Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Your Baby's First Year

Author:Miranda Castro
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466890558
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

6

THE MATERIA MEDICAS AND REPERTORIES

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EXTERNAL MATERIA MEDICA

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INTRODUCTION

External remedies are not true homeopathic remedies; they have not been proved, or tested, on healthy individuals to establish their symptom pictures, and they have not been potentised. They are basically plant extracts and the indications for their use have developed out of herbal lore over thousands of years. I have chosen the remedies I have found most effective from my own experience.

The remedies are listed in alphabetical order, and precise instructions are given for using each one. The symptoms, or complaints, for each remedy are also listed alphabetically within each entry.

External remedies come in various forms (see below) and next to each symptom are instructions for the most appropriate form to use. In the entry for Arnica, for example, I suggest you use Arnica oil or ointment for bruised muscles and Arnica tincture for a wasp sting.

Tinctures, oils, ointments and creams are sold by homeopathic pharmacies (and sometimes stocked by ordinary chemists). Lotions are usually made up at home by diluting tinctures, and instructions for these are given below.

Tinctures

A tincture is a solution of the plant in alcohol – usually a 1 in 10 dilution. It is prepared by homeopathic pharmacies.

Lotions

A lotion is simply a dilution of tincture in water, used for burns, gargling or douching. Lotions do not keep so you should keep a stock of tinctures and make up lotions as and when you need them.

Basic lotion: Dilute 5 drops of tincture with 1 tablespoon of cooled, boiled water, or for a larger quantity use 40 drops to ¼ pint (40 drops = approximately ½ teaspoon).

Strong lotion: Dilute 10 drops of tincture with 1 tablespoon of cooled, boiled water, or 40 drops to 1⁄8 pint. Use only where indicated in the External Materia Medica.

Eyebaths

Add 2 drops of tincture to an eyebath of cooled, boiled water and use in the normal way.

Ointments

To make an ointment, the tincture is incorporated into a lanolin base, which serves to seal cuts from dirt. Ointments are not water-soluble and so do not wash off easily. Some people are allergic to lanolin (particularly those sensitive to wool), so it’s worth testing it overnight on a small patch of skin. If this produces any redness or irritation, avoid using ointments.

Creams

A cream is a tincture in an aqueous (water-soluble) base, which washes off easily and isn’t sticky. It is easily absorbed by the skin and is good for areas that are not going to get wet, and for people who don’t like sticky ointments.

Oils

The plant material is crushed and macerated in oil and allowed to stand for a period of time before being strained ready for use. I have indicated in each instance where an oil might be more useful than, say, a cream or a lotion.

NB Before prescribing for any complaint it is essential to read the general advice.

AESCULUS AND HAMAMELIS (Aesc./Ham.)

Piles

A combination of these two herbs in an ointment or cream provides relief from painful piles, but you should seek professional help so that they can be treated ‘from the inside’ to prevent their recurrence.

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