A This form of tendonitis develops when the sheath containing two tendons of the forearm muscles that work the thumb (extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus) become thickened and inflamed.

There are two standard conventional approaches to its management. One is corticosteroid injections into the tendon sheath, which masks the inflammation and provides only temporary relief. The other is a radical operation to slit the thickened lateral wall of the tendon sheath. This would put your wrist out of action altogether for some time. Given these drawbacks, it is worth persisting with alternative treatments.

According to panellist Dr Harald Gaier, a tried-and-tested homoeopathic combination remedy that is specially formulated for the condition and works very well is Urarthone (Laboratoires Lehning). Take a tablespoon (15 mL) twice a day, morning and night, in hot water or herbal tea. For acute conditions, take it three times daily. You should notice a difference within five to 10 days. It can be taken for up to a few months, in which case, you will need to scale down the dosages over time.

Dr Gaier also suggests that you stop taking the chondroitin, which was developed to help arthritic conditions, but not this kind of tendonitis.

There’s no harm in carrying on with the other supplements you’re taking, which are often deficient through diet alone and have a range of benefits. Neodymium magnets may help alleviate some of the pain, too. Nevertheless, these measures are likely to be of only marginal help in easing your problem compared with taking Urarthone.

Urarthone is available from The Diagnostic Clinic in Southend (tel: 01202 744 717; http://www.thediagnosticclinic.com). You may also wish to take a look at the original peer-reviewed treatment report (Am J Orthop, 1997; 26: 641-4).

Meanwhile, don’t give in to the temptation to have any manipulative therapy on your wrist such as chiropractic. That could do far more harm than good by snapping the tendon.

It is prevalent among office workers. One study in Canada estimates that one in 10 keyboard workers suffers from RSI at some time in any 12-month period (Health Rep, 2003; 14: 11-30) – but it can affect anyone who does repetitive work that requires keeping the body at an awkward angle, such as construction workers, musicians and dentists; even carpet weavers in Iran have been singled out as potential victims (Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2004; 10: 65-78).

Your last chance to prevent a serious onset of RSI is when you feel the first twinges of pain, or possibly a tightening or stiffness in your hands, wrists, fingers, forearms or elbows.

So, as soon as you feel the pain, or if you’re involved in repetitive work, these are some of the things you can do:
* Be body conscious. Our body is wonderful at unconsciously compensating for poor posture or the uncomfortable positions we put ourselves in. Make sure that your body is sitting properly, and that your keyboard and monitor are positioned correctly. We should look down on monitors, and they should be at least an arm’s length from us.

Chairs and keyboards should be set so that the thighs and forearms are level; the wrists should remain straight when we type, and not be bent down or back, and they shouldn’t be resting on anything when typing. The back should be straight and not slouching, and you shouldn’t be stretching forward. Before you begin work, warm up your muscle groups with a few simple exercises, just as you would prepare before beginning a workout at a gym.

* Move around. Even a good posture and ergonomics won’t give you a licence to sit and type for eight hours a day. You need to move, stand up and walk around – one software developer has even devised a programme that alerts you to your next ‘walkaround’. You can set an alarm on your computer, mobile phone or digital watch to do the same thing.

* Exercise. You need to strengthen your muscles, and increase your vitality and stamina, especially as you grow older. Get advice from an instructor at your local gym. Concentrate on the muscle groups that hold your shoulders back, your arms up and extend your fingers. Motion exercises known as ‘glides’, where you move your arm from one position to another, are also helpful.

* Get a massage. Build sessions of regular massage by a trained therapist into your routine. Deep-muscle and fascia-release massage is especially helpful, and can even reduce pain if you already suffer from RSI.

* Eliminate adhesions. These ‘knots’ can trap the nerves, but they can be worked on with vigorous and localised massage. Ideally, a therapist should do this, but it’s something you can also do yourself. If you are feeling pain, pinch the area and, while holding firmly onto it, perform the movement that the muscle would allow you to do.

* Take your Bs. The B vitamins are especially good for bones and muscles. B1, B6 and B12 are particularly beneficial, but you need to take up to 100 mg three times a day.

