Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries. Healer at Home. Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries

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2 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Ryan Carnahan, RMT, DCH

3 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Other Healer at Home ebooks Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Colds and Flus Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Children s Health Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Children s Health Books by Ryan Carnahan Body The Essentials of Health and Wellness

4 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Copyright 2011 Ryan Carnahan All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author. April 2011 Ryan Carnahan Port Moody, BC Note to the Reader The information, ideas, and suggestions in this ebook are not intended to be a substitute for consulting with your physician and obtaining medical advice and supervision regarding any activity, procedure, or suggestion that might affect your health. Neither the author nor publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss, injury, or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestions in this ebook. Any website addresses or links contained in this ebook may have been changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

5 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Contents Introduction...1 Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries...2 Natural Medicines for Trauma and Injuries...4 Other Supportive Measures for Trauma and Injuries...9 Putting It Together About the Author... 12

6 PAGE 1 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Introduction The Healer at Home Natural First Aid are a series of ebooks designed for the lay person to get familiar with some of the most important natural medicines. Each ebook contains a few simple natural remedies with specific uses that everyone can use. Clinical practitioners often see a number of ailments that could have easily been treated or prevented by patients in their own homes. The Healer at Home ebooks show what you can do on your own, and how to avoid an unnecessary office visit. The Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma & Injuries provides essential keys that you can use to improve healing time and reduce pain from all forms of trauma and injury. Most of the information herein has been used in a clinical setting with beneficial results. While the Healer at Home ebooks are not complete studies on each subject, they do offer the reader some clear direction to get started right away.

7 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries The Basics of Trauma and Injuries There are 3 phases of healing that the body experiences to heal an injury. The first phase is known as the acute phase and usually occurs during the first hours following an injury. This is the phase that requires first aid attention and may even require a trip to the hospital or to a medical professional. The second and third phases of healing are known as the subacute and chronic phases. The natural remedies described in this ebook deal with the initial acute phase only and aren t meant for long term use. They act quickly, often providing relief and a faster resolution toward the next stages of healing. The scope of this ebook is not meant to cover all aspects of acute trauma care. Basic first aid knowledge is a valuable asset and should be implemented in all traumatic events. These natural remedies are meant to compliment basic first aid measures, not replace them. Seek medical attention where necessary and always use common sense. In cases where medical attention is required, these natural remedies can be used safely and effectively in conjunction with medical treatment (i.e. give the homeopathic remedy on the way to the hospital or doctor) and can enhance the effectiveness of other forms of treatment. PAGE 2

8 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries The Keys of Prevention Your overall state of health determines how easily your body can be injured and how well it can recover. The most important physical aspects of health and wellness are described in detail in the book Body The Essentials of Health and Wellness by this author and can be consulted for more information. Health imbalances, including postural imbalances, can predispose you to low back or neck injury, or even something simple as rolling your ankle. To prevent all health issues, the key is to maintain balance in all aspects of health including regular movement, a healthy diet, and a balanced mental/emotional state. If you look back at the moment just before an injury occurred and reflect on what was going on in your mind or emotions, subtle clues can often be found that influenced certain choices. PAGE 3

9 PAGE 4 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Natural Medicines for Trauma and Injuries The following natural remedies are the top 3 remedies that should be in everyone s home first aid kit. They have a wide range of use and are very effective in situations where something needs to be done. There are many homeopathic and herbal remedies that can be beneficial for traumas and injuries, but the 3 listed below are the most important for the initial acute phase. Look for future writings on how to treat the later phases of trauma and injury and for other home remedies that you can apply. Aconite 30c Arnica 30c Calendula Tincture

