Most of us have been cooped up for the winter and we are now excited about getting out to enjoy the sun and outdoors. But with that can come injuries, bug bites and stings, sunburn, and overuse of tendons and ligaments. Here are some great ideas to naturally help yourself to deal with these things and enjoy more summer fun.
Many homeopathic remedies are made from herbs and plants. The dried plant is soaked in pure alcohol for a period of time and the resulting brew is called a tincture. To make homeopathic remedies, the tincture is then diluted and succussed (shaken) about 20 times with each dilution. If you look at the label of a homeopathic remedy, you will see “strengths” or potency, such as 6C or 12X, after the remedy name.
The 6 or the 12 represent the number of times the tincture has been diluted and succussed or shaken. The letter X indicates that the tincture has been diluted at a ratio of 1 to 10 (1:10). The letter C indicates that the tincture has been diluted at a ratio of 1 to 100 (1:100). The higher the number, the more dilutions, and the stronger it is. I know this does not make much sense, but in homeopathy, we are looking at the energy signature of the remedy not the physical substance from which the remedy is made.
Arnica Montana is a homeopathic remedy for sprains and strains. Most of the time, you will use a 30X or a 30C. This remedy is magic for any sprain or strain. This should be taken under the tongue every 30 minutes after the sprain, up to eight or ten times per day for an acute injury. If the injury is a few days old, use it three or four times per day. The recovery time is amazing.
Another great remedy for any household is homeopathic Apis 30X or 30C. This is made from ground-up honey bees. You guessed it, this works fantastic for bee stings. It is best to give every five to 15 minutes until the sting pain and swelling begin to subside. We have seen some great results with Apis on fresh and older stings with local allergic reactions.
If you have severe allergic bee sting reactions, get Apis 200C and an EpiPen, which is an epinephrine auto-injector, a medical device used to deliver a measured dose of epinephrine, most often for the treatment of severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. Keep these on hand and available. Immediately after a sting, take the Apis 200C and head for the nearest emergency room, repeating the Apis 200C every five to 15 minutes. Many times with the use of Apis 200C, the severe reaction will not occur and you will not have to visit the ER. Use the EpiPen only if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. If you do have to use an EpiPen, you must follow up in the ER because you will need further treatment.
Homeopathic Cantharis 30C is used to treat sunburn and other thermal burns. Dissolve one or two pellets of homeopathic Cantharis 30C in the mouth every 30 to 60 minutes for acute sun or thermal burns. In addition to that, put ten drops of the essential oil lavender into four ounces of whole leaf aloe vera juice. This can be applied topically with a little sprayer. Cantharis pellets, dissolved in the mouth, are also good for the burning feeling of a bladder infection.
For the weekend warriors with tendon strains, tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and carpel tunnel syndrome, the remedy homeopathic Ruta Graveolans 30C, two or three times per day, has been very helpful.
Bug bites can be a big problem, especially for the little tykes. We use homeopathic Ledum 30X or 30C, one pellet before going outside or one pellet two or three times per day after being bitten. Ledum is also good for healing any puncture wound. (Remember, bites are punctures). The essential oil Purification is also very helpful to treat bug bites.
Spider bites will have a bruise around them and begin to ulcerate. The best treatment is the application of heat as hot as you can stand to denature the protein in the venom. But be careful not to use so much heat that you burn the skin.
So enjoy a safe spring and summer, but if you do have some mishap, it is better to be prepared. We suggest a general remedy kit. These are available at most health stores and carry about 20 of the most commonly used homeopathic remedies for acute situations.
Case Study: A few years ago, Barb and I were on vacation. My cell phone rang, and on the line was a frantic grandmother who was watching her granddaughter have a fever seizure. I knew she had a remedy kit. I asked if she had homeopathic Belladonna. Yes, she did! She placed the quick-dissolving tablet inside the child’s cheek. In less than 30 seconds, the seizure stopped. Within 15 minutes, the fever was gone. And the child was up and playing in less than an hour. They did not even have to go to the ER. Preparation and some education about these remedies is a great thing.
A basic remedy kit might contain the following: Aconite, Apis, Antimonium Tartaricum., Argentum Nitricum, Arnica, Arsenicum Album, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcerea Carbonicum, Calendula, Cantharis, Carbo Vegetabilis., Chamomilla, China, Drosera, Gelsemium, Hepar Sulphuricum, Hypericum, Ignatia, Ipecacuanha, Kali Bichromicum., Lachesis, Ledum, Lycopodium, Magnesium, Phosphoricum, Mercurius, Natrum Muraticum, Nux Vomica, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Rhus Toxidendron, Ruta, Sepia, Silica, Staphysagria, Sulphur.
An explanation of uses of all of these is beyond the scope of this article. A good homeopathy book for beginners is Homeopathic Remedies for Health Professional and Laypeople by Blair Lewis, PA-C.
Put Your Health in Your Own Hands 