* Get the balance right. RSI is also a symptom that we’re getting our priorities wrong. Work and workloads need to be put into perspective, and you need to find time for yourself and your other interests. Simple relaxation techniques, yoga and meditation can all help de-stress you and your body.

The traditional view is that both conditions are caused by wear and tear. However, more recent evidence suggests that inflammation and chronic pain (even after an injury has healed) may be linked to an immune system response.

According to work presented by Dr Joyce DeLeo, a neuropharmacologist at Dartmouth Medical School, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Philadelphia (February 16, 1998) there is a large biological overlap between the immune system and the central nervous system. Dr DeLeo’s paper suggested that some forms of chronic pain persist and become even more intense after healing is apparently complete. This could be because a persistent barrage of nerve signals from a site of nerve or tissue damage may sensitise the nervous system and may even alter the way it functions.

Dr DeLeo and her colleagues believe the immune system is intimately involved in the initiation and maintenance of pain through the production of proteins called cytokines. Their studies have identified at least three proteins interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor alpha which were produced by cells in the spinal cord as a result of nerve injury. One of these, interleukin-6, was shown to generate pain even in the absence of injury. Cytokines were first described in relation to their activities in the immune system. Their actions are known to be complex and affected by the presence of hormones and inflammation. Dr DeLeo now suggests they also have an essential role in the development and survival of the nervous system.

The immune system theory dovetails neatly with more well founded ideas such as inflammation being caused by allergy (which also involves an immune system response). Anyone suffering from bursitis or tendonitis should certainly rule out both food and chemical sensitivities before considering aggressive conventional treatments such as prednisolone, ibuprofen or the more radical “solution” of surgery.

Nutritional therapy has a great deal to offer bursitis sufferers. In one study of 40 patients with bursitis (mostly sub deltoid type), 1000 mcg daily of B12 for seven to 10 days, tapering off to three times weekly for two to three weeks, then one to two times weekly for two to three weeks (depending on rate of progress), all but three patients improved. They experienced rapid relief of pain and subjective symptoms, sometimes within a few hours. Follow up x-rays of cases of calcific bursitis showed considerable reabsorption of calcium deposits (Indust Med Surg, 1957; 26: 20-2). A combination of vitamin C with bioflavonoids, 200 mg three times a day, may ease subpatellar bursitis. In one case, symptoms were all but gone within 72 hours (AM J Digest Dis, 1955; 22: 41-45). Vitamin E also protects against inflammation (J Vitaminol, 1972: 18: 204-9). In addition, low zinc levels may result in the accumulation of free radicals which can cause inflammatory disease. Supplementation may help (Agents Actions, 1986; 18: 103-6).

The omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation by altering the balance of pain producing prostaglandins and leukotrienes (Wein Klin Wochenschr, 1986; 98: 104-6, N Eng J Med, 1985; 312: 1217-23). Omega-6 fatty acids in the form of either borage oil or blackcurrant oil may also help reduce inflammation (Am J Clin Nutri, 1992; 55: 39-45).

WDDTY panellist Harald Gaier has found that Urarthone (available from the Nutri Centre, Tel: 0171-436 5122) is quick and effective in alleviating joint problems. It’s a mixture of some 18 different natural ingredients, which should be taken in water twice a day.

Another of our panellists, osteopath Dr. David Charlaff, cautions: “Bursitis usually involves a number of different tissues and other elements around the pain site, and not simply the fluid filled sac between muscles, muscles and tendons, and tendons and bones, called the bursa.”

He suggests first trying local and distal acupuncture particularly effective with electro stimulation. Secondly, if the pain is bilateral (on both sides), it could have a spinal cause, which osteopathy could deal with effectively. To reduce inflammation, he suggests homoeopathy initially using remedies such as Arnica, Ruta grav and Rhus tox in 6th or 30th potencies, depending on the indication. If they don’t work, he would then use herbal medicine.

There is good research to show the efficacy of herbal preparations in cases of bursitis. There are, for instance, hundreds of papers on the applications of bromelain in cases of inflammation due to arthritis, sports injury or trauma (J Ethnopharmacol, 1988; 22: 191-203). Bromelain has been shown to stimulate the production of anti inflammatory prostaglandin E1 (Med Hypoth, 1980; 6: 99-104) and may inhibit the synthesis of pro inflammatory prostaglandin E2 (Arzneim Forsch, 1986; 36: 110-12).