10 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Aconite 30c This homeopathic remedy is the premiere remedy to use where a physical or emotional trauma comes quickly and forcefully leaving one in an altered state of shock. Aconite is especially indicated in shock where there is fear of death, or where a fear of death remains. I personally experienced the power of this homeopathic remedy after getting into a car accident. I was t-boned at high speed, spun around and hit another car. When I got home I was in a total state of shock everything seemed surreal. Fortunately I knew what to do and took a dose of aconite. Although I was still battered and bruised the shock lifted immediately and I felt more normal. If you have read Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Children s Health you will be familiar with the other first aid uses of aconite. This versatile acute homeopathic along with the remedy arnica (described next) are the two most important remedies to have in your home medicine cabinet. Check the key symptoms listed on the following page for when aconite is indicated, and then match them with the key uses for this remedy. In homeopathy, it s not necessary to have all the symptoms for it to be indicated sometimes just one clear indication is enough. In the case of aconite and shock, we are simply looking for a state of shock with any of the other symptoms listed. If the remedy is not indicated and you try it, it will simply not work. If it is partially indicated it will help somewhat, and if it is clearly indicated you will see obvious (sometimes dramatic) signs of improvement. Aconite is a plant that holds some toxic properties, but when prepared homeopathically it is rendered completely safe. Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted and act to stimulate the body to heal rather than to medicate it. They often just need to be taken once or twice to notice improvement. Homeopathic remedies are safe for everyone adults, children, babies, and pregnant women. The 30c is the homeopathic potency of aconite. Common homeopathic potencies are 6c, 12c, 30c, 200c, and 1M. The 30c is generally appropriate for treating most complaints and is often found at most health food stores. PAGE 5

11 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Key Symptoms of Aconite: State of shock with fear and restlessness. Acute fear of death. Rapid pulse. May feel hot and thirsty. Key Uses of Aconite: First stage of shock from injuries or intense emotional distress with fear and restlessness. Bleeding with extreme fear and restlessness, or with fear of death. Punctured wounds, animal bites with great anxiety and fear or shock. Before boarding a plane where there is intense fear and panic. Before dental procedures where there is overwhelming anxiety and fear. Dosage of Aconite 30c: Take 3 pellets every 15 minutes to ½ hour for 1 3 doses. (Homeopathic remedies should be allowed to dissolve under your tongue and taken at least 10 minutes away from food or drink other than water.) If improvement is noticed within 30 minutes, a second dose may be taken if needed. If improvements continue but then relapse, a third dose may be taken. If no improvement is noticed after the first or third dose, then the remedy is likely not similar enough and will probably not be effective with further dosing. Arnica 30c Arnica 30c is a homeopathic remedy made from the plant Arnica Montana. It is the premiere remedy for the first stages of trauma that are characterized by soreness, bruising, and bleeding, and also the first remedy to consider using for head injuries and concussions. Using arnica to help heal the bruising, swelling, and soreness associated with the initial stage of trauma, supports the body to recover faster through the next two stages. Like aconite, arnica is also a remedy for shock, but more for a stunned state than for fear and restlessness. PAGE 6

12 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries After taking aconite during my car accident, I became more aware of the soreness in my body once the shock was alleviated. I followed up with a dose of arnica and then a few more doses over the course of the day. The achiness subsided as did the feeling of being battered around. There was still work to be done, but the initial trauma was released from my body allowing it to heal faster. Two weeks later, I was fully recovered. The key with using homeopathic remedies is not so much matching a remedy to a condition, but rather matching a set of symptoms to a remedy. The closer the symptoms match the remedy, the more effective it will be. An exact match will often result in a clear lasting improvement of the presenting complaints. Key Symptoms of Arnica: Bruised, soreness, aching. Feeling battered. Stunned, state of shock. Says I m fine, I m fine when clearly they are not. Doesn t want to see a doctor. Doesn t want to be approached, fear of being touched. Everything feels too hard, can t get comfortable in bed. Worse lying on injured parts. Key Uses of Arnica: All first stage traumas with bruising, soreness, and bleeding. Sprains, strains, blunt trauma, bruises, falls, accidents, fractures. Shock due to injuries. Head trauma and concussions. Post surgery, including dental surgery. Post labour. Overexertion. Dosage of Arnica 30c: Take 3 pellets every ½ hour to 2 hours for 1 3 doses (depending on intensity of situation), and then every 4 6 hours for 1 2 more doses if needed. (Homeopathic remedies should be allowed to dissolve under your tongue and taken at least 10 minutes away from food or drink other than water.) PAGE 7

