This is the remedy first and most often thought of after accidents and injuries for bruises, contusions, extravasations of blood, and for the sore bruised feeling in parts of the whole body as a result of injury or physical over-exertion and over- straining. It is excellent for the shock due to injuries and will expedite the restoration consciousness. The swelling and the black and blue spots will speedily disappear by its internal and external use.
It is usefully employed after tooth extraction for relieving the severe pain after the effect of anaesthesia has worn off, and for the subsequent soreness and pain. Internally use the 6th (preferably) or the 30th every 2 to 4 hours, or more frequently if the seriousness of the case demands. Externally, compresses soaked in an aqueous solution (3 to 5 drops of the tincture in an ounce of water) may be used to relieve the swellings and the soreness. If Arnica proves to be insufficient, look up Ledum; and for sprains and strains study Rhus Tox. For injuries to nerves think of Hypericum and for punctured wounds Ledum in preference to Arnica.
CALENDULA.
Air being an irritant to raw lacerated surfaces and wounds, and as by keeping them uncovered infection may be admitted from outside, wounds, cuts and lacerations must be protected and a dressing of Calendula lotion (1 part of the succus in 6 of water) answers splendidly well for this purpose. It allays the pain and promotes granulation and healing. For lacerated wounds of parts rich in sentient nerves and for very painful wounds, look up Hypericum.
HYPERICUM.
This remedy is specially related to nerve trauma or to injuries of parts rich in sentient nerves, e.g. when the finger ends have been bruised, lacerated or crushed by a hammer, or a nail has been torn off. As a result the nerves may become inflamed and there may be shooting, darting pains from the region of injury towards the body, traceable up along the nerve. It prevents and cures tetanus. Wounds which yawn, swell up, look red, inflamed, dry and shiny on edges, with burning, tearing and stinging pains, with no tendency to heal, need this remedy.
Also keep it in mind when old scars get injured or torn internally with stinging, tearing, burning pains, and for the agonizing pains in an amputated limb (Symphytum, Allium Cepa). Another useful field for the application of this remedy is SPINAL INJURIES, especially injuries of the coccyx. Here and in nerve trauma this remedy claims preference over Arnica. Very painful wounds and injuries with the characteristic type of pain described above should invite attention to Hypericum.
Externally it may be used with great advantage for cleaning and dressing boils and carbuncles, especially very painful ones. Use 1 part of the tincture in 20 or 25 of water.
LEDUM PALUSTRE.
Punctured wounds from sharp pointed instruments like needles, awls and nails, insect stings and bites from animals, dogs, horses, cats and rats provide a special field of utility for this remedy. It prevents tetanus and controls sepsis, relieves the pricking shooting pains, brings down the swellings and promotes resorption of haematomas and the extravasations of blood. It is useful for black-eye. Its special indications are the mottled appearance, the puffiness and coldness of the injured part despite which cold dressings are more gratifying to the patient than hot fomentations.
If tetanus comes on in spite of using Ledum in these punctured wounds, follow up with Hypericum. In nerve trauma, Hypericum should be given at once to prevent tetanus and continued for curing it even if it comes on. If Arnica fails to relieve the swellings and extravasations of blood, consider Ledum. Use the 30th potency and later 200th if needed.
RHUS TOXICODENDRON.
When the injury takes the form of straining the muscles and tendons, Arnica is not likely to offer much help, and Rhus tox. will be found suitable for the resulting weakness of the muscles and tendons and for the pain which generally shows the characteristic aggravation by cold and damp weather and of wearing off on continued motion. Finally, Calcarea carb. may be required for completing the cure. The 30th and the 200th potencies are recommended.
RUTA.
This remedy should be preferred to other traumatic remedies for torn and wrenched tendons, split ligaments of joints and for bruises of bones, periosteum, cartilages and joints. Use the 30th and later the 200th if required.
STAPHISAGRIA.
This is a great boon to surgical patients. It is indicated in injuries with sharp instruments and so covers clear-cut incised wounds whether received accidentally or by the surgeons knife. It is also related to another class of surgical operations requiring the stretching of sphincters, e.g. when the urethra is stretched in operations for stone in the bladder. It relieves the burning, rending, tearing, stinging pains, promotes granulation and healing and makes the patient comfortable and safe. When the origin of troubles can be traced back to surgical operations, this remedy should be considered. Use the 30th and the 200th; also the higher potencies if required.
STRONTIUM CARBONATUM.
As Dr. Kent has so aptly described, it is the Carbo veg. of the surgeon. After a surgical operation involving a lot of cutting, the patient becomes cold, prostrated with oozing of blood and cold breath, and you apprehend a collapse, Carbo veg. may disappoint and it is better to use Strontium carb. straight off.
SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALE.
Think of this remedy for bruised periosteum (Ruta) and fractured bones; also for injuries of the eye-ball and the surrounding bone (orbital periosteum). In eye injuries there is hardly any remedy to excel this. It will prevent traumatic cataract and the ensuing blindness. In injuries of parts where the bone is near the skin, e.g. the cheeks and the face or the upper side of the leg, and for the other injuries referred to above, this remedy should claim priority over other remedies.
It hastens the formation of callus and thus expedites the union of fractured bones. It also cures the irritability of bone at the point of fracture. It is useful in irritable stump after an amputation. For the violent burning, stinging pains in a stump after amputation, look up Allium Cepa and Hypericum. If Ruta fails to relieve periosteal pain, try Symphytum.
The tincture or ointment of this remedy applied locally will enhance the action by internal administration.
TREATMENT OF A FRACTURE.
Arnica is the best remedy for the first 24 hours on so till the effects of shock have passed off. It may be given as frequently as the condition of the patient demands. The fracture should be set by the surgeon and the further treatment as outlined below started. Ledum is the best follower and complement of Arnica to further absorb the extravasation of blood and it may be continued with advantage for about four days.
After this, Symphytum is started in the 6th or the 30th potency, in the beginning three times a day for a week or so, and later continued twice a day till the callus has formed. If in spite of Symphytum there is non-union of the broken bone, or irritability of the bone at the point of fracture, Calc. phos. (preferably in low potency) comes in as an effective complement.
If the pain accompanying a compound fracture is due to bruising of the nerves, give Hypericum for some time and then follow up with Ledum and Symphytum.
B.A., M.D.S.
Dehradun, India