Homeopathy II - First Aid - Arnica

Question 1

Arnica, Names:

Answer 1

Arnica montana, wolf’s bane, mountain tobacco.

Question 2

Use:

Answer 2

Physical trauma / shock.

Question 3

Mental picture:

Answer 3

• Arnica corresponds to people who tend to push themselves too hard e.g., athletes who end up with over-training injuries.
• No fear of outcome e.g., extreme sports enthusiasts.
• Obstinate, stubborn, keep going even when injured.
• May say they are ok, even when it is obvious they are not.
• Fear of being touched (due to pain), want to be left alone.

Question 4

General picture:

Answer 4

• Injuries and bruising to soft tissues.
• Bruising from falls, blows, surgery, childbirth.
• Shock —physical, emotional (compare aconite), memory may be poor.
• Upper body is hot, lower body is cold.
• > lying down, head low.
• < jarring, lying on the injured part.

Question 5

Indications (if they fit the symptom picture):

Answer 5

Any trauma (physical / emotional). Includes:
* Bruising —blue-purple.
* Head injury (acute stage).
* Broken bones.
* Cuts and grazes taken orally i.e., not applied externally.
* Surgery (any): Given after the procedure. ↓internal bleeding and thus danger of thrombosis. ↓the potential side effects of narcotics.
* Note: Avoid during menstruation —may cause more bleeding.

Question 6

Administration:

Answer 6

External use: Dilute 200C in water (10 drops / 3–5 pills), soak cloth in it and apply externally and place it on area of trauma.
* Foot soak for blisters as a result of walking too long in tight / new shoes.
* Can also be put in water for cleaning bed / pressure sores in those that are bedridden (post-surgery, elderly, terminally ill).
* Note: Do not apply arnica to an open wound (consider calendula instead).

Question 7

Case example 1:

Answer 7

A 73-year-old female fell from a ladder and down the stairs.
* She injured her chest (breast) by falling against something on the way down.
* Trauma to breast tissue can incite malignant changes so efficient treatment is important.
* She was given aconite 200C (one dose for shock) followed by arnica 200C given every hour for 3 doses. Repeated 3 x daily for 24 hours afterwards.

Question 8

Case example 2:

Answer 8

Tooth extraction.
* A 45-year-old woman had two teeth extracted.
* She took one dose of 200C arnica straight after the procedure.
* This was repeated again during the day at 4-hour intervals, then twice the following day.
* Arnica was also applied externally as a compress and the swelling was reduced by 80% in one day.
* No painkiller was needed.