Curcumin, the pigment and active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, locally and internally, for sprains and inflammation. The recommended dose is 400 to 600 mg three times daily (Agents Actions, 1989; 28: 298-303).

Feverfew may also be effective in reducing the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and the formation of leukotrienes and thromboxane, all of which are involved in the inflammatory and pain process (Lancet, 1985; i: 1071-4). Feverfew’s efficacy is dependent on the level of parthenolide in the preparation used. Most clinical trials have a parthenolide content of 0.4-0.66 per cent.

David Charlaff also recommends remedial exercise, such as simple yoga or the Pilates method. A recent review shows that gentle stretching exercises, combined with nutritional supplements, may be the best way of keeping joints in good shape (Townsend Letter for Docs and Patients, April 1998). Be aware that it can take up to 18 months for pain to disappear completely. If the pain lasts longer, you may need to have further analysis, such as ultrasound, to determine the cause. However, Charlaff acknowledges that there is a certain amount of trial and error in whatever method one uses. Although removing your amalgam fillings was probably a good first step, detoxification can take some time particularly if you had many fillings in your mouth for a long period of time.

Finally, you may want to reconsider your use of blue green algae, also known as AFA (Aphanizommenon flosaquae). Recent reports are that some algae products, particularly those harvested from the Klamath Lake region of Oregon in the US have produced undesirable side effects such as nausea, vomiting chills and malaise symptoms usually associated with the presence of toxins (Proof!, 1998, 2: 20), causing or exacerbating chronic pain.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) has become an epidemic. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in the US estimates that the problem has increased from 18 per cent to 56 per cent of all workplace maladies in less than 10 years. RSI now accounts for over half of all worker compensation claims.

This increase is pretty much down to the use of the computer. “Without stepped up keys to reach, paper to change or a carriage to push, computer typists get no breaks from activity that is drastically confined to the wrist and forearms,” explains Dr Alan Hedge, director of ergonomic research at Cornell University, New York.

Despite its prevalence, there still remains a hard core of GPs who refuse to recognise RSI as anything more than yet another psychosomatic disorder, mainly because there is little supportive epidemiological or pathological evidence.

They can also be a bit sniffy about the language. RSI is not a medical definition; it is a layman’s term for a range of symptoms affecting the muscles, nerves and tendons of the upper limbs which is collectively known by your doctor as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), bursitis or tendonitis, to name but three.

Your other problem is political. Doctors and, it’s rumoured, UK government health agencies are reticent to recognise and diagnose a condition that can lead to expensive, and sometimes disputed, claims against employers.

Assuming you overcome all this and can find yourself a sympathetic doctor, there is a limited amount he can offer. Depending on the severity of the condition, he might prescribe an anti inflammatory, a diuretic or steroids.

Of the three, steroids seem to be the most effective, according to one double blind placebo study (Neurology, 1998; 51: 390-3).

In another study, the steroid prednisone offered rapid and effective relief for the first eight weeks only (Neurology, 1995; 45: 1923-5). This finding was also observed in another study involving 32 carpal-tunnel-syndrome patients, which found that the benefits of steroids were “transient” (J Neurol, 1993; 240: 187-90).

Your GP might also tell you to stop whatever’s causing the RSI. Good advice, in fact, and by far the best thing to do is to stop it before it really starts. Once it takes hold, full recovery is uncertain and may go on for a very long time, irrespective of the treatment, conventional or alternative.

If you’re getting early warning signals, such as numbness or tingling around the thumb or fingers, you must find a way to curb the activity. Even if you can’t take time off work, learn to break up the day and walk away from the keyboards once an hour or so, or vary the workload so that you are not constantly keying in.

You also need to get advice about posture and the positioning of the keyboard and screen. The desk should be at an appropriate height without a sharp leading edge, and the keyboard should be spaced 8 to 10 cm away from the desk’s leading edge.

Finally, try and use an ergonomically designed chair that makes your back do more of the work and prevents slouching. A good source is Back in Action (3 Quoiting Square, Oxford Road, Marlow, Bucks SL7 2NH; tel: 01628 477177).

