Natural First Aid
Posted by: drthyr on: July 20, 2009
My talk last week at Sky Hill Institute was a huge success. To keep the love going, I will blog this week on the contents of my home first aid kit.
The two things I use the most are undoubtedly homeopathic Arnica and All-Purpose Salve.
Arnica I carry with me everywhere. There is one in the tennis bag, my bike pack, my purse, and both of our cars. I don’t know if I am just a clutz, or if I’m just a huge believer. Giving Arnica immediately after any injury (or surgery) will dramatically spead healing.
There are other homeopathics for after particular injuries. But taking Arnica “no matter what” as quickly as possible is never a bad idea.
Keynotes for Arnica are:
- any trauma
- bruised feeling
- the bed feels too hard
- person injured says “I’m okay.”
One of my patients who recently feel directly on their tailbone was resistant to taking any homeopathic just after the fall. When she had been suffering for a while, she came in and I gave her one that is more specific to the falling directly on the coccyx. I truly believe that she would not have suffered as long if she’d taken Arnica immediately.
All Purpose Salve is a blend of herbs that is perfect for healing skin rashes and wounds. It seems as though we are forever dealing with some little cut, scrape or rash. The All Purpose Salve (made by Wise Woman herbals) combines herbs that not only reduce the itching and inflammation, but help to heal the skin. No antibiotic/petrochemical OTC ointment can claim that. (And I personally feel that putting antibiotic ointments, as well as using antibiotic soaps, just contributes to antibiotic resistance. You have an immune system! Don’t put that crap on little cuts and wounds!)
Some people have the idea that when you are hurt you need something more powerful than what nature has to offer. Quite the contrary – what nature has to offer is the most effective, as well as naturally safe.
2 Responses to "Natural First Aid"
July 20, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Arnica might still help. Particularly if it feels bruised. There may also be some other good homeopathics to speed healing and alleviate pain. To find the right homeopathic in this situation, there are myriad questions to be asked. That is one thing that I think is daunting about homeopathy. There are just so many remedies to choose from. But often with something acute like this, there is a good remedy and it wouldn’t take that much digging to discover. And Arnica never hurts, so you might try that one for starters.
Leave a Reply
subscribe to this blog
- Re-form the Healthcare Paradigm September 1, 2009I recently read the article in the Washington Post by Kathleen Sebelias, our new Secretary of Health and Human Services. It brought this issue that has been nagging in the back of my head to the fore. She really believes that Obama’s plan will improve the health of Americans. But that is impossible. That is [...]drthyr
- Like Water Off a Duck’s Back, or “Just Chill” August 1, 2009I have always wished that I were a more mellow person. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Let it go like water off a duck’s back. I love those snappy little sayings. Love them until I try to embody them, that is. They make it sound so easy. Like that is just the way it happens. [...]drthyr
- Natural First Aid July 20, 2009Some people have the idea that when you are hurt you need something more powerful than what nature has to offer. Quite the contrary - what nature has to offer is the most effective, as well as naturally safe.drthyr
- Natural Allergy Relief May 14, 2009It’s still windy here in Petaluma. I keep thinking it is going to ease up. I know that many people are still really suffering from allergies. I want to give you a couple more ideas of how to help. Vitamin C – good ol’ vitamin C helps allergies because it is a mast cell stabilizer. Mast [...]drthyr
- Vitamin C – My Allergy Saver April 23, 2009It seems so simple, but it’s true. Good ol’ vitamin C, which most of us have in our medicine cabinets, helps relieve allergy symptoms. Vitamin C is an excellent mast cell stabilizer. The mast cells are the ones who release the histamines when in the presence of allergens. So when those cells are a little less [...]drthyr
- My Dream Column April 10, 2009I have often had this vision of myself as a columnist for some fabulous journal or newspaper. Readers would write in their questions and I’d give my perspective and experience as a naturopathic doctor to help answer their questions. Now, nothing beats and one-to-one appointment with a practitioner to help take care of your health concerns. [...]drthyr
- Springtime Self Care April 3, 2009I met with my trainer, Michael Finn, on Monday. I love the workouts he designs for me. He makes me feel good about the little progress I have made. He creates adjustments to make the program more difficult (arghhh!). But when all is said and done, nothing will change if I don’t work on my [...]drthyr
- Happy Spring! March 24, 2009Ahhhh! The first days of spring. Feel the warmth, the movement of new plants, the freshness. We all feel a bit more motivated when the sun shines hotter and the days are longer. Take advantage of the longer light to tend to yourself this spring. Sit outside and listen to the birds for 15 minutes at [...]drthyr
- Liver Detox last day! Hooray!! March 20, 2009I have to say, I have been much better on the detox than I have been about the blog. I mostly just didn’t want to whine. It is difficult to continue this so diligently as well as being the cheerleader. I feel great. Am soooo happy that I participated with the group. I’m ever so grateful [...]drthyr
- Liver Detox Week 2 March 14, 2009This is the main week. It’s the week that we are really perfect in our food choices, elimination of caffeine, etc, and taking more of the detox supplement. I came out of my fog of last week in good form. We’ll see if things get tough as I increase the powder to twice/day. But for now [...]drthyr
July 20, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I fell and broke my tailbone in March and I am still in a great deal of pain and am quite limited as to what I can do. Way to late for Arnica I suppose…