Homeopathic medicines are very gentle and safe medicines, especially when dosed in low potencies. While classical (traditional) homeopathy uses a constitutional remedy based on all the characteristics a person is exhibiting during an illness, many remedies are known to be indicated for specific ailments and can be given as acute type treatments for common ailments and minor injuries at home.
Although not featured in this discussion, there are also many combination type remedies available at apothecaries, health food stores and pharmacies. These can also be fast acting and beneficial. In general, combination remedies have to be dosed more frequently, and may be less effective overall than finding the single remedy most indicated by your symptoms.
The most basic home homeopathic kit that I would recommend would contain the following 13 remedies in the 30th potency:
* Aconite: Remedy for nipping colds in the bud. Useful in early stages of colds, fevers and inflammations. Suits healthy people whose complaints come on suddenly. Characteristic symptoms include extreme fear and restlessness.
* Apis: Remedy for bites and stings. Tissue is red, swollen with burning and stinging pain.
* Arnica: Remedy for accidents, shocks and physical exhaustion. Given early it will reduce swelling and bruising. Many dentists and oral surgeons recommend this before and after oral surgery for faster healing. I call it the homeopathic Advil, and think all mothers should carry a vial in their purse for bike spills, head bangs, and weekend warrior-ing.
* Belladonna: remedy for high fevers. Patient is burning, hot and red. The eyes are glassy and the pupils dilated. The onset of complaints is sudden. Patient is angry, thirsty and feels better lying down.
* Bryonia: remedy for dry, painful coughs. Symptoms are worse with the slightest movement, and the pains feel like a "stitch." The person with this cough tends to be irritable and does not like to be fussed over.
* Cantharis: Remedy for the intense pain of burns. Also good for cystitis (bladder infection) when there is burning before, during and after urination.
* Chamomilla: Remedy for teething children. Most likely the most popular remedy for those who do not ordinarily use homeopathy.This remedy is best characterized by over-sensitivity. Pains seem intolerable, as if the degree of discomfort is disproportionate to the illness or ailment. Often times the teething child who responds well to this remedy has one red cheek.
* Gelsemium: Remedy for flu, especially if there is shivering up and down the spine. The whole body, especially the head and eyelids feel very heavy.
* Ignatia: Remedy for recent bereavement, emotional shock. It is a useful remedy for the treatment of symptoms that follow acute loss, grief or disappointed love. The person who needs this remedy may not be able to accept what is happening and react with much disbelief.
* Ledum: remedy for puncture wounds and black eyes. It is used to treat deep wounds (like those caused by stepping on a nail) and bites from insects and animals. Affected area tends to be swollen, blue and cold but may feel hot to the sufferer.
* Metallicum album (also known as arsenicum album): remedy for food poisoning. Metallicum should be taken along with any traveler leaving the country. Pains and discharges are burning but the person feels chilly. Great physical fatigue with mental restlessness are also characteristic of an ailment that will respond to this remedy.
* Pulsatilla: a good remedy for childhood ear infections. This remedy works best when the patient has very changeable symptoms. Emotionally these patients tend to be tearful, moody and clingy. The mood of this patient improves greatly when in fresh air outside.
* Rhus Tox: Is the number one remedy for sprains and strains. The pain is usually around the achy, sore, bruised joint. The pain is worse when the area is first moved but eases up as movement continues.
Dosing frequency depends on the situation but in general it is taken 1 pellet at a time, as often as needed up to as frequently as every 20 minutes in acute situations.
By:Blossom Bitting ND
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