE
Exposure to high temperature, particularly with high humidity, may lead to this condition. Early symptoms are headache, dizziness, nausea and lassitude. This may quickly lead on to muscle cramps, convulsions, collapse and coma. As well as using homoeopathic treatment, first aid procedures to cool the patient should be carried out. Medical help is required.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
The illness is of sudden onset, with burning, hot dry skin dilated pupils and delirium …………….Belladonna
Severe headache, which is worse on attempting to move or even sit up ………………..Bryonia alba
Severe muscle cramps happen at the same time as the heatstroke…Cuprum met
A throbbing head ache with a hot red face and generalized sweating …..Glonoine
STROKE
Caused by a sudden cutting off of the blood supply to part of the brain, stroke vary according to the area involved and the amount of damage to the brain tissue. The symptoms can be any thing from loss or diminution of muscle power in the affected part of the body to total coma and eventual death.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
Anxiety in the early stage of a minor stroke ….Aconitum 30C –one dose as soon as possible after the event
If unconscious ……….Arnica 200C
SHOCK AND COLLAPSE
Shock occurs after severe injuries, bleeding or burns and is due to the reduction in blood volume and blood pressure that these conditions produce. It may follow a nervous shock such as severe fright or the receipt of bad news. The patient will have pale, clammy, grey coloured skin. The symptom occurs because insufficient oxygen is carried to the nervous system and other tissues.
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
A sudden fright or shattering experience, extreme terror, restlessness, rapid pulse and soaking sweat …………..Aconitum
Trauma, pale panting and lacking a pulse ……………Arnica Montana
SUFFOCATION
The condition occurs when the blood is unable to obtain sufficient oxygen due to some interference with respiration
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
Face is cold, blue pale and covered with cold sweat ……….Aconitum
Occurs because of swelling of tongue or throat. ………………Apis mellifica
FRACTURES
Fracture is a broken bone and the actual snap of the bone may have been heard by the patient when it is occurred
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
Use as soon as possible for the pain and shock …………Aconitum 30C –one dose
Suitable ten minutes after using Aconite, for bruising and soft tissue damage ……………………………….Arnica 30C
SPRAINS AND STRAINS
Sprain occurs if the tissues around a joint are suddenly stretched or torn. There will be pain, tenderness swelling
SYMPTOMS / MEDICINES
Initial bruising pain and shock …Arnica Montana 30C
If the injury is close to a bony surface which is sore ………Ruta