There might also be a method of early detection, even before the tingling begins. Dr Bruce Lynn of University College Hospital in London and physiotherapist Jane Greening have used a machine called a vibrametre, produced by Somedic in Stockholm, Sweden, which detects a change in the nerve vibrations among typists who may go on to suffer RSI (Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 1998; 71: 29-34).

If your problem is more advanced, your doctor may well refer you to a specialist. As the average wait in Britain on the NHS to see a consultant is around seven months, and if you are wedded to the idea of staying with conventional medicine, you could book in to see an orthopaedic surgeon or a physiotherapist in the meantime.

The consultant more than likely is going to recommend surgery, particularly if your RSI, or CTS, is particularly chronic.

The UK support group RSI Association urges anyone to think twice before accepting surgery. “We are not aware of any surgery that has been completely successful. Ask the consultant for details of any patients whose surgery has been 100 per cent successful. He never can,” says association chairperson Wendy Lawrence, an RSI sufferer for more than 10 years.

Her view is supported by the medical trials. In one study, incisions for carpal tunnel release, the standard procedure, on 47 patients resulted in pain and scar sensitivity (J Hand Surg, 1997; 22: 317-21). In another, involving 57 neuritis patients, surgery was no better than steroids (Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis, 1996; 64: 282-6).

Keyhole surgery is becoming a popular technique, but recovery with this form of surgery does not seem any better than with conventional surgery. In one study of 29 CTS patients, those who had the keyhole surgery suffered numbness in the ring finger (J Hand Surg, 1996; 21: 202-4).

Another new technique, involving the use of a glass tube with a groove which is inserted into the hand, is also of questionable value. In a trial using 10 hands from patients who had recently died, the cotton tip came off inside the incision of one hand, and the glass tube broke in another (J Hand Surg, 1995; 20: 465-9).

Other approaches your consultant might suggest include ultrasound or electrical therapy. A mixed bag of electro therapies has been developed in the last few years, possibly born out of the indifferent success of other conventional treatments.

The jury’s out on ultrasound treatment. In one study, it was no more effective than placebo (Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 1998; 79: 1540-4), whereas another trial found that ultrasound did offer short term relief (BMJ, 1998; 316: 731-5). A better result was had with high voltage pulsed current (HVPC), which was passed through a wrist splint. Those who had the treatment were able to carry out repetitive tasks afterwards (AAOHN J, 1998; 46: 233-6).

Low level laser has been used with some success for long term management. The laser rapidly stopped the pain and tingling in the arms, hands and fingers of 35 CTS patients in one study, and the researchers believe it could be used together with physical supports, such as cervical collars (Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther, 1995; 33: 208-11).

According to research, CTS sufferers tend to be low in vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). A double blind trial using either placebo or vitamins found that the condition of those given the supplement improved to such an extent that surgery was not necessary (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 1982; 79: 7494-8). Wendy Lawrence at the RSI Association says that nutrition is an entirely new area of treatment, and that building the immune system has helped to ease the condition. Interestingly, she’s noted that more than the expected number of RSI patients also suffer from either endometriosis or irritable bowel syndrome.

In view of the limited help that conventional medicine can offer, it’s little wonder that the favoured route for many RSI sufferers is alternative medicine. Wendy Lawrence says that her members report greater benefits and pain relief using one of the alternatives, and of these chiropractic, osteopathy and Alexander technique seem to be the most favoured, although osteopathy seems to be of little use in treating chronic cases.

The types of alternative treatments which can help, depending on the extent of your RSI and your own inclination, fall into several groupings, as listed by RSI sufferer and author David Ruegg. The physical treatments are chiropractic, osteopathy and dietary supplements; postural therapies include the Alexander technique or Feldenkrais; relaxation techniques encompass massage, biofeedback and flotation tanks; exercise involves walking, swimming and jogging; stretching comprises yoga and stretching exercises; energy medicine is made up of acupuncture and healing; and cognitive behavioural therapy embraces pain clinics and counselling.

Scientific evidence for any of these therapies is in limited supply. Yoga exercises were tested on 42 CTS sufferers who went through a regimen of 11 postures to strengthen, stretch and balance each joint for eight weeks. The yoga group reported significant improvements in grip strength, pain intensity and sleep disturbance (JAMA, 1998; 280: 1601-3).

