by Steve Taormina September 5, 1996 Fourth in a series Previous articles: August 15: Introduction to Homeopathy August 22: Homeopathy for Camping August 29: Homeopathy for Allergies RESOURCES: Homeopathic Educational Services Introduction to homeopathy, specific remedies, and how to find professional homeopathic care. Homeopathy Home Page This site is a great jumping off point -- it lists homeopathic Web sites, newsgroups, faqs, book lists, mailing lists, and worldwide addresses for locating homeopathic care. Health World Health World's Homeopathic Center is a great resource for specific homeopathic remedies, from caffeine addiction to stuttering. Usenet: misc.health.alternative

Snowboarding -- if you haven't tried it -- is joyous. It's also the most painful experience I've had on snow. Last winter I twisted my ankle (along with the rest of my body) while snowboarding. I then spent about a month hobbling. If I was smart, I would have gotten a homeopathic remedy first thing. But I thought, "Oh, it'll heal itself." Well, it didn't, and I needed a little boost to help me heal. I learned from a reference book that the homeopathic remedy Ruta graveolens is indicated for strains to the tendons, especially near small joints such as the wrist or ankle. So for $5.95, I bought a bottle of Ruta sublingual pellets (sublingual because they're placed under the tongue to dissolve). Within a week of taking the remedy (4 pellets, 4 times a day), my ankle felt stronger and I wasn't hobbling. I still have most of the 250 pellets left for future snowboarding days. Even if you don't hurt yourself snowboarding, you can use homeopathic remedies to help your body heal just about any kind of sports injury. Along with the sublingual pellets, homeopathic remedies come in ointments or salves, oils and lotions, and liquids and tablets. First, determine which remedy is indicated for your injury. Then, check into the various forms available and choose the one most appropriate -- don't be afraid to ask for help! For faster reference, click on the ailment of your choice: abrasions | black eye | dislocations | fractures | heat exhaustion | lacerations | nerve damage | sprains/strains | swimmer's ear | tennis elbow ABRASIONS Calendula (marigold): Calendula officinalis, as an herb, has been used for centuries to prevent infection and promote wound closure, thus helping heal minor lacerations. Homeopathically, it's indicated for cuts and abrasions that are very painful. It's available in many forms for use topically as well as orally. BLACK EYE Arnica (leopard's bane): Arnica montana is the most often used homeopathic remedy for sports injuries. Excellent for strains and sprains and also for overuse injuries such as damage to soft tissue (tendons, muscles, joints). Arnica can be taken internally or applied externally (NEVER to broken skin) and is useful for black eyes, bruises with swelling but without discoloration, head injuries, nosebleeds, and general soreness. Ledum (marsh tea): Ledum palustre, like Bryonia, may be used after Arnica in cases of sprains, especially those that don't heal easily. There's often a mottled black and blue mark, and the patient feels better from cold applications. Ledum may also aid eye injuries such as a black eye. Symphytum (comfrey or knitbone): Symphytum is used for fractures as well as for injuries to the tendons and sinews. Symphytum has been traditionally prescribed in situations where fractures or broken bones are slow to heal. It will also aid a black eye. DISLOCATIONS Arnica (leopard's bane): Arnica montana is the most often used homeopathic remedy for sports injuries. Excellent for strains and sprains and also for overuse injuries such as damage to soft tissue (tendons, muscles, joints). Arnica can be taken internally or applied externally (NEVER to broken skin) and is useful for black eyes, bruises with swelling but without discoloration, head injuries, nosebleeds, and general soreness. Ruta (rue): Ruta graveolens, like Rhus tox, may be used after Arnica for sprains and strains that are bruised, constant and in the ankles or wrists. Ruta can be useful in cases of shin splints. It's also good for backaches that are sore, bruised and better with lying on the back; and for tennis elbow, provided that the joint is bandaged tightly and completely rested. FRACTURES Eupatorium (boneset): Eupatorium perfoliatum may be useful when there's injury to a bone such as a fracture. It's also good for aching bones. The Eupatorium patient is more restless than the Bryonia patient. Symphytum (comfrey or knitbone): Symphytum is