If I were stranded on a desert island there would be a few supplies that I would be wishing for…quite apart from my favourite music and some good reading material!
OK, food, sharp knife, good cloth, GPS and satellite radio, of course. I would also want a few remedies along ‘just in case’; accidents can happen anywhere…even on a desert island.
First Aid is always an important thing to think of in advance and yet so few of us do…never expecting the unexpected! Alternative medicine can seem so complex, always relying on the expertise of a trained professional or odd potion, bits that can only be found in the tucked away places in health food stores.
It’s always useful to acquaint ourselves with the basics of first aid on a physical level: how to deal with shock, bleeding, heart attack or choking. The aspect of primary response that is often overlooked in favour of a physical approach is the impact that trauma or shock can have on the more subtle bodies, for example our emotions and thoughts. These less obvious symptoms are often an important key to preventing complications in follow up care.
Keep it simple. There are three basic elements that I have in my First Aid Kit. Arnica (homoeopathic remedy), Essential Oil of Lavender, and Rescue Remedy (Bach Flower Essence) will cover most traumas in their initial phases and may greatly decrease the likelihood of more problems arising. All of these are widely available in health food stores and some pharmacies and are reasonably priced.
ARNICA
The one homoeopathic remedy that EVERYONE has heard of…why? Bumps, bruises, shock and accidents are a fact of life for most of us. Arnica comes in several different forms, pills which can be dissolved under the tongue or in a cream or ointment, applied directly to bruises. It is important NOT to apply the ointment or cream to broken skin.
Arnica is the first remedy I think of for injuries to soft tissue, bruises, contusions, trauma, concussion and shock or the effects of car accidents and sports injuries.
Very often when an accident occurs we are energetically ‘pushed out’ of ourselves. The expression “I was beside myself” stems from this very situation. When we are in this state, we can often say things like “I’m OK, leave me alone.” “Don’t call the doctor, I’ll be OK, just let me go home”. This sort of expression in the face of bleeding, injury and obvious shock are what we call keynote symptoms of the remedy and tried and true indications that Arnica is indicated. The remedy can help with bruising, prevent or arrest internal bleeding and dramatically reduce internal swelling, which makes it very valuable in the case of a traumatic head injury. More and more often these days coaches keep Arnica close to hand for the inevitable effects of contact sports. Those requiring Arnica can often seem to be ‘out of sync’ with their state – disconnected, irritable and over sensitive; a bruised sensation on all levels.
A typical response to the remedy might be to fall asleep or to suddenly become aware of what hurts and how much. Pain and a connection to what we experience are often the most important safety/healing responses that we can have. It alerts us to the problem, thus preventing us from further injury and begins to mobilize the body’s inherent healing mechanisms.
Car accidents are a very common application for Arnica – they happen so quickly that we are usually quite shocked, even when there is no obvious physical injury. It is invaluable in helping us to ‘ground ourselves’ back into our bodies so that we can function, make decisions and deal with the event in an integrated manner.
Arnica is a remedy to help remind us of our boundaries, where our bodies end and the rest of the world begins; enabling us to navigate through without colliding into anything!
ESSENTIAL OIL OF LAVENDER
EVERYTHING IN A BOTTLE and it smells good! It is fundamentally an oil that promotes balance and harmony in the system. Lavender is the oil to reach for in cases ranging from headaches to insomnia, muscular aches and pains to cramping. Unlike other essential oils, Lavender can be applied directly to the skin as a topical treatment for cuts, burns, rashes, fungal infections, boils, abscesses, bites, stings and acne.
Lavender also has great efficacy in stressful psychological states. As it is a great balancer, it is invaluable in the treatment of anxiety, depression and hysteria. It is one of the few oils that have been used continuously for thousands of years in a therapeutic context. Cleansing and purifying in its effect, it is ideal for cleaning wounds and preventing infection. Useful in the relief of symptoms due to cough and colds, it can help pre-empt flu-ish symptoms.
Methods of application:
- Use a few drops directly to wounds, especially burns, insect bites (bugs hate the smell!), cuts and abrasions
- Steam inhalation – a few drops of the oil added to a bowl of steaming water, put a towel over your head and inhale deeply!
- Dilute 3-7 drops in Almond oil and use as a massage oil to soothe aching muscles.
- Putting 3-5 drops on a warm compress and applying to a crampy tummy can help ease menstrual cramps and labour pains
PLEASE NOTE: FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY
Though extremely versatile, lavender is NOT recommended for use in spaghetti sauce — though it has not been known to cause fatalities
RESCUE REMEDY
Rescue Remedy is a combination flower essence comprised of five essences. This essence is another ‘all heal’ insofar as it is balancing, calming, restorative and widely applicable. Though a blend of five essences it is truly a remedy that proves the rule, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Rescue Remedy is packaged in a dropper bottle and thus a few drops can be taken directly under the tongue or added to a glass or bottle of water and sipped over an extended period of time.
Flower essences are commonly used to help in more emotional circumstances. Stress, anxiety, grief, emotional/physical shock, trauma or confusion; even ailments from hearing bad news are all indications for Rescue Remedy. The essence enables one to come into oneself and step out of the drama of a particular situation. Children and animals respond very well to this remedy for example in the case of injuries, frights (fire works) or even moving house. In the event that an animal has been hit by a car, the journey to the vet could be eased (for the driver and the animal) by giving a few drops under the tongue. It’s a well known fact that, in the case of trauma or injury, if our emotional bodies are greatly distressed vital repair abilities are distracted from the task at hand. Rescue Remedy takes care of the emotional state so that all of the innate healing instincts can be focussed on the physical repairs.
The need for effective and simple first aid starts much closer to home than a desert island. Homes, cars, offices, boats are all places where we might be able to store away a few key items that can make all the difference when confronted with an acute or traumatic situation. These three First Aid remedies are non-toxic, keep indefinitely when stored properly and at the same time are extremely valuable when used conscientiously. They are in no way a substitution for appropriate medical help or intervention but they can provide a very important first line and support while waiting for the ambulance…or the coast guard! Happy trails.
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