13 PAGE 8 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Calendula Tincture Calendula tincture is an alcohol extract made from the marigold flower. Calendula is one of the most important wound healing medicinal herbs. It reduces inflammation, inhibits infection and promotes the mending of tissues. It also helps to control bleeding and can soothe pains. Use it diluted externally on scrapes, cuts, and superficial burns, or as a mouth wash after dental surgery or wounds. Since calendula speeds the healing and closure of wounds, it is important to thoroughly clean all wounds of any foreign matter first. Running it under cool water and letting it bleed a little (as long as it is not spurting blood indicating an artery has been damaged) also helps flush the area. Puncture wounds can close trapped bacteria (including the tetanus bacteria) and should be allowed to bleed for a few minutes and then be cleansed with hydrogen peroxide before applying calendula. Hydrogen peroxide helps oxygenate tissues which may help prevent the tetanus bacteria from thriving as it only survives in areas without oxygen. External Use: Dilute 30 drops in 1 tablespoon of warm water (boiled and cooled is best) and use to rinse wounds. Repeat 3 or more times per day. May be applied over dressings or used as a mouth wash.

14 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Other Supportive Measures for Trauma and Injuries Traumeel Ointment Traumeel is a homeopathic ointment used specifically to soothe and speed healing of first stage closed traumas. (Do not use on open wounds.) It contains a combination of low-dose homeopathic remedies, including arnica and aconite, that are specific for reducing pain, inflammation, bruising and for speeding recovery. It is an excellent formula for all acute and subacute injuries, especially where there is bruising and inflammation. It can also be helpful to treat some cases of acute mental/emotional trauma by rubbing it on the chest or belly. Traumeel can also be used preventively prior to a known traumatic or painful event such as a surgery. It can be found in most health food stores. Apply 3 4 times per day. Rescue Remedy Rescue Remedy is a Bach flower remedy made from diluted flower essences. Similar to homeopathy, Bach flower remedies hold properties that balance the body/mind system. They act deeply, yet gently. Rescue Remedy is specific when rescue is needed either physically, mentally or emotionally. This Bach flower remedy is a powerful treatment for shocks, first stage traumas and strong emotional upsets. It is capable of lifting an acute stressful state from the body/mind system, leaving a sense of well-being and an ability to cope. In cases where aconite or arnica are not effective or indicated, use Rescue Remedy. It can be taken as often as needed. For more in-depth information on Rescue Remedy, refer to Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Children s Health. PAGE 9

15 PAGE 10 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Zheng Gu Shui This Chinese herbal liniment is ideal for bruises, sprains, strains, and broken bones. Use a liberal amount topically on the injured area 3 or 4 times per day. (Do not use on open wounds.) Similar to Traumeel, Zheng Gu Shui speeds up healing time and decreases pain. It can be used instead of Traumeel or in alternation. Zheng Gu Shui can be used for all stages of healing from the acute phase into the chronic phase. This inexpensive liniment can be found in some health food stores and in any herb shop in Chinatown. Zheng Gu Shui should not be used if you are allergic to salicylates or are on blood thinning medications.

16 PAGE 11 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries Putting It Together Here are the most important points to remember to apply each of the remedies in the most effective manner: For first stage shock use aconite or arnica. For first stage acute injuries use arnica. For first stage acute head injury always use arnica unless there is fear and restlessness, then use aconite first. When aconite or arnica are not indicated, or have not worked, consider Traumeel, Zheng Gu Shui, and/or Rescue Remedy instead. Traumeel and Zheng Gu Shui can be used in conjunction with arnica for trauma and injuries.

17 Healer at Home Natural First Aid for Trauma and Injuries About the Author Ryan Carnahan, RMT, DCH is a Homeopath with a background in herbal and Chinese medicine, massage therapy, and energy medicine. He has been practicing in the natural medicine field since 1994 and currently practices, teaches, and writes in Port Moody, British Columbia. Ryan s intent is to share all of his knowledge about health and healing so others can learn to heal themselves. Visit him at PAGE 12