First Response Homeopathy Remedies To Use In A Disaster 2

Disaster has struck. Panic and shock are now subsiding. The immediate threat is over.

Those caught in the disaster are literally starting to pick up the pieces of their lives and possessions.

Moving on to the Next Stage

Anger, accusations, grief and ongoing fear grip many as raw emotions come to the surface but perhaps the most striking thing that outsiders witness is the compassion and support people give to each in the middle of what seems like an insurmountable tragedy.

Physical injuries that were not seen as severe at the height of the disaster now need attention and the spread of disease has to be prevented.

Even here, homoeopathy with its easy production and distribution of remedies should have a key role to play. Gangrene, sunstroke, boils and abscesses – they can all be helped by homeopathy. The following is a summary of remedies you could use to help yourself and others during the second stage of a disaster.

Fear, Anxiety and Despair

Argentum nitricum (Arg-n): Anticipatory anxiety with strange fears or phobias. May become claustrophobic or agoraphobic. Wants company but anxious in a crowd. Fears losing control. Diarrhoea develops with anxiety.

Arsenicum album (Ars.): Anxious and afraid to be alone. Fear of death or disease. Restlessness leading to exhaustion. Controlling behaviour of others and circumstances. Anxiety worse after midnight.

Gelsemium (Gels.): Anxiety with weakness and trembling. Needs support when standing; knees shake. Heaviness of eyelids and drowsiness. Wants to be alone.

Stramonium (Stram.): Symptoms usually develop after a frightful experience. Violence towards others from fear of being attacked or hurt. May hit, scratch, kick or bite (children especially). Fear of the dark. Feel much better in company and light.

Comments: If shock, panic or hysteria is still present, refer back to Part 1 for helpful remedies.

Grief

Ignatia amara (Ign.):Main remedy for acute grief. Hysterical and changeable behaviour. Angry outbursts and recriminations. Crying when alone rather than in public. Convulsive sobbing. Brooding and sighing. Sensation of lump in the throat. Refusal to eat.

Phosphoric Acid (Ph-ac.):Indifferent, apathetic or physically weak with grief. Slow to answer. Silent suffering – want to be alone. Lack of energy. Exhausted. Anger

Chamomilla (Cham.): Anger with contrariness. Discontented and dissatisfied no matter what is done – can’t be pleased. Hypersensitive and intolerant of pain, even from minor injuries.

Nux vomica (Nux): Angry, irritable, driven and impatient. Irritable when interrupted or obliged to answer. Intolerant of others especially if they are perceived as being too slow or doing inappropriate things. Overindulgence in stimulants or alcohol.

Staphysagria (Staph.): Suppressed anger and indignation following humiliation or insult. Often needed by rape victims during disaster or war.

Injuries and Wounds

Many of the first aid and emergency remedies suggested in Part 1 may still be useful during this ‘mopping up’ stage. For example:

Broken bones (fractures): See Arnica montana, Bryonia alba, or Symphytum. (Part 1)

Concussion or brain injury:See Natrum sulphuricum. (Part 1)

Bruising and damage to soft tissues:See Arnica Montana. (Part 1)

Superficial wounds, grazes and lacerated skin: See Calendula or Hypericum. (Part 1)

Cuts and incisional wounds:See Staphysagria.(Part 1)

Puncture wounds: See Hypericum or Ledum palustre. (Part 1)

Chemical, electrical or 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree burns: See Urtica urens, Causticum, Cantharis or Phosphorus.(Part 1)

Sprained or twisted joints: See Ledum palustre.(Part 1). Additional remedies include:

Bryonia alba (Bry.): Pain that is worse for the slightest movement. Better for firm strapping, pressure, or lying on the affected part.

Hypericum perforatum (Hyper.): Damaged nerves with shooting pains to travel up the limbs along nerve tracts.

Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus-t.): Pain and stiffness that is worse after rest and better for ongoing movement.

Ruta graveolens (Ruta.): For tendon injuries, especially of wrist and ankle. Pain worse after rest. Hard nodules from blows to shins.

Infected wounds, boils and abscesses.

See Gunpowder as a preventative for infection in Part 1 of this article. Additional remedies for treatment include:

Anthracinum (Anthr.): Intense burning pains. Offensive discharges. Black or blue blisters. Anxious with fear of death. Weakness with difficulty in swallowing even though very thirsty.

