Edward Kondrot, MD
Emergency! Trauma! Injury! Even the most seasoned practitioner will panic and draw a blank during this time. Eileen and Gail have written a superb reference book that will help us when faced with an emergency situation with precious little time to react. Homeopaths are in a unique position to assist the vital force in these times of crisis and in many cases have the opportunity to change the outcome before emergency help arrives. This book will make it easy for us to mobilize our remedies in times of crisis. This reference book is well written and indexed for a rapid location of any emergency situation. In the table of contents, emergencies are listed A through Z for very easy access. Each emergency is organized by definition, signs, symptoms, and indicators, along with emergency medical and homeopathic treatment. One can quickly locate the emergency and immediately have a practical emergency treatment plan. There is also a materia medica, which is an excellent reference source. When these situations present themselves, you no longer will call 911 and wonder what else can be done. This book will help all of us, professional or lay practitioners, to take the necessary life-saving steps. This book will make a big difference in the management of emergencies.
Jack Forbush, RN, CCRN, CEN
Having spent the last decade devoted to providing emergency medical care, I have learned to appreciate the great need for educating the general public, particularly in rural areas. Oftentimes, definitive emergency care is delayed due to extended distances, environmental issues, and in some areas inadequate emergency services. Organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have moved mountains in their efforts to remedy this dilemma through public education in CPR and first aid procedures. Help! and Homeopathy expands this knowledge base for the lay homeopathic community by providing a solid first-line arsenal of homeopathic remedies. This book is an incredible undertaking. The enormous time and effort required to compile a reference source for both the lay person and practitioner is astonishing. Many will find this book immensely useful. It provides a general overview of accepted first aid techniques while interjecting advanced topics for the practitioner. As a parallel to this information, Help! and Homeopathy provides references to remedies applicable to the emergency situation. My sincere thanks and appreciation to Eileen, Gail, and all those involved in providing us with such a resourceful text.
CHAPTER 3: Emercencies A through Z
Gail and I have chosen three "common" emergencies one sees around home or in your travels: Bleeding, Croup and Food Poisoning. We hope these give you an idea of the scope of this section, which comprises of many, many more emergencies we encounter around our home. Please see the Table of Contents for the complete list.
*BLEEDING* (pages 38 & 39)
DEFINITION: Bleeding can be a major emergency and can even be life threatening. Note that there are different types of bleeding and some are life threatening, while others can give you time to get to the emergency room or to call 911. Bright red blood that is spurting or pulsing out of a wound means an artery has been torn open. This type of bleeding is life threatening and must be worked with immediately. A person can lose a pint of blood in 15 to 20 minutes in such a case. If the blood is flowing slower and is a darker red color, that means a vein has been torn open. This is not as serious, but can be over a longer period of time. An artery that is cut at an angle will usually automatically seal itself off in a few minutes. One that receives a straight cut cannot close off and these become bleeders that require immediate attention from you in the form of direct and/or indirect pressure to stop hemorrhaging. See page 12 for an illustration of the main pressure points, the brachial or femoral artery locations.
TREATMENT:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE:1. If the person is unconscious or bleeding is serious, call 911.
2. Make sure the person is breathing. If not, perform CPR.
3. Observe the wound. Locate the source of bleeding.
4. With a compress, and using the flat of your hand, place it over the wound and apply DIRECT (and continuous) pressure. If it continues to bleed, place another compress over it. Do NOT ever remove the previous compresses (blood coagulates beneath it and if you take the compress off, you rip off the clotting efforts of the body with it). If a neck wound, do not shut off breathing.
5. Elevate the arm or leg that is bleeding. If a chest injury, elevate the head (providing there is no head or neck injury).
6. If bleeding does not stop, go to one of two places known as indirect pressure points. One of these is the brachial artery on the upper, inside of a person's arm. Pinch between the person's biceps and triceps area on the inner side of the arm as tightly as you can with your hand and keep the pressure continuously applied to this area. See page 12 for illustration.
The other area is the femoral artery, which is found where the leg attaches to the trunk of the body. Place the palm of your hand down, firmly, on the femoral artery (if bleeding is on the left side of the body, it would be the left femoral artery-or if on the right, use the right femoral artery). Pressure must be kept on until 911 help arrives-never loosen your pressure. If you get tired, have another person do it for you and change off until help arrives.7. If you have a blood pressure cuff and there is bleeding from an extremity, place the cuff just above the wound and inflate it just enough to halt the bleeding. Do not deflate it-allow an MD to do this at the emergency room.
8. If all else fails, providing it is an extremity wound (arm or leg), use a tourniquet. A tourniquet is almost NEVER used and if it is put on, do NOT loosen it! That would virtually ensure the loss of any limb beyond the tourniquet. A tourniquet that is applied as a last resort can damage the tissue, muscles, and nerves if applied improperly. Here's how to apply it:
a. Use as wide a bandage as possible with padding under it. Use a blood pressure cuff (first choice) and place just above the wound and inflate just enough to halt the bleeding. Once inflated, do NOT deflate it. Let the doctor in the emergency room do that.
b. Never use wire, rope, or a belt-it cuts into the skin and can injure nerves, muscles, and blood supply.
c. Do not loosen the tourniquet after it is applied.
d. Never cover the tourniquet with a bandage-leave it in full view for the 911 responders to see.
e. Always write "TK" on adhesive tape, with the TIME the tourniquet was placed on the person. Tape to the person's forehead.HOMEOPATHIC: The above EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE treatment should be done first with a homeopathic remedy given secondarily. It will help slow or stop bleeding more quickly.