Chiropractic was tested against the use of ibuprofen (a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug) on 96 CTS patients and was found to be as good as but no better than the drug therapy (J Manipul Physiol Ther, 1998; 21: 317-26).

Osteopathy came out better in one trial when it was tried on 20 CTS patients with mild to moderate symptoms (J Am Osteopath Assoc, 1994; 94: 647-63).

Biofeedback was tested against relaxation training in a group of patients with a range of chronic, upper body traumas. All patients had immediate relief from pain, but the relaxation group expressed greater short term benefits. However, within six months there were no differences between the groups (Pain, 1995; 63: 199-206).

Useful UK contacts: RSI Association, tel: 0800 018 5012; British School of Osteopathy, tel: 0171 930 9254; Society of Teachers in Alexander Technique, tel: 0171 351 0828.

* I suffered from tendonitis in the shoulder for six months last year, and for a shorter period the previous year. In my case, it was ‘calcific tendonitis’ due to a build-up of calcium crystals. I discovered it can be caused by excess caffeine, protein or alcohol consumption. For me, a couple of strong coffees a day was the likely culprit. I’ve cut down heavily on my coffee consumption and the problem has completely disappeared. A colleague at work also suffered when on the Atkins Diet – i.e. too much protein. – Pauline Powell

The basic principle of homeopathic medicine is that a small dose of a substance will help cure that which it causes in overdose. Although this principle may be a bit confusing at first, it actually makes a lot of sense. Modern day physiology and biology are confirming a basic premise of homeopathy which recognizes that symptoms are efforts of the organism to adapt to stress or infection. Symptoms are therefore understood as the way the “bodymind” is trying, although not always successfully, to re-establish homeostasis or balance. Since symptoms are the best efforts of the organism to attempt to heal itself, it is best to avoid treating or suppressing specific symptoms, and it is preferred to aid and stimulate the body’s defense and immune processes.

The homeopathic medicines are able to stimulate the defense system, since they, like conventional immunizations and allergy treatments, give small doses of what causes a condition in order to stimulate the immune system. Homeopathic medicines, however, are distinctively different from immunizations and allergy treatment, since the homeopathic medicines are more individually prescribed to people, given in much smaller and less toxic doses, and used for both prevention and treatment of a person.

Homeopathic medicine developed much of its popularity in the United States and Europe because of its success in treating people with cholera, scarlet fever, yellow fever and other infectious diseases that were ravaging populations. More recently homeopathic medicine has developed a reputation of suc-cessfully treating people with various chronic complaints. What many people do not know about homeopathy is that it also provides many valuable medicines in treating people who suffer from accidents and injuries. When these medicines are used in conjunction with conventional first aid procedures, the risk of long-term damage from an injury can be significantly decreased and the healing process can be noticeably enhanced.

One must study homeopathic medicine for many years in order to learn how to prescribe the correct medicine for people with chronic conditions. One can, however, learn to use the medicines for first aid very easily. Whereas treatment of a person’s acute or chronic disease requires strict individualization of the person’s total physical and psychological state, treatment for accidents and injuries does not require such individualized presciption. The reason for this difference is that people with acute or chronic diseases have distinct or subtlely different symptoms and causes of their condition, and thus need a different medicine to begin their curative process. People with injuries tend to experience very similar symptoms and usually need a similar metabolic stimulus to heal their complaint. Basically, when different people cut themselves, get burned, break a leg or injure themselves in some other way, they all tend to need a similar stimulus to heal their injury.

Homeopathic medicines for first aid and sports injuries are very easy to prescribe and are usually very effective in reducing pain of the injury and speeding the healing process. It is thus no wonder that many superstar athletes have heard about homeopathy and have begun to benefit from its use. Football superstar O.J. Simpson, tennis player Boris Becker, New York Knick coach Pat Riley, ex-Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, and pro golfer Sally Little are but some of the athletes who spell relief with H-O-M-E-O-P-A-T-H-Y.

The following medicines are used to treat people in first aid situations. There are other homeopathic medicines that can also used, but these are the most commonly used medicines for the conditions described.

