One of the most remarkable features of homeopathic remedies is the powerful role it plays in accident and emergency situations. The seven remedies listed below are the most commonly used and utilized remedies in any emergency situation.
Aconitum Nappellus, known commonly in its shortened name as, Aconite, is prepared from monkshood, a striking plant that grows in mountainious regions of Europe and Asia. It has a beautiful cluster of violet-blue flowers. It is one of the most poisonous of plants. Homeopathy has a unique way of turning even this most toxic of substances into harmless but powerful medicines.
Almost everything about this remedy is sudden and violent. Systems appear without warning, especially at night. Often the cause is unknown, but it can be cold winds, draughts, or fright. Aconite is a remedy much associated with terror, fear or extreme anxiety. Think of this remedy when any ailment has a sudden, violent onset, especially at night, fever, chills, earache, bursting headache, croupy cough, anxiety.
Apis Mellifica, better known as the honey bee, Apis is a very important remedy for acute (sudden onset, short duration), ailments. Anyone who has experienced the pain of the bee’s sting, will have some knowledge of the symptoms of Apis. There is extreme sensitivity to heat – all ailments are better for cool air or cold compresses. Pains are burning and stinging, and visible symptoms look shiny, red, puffy, and swollen – just like a bee sting. Most ailments showing the above symptoms will respond to Apis. Notable conditions include insect stings, allergic reactions, swellings, fevers, cystitis, measles, mumps, tonsillitis, and swollen eyelids, lips, and tongue.
Arnica Montana, the mountain daisy known as the “accident remedy,” Arnica is the first remedy to use in all cases of trauma or shock. Use for any injury where you expect bruising to occur. Arnica acts on the soft tissue and adjacent blood vessels. It allows the body to reabsorb the blood lost into the bruise. Use the pills internally and apply the Arnica cream externally, (if the skin is unbroken.) For open wounds it is better to use Calendula cream.
Arsenicum Album, better known simply as Arsenic, has a notorious history as the main poison used by murderers. The unforntunate victim would die in terrible agony with violent vomiting and diarrhea, burning pains, stomach cramps, and great thirst for ice-cold water. Collapse would follow. Mental agony was also pronounced, including great periods of anxiety and terror, and understandable fear of death, and the need for human support. Once the substance has been “tamed” homeopathically, it is then capable of curing all the symptoms mentioned above.
Calendula, in a species of marigold, a small, annual flowering plant with deep-orange flowers. It is the most important remedy for healing open wounds, ranging from simple cuts to major injuries. Calendula not only speeds up healing, but also prevents wounds from becoming infected.
Diluted tincture (one drop to 10 drops water) applied to the wound with a Q tip for cleaning, then apply calendula cream to the wound and cover with a sterile bandage or band-aid.
Cantharis, is prepared from a small, brillant-green beetle, known as the Spanish fly. It is excellent for burning pains, where the sufferer feels “on-fire.” Cantharis is therefore an important first-aid remedy for minor burns and scalds, where blistering and inflamation occur, as well as sunburn and insect bites, where burning is the predominant symptom. Cantharis has an affinity with the urinary tract, making it a very important remedy in the treatment of cystitis.
Rhus Toxicodendron, also known as poison ivy. Just to the touch the leaves can bring up a very red and extremely itchy rash, which can lead to fever, joint pains, and swollen glands. Above all there is intense restlessness. Like curing like, these are some of the symptoms to look for in sufferers needing Rhus Tox.
Rhus tox is a very important first-aid remedy for sprains and strains, where the pain and stiffness improve from gentle motion. Complaints are better for warmth and massage, and worse for cold and damp, are over-exertion. It can be an excellent remedy in ailments such as chickenpox and shingles, where the rash is markedly itchy and the sufferer is extremely restless with it. Mentally the patient, not suprisingly, can be very sad and despondent. Often there is a thirst for large quantities of cold water or milk.