1. Arnica Montana 30C, one dose every 15 minutes. Up to six doses until bleeding slows dramatically or stops. Best for arterial bleeding where it comes out in swift spurts and is a bright, red color. If slow moving and dark colored, go to Hamamelis Virginica.
2. Phosphorus 30C, same dosage as above, if Arnica Montana does not help halt hemorrhaging.
3. Hamamelis Virginica 30C, one dose every 15 minutes. Up to six doses until bleeding slows dramatically or stops. Best for venous bleeding-slow, continuous-flow bleeding with darker colored blood.
NOTES
*CROUP* (pages 61 & 62)
DEFINITION: A viral infection in infants and children that causes swelling of the lining of the larynx. It is usually characterized by a barking, brassy type of cough. This can be life threatening if the swelling partially or completely closes off the trachea and limits or stops breathing.
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & INDICATORS:
1. Spasmodic, barking cough.
2. Hoarseness.
3. Stridor-a harsh, high-pitched sound that occurs on inhalation or inspiration of breath. A keynote symptom.
4. Fever-usually in half of the cases.
5. Usually occurs at night. Worsens at night.
6. Breathing is fast and shallow.
7. Respiratory distress.
8. Cyanosis-blueness around mouth or fingernail beds.
9. Fatigue brought on due to lack of oxygen.
10. Dehydration.TREATMENT:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE:
1 Call 911 if respiration is difficult.
2. Do NOT put anything (including your fingers) into the child's mouth. It may spasm the larynx and complete airway obstruction and they cannot breathe.
3. Put the child or infant into a 'sniffing' position-head and neck are extended forward.
4. Place child on humidification-warm stream vaporizer or humidifier-or get them into a warm shower until professional help arrives. This should not go on indefinitely as the water droplets are too large and will not get rid of the mucus secretions. But in the meantime it will help stop the drying out that occurs in their upper throat region.
5. Have the child drink water or fluids and remain hydrated, if they can swallow. If not, do not force them to swallow or drink anything.
6. Rest, as fatigue and crying only aggravate the above symptoms.
HOMEOPATHIC: Seek homeopathic treatment as soon after the incident as possible.
1. Sambucus Nigra 30C, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
2. Spongia Tosta 30C, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
3. Aconitum Napellus 30C, for panic on the child's part, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
SEE: Shortness of Breath (Dyspnea).NOTES
*FOOD POISONING* (pages 92 & 93)
DEFINITION: There are actually THREE types of food poisoning but they get whitewashed under one label. The bacteria themselves cause the symptoms (Salmonella and Clostridium). The other type (botulism) occurs when the bacteria have produced toxins (poison).
Botulism
DEFINITION: This is the most severe variety of food poisoning. The spores of the Clostridium bacteria have grown inside contaminated food. This is food that is either not kept at a low enough temperature or not cooked at a high enough temperature. Food left out to warm up on a kitchen counter for too long can also be the cause. This form of food poisoning can kill; it attacks our neurological (nervous) system.
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & INDICATORS:
Symptoms may not appear for upwards of 24 hours after ingestion of the contaminated food source.
1. Blurred vision.
2. Weakness.
3. Difficulty speaking.
4. Difficulty breathing.
TREATMENT:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE:
1. Perform CPR if necessary. Treat for Shock, page 140.
HOMEOPATHIC: Consult a homeopath immediately after going to the emergency room for medical help.
1. Arsenicum Album 30C, one dose every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
2. Carbolicum Acidum 30C, one dose every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
3. Nux Vomica 30C, one dose every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
Ptomaine Poisoning
DEFINITION: This type of food poisoning is the direct result of the bacteria, known as Salmonella. It is also called Salmonellosis. This type of food poisoning can be eliminated with proper cleanliness procedures and proper cooking of the food at the right temperature. Some people are carriers of Salmonella and although they may not be ill from it, they can pass the Salmonella onto others through anything they touch, especially if they work in the food industry and do not use mandatory protective gloves and coverings as outlined by health department rules.
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & INDICATORS:
Symptoms may not occur for upwards of 72 hours after ingestion.
1. Nausea.
2. Vomiting.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Fever.
5. Weakness.
TREATMENT:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE:
1. Perform CPR if necessary. Treat for Shock, page 140.
HOMEOPATHIC: Consult a homeopath immediately after going to the emergency room for medical help.
1. Arsenicum Album 30C, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
2. Nux Vomica 30C, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
Staphylococcus
DEFINITION: This type of food poisoning is usually seen at large functions, such as a social gathering or a church picnic event. The bacteria has had time to create toxins due to warm conditions and the food being left out too long and not refrigerated properly. Mayonnaise left at room temperature very commonly carries the staphylococcal toxins.
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS & INDICATORS:
Symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 hours after ingesting the tainted food source. It is usually over within 6 to 8 hours.
1. Nausea.
2. Vomiting.
3. Diarrhea.
TREATMENT:
EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE:
1. Perform CPR if necessary. Treat for Shock, page 140.
HOMEOPATHIC: Consult a homeopath immediately after going to the emergency room for medical help.
1. Arsenicum Album 30C, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
2. Nux Vomica 30C, every 15 minutes. Up to six doses.
NOTES
Now, come with us to look at Chapter 4: The A to Z Materia Medica!