Scope of Homoeopathy in emergency situations

Dr Farazi Mirza

ABSTRACT
Medical emergencies typically originate from an accident or an unexpectedly acute illness. In addition, when rapid professional treatment is unavailable for acute, non-life-threatening illnesses, urgent relief is frequently required. In an ideal world, you can keep a first-aid kit in your home that contained appropriate homoeopathic medicines for each of these various types of situations. Your ultimate & top goal should be to call an ambulance or a doctor as soon as possible following an accident or the development of a sudden acute illness, in addition to complying with the standard first aid measures. You can find helpful advice for a number of emergencies management with homoeopathy in the following part of this article.

KEYWORDS: Emergency, Homoeopathy, Accident, First-Aid Kit, Recovery.

INTRODUCTION
In our daily life we can face any acute medical emergency which can be controlled by the proper management. There are various methods considered under first aid management. We all used to keep a first-aid box at our home, however, there is a lot you can do with a first aid kit that is stocked with carefully chosen homoeopathic medications while you wait for medical personnel to arrive. One or more doses of “Aconitum” in the highest potency might prove quite beneficial in treating their symptoms of both the victims and the observers who may experience shock. More people are allegedly convinced to use homoeopathy by “Arnica” than by any other homoeopathic drug. Due to its efficiency in healing both bruising and bleeding, arnica should be an integral component in every first-aid kit. There are many more similar and effective homoeopathic medicines which can be used in daily life.

SIGNIFICANCE OF HOMOEOPATHY IN EMERGENCY
There is a myth that homoeopathy cannot be used in emergency conditions. In fact homoeopathy has magical results in various emergency conditions’ management. We can say that yes some life threatening conditions need a proper hospital management and we cannot use homeopathy at that time, but in those cases homoeopathy can be used as a supportive treatment after the stability of patient. Homeopathic medicines can even enhance the action of conventional medicines. Although using a higher potency is also safe, but the most widely accessible potencies are 6C or 30C, which offer immediate relief. As soon as you are certain on the homoeopathic remedy, you should give it to patient.

You can administer the dose again every five or ten minutes as per the requirement without risking a chance of adverse effects, but once the patient’s condition becoming better, you shouldn’t give another dose until the effect seems to be vanished.

IMPORTANCE IN THE RECOVERY PHASE
The action of conventional medications may even be enhanced when homoepathic drugs are taken concurrently with them. With the help of homoeopathic medications, recovery time after an accident or significant injury can occasionally be speed up. Not only this, but homeopathic medicines can even help you to overcome from the post traumatic anxiety and shock. Many patients used to take homoepathic medications to control the toxicity of over drugging as well. As we know that homoepathic treatment is gentle and reliable, so opting this in your recovery phase can help you to get a healthy life quickly. For example, Symphytum, for instance, may speed up the healing of broken bones. So you can keep a stock of homoeopathic medications for use in emergencies in addition to the standard first aid kit supplies like bandages, dressings, and scissors.

