Injuries (Homeopathy)

Remedy Options
Primary Remedies

Bellis perennis

This remedy is useful for injuries to the trunk and deeper tissues—as from falls, car accidents,
surgery, etc. —especially if a feeling of stiffness or coldness develops in the injured area. If
Arnica has been given for an injury—especially a strain or bruise—but has not had much effect,
Bellis perennis may be helpful.

Hypericum perforatum

This remedy relieves sharp pain that seems to follow the nerve's path.

Other Remedies

Aconitum napellus

This remedy can be helpful when a person feels extremely fearful or agitated after being injured.
It may help to soothe anxiety and panic and reduce the chance of shock.

Arnica montana

This remedy relieves pain, bruising and swelling associated with trauma, surgery or
overexertion.

Calcarea phosphorica

This remedy is useful for bone bruises, old or slow-healing fractures, or any injury that leads to
soreness in the bones, especially if the area feels cold or numb and improves with warmth. The
muscles near the injury may ache or stiffen.

Calendula Ointment

This remedy can be applied to disinfected cuts, chapping, burns and scrapes.

Ipecacuanha

This remedy can be helpful as first aid if heavy bleeding occurs after an injury, with a feeling of
nausea and weakness. (Emergency care is crucial when serious bleeding occurs; pressure should
be applied to a severely bleeding wound, and medical help should be found immediately.)
Ledum palustre

This relieves bruises from blunt objects, especially where the skin is thin (around the eyes,
fingers and toes), as well as pain and bruising from pointed objects.

Millefolium

Contusions or sprains that involve small broken blood-vessels and lead to bruiselike bleeding
beneath the skin suggest the use of this remedy. It is often also useful for nosebleeds after injury,
and for bleeding in other parts of the body (for instance, after childbirth or surgery).

Phosphorus

When small wounds bleed easily, or a person has a tendency to bruise from minor injuries, this
remedy can be helpful. It is also useful for nosebleeds.

Ruta graveolens

This remedy relieves strained ligaments and tendons.

Symphytum

This remedy is best known for its healing effect on broken bones, and is also good for bone-
bruises. It is valuable if blunt injury occurs to the eyeball (from a rock, a stick, a flying object,
etc.) Any injury to the eye or eyeball should be examined by a doctor.

Homeopathy for accidents and injuries

Only last week a patient contacted me complaining of horrendous tooth pain. A brief description
of the pain and how it started indicated that the pain may have been due to injury to the nerve of
the tooth. The patient was prescribed Hypericum and within a short while they were pain free
and able to wait several days for the preferred dentist appointment – without further suffering.

In homeopathy we have many remedies that can help with alleviation of pain and rapid recovery
from injuries, as well as prevention of complications. For example Symphytum, Ruta, Ledum or
Hypericum can help with the healing of bone fractures; remedies such as Hypericum, Hepar-
sulph or Silica are often used in the treatment of wounds which have become infected, while the
healing of injuries to joints, ligaments and tendons can be greatly helped by remedies such as
Ruta and Rhus-tox. The list is long, and covers many different types of injuries, wounds and all
kinds of physical trauma.

Homeopathic remedies are never used routinely. Each individual case has to be assessed
according to the specific symptoms presented by the patient; in the case of injuries the location
of the injury/wound, the quality of the pain and other signs and symptoms will help to decide
which remedy is best suited. For example for a small, superficial burn, the application of Urtica
urens ointment will suffice to stop the pain, prevent blistering and promote quick healing. For
more severe burns, Cantharis, Causticum and other remedies will be needed to be taken
internally – and under the supervision of a qualified homeopath!

Without doubt, the most widely known and used remedy in accidents and injuries is ARNICA
MONTANA. This amazing remedy is prepared from a little plant found high in the mountains all
over the world, from the Alps in Europe to the Andes in South America. Its healing properties
have been known in folk medicine for many centuries and millennia, and its use in homeopathic
form has helped to extend further its sphere of action.

There is so much to say about the uses of ARNICA; it would require a whole
book to cover them all, and indeed such books can be found.

I shall try to convey here the most important aspects:

1. Pain, aching and soreness, due to mental and/or physical shock.

2. Physical trauma to soft tissues; for bruises and contusions accompanied by pain, bruising and
swelling. These include: eyes, muscles, head – very useful in concussions of the brain. (For
trauma to internal parts such as abdomen or breasts, Bellis perennis should be taken, if there is
no improvement with Arnica.)

3. Sprains and strains caused by prolonged and unaccustomed exertion, such as a challenging
session at the gym, or a long walk after a week of sedentary work in the office, or after an
energetic session of house spring-cleaning.

4. Labour (=exertion) and trauma of delivery: Arnica 30, taken internally, one pill three times a
day for 2-4 days will be of great benefit to the new mother.

5. After surgery or dental extraction, to prevent shock and pain and to promote quick repair of
affected tissues. Excessive bleeding can also be prevented by taking Arnica as soon as possible
after these interventions.

Arnica can be applied externally as an ointment or cream, or as a lotion made from one part
tincture diluted to ten parts of water, but ONLY if there is no broken skin. Where there are skin
abrasions or open wounds Arnica should be given only internally, as pills.
If you have suffered a recent accident or injury, or are preparing for a period of extra physical
exertion, or are due to have surgery or dental work, do talk to a qualified homeopath. You will be
given full information on how to use homeopathic remedies to help your body heal rapidly as
well as prevent unnecessary pain and suffering.