Homeopathy is easy to use and easy to learn. With just a handful of remedies, even a beginner can make a big difference to everyday health problems. The homeopathic remedies are relatively inexpensive, long-lasting, and safe for all ages. They are also easy to obtain. Many of the common ones are available from natural health stores, pharmacies and sometimes even supermarkets.
Be Prepared
The first thing is to put together a small home-use kit of common remedies – ten or so will do at the start. Add a couple of homeopathy books that explain how and when to use these remedies so that when the unexpected happens you will have what you need at your fingertips rather than being caught short.
One Step at a Time
When you first start using homeopathy, its best to practice with simple first-aid problems such as minor cuts, burns and bruises until you are familiar with how the remedies work.
As nearly everyone experiences the same symptoms with first-aid injuries it is easy to learn which remedy to give for each situation. To help you on your way I have included a list of the top 20 remedies for first-aid problems in this article, along with a simple remedy finder.
As your confidence grows, start to practice on acute complaints such as coughs, colds, and headaches where it is much more important to prescribe for the symptoms of the individual rather than the cause of the complaint. Colds, for example, are quite different from one season to the next and even between individual sufferers. Because of this, the remedies that treat them will also differ.
Top 20 First-Aid Remedies
With a small investment in some common remedies you will be well-prepared for most first-aid situations – at least as far as homeopathy goes. Check which of the following ones you may need and then scroll a little further to see an easy remedy-finder for the various complaints.
Aconite napellus (Acon.) – The first remedy to think of for panic, fear and shock, especially if the person is hyperventilatng. Also useful for anaphylaxis.
Apis mellifica (Apis) – Great for bites and stings with rapid swelling – the affected area is puffy, white or rosy, feels hot and is better for cold compresses.
Arnica montana (Arn.) – A good remedy for recent or active bruising, soreness of muscles and joints, and after dental work. Also helps nosebleeds from injury or on lifting heavy objects and the early stages of a black eye. Use in the first 24 hours following a fracture to control bleeding and swelling and to promote healing.
Arsenicum album (Ars.) – First remedy to think of for food poisoning, especially from meat. The vomiting and diarrhoea is accompanied by chills, exhaustion, and restless anxiety.
Belladonna (Bell.) – Suits heatstroke or exhaustion. The skin is hot and red, the face flushed face, eyes glassy, and the head throbs.
Calendula officinalis (Calen.) – Wonderful for superficial wounds, grazes and even lacerated skin. It promotes healing and reduces infection.
Cantharis vesicatoria (Canth.) – An excellent remedy for blistering burns or scalds including sunburn, 2nd to 3rd degree burns, and wasp stings. The pain is searing and soothed by cold compresses.
Cocculus indicus (Cocc.) – A key remedy for motion sickness and faintness, especially if worsened by loss of sleep.
Euphrasia officinalis (Euphr.) – Comes from the herb, eyebright, and relieves persistent pain following the removal of a foreign object, or irritated, streaming eyes and nose.
Glonoinum (Glon.) – Suits heat stroke in which there is a congestive headache, surging of blood to head and heart, and pulsating pains.
Hypericum perforatum (Hyper.) – The main remedy for injuries to nerves or nerve rich areas such as finger tips and the spine. Useful for wounds with shooting nerve pain, dental work with shooting nerve pain, painful lacerations, and puncture wounds.
Ledum palustre (Led.) – A good remedy for puncture wounds, bites and stings, and twisted or sprained joints, especially ankles. Wounds are cold and mottled, and the pain is soothed by a cold compress.
Nux vomica (Nux-v.) – The main remedy for hangover or indigestion from over-indulgence. Also useful for food poisoning in which there is constant retching or urging at the toilet.
Phosphorus (Phos) – Treats many after-effects of electroshock. It is also a remedy for nosebleeds from blowing the nose.
Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus-t.) – A good remedy for contact allergic reactions such with poison ivy that has resulted in red, swollen and itchy blisters.
Ruta graveolens (Ruta.) – A wonderful remedy for sprains, strains and ganglions, especially of the wrists or ankles. Suitable for injuries to tendon or bone periostium, which may also arise from dental work.
Silicea terra (Sil.) – The ‘homeopathic scalpel’. When used for embedded foreign substances it helps the body expel them.
Symphytum officinale (Symph.) – The main remedy for fractures once the bone has been set – don’t use before (use Arnica instead) as the early bone regeneration it stimulates will have to be disturbed on the setting. Also useful for punctured or ruptured eyeballs.
Tabacum (Tabac.) – A good motion sickness remedy when there is nausea, dizziness, chills, and sweating. Symptoms are worsened by tobacco smoke.
Urtica urens (Urt-u) – Useful for scalds or burns with continuous stinging or burning pain.
While it is always important to seek medical advice for serious injuries and situations, don’t forget that even here, homeopathy can help. A few doses of the needed remedy while the ambulance is on the way can make all the difference when every minute counts … and it’s so simple to give.