COMMON MEDICINES TO ADD TO YOUR FIRST-AID KIT

• Aconitum napellus– Sudden disease following exposure to cold or draught. Angina, mastitis, and shock-fright.
• Apis mellifica – Stinging pain, inflammation, rash & swelling which looks shiny and glossy red.
• Arsenic album – Nausea and vomiting in addition to diarrhoea, nervousness, and hay fever.
• Arnica Montana – Any injury that has shock, bruising, or angina.
• Belladonna – Acute high fever, painful periods, and large boils.
• Bryonia Alba – Painful cough, influenza, mastitis, and painful and swollen joints.
• Chamomilla – Excruciating pain, such as an earache or toothache.
• Carbo vegetabilis – Gagging cough especially in the morning, signs of imperfect oxygenation, cold and clammy skin, pale appearance, weakness.
• Cinchona officinalis – Indigestion and flatulence causing severe bloating and pain in whole abdomen.
• Coffea cruda – Sleeplessness, patient is awake and active in night, toothache.
• Cuprum metallicum– Sudden convulsive situation with muscular spasms.
• Eupatorium perforatum – Break bone pain all over the body, severe fever headache.
• Ferrum Phos – Low fevers associated with fatigue or bleeding.
• Gelsemium – An influenza that develops before a test or when a performer is nervous.
• Gloninum – Headache and fainting with sun exposure, good for heatstroke.
• Hypericum – Nerve injuries, such as those to the tips of the fingers, toes, ears, and the spine’s base.
• Ignatia Amara- Allergies to coffee or smoke from tobacco, grief, and emotional stress.
• Ipecacuanha – causes bronchitis, asthma, nausea and cough ending with vomiting.
• Ledum palustre – In any blunt injury, any insect bites, inflammation after bite and ascending pain.
• Magnesium phosphoricum – Sudden, colicky pain in body.
• Nux vomica – After excessive consumption of food and/or alcohol, hay fever, urinary tract infections, unexpected colds, or cramps.
• Pulsatilla – Styes, hormonal changes, nausea, vomiting, and menstrual pain.
• Rhus toxicodendron – Sprains, strains, chicken pox, rashes with itching, blisters from the cold, or herpes.
• Ruta graveolens – Pain after injury especially near bony surface.

EXTERNAL APPLICATIONS

• Urtica urens – For Burns & rashes.
• Petroleum – For cracks of skin, dryness of skin, irritation.
• Calendula – For laceration, cut, bleeding & abrasion
• Arnica – For soreness bruises injury & hematoma
• Ruta – For sprain, strain & joint pain.
• Aesculus – For piles, haemorrhoids.
• Chrysarobinum – For psoriasis, dermatitis, Eczema.
• Ammi visnaga – For vitiligo.
• Euphrasia – As an eye drop for redness and itching in eyes.
• Cineraria maritime – An eye drop for cataract and blurry vision.
• Berberis Aquafolium – For hyperpigmentation, acne scar, comadones.
• Jaborandi – For hair fall.

SOME COMMON EMERGENCIES IN DAILY LIFE

We used to face many acute or sudden conditions in our daily life that are life-threatening if they won’t get any quick and proper first aid care. There are certain first aid procedures by following which we can save someone’s life. We all should learn them and we should also need to know about some basic emergency conditions and their management. Here are some examples of those conditions with their details and indicated homoeopathic medicine as well.