NOTE: Homeopaths use the latin names for their medicines since a similar nomenclature is needed to converse with homeopaths throughout the world.



ARNICA (mountain daisy)

ARNICA is mentioned first because it is a medicine par excellence for the shock or trauma of any injury. It is necessary to treat an injured person for shock first unless the injury is very mild or unless the person is bleeding so profusely that stopping the bleeding should be attended to immediately. Since ARNICA is the first medicine prescribed in numerous types of injuries, it is the most common medicine used in first aid. It helps reduce shock, relieve pain, diminish swelling, and begin healing. ARNICA is a great medicine for injuries to muscles, especially when there is pain from overexertion.

ARNICA is also an excellent medicine before or after surgery since the body experiences a state of shock from these medical procedures. It is used as well before and after dental surgery, and before, during, and after labor to help the mother and infant deal with the shock and stress of birth.

Common conditions for use: Shock or trauma of injury; surgical shock; muscle injuries.



HYPERICUM (St. John’s Wort)

HYPERICUM is an excellent medicine for injuries to nerves or to injured parts of the body which are richly supplied with nerves (fingers, toes, the spine). Generally, such injuries have sharp or shooting pains, and the injured part is very sensitive to touch. HYPERICUM is also good for old injuries to nerves which still seem to both the person.

King George VI of England was so impressed by the effectiveness of HYPERICUM that he named his prize racehorse after it.

Common conditions for use: Injuries to nerves.



URTICA URENS (Stinging Nettle)

As you might have predicted from learning about the law of similars, URTICA URENS is the medicine of choice for burns (stinging nettle, as you may know, causes a burn upon contact with the spine of the plant). URTICA URENS in external application is also helpful in diminishing the pain of the burn and in promoting healing. Such application should be diluted approximately one part of URTICA URENS with ten parts water.

Common conditions for use: burns.



LEDUM (Marsh Tea)

LEDUM is the best medicine for puncture wounds, whether it be from a needle, a nail, or other sharp object. Deep punctures or punctures from rusty nail should receive medical attention, but this should not delay you from taking LEDUM which has no side-effects and which can be helpful in healing wounds and preventing tetanus. LEDUM is also commonly prescribed for insect stings and animal bites. It’s applicable as well to people with severe bruising (black eyes or blows from firm objects), especially if the affected part feels cold and yet feels relieved by cold applications.

Common conditions for use: puncture wounds; insect bites.



RHUS TOX (Poison Ivy)

Although some people cringe when they even hear someone mention poison ivy, it is an obten prescribed homeopathic medicine (in non-toxic homeopathically prepared dose!). It is a great medicine for certain types of skin conditions (since it causes them!) as well as for numerous other conditions which homeopaths have found it causes in overdose. One of the conditions it causes in overdose is the rupturing of ligaments and tendons. Because of this, it is the most common medicine prescribed for sprains and strains, especially the type of sprain and strain that is worse upon initial motion but that is better upon continued motion. It is also a medicine given for dislocated joints. ARNICA is another medicine to condition for dislocations.

Common condition for use: Sprains or strains.



RUTA (Rue)

RUTA is the medicine given for severe sprains where the person has a torn or wrenched tendon, split ligament, or bruised periosteum (bone covering). It is also the most common medicine prescribed for recent or old injuries to the knee or elbow. As such, it is one of the medicine prescribed for “tennis elbow.”

Common conditions for use: Severe sprain; injury to the bone.



SYMPHYTUM (Comfrey)

Homeopaths, like herbalists, use SYMPHYTUM for fractures. Homeopaths, however, give their medicine in potentized dose rather than in teas and poultices as done by herbalists. Although one must go to a physician to have the fracture re-set and placed in a cast, SYMPHYTUM will relieve pain and promote rapid healing of the fracture. Besides its application in fractures, SYMPHYTUM is a great medicine for injuries to the eyeball, bones around the eyes, and the cheekbones.

Common conditions for use: Fractures; facial injuries.



