Arnica

Even if you haven’t used homeopathy yourself, you would most likely have heard of Arnica – it would have to be the most well known and most widely used homeopathic remedy. It’s also a must-have for your first aid kit.

Useful for:

In a nutshell:

Accidents / shock / physical exhaustion. First choice for most minor accidents, falls, injuries or physical ordeals. Swelling and bruising. Patient has a fear of being touched because of the pain, and may want to be left alone. May claim to be alright when they clearly are not. Classic response of someone in shock. Upper body is hot, whilst lower is cold. Memory may also be poor.

Better: Lying down. with head low.
Worse: jarring; Lying on injured part.

Arnica is one of the most important first aid remedies for physical and emotional shock and injury. It is prescribed for painful sprains, strains, bruising and cramps. It promotes healing of damaged tissues and helps to control bleeding.

Mild head injuries, black eyes, eczema and boils respond well to treatment with Arnica.

Arnica can be used to relieve eyestrain and fever. It has anti-thrombotic properties and can be taken before lengthy airplane flights to help prevent DVT (deep vein thrombosis).

In children, Arnica is prescribed for whooping cough and bed wetting (associated with nightmares).

If you’re using a topical, cream preparation of arnica that has physical substance in it (not just homeopathic), use it on bruised skin only, never on open wounds.