External homoeopathic remedies
 
External homoeopathic remedies are basically plant extracts and the indications for their use have developed out of herbal lore over thousands of years. External remedies come in various forms (see below) and next to each symptom are instructions for the most appropriate form to use. 
 
Tinctures. A tincture is a solution of the plant in alcohol — usually a one in ten dilution. 
 
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.
 
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 (particu¬larly 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 ointment where possible.
 
Creams. A cream is a remedy 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. To make oil, 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 indi-cated in each instance where oil might be more useful than, say, a cream or a lotion.
 
HYPERCAL TINCTURE
 
This is a mixture of Calendula and Hypericurn; the combined healing qualities of the two plants make it especially effective in soothing and healing wounds.
 
Childbirth After childbirth Hypercal will help to heal a cut or torn perineum. Apply a strong lotion on a small pad or compress to the affected area, keeping it in place for up to an hour at a time, and repeating every four hours for several days.
 
Cold sores Dilute one part tincture to three parts cooled, boiled water and apply this strong lotion frequently to cold sores as soon as they appear, or use ointment. Take the appropriate internal remedy at the same time.
 
Cuts/wounds Use ointment, cream or lotion to heal wounds just as you would use Calendula or Hypericum on their own.
Soak cut fingers, toes or elbows in a basin of water into which a teaspoon of Hypercal tincture has been added and gently remove any bits of dirt. The clean wound can then be dressed with a smear of the cream or ointment.
 
Eye infections/inflammations/injuries Use 2 drops in an eyebath to help clear inflammation caused by dust, foreign bodies, infection or injury. Seek professional help if the soreness persists.
 
Mouth ulcers Use the mouthwash below frequently, as well as taking the appropriate internal remedy.
 
Mouthwash This mouthwash is good for mouth ulcers, inflamed, sore or spongy gums. Make a strong lotion by diluting 40 drops of tincture in 1/8 pint of water and swoosh it well around the mouth after brushing your teeth, then massage it into the gums with your fingers.
Sore throat Dissolve one teaspoon of sea salt in ¼ pint of hot water. Add 40 drops of Hypercal tincture and gargle as frequently as necessary.
 
 
HYPERICUM TINCTURE
 
Hypericurn soothes and heals wounds, especially where nerves have been damaged and the injury is painful. The pains of a ‘Hypericurn wound’ are typically shooting and/or severe.
 
Boils Apply the lotion externally as a compress (on lint or gauze) and renew it every four to six hours to relieve pain and encourage healing. It is important to treat a tendency to boils from the inside so seek professional help if you have a recurring problem.
 
Burns (second degree, with blistering) Soak gauze strips or lint in Hypericurn lotion, wring out and lay over the burned area. Keep the bandages damp by spraying the area with the lotion. Do not remove the cloth until the pain has ceased. Hypericurn is also useful in the first stage of a burn on a nerve-rich and therefore very painful part. Give the appropriate internal remedy.
 
Cuts/wounds Use lotion to bathe and clean dirty cuts/wounds, and apply ointment before bandaging. Hypericurn is especially good where there are shooting pains in or around the wound and for injuries to nerve-rich parts (crushed fingers and toes). If a compress is applied to a crushed finger or toe and kept damp for a few days, a damaged nail can be prevented from taking an odd shape once healed.
 
Insect bites Use neat Hypericurn tincture on any insect bite. If swelling persists, apply the lotion as a compress, and keep in place for as long as it takes for the swelling to diminish.
 
Piles Use a compress of Hypericurn lotion (or ointment if preferred) for bleeding piles with severe shooting pains. Repeat as necessary, but seek professional help.
 
ARNICA TINCTURE
 
Warning: never apply Arnica externally to open wounds, cuts or grazes - that is, to broken skin — as it can cause a nasty rash.
 
Bed sores Use for the first stage of pressure sores caused by a long confinement in bed.
 
Bruises Apply the ointment, cream or lotion directly to the affected part (remembering to use it only on unbroken skin) as soon as possible. If you can do this before the bruise has started to discolor (even if it has already swollen), it will simply be re-absorbed by the body, especially if you take Arnica internally as well. Rub ointment or cream in gently, or if you are using lotion apply it on a piece of lint or gauze and keep in place until the swelling has subsided - usually a matter of several hours.
Corns Apply the ointment two or three times a day for relief.
Sore muscles Rub Arnica ointment or oil into sore, bruised muscles after exertion (such as gardening or skiing) and take the appropriate internal remedy if your symptoms are severe.
Sprains/strains (first stage) Rub in Arnica ointment or cream, or wrap the sprained joint in a lotion-soaked bandage. This will deal with the initial swelling.
 
Wasp stings Dab the wound with neat tincture immediately after being stung.
 
CALENDULA TINCTURE
 
Warning: Calendula helps the layers of the skin (the epithelium) to ‘knit’ back together and will mend a clean wound in a matter of hours. It heals so rapidly that it can seal dirt into the body, so always clean the wound very carefully before applying Calendula.
 
Burns/scalds (second degree) Use Calendula cream or lotion for the later stages of a burn once the pain has passed. Calendula will promote new skin growth and is especially useful where blisters have broken.
 
Childbirth Massage Calendula oil into the perineum during labour to soften the area and to help make an episiotomv unnecessary.
 
Cracked nipples If Phytolacca has failed to help, apply Calendula oint¬ment, or cream if sensitive to lanolin, to heal cracked, painful nipples.
Cuts/wounds Apply ointment or cream to minor cuts, and bandage if necessary. For serious wounds apply lotion on a piece of lint or gauze and keep in place. Use a plant spray filled with lotion to keep the dressing damp but do not remove the dressing until the bleeding has stopped and healing is well under way.
 
Eczema/rashes Calendula lotion or cream is especially useful for sooth¬ing eczema or rashes where the skin has cracked or been scratched raw. It will not treat the underlying cause of the eczema; you should seek professional help for this.
 
Handcream Calendula cream makes a marvelous hand cream after gardening or working on the car when there may be little cuts in the skin.
 
Mouthwash Use a strong lotion after tooth extractions or after any sort of dental work where the gums have been cut.
 
Nappy rash Use ointment or cream several times daily, making sure that the whole area is clean and dry first (wash with water and a mild, unscented soap). 
 
Sunburn Use the lotion or cream (see Burns above).
 
Thrush For vaginal thrush douche with the following mixture to relieve soreness and itching: make one pint of chamomile tea (one pint of boiling water to one table¬spoon of dried chamomile leaves or one chamomile teabag). Leave to cool, strain, add 40 drops of Calen¬dula tincture and douche twice daily for up to a week only. You can buy a re-usable douche from larger chemists (not the disposable type which comes with its own solution). Douching will not cure the com-plaint; it will only help during the acute phase, and you should seek professional help.
 
 
References and further reading: The Complete Homeopathy Handbook by Miranda Castro ISBN 0-333-55581-3 Safe, Natural Remedies for Babies and Children by Amanda Cochrane ISBN 0 7225 3369 1