CONDITION	DESCRIPTION	HOMOEOPATHIC  MEDICINE
1.    Burn, scalds and sun burn.	A burn that is larger than 2.5 cm (1 inch) square and extends below the skin’s surface requires medical treatment. After receiving rapid first aid, all burns and scalds but the smallest and most minor require medical attention.	Urtica urens Q can be used externally, while Causticum potency is also indicative. Aconite can be used to minimise the shock and fear. Cantharis is also useful for burning.
2.    Wounds, Cuts and Lacerations	Treatment is somewhat based on the sort of injury. For a general management, warm water cleansing followed by forceful pressure or pinching the wound’s edges together will typically stop bleeding. After that, you can cover the region with a firm, tidy dressing.	Calendula Q externally is very useful to stop bleeding and to stop infection. Arnica Montana is good in cade of bruising and pain. Hypericum perforatum for deep wounds with severe pain.
3.    Head fall and Concussion	First aid measures should always be taken right away. All injuries aside from mild shocks and fringe that could cause localised pain and bruising require medical care.	Arnica again is irreplaceable medicine in this case and to be administer as soon as possible after the incident. Natrum Sulphuricum is another good remedy for head injuries. Hypericum will also work well here.
4.    Insect Bite	If the sting is still present, use forceps to carefully remove it. Avoid squeezing it as this will press the poison deeper into the skin. Go right away to a hospital if there are many more stings, or if one exists in the mouth or throat.	Ledum palustre best to give as quick as possible after any insect bite. Urtica urens is good for bee sting and those showing allergic response. Apis mellifica is another very famous for insect bite especially bee. Cantharis will relief in burning.
5.     Sprains and Strains	Stretching and tearing of ligaments is known as sprain. Strains are injuries to muscle or tendon. They can occur due to force, exertion overuse etc.	Ruta graveolens will give good result to relieve pain. Arnica is wonderful in both cases too.
6.     Fractures	A fracture is a broken bone, and the patient may have heard the actual snap of the bone as it happened. A proper support of the part or use of temporary splint till the medical professional came is necessary.	Arnica should be given as quickly as possible. Ruta will help in relieving pain. Symphytum can be given along with the other medication for fracture, as it speeds up the process of calcification. Calendula can also be given in severe conditions with wound.
7.    Heat stroke	This condition may result from exposure to high temperatures, especially when there is excessive humidity. Headache, wooziness, nausea, and lassitude are the initial symptoms. This could soon progress to unconsciousness, convulsions, collapse, and muscle spasms. First aid measures to cool the patient should be used in addition to homoeopathic treatment.	Belladonna is a good choice in case of acute attacks. Cuprum metallicum will help in convulsion and muscular spasms. Glonoine in case of headache by heat or sun. Carbo vegetabilis can help in weakness and collapse.
8.     Strokes	It varies depending on the area affected and the degree of brain tissue damage since they are brought on by a sudden interruption of the blood flow to a region of the brain. The signs might range from a loss or reduction in muscle strength in the area of the body that is impacted to a complete coma and eventual death.	Aconite works magic for sudden acute attack of anxiety, shock or fear. Arnica for those in which unconsciousness due to any injury. Belladonna is also good for if the cause is related to heat.
9.     Shock and Collapse	It might occur after experiencing a nervous shock like a terrifying situation or getting unpleasant news. The patient will have skin that is clammy, pallid, and grey in hue. The nervous system and other tissues do not receive enough oxygen, which causes the symptom to appear.	Medicines of stroke and heat stroke will work here also.
10.  Suffocation	The condition happens when breathing is interfered with, restricting the blood from getting enough oxygen.	Aconite should be given quickly for best results. Carbo veg. will also work well in dullness and dizziness.
11.  Fainting	It might result from being in a stuffy, warm environment or experiencing any kind of emotional turbulence or conflict. Medical investigation is necessary for widespread or recurrent fainting episodes.	Aconite in case of fear and fright. In case of gastric condition and fear Arsenic will also work well. Glonoine for those who has faced sun exposure. Fainting with hysteria is for Moschus. For tendency of fainting Sepia is the choice of remedy.
12.  Heart Attack	Medical care is best started as soon as possible; sudden, acute chest discomfort without a known cause requires rapid evaluation by a doctor. Homoeopathic treatment should be used in the meantime to control the situation.	Aconite with much restlessness & great anxiety. Cactus Grandiflorus works in severe chest pain which feels constricted. Digitalis for slow pulse and it has movement fear. Latrodectus mactans is for angina pain. Naja for extreme chest pain in the heart region.

CONCLUSION
Thus in the end we can say that not only in other health conditions but in emergency conditions also homoeopathy works well. There are various medicines in homoeopathy that works wonder for us; we just need to learn how to use.

REFERENCE

1. A Clinical Repertory to the dictionary of Materia Medica – John Henry Clarke.
2. Text book of Materia Medica (including Allen’s Keynote-an easy explanation) by Dr. S. K. Dubey
3. Boericke W, Boericke OE. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica & Repertory comprising of the characteristics and guiding symptoms of all remedies. New York: Boericke & Runyon; 1906
4. Allen’s Keynotes with Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica and Bowel Nosodes including Repertorial Index; 10^th Edition, by H. C. Allen.

Dr Farazi Mirza
Department of Practice of Medicine
Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.