Arsenicum album (Ars.): Burning pain that is better for warmth. The person will be anxious, restless, chilly and thirsty for small sips.

Hepar sulphuris (Hep.): Sensitive wounds with splinter-like sticking pains. Lots of the pus. Sensitive to cold and drafts but better for warmth. Old cheese odour.

Pyrogenium (Pyrog.): Offensive wounds with foul smelling discharges. High fever with slow pulse or low fever with rapid pulse. Exhausted but restless. Bruised feeling.

Silicea (Sil.): Abscesses that drain but don’t heal. Splinterlike pains. Chilly and worse for cold.

Bites and Stings

In many disaster situations, animals and snakes are displaced just as much as humans. Once out of their natural habitat, bites and stings are much more likely. In these instances, the following remedies can help.

Aconite napellus (Acon.): Rapid, intense symptoms following bite or sting. Restlessness, anxiety and fear that they might die. Very thirsty.

Apis mellifica (Apis.): The site of the sting will be puffy. Swelling will be warm and white or rosy pink in colour. Prickling, stinging pains that are improved by cold applications.

Lachesis muta (Lach.): Skin around bite or sting will be hot and look dark red or blue –purple. Often needed for tarantula bites.

Ledum palustre (Led.): Main remedy for puncture wounds, including the bites and stings of animals or insects. Wound swollen, cold, and discoloured. Pain improved by cold applications.

Cantharis (Canth.): Intense burning pain following insect bites such as those from a wasps.

Gangrene

Tissue gangrene occurs from infection, crush injuries, obstructed circulation or frostbite. The correct homeopathic remedy can minimise the damage and aid recovery.

Anthracinum (Anthr.): Intense burning pains with offensive discharges and blue-black blisters. Restlessness leading to exhaustion.

Arsenicum album (Ars.): Burning pains that feel better for warmth. Restless, anxious and chilly. Thirsty for small sips.

Cantharis (Canth.): Intense raw, burning pains. Blackish blisters. Delirium in which they might bite.

Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v.): Bluish, ice-cold skin and extremeties yet person wants to be fanned – cannot get enough air. Frequent belching. Exhaustion and breathlessness.

Crotalus horridus (Crot-h.): Rapid spread with offensive odour. Swollen limb. Blackish blisters. Right side of body feels tender. Easy weeping.

Sunburn or Heat/Sun Stroke

Working in extreme temperatures or facing sun exposure after the destruction of shelter can leave both victims and helpers sunburnt or at risk of sun and heat stroke. The following remedies help the pain of simple sunburn plus the fever, vomiting, weakness, cramping, diarrhoea and delirium that may occur from sun or heat stroke.

Apis mellifica (Apis.): Swelling of the tissues (oedema) with stinging, prickly pain. Better for cold applications. Worse for warmth. Reduced urine output. Drowsiness or irritability.

Belladonna (Bell): Hot, red face. Throbbing headache that is worse from light, noise, lying down, or being jarred. Eyes red and bloodshot all glassy in appearance.

Cantharis (Canth.): One of the main remedies for painful and blistering sunburn. Smarting, burning pain relieved by cold applications. Restless and thirsty.

Glonoinum (Glon): Throbbing in head and body. Dark spots before the eyes. Clenching of jaws. Deathly feeling in the stomach.

Natrum carbonicum (Nat-c.): For the chronic effects of sunstroke. Weakness on exertion.

Urtica urens (Urt-u.): Simple sunburn with stinging, burning or itching pain. Better for lying down. Worse for touch and after sleep.

Exhaustion and Collapse

It’s not just those involved in the disaster who are affected. Those who rush to help often work themselves to a point of collapse. See Part 1 for details on remedies such as China officinalis, Carbo vegetabilis and Laurocerasus where exhaustion arises from physical injury or disease. Additional remedies to consider later on in the disaster are:

Arsenicum album (Ars.): Restlessness leading to exhaustion. Anxious and afraid to be alone. Fear of death or disease. Controlling behaviour of others and circumstances.

Calcarea carbonica (Calc.): Weakness from exertion. Sweets on the least exertion and during sleep. Confused and under-confident thinking. Can’t bear to see or hear of cruelties or horrible things.