used for fractures as well as for injuries to the tendons and sinews. Symphytum has been traditionally prescribed in situations where fractures or broken bones are slow to heal. It will also aid a black eye. HEAT EXHAUSTION Veratrum album (white hellebore): Veratrum album is indicated for heat exhaustion. Keynote symptoms include cool, moist skin that's pale or white to bluish-white; nausea accompanied by vomiting; and cramping in the extremities. LACERATIONS Calendula (marigold): Calendula officinalis, as an herb, has been used for centuries to prevent infection and promote wound closure, thus helping heal minor lacerations. Homeopathically, it's indicated for cuts and abrasions that are very painful. It's available in many forms for use topically as well as orally. Hypericum (St. John's wort): Hypericum perfoliatum is indicated for injuries when there's damage to the nerves such as a crushing injury to the fingers, toes, coccyx, eyes or lips. There's usually shooting pains, numbness or tingling, and the injury is worse with cold and pressure. It's also suggested for lacerations to nerve-rich areas. NERVE DAMAGE Hypericum (St. John's wort): Hypericum perfoliatum is indicated for injuries when there's damage to the nerves such as a crushing injury to the fingers, toes, coccyx, eyes or lips. There's usually shooting pains, numbness or tingling, and the injury is worse with cold and pressure. It's also suggested for lacerations to nerve-rich areas. SPRAINS/STRAINS Arnica (leopard's bane): Arnica montana is the most often used homeopathic remedy for sports injuries. Excellent for strains and sprains and also for overuse injuries such as damage to soft tissue (tendons, muscles, joints). Arnica can be taken internally or applied externally (NEVER to broken skin) and is useful for black eyes, bruises with swelling but without discoloration, head injuries, nosebleeds, and general soreness. Bryonia (wild hops): Bryonia alba is another remedy that's useful for sprains, especially when used after Arnica. It's indicated when there's injury to a joint that includes swelling and that's better with pressure and rest. The pain is usually intense and aggravated by even little movements. It's also helpful for lower backaches and extreme exhaustion. Rhus tox (poison ivy): Rhus toxicodendron is often used after Arnica and is suggested for injured ligaments, muscles and tendons; lower backaches with stiffness; and sprains with stiffness and trembling. Rhus tox is indicated when the pain and stiffness gets better once you're up and walking around, but it's worse after you've rested. Ruta (rue): Ruta graveolens, like Rhus tox, may be used after Arnica for sprains and strains that are bruised, constant and in the ankles or wrists. Ruta can be useful in cases of shin splints. It's also good for backaches that are sore, bruised and better with lying on the back; and for tennis elbow, provided that the joint is bandaged tightly and completely rested. SWIMMER'S EAR Aconite (monk's hood): Aconitum napellus is indicated for swimmer's ear when the ear is very sensitive to noise; the external ear is hot, bright red, painful and swollen; and it feels like there's a drop of water stuck inside the ear canal. Chamomilla (German chamomille): Chamomilla may be used for swimmer's ear when the pain is violent and worse with warmth; the patient is restless and fretful; the ear feels stopped up and congested; and swelling and heat cause great discomfort. It's also good for joint pain accompanied by numbness. TENNIS ELBOW Arnica (leopard's bane): Arnica montana is the most often used homeopathic remedy for sports injuries. Excellent for strains and sprains and also for overuse injuries such as damage to soft tissue (tendons, muscles, joints). Arnica can be taken internally or applied externally (NEVER to broken skin) and is useful for black eyes, bruises with swelling but without discoloration, head injuries, nosebleeds, and general soreness. Ruta (rue): Ruta graveolens, like Rhus tox, may be used after Arnica for sprains and strains that are bruised, constant and in the ankles or wrists. Ruta can be useful in cases of shin splints. It's also good for backaches that are sore, bruised and better with lying on the back; and for tennis elbow, provided that the joint is bandaged tightly and completely rested. So, now that you know a little about homeopathy for sports injuries, go ahead, play rough, get tough and just use 'em. Steve Taormina is Web developer for Wild Oats Markets. This information is not medical advice. © 1996 Tripod, Inc. All Rights Reserved.