Most people know the homeopathic medicine Arnica montana for bumps and bruises, but it has another dimension. It has been used for hundreds of years for emotional shock and trauma states, even in extreme emergencies. Arnica helps us stay in our body and maintain fortitude and flexibility so we can move through difficult situations. This is the beauty of homeopathy; inherently this system of medicine addresses all levels of the person. The mind and the body are not separate, and so every "physical" homeopathic medicine has its mental, emotional and subtle dimension. These emotional attributes to otherwise physical homeopathics are not given to these remedies by people, early Homeopathic Physicians in the 1700's, and the alchemists and sages that pre-dated Homeopaths learned of their multi-level use through using the medicines and coming to understand their dynamism because the plants showed them their virtues. By prescribing Arnica for physical and emotional shock and trauma these early healers witnessed the wholism of the medicine.

Arnica For Shock

Arnica is a first aid remedy used for physical & emotional shock, injury, and recovery from surgery. It alleviates bruising, bleeding, pain & swelling, and is a great remedy for jet lag (which is a kind of physiological shock). 

Arnica is the first remedy to think of after an accident that has caused bruising, bleeding, or any injury to soft tissue, including head injuries such as concussions and eye injuries. Plastic surgeons often recommend this homeopathic medicine to their patients because they know Arnica will help their patients heal quicker with fewer complications, resulting in better referrals (so my physician friend tells me). Arnica is used for muscle pain and recovery from sports or physical activity.

Denial & Shutdown

Arnica is the medicine for people who cope with bad news through denial. Long before grief, anger and acceptance set in, they will be in denial or say they feel numb despite going through a significant event. This is the person who walks away from a car accident saying they are fine and head straight back to work. The pain, terror, and tears will come later, if at all. This is the person who says they are fine while they are indeed very sick or in trouble. Remember, this is their coping mechanism. We all have our own unique way of taking care of the inner parts that are deeply afraid but unable to handle a situation. This denial and shutdown is protecting them for the time being. For the person needing Arnica, sleep may be interrupted by disturbing dreams after an accident, injury or bad news. During the day they may not feel fear, but instead they may have fearful dreams and wake in terror. 

The Vital Force

Homeopathic medicines work indirectly on body tissues, through the vital force. The vital force is also known as Qi or Prana. Homeopathic medicines, much like acupuncture, stimulate the vital force so the body corrects itself. These subtle yet powerful medicines made from plants connect us to the current of healing wisdom from which all of life emerges. You could call this universal wisdom or Mother nature. It is the ineffable, fundamental force that governs all of life. In this case of the person needing Arnica, it'll help them metabolize what happened so they aren't stuck in the denial, shutdown, or physical inflammation. Although it may be hard to accept, death, accidents and other traumatic events are part of the human experience, and we are designed to be able to process hard things. Homeopathic trauma remedies awaken this force within that we naturally have to help us move through the tough stuff. The result of which leaves the person feeling calmer, more connected to their inner wisdom, and able to take the next right step the moment calls for.

How to Take Arnica: 

This is for an acute situation. Chronic situations require professional help. Take one dose of Arnica 2-3 times a day for a maximum of 5 days. If the concern persists please seek professional guidance. Remember, homeopathic medicines are not herbal remedies. Herbs are often required to take daily for several days or months. Whereas homeopathy operates by the principle of less is more. Do not take a homeopathic medicine longer than is advised. 

(Photo & illustration of Aconitum napellus) 

Aconite for Shock with Anxiety

Where the person needing Arnica freezes, turns to denial or shuts down, the person needing Aconite (Aconitum) is anxious, panicked, and fearful. Their way of coping may appear as the opposite of Arnica. This fear is primal. They fear death and annihilation. The situation itself doesn't matter; this anxiety and fright that calls for Aconite might be a child on a rollercoaster, an adult claustrophobic on an airplane, or someone witnessing or experiencing an act of violence. To correctly give a homeopathic medicine you must match the person's state of being to the remedy. The situation or circumstance alone does not dictate the prescription. It's how they respond to the situation that gives us the clue to the correct remedy. The key word is sudden. Things come on suddenly.

Aconite for Inflammation

On the physical level, you might know Aconite as the homeopathic medicine to use at the beginning of illness such as cough, cold or flu. It works well in the first 24-48 hours of an acute illness such as a cold, fever, sore throat or other inflammation. Taken in this initial stage can sometimes stop the illness in its tracks preventing it from progressing. Its main indication is fever, chill or headache that comes on quickly after exposure to cold weather or a draft.

The Calm After The Storm

Emotionally, Aconite is for the person who is extremely distressed and expressive in their shock and upset. They may be restless and even produce a fever in their heightened state of emotions. No matter the circumstance, they fear death. They may shriek in physical or emotional pain. The state of fear can cause vomiting, profuse sweating and an increased need to urinate. I've used this remedy for someone who'd go into this state every time they got into an elevator. It helped them tremendously move through their trauma from getting stuck in one 15 years prior. Another case that comes to mind is a child who witnessed a car accident. And yet another person, an adolescent, who developed a deep fright after watching a horror movie. All of these individuals were helped by Aconite.

Aconite is a profound homeopathic medicine that helps a person move through a primal feeling of unsafety. It helps drain shock out of their body. One of the key causations is sudden fright.

Aconite acts to unwind this fright quickly out of the body. This is the homeopathic remedy that, in the year 2000, turned me from a skeptic of homeopathy to enrolling in my 4-year homeopathic college after it dramatically helped unwind me from the emotional shock of my father's devastating, sudden death.

How to Take Aconite: 

This is for an acute situation. Chronic situations require professional help. Take one dose of Aconite 2-3 times a day for a maximum of 5 days. If the concern persists please seek professional guidance. 

(Photo & Illustration of Ignatia imara) 

Ignatia: Acceptance

Ignatia has many physical uses such as easing diarrhea, eczema and in clinical use by a practitioner we even use it in cases of serious auto-immune disease. For the purpose of this article we're sticking to acute first aid use; and in these terms, Ignatia is one of the best for grief, loss and disappointment; and insomnia caused by these big emotions.

Once someone is out of the initial stages of shock (let's say, after using Arnica or Aconite) they may begin to experience disbelief, then disappointment and finally grief. This is a powerful medicine that can help metabolise big, overwhelming emotions, and when it's time, help someone reach acceptance. This is the #1 homeopathic medicine for grieving the death of a loved one. Displacement, such as leaving your home country, divorce, or a break-up with a partner (business or romantic) is another kind of death. Remember, it's not the precise circumstance that we prescribe for when using homeopathy, it's the person's perception and feeling that are the breadcrumbs that we follow to the correct homeopathic medicine. 

How to Take Ignatia: 

This is for an acute situation. Chronic, persistent circumstances require professional help. Take one dose of Ignatia 2-3 times a day for a maximum of 5 days. If the concern persists please seek professional guidance. 

Restoring Natural Order

Nature doesn't favour straight lines. Nature is fluid and flexible, dynamic and varied. It's not balance we seek, but harmony, which is an ebb and flow; a give and take.  Keep this in mind as you use homeopathic medicines and even herbs for that matter. As we say in homeopathy once you give a medicine: Watch and wait.
Do nothing, so the body can awaken its own healing power. Get out of the way so the ineffable power source can direct the body, heart and mind. Sometimes this waiting is a few seconds in an urgent situation. Where there is pain, maybe a few hours or days. The body is designed to heal, and it knows how to. Herbs, homeopathy and other healing modalities such as acupuncture guide the body to align itself with this natural principal.
I want to be clear; when I speak of healing, and the capacity of these homeopathic medicines restoring health, I do not define healing or health as the puritanical ideology of perfection. The anxious person doesn't suddenly become a serene monk; nor does the grieving person who lost someone dear to them suddenly forget their loss. The word 'to heal' comes from the root 'to become whole'. These medicines help someone experience acceptance, and move on to the next stage health as defined by their own body's wisdom. Nature is the guide, these plants are the teacher. It's a conversation between the body and plants.  

Do you have a story to share about these homeopathic remedies? I'd love to hear them. Share below!

Seraphina