Cocculus indicus (Cocc.): Symptoms such as numbness, twitching, dizziness, confusion and exhaustion following loss of sleep from caring for others.

Gelsemium (Gels.): Anxiety with weakness and trembling. Needs support when standing; knees shake. Heaviness of eyelids and drowsiness. Wants to be alone.

Kali phosphoricum (Kali-p): Nervous exhaustion from overwork or worry. Insomnia from nervous exhaustion. Tongue is coated yellow.

Phosphoric acid (Ph-ac.): Indifferent, apathetic or physically weak from grief or loss of body fluids. Slow to answer and unable to think of words. Silent suffering – want to be alone. Lack of energy. Exhausted.

Disease Prevention

Damaged infrastructure, polluted water, lack of sanitation, and decaying matter all encourage the spread of disease. Whether it be a simple diarrhoea or more serious epidemic diseases such as cholera, homeopathy can assist with prevention as well as treatment.

Nosodes (remedies made from the diseased tissue or discharge) are a simple preventative option and many can be obtained from homeopathic pharmacies or made on site by rapidly potentising the source material. (Remember to take all precautions until the remedy has been potentised so you don’t become infected yourself).

The other equally effective option is just to choose one of the standard homeopathic remedies that best matches the symptoms of the disease to be prevented. Common prophylactics (preventatives) are listed below but many others exist for omitted diseases.

Amoebic dysentery: Arsenicum album (Ars.) or nosode.

Anthrax: Anthracinum (Anthr.).

Bubonic plague: Baptisia tinctoria (Bapt.) or nosode.

Chickenpox: Antimonium crudum (Ant-c.) or Pulsatilla pratensis (Puls.) or Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus-t.) or nosode.

Cholera: Cuprum metallicum (Cupr.) or Camphor(Camph.) or Veratrum album (Verat.) or nosode.

Diphtheria: Mercurius cyanatus (Merc-cy.) or nosode.

Hepatitis: Phosphorus (Phos.) or Chelidonium majus (Chel.) or nosode.

Hydrophobia: Belladonna (Bell.) or nosode.

Influenza: Gelsemium semervirens (Gels.) or Arsenicum album (Ars.) or Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus-t.) or Eupatorium perfoliatum (Eup-per.) or nosode.

Lyme disease: Ledum palustre or nosode.

Malaria: Cinchona (Cinch.) or Arsenicum album (Ars.) or Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m.) or nosode.

Measles: Pulsatilla pratensis (Puls.) or Aconite napellus (Acon.) or Arsenicum album (Ars.) or nosode.

Meningitis or Encephalitis: Belladonna (Bell.) or nosode.

Mumps: Mercurius vivus (Merc-v.) or Phytolacca decandra (Phyt.) or nosode.

Polio: Lathyrus sativa (Lath.) or Plumbum metallicum (Plb.) or nosode.

Puerperal fever: Pyrogenium (Pyr.) or nosode.

Scarlet fever: Belladonna (Bell.) or nosode.

Small pox: Malandrinum (Maland.) or nosode.

Tetanus: Tetanus toxinum (Tetan.) or Cicuta virosa (Cic.) Hypericum perforatum (Hyper.) or Magnesium phosphoricum (Mag-p.).

Typhus: Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus-t.) or Baptisia tinctoria (Bapt.) or nosode.

Tuberculosis: Drosera rotundifolia (Dros.) or nosode.

Typhoid: Baptisia tinctoria (Bapt.) or nosode.

[REDACTED]

Yellow fever: Crotalus horridus (Crot-h.) or Carbo vegetabilis (Carb-v.) or Arsenicum album (Ars.) or nosode.

Dosage Guidelines

Remedies can be used in any potency from 6C to 200C but remember, good results are more dependent on getting the remedy right rather than getting the potency right. If none of the above potencies are on hand, dose with whatever one you have available. Because homeopathy is an intrinsically safe system of medicine free of toxic effects, no harm will be done.

How often to dose will depend on the intensity of the person’s symptoms and how quickly they respond to the remedy. Initial doses may be needed as often as every 5 minutes or at intervals of several hours. To find out more about dosing, read: How Often Should I Take a Dose of My Remedy.