External Applications


Some homeopathic medicines are used externally,* including:



CALENDULA (Marigold)

CALENDULA TINCTURE (in an alcohol base), GEL, SPRAY, and OINTMENT are invaluable external applications in treating cuts and abrasions. CALENDULA is known to have antiseptic properties due to its organic iodine content. CALENDULA helps stop bleeding, inhibits infection, and promotes granulation of tissues to help heal wounds and burns. CALENDULA TINCTURE should not be applied directly on a cut since its alcohol content causes stinging pain. It is best to dilute this tincture with a little water. If you’d like to avoid this effort, you can instead directly apply CALENDULA GEL, SPRAY, or OINTMENT.

Note: CALENDULA works so rapidly in healing the skin that it is not recommended for use in deep cuts. In deep cuts CALENDULA sometimes can close and heal the outside skin before the tissue underneath is completely healed.

Common conditions for use: Cuts, abrasions, burns.



HYPERICUM (St. John’s Wort)

HYPERICUM TINCTURE is recommended as an external application in treating deep cuts since it helps heal internal structures as well as the skin. It also has the ability to close open wounds and thus sometimes prevents the need for stitches. HYPERICUM is also used for septic (infected) wounds (CALENDULA, in comparison, is primarily good for clean uninfected cuts). HYPERICUM TINCTURE, like other external applications which have an alcohol base, should be diluted prior to application.

Common conditions for use: Deep cuts, infected cuts.

General Rules for Determining Dosage


People who are beginners in homeopathy should primarily use the 6th potency (written on the bottom as “6x” or “6c”) or the 30th potency (“30x” or “30c”). The 6x is a dose of the medicine that has been diluted 1:10 six times with vigorous shaking between each dilution, while the 6c has been diluted 1:100 six times. Only homeopathic practitioners who have a great deal more knowledge of homeopathy should use the higher potencies (200x, 1000x, or higher). It is important to remember that homeopathic medicines are more powerful the more they experience “potentization”–the pharmaceutical process of dilution and shaking. Higher potencies thus should be used with great care.

Homeopaths have found that injured people tend to need more frequent repetition of doses shortly after injury. One may need to prescribe a medicine every 30 to 60 minutes immediately after severe injury. After a couple of hours, the frequency of doses can diminish to every other hour or every fourth hour, depending upon the severity of pain. Doses every four hours or four times a day are common when a person has a non-severe injury. A person will generally not need to take a medicine for more than two to four days, except in fractures or severe sprains where one to three doses daily for five to seven days are common.

The basic principle of how to determine dosage is: The more severe the condition, the more often will its repetition be necessary.

It is important to remember that a medicine should only be taken as long as the person experiences pain. Do not continue taking the medicine unless there are still symptoms. The basic idea is to take as little of the medicine as possible and yet enough to lessen pain and stimulate one’s healing powers.



Administration of the Medicine


The medicine should be taken into a “clean mouth.” Food, drink, tobacco, toothpaste, and other substances should not be put into the mouth for at least 15 minutes before or after the dose. It is generally best to place the medicine underneath the tongue.

Homeopaths have found that some substances can neutralize the effects of the homeopathic medicines. Although there is some controversy around which substances are implicated more than others, it is best to avoid the following substances for at least 48 hours after taking the final dose: coffee, camphorated products (including lip balm, counter-irritant muscle relaxing cremes, Tiger’s balm), strong herbal teas, mentholated products, cough drops, and mouthwash.

Care and Storage of Homeopathic Medicines


Special handling and storage of the homeopathic medicines are needed in order to avoid possible contamination. When the medicines are correctly handled and stored, homeopaths have found that they can last for several generations. Since it is very difficult to determine if the medicines have been contaminated, one should take the following precautions to prevent potential problems.

–The medicines should be kept away fraom strong light, from temperatures higher than 100 degrees, and from exposure to strong odors like camphor, menthol, mothballs, or perfumes.

–The medicines should always be kept in the container in which they were supplied and never transferred to any other bottle which has contained other substances.

–The medicine shold be opened for administration of the medicine for the minimum time possible. One should be careful not to contaminate the cap or cork before replacement.

–If, by accident, more pills than the number specified in the prescribed dose are shaken out of the bottle, do not return them to the container; throw the excess away to avoid possible contamination.

How do I Learn More About Homeopathy?

The best source of homeopathic books, tapes, home medicine kits, and software is:

Homeopathic Educational Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 649-0294

(510) 649-1955 (fax)