Treating wounds

Obviously you need to use common sense measures with wounds – if it is a deep wound, or contains a foreign body then seek medical help.

You can use the diluted lotions or creams to clean the wound, wash out any small debris, slow bleeding, act as a natural antiseptic and promote healing.  If you are using a dressing to cover a wound, then you can use the diluted lotion or cream to dampen the dressing before applying.

There are a number of creams and lotions which can be used to promote healing:

• Calendula - see the blog written by Elaine on this
• Hypericum – can be a lotion (tincture) which must be diluted. It can be used to heal wounds where nerves have also been injured.
• Hypercal (a combination of Hypercium and Calendula). This can be found as a cream or lotion (which must be diluted).
• Ledum – usually found as a lotion (tincture) which must be diliuted. It can be used to treat puncture wounds.
• Graphites – usually found as a cream and can be used to treat thickened skin

However, please never use Arnica cream on broken skin – even if it is bruised. Use Arnica 30/200c tablets to address the bruising. Choose a different cream for healing the wound.

You can also use homeopathic remedies to support healing.  Remember to use Arnica if there is shock and Hypericum if the wound has nerve involvement and Ledum for puncture wounds. If the wound becomes red, swollen and painful then take Hepar Sulph.

Treating impetigo with homeopathy

Impetigo

Impetigo is a very common skin condition which causes sores and blisters and is most commonly found in children. GPs may prescribe no treatment (as it usually resolves within 3 weeks), antibiotic cream or tablets.

It is caused by a bacteria entering the skin through a wound, bite or cut and typically causes raw, blistered skin which weeps and forms honey-coloured crusts.  It is common on the face in the children.

You can try treating it yourself – remember the rule:

• If there is no change within three days of taking the remedy, stop as its not working and you need a different one.
•  If the symptoms clear up – stop taking the remedy. 
• If the symptoms get worse, stop the remedy and wait as it is likely to work over the next 2-3 days.

There are lots of remedies which can help, but here are the top 3.  If you want to try one of these, you can buy these remedies from Helios Homeopathic Pharmacy online.

I have added pictures purely as a guide - these are not the absolutes of what the skin must look like to prescribe these remedies, but do illustrate how the rash/pustules can vary.

Ant-Crud

• Pustules with thick, hard, honey coloured scabs.
• The skin and pustules feel burning
• The skin feels worse for getting warm and also sensitive to cool baths
• The itching is worse when warm, sore when scratched and at night

Arum-t

• The skin rash is scarlet, raw, itching  and bleeding and is in patches on the body
• The skin can peel from around it
• The skin feels better for warmth

Merc

• The pustules become ulcerated with yellowish-brown crusts which leak pus. Alternatively they form spots (vesicles) which weep a honey coloured liquid and can bleed
• The skin is moist, burning and itching and becomes worse from being warm in bed
• The rash starts small and as scattered red spots the size of peas, gradually enlarging in circular shapes and become continuous patches

References

NHS (2012) http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Impetigo/Pages/Introduction.aspx