Homeopathic First Aid & Home Remedies

Homeopathy is a safe and effective healing method that has been around for thousands of years. It is a great idea for every family to have a homeopathic first aid kit and book for selecting appropriate remedies. Below are some of the most helpful acute remedies.

Over-the-counter remedy dosages are generally 6x, 12X, 6C, 12C, or 30C, increasing in strength from 6X to 30C. At WIN, we usually use 30C for most acute prescribing. Sometimes we use 12X or 12C for children. Any of these are appropriate for your first aid kit.

Dissolve 3 to 5 pellets under the tongue. Do not take remedies within 30 minutes of eating or drinking — especially after brushing your teeth because of the strong essences in toothpaste. Remedies may be repeated every 30 minutes as long as symptoms persist. Then, do not repeat the remedy unless symptoms return. This is the cardinal rule of homeopathy: when you get a change, don’t disturb the action — even by taking another dose of the remedy. The change is usually some relief of the symptom, but it could be a discharge, or release of something toxic from the body.

For quicker results in acute, emergency situations, or for young children, dissolve 6 pellets in 1/2 glass (not metal) of distilled or filtered water. Sip the solution by spoonful or dropper (use plastic, not metal) — one spoon every 5-10 minutes until improvement is noticed, then stop as long as the improvement remains stabilized.

Homeopathic Remedies A-Z

Aconite: First acute stage of onset of any complaint — fever, earache, headache, diarrhea. Use for chronic problem or sudden onset of pain in heart. Aconite is the best emergency heart remedy.

Apis: Insect stings, red/hot/swollen, “the angry bee remedy.”

Arnica: Used for pain of simple trauma from falls, blows, bruises, bruised muscles, brain concussions with unconsciousness, shock. As a general rule, give Arnica first for shock with any injury.

Arsenicum: Nonspecific diarrhea, including traveler's diarrhea, septic infections.

Belladonna: Toothache, it has amazing results. Colds of sudden onset with the following symptoms: mild sore throat, head congestion, fever, intense sweating (especially on the face), oversensitivity to noise and light. Give if the person is hot and red-faced with pinpoint pupils.

Bryonia: Cold or flu, unless cold was caused by getting wet, then Rhus Tox is best. Headache during menses, “grumpy bear remedy,” better lying on affected side.

Calendula: Injuries with skin broken, lacerated, flesh mangled, with bleeding cuts, bruises, open wounds, tear from childbirth. For external use, Calendula can be made into solution (6 pellets to 1/2 glass of pure water) and used to clean wound and used as a dressing. Keep the dressing moist with solution.

Cantharis: Burns of first degree with blisters, burning, pain and shock.

Causticum: Burns of second degree with excessive pain, or old burns that won't heal.

Chamomilla: Teething pains, sleeplessness, one red cheek, child cannot be satisfied, wants to be held.

Cocculus: Relieves bad effects from night watching, good for students who study late hours night before a test, motion sickness.

Gelsemium: Stage fright, anticipatory diarrhea.

Hypericum: Injury to parts with nerves: after surgery, gun shot wound, crushed fingers (for example, in a door), injury to the tailbone in fall or childbirth.

Ignatia: Best remedy for hysteric reaction, even in children, dissolved as described in directions and given by spoonful. For cough and chest congestion. Grief following deaths, tearfulness, sighing.

Ipecacuanha: Relieves symptoms of nausea, vomiting and mild diarrhea.

Ledum Pal: For stabs, punctures (even rusty nails), bites of animals and stings of insects, sprains, black eye from blow of fist, severe bruising. After taking Ledum, if pain from puncture wound starts to move up the limb, switch to Hypericum.

Nux Vomica: Nausea, indigestion, headache from food, motion sickness, inability to sleep after overeating, hangovers.

Phosphorus: Profuse bleeding with bright red blood, frequent nosebleeds.

Rescue Remedy: Bach flower essence for trauma, injuries, shock, anxiety, emotional upsets.

Rhus Tox: Sprains, joint swellings worse with first movement, poison oak/ivy, “rusty hinge remedy.”

Ruta Grav: Superficial injuries to bones, deep bone bruises, sprains and strains.

Symphytum: “knitbone,” injury to eyeball and surrounding bone by stone or stick, bruising of cheekbone or shinbone, broken bones, facilitates union of fractured bone. First take Arnica for shock, and then take Symphytum regularly once or twice a day for 2 to 3 weeks until the bone has started to knit.

Tabacum: For relief of nausea associated with motion sickness and sea sickness. (Most severe cases of nausea).

Urtica Urens: For relief of nettle stings, prickly pains.

Home Remedies A-Z

Allergies: for seasonal allergies, take stinging nettles in capsules, tincture or glycerite.

Bleeding: for profuse bleeding from any cause, apply red chili powder (cayenne). It will not sting (or very little) and the bleeding stops immediately. Or, use freeze dried nettles, they also work to quickly stop bleeding.

Colic: Seed tea (fennel, caraway, anise, dill), chamomile, catnip. Herbal teas for breastfeeding mother: catnip, cinnamon, dill, fennel, lemon balm, crampbark, ginger. Common colic causers are dairy, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, spicy foods, garlic/onions, legumes/beans, too much fruit, and the cabbage family.

Cough: for spastic coughs with congestion, peppermint, thyme or eucalyptus oil in steam or carrier oils massaged onto chest and underarms. For coughs with stringy mucus that causes gagging, try Kali bic, for a cough that comes from a tickling sensation in the sternum, try Rumex.

Diarrhea: In the case of diarrhea, try Podophyllum first. Blackberry, raspberry, or yarrow tea are also helpful.

Earaches: Onion ear muffs are an old home remedy that helps with the pain. Aconite is a good remedy to try for rapid onset of earache. It’s always a good idea to see the doctor and make sure the eardrum isn’t ruptured before inserting anything in the ear.

Insect bites: Potato or onion poultice, lavender or peppermint oil.

Skin infections: calendula spray, goldenseal poultice, comfrey/calendula salve.

Sinus congestion: Saline drops into each nostril, then with nasal bulb, draw out obstructing debris. For older children/adults, use a neti lota pot with saltwater.

Sore throat: Carrot poultice is an old remedy that works well in children under 6. Grate carrots and wrap in a thin cloth, with chopped ice or heated. Apply gently to child’s throat. Have the doctor do a throat swab if you see any discharge or lesions.

Viral infections: The best thing you can do for viral infections is give plenty of fluids and rest. Herbs like echinacea and elderberry are great for kids, and vitamin C can be given up to bowel tolerance. The “Wet sock treatment” also works well. Put on a thin pair of socks that have been run under cold water and wrung out, cover with a thicker pair of socks and go to bed. In the morning they will have dried, and circulation will be drawn from the upper body to the lower body. Give ginger or yarrow tea/tincture and encourage sweating.

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