Bruises, remedies

The family Hamamelidaceae consists of 26 genera and about 100 species of shrubs or tress known to contain tannins and iridoids. The leaves are alternate, simple, and often palmately lobed. The flowers are small and appear in spikes. The fruits are woody, capsular, and scepticidal. In Western medicine, the dried leaves of Hamamelis virginiana (hamamelis, British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1963), yielding not less that 20% of alcohol (45%)-soluble extractive, have been used as astringents for the treatment of hemorrhoids. Hamamelis water (British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1969) made from the stems has been used as a cooling application to sprains and bruises and as a styptic remedy. It is also used in cosmetics and as active ingredient of eye lotions. 

Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link. Jin Que Hua (Scotch broom) (root) Sparteine, sarothamine, genisteine, scoparin.60 As a fomentation for bruises, a remedy for coughs, colds. 

Psychotria rubra (Lour.) Poir. P serpens L. Jiu Jie Mu Ling Bi Long (Red psychotria) (leaf, stem) Alkaloids.83 A remedy for contusions, relieve pain of bruises, externally for swellings. 

Commercial products can be recommended by homoeopaths or self-selected by patients for well-recognised conditions even though this might not be approved of by classical homoeopaths. Popular remedies would include Arnica for bruises. Thuja for verrucas and warts. Calcium Carbonate for rheumatism. Sulphur for indigestion. Belladonna for headache, Pulsatilla for cystitis and Bryonia for constipation. 

ARNICA FLOWERS are the flower heads of Arnica montana L, family Asteraceae. The flowers contain sesquiterpenes such as helenalin and dihydrohelenalin which have antiinflammatory and analgesic effects which explain the popularity of Arnica as a remedy for bruises and aches and sprains. It must be stressed that Arnica should not be used internally because of cardiotoxicity. Equally important is the fact that the sesquiterpenes, like most if not all of those from the Asteraceae (e.g. in Chamomile and Yarrow), are highly allergenic and patients must be advised to discontinue use if a skin reaction develops and to avoid Arnica and Chamomile if they are known to have a sensitivity to other Asteraceae such as Asters, Daisies and Chrysanthemums. 

Hemedy for a Sprain or Bruise. Wormwood boiled in vinegar, and applied hot, with enough cloths wrapped around to keep the sprain moist. This is on invaluable remedy. 

Infiision of Dandelion. Steep 2 ounces bruised duudcliou root in 1 pint boiling water. After 24 hours strain. 2 table-spoonfnla 4 times a day is a remedy for dropsy. (See No, 5697.)... 

Taylor s Remedy for Beafriess. Digest 2 ounces bruised garlic in 1 pound oil of almonds for a week, and straio. A drop poured into tho car is effective iu temporary... 

Traditional use The roots, leaves, stems, and flowers are used in folk medicine. The powdered leaves are used to treat wounds, cuts, and bruises. Juice from the leaves mixed with cow fat is used to treat lung and ear diseases. The root is used a laxative. A decoction of the herb is used to wash wounds and to treat skin ulcers, fungal skin diseases, and scabies. Avicenna used this species to treat asthma, lung disease, chest pains, liver and spleen diseases, and as a choleretic remedy (Khalmatov 1964). 

Traditional Medicine. American Indian uses include colds, fever, colic, sedative, sleep aid, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, rheumatism and pains in babies, and tea also used as a diaphoretic majority of uses in infants (moerman). Used in Europe in the treatment of colds, fever, headaches, insanity, restlessness, nervousness, flatulence bruised leaves in ointment for hemorrhoids also diaphoretic, antispasmodic, and mild stimulant children s remedy (grieve). 

Traditional Medicine. Fresh flowers in tea, tincture, or olive oil, reportedly a popular domestic medicine for treatment of external ulcers, wounds (especially with severed nerve tissue), sores, cuts, bruises, and so on. Tea, a folk remedy for bladder ailments, depression, dysentery, diarrhea, and worms folk cancer remedy (foster and duke). 

Traditional Medicine. Has been used by American Indians for centuries to treat coughs, colds, and congestion also as a poultice to treat wounds, sores, abscesses, boils, rheumatism bruises, felons, and inflammation (foster and duke). It is still used as a